2nd Weekend

Alrighty, last Friday I got dinner and walked around the latin quarter with my roommates. On Saturday we had this mystery tour with my program which was kept a secret until 5 minutes before we boarded the train. It was to the American Film Festival in Trouville/Deauville. It is in the region of Normandy home to crepes and cider, and right on the ocean (so seafood as well).  It was so fun! I didn't get to see any celebrities though, all the good ones like Chace Crawford and Zac Efron were coming the next weekend. It was mostly directors and stuff I think. We had these passes to go see the premiere of Mysterious Skin (not good), but I walked on a red carpet so it's all good haha. There was also the premiere of The Runaways but I had already seen that one (very good), so all day I had Joan Jett songs in my head.  Along the ocean there are these little beach houses and near each door are the names of some celebs that have been there.  Of course I was most excited to see Al Pacino, my love.  In Trouville there is the 3rd largest casino in France. They told us it might be hard to get inside but we were able to.  The only problem was once we sat down at a slot we couldn't figure out how to work it!  Oh and I had to pay 0.30 euro to pee on this metal rod of a toilet.  It was quite bizarre. 

On Saturday night I went out dancing with some of my friends to some fancy DJ I guess (I'm from MN so don't know too much about that haha).  We met some more Parisians which is always nice to practice my language skills, but they just end up speaking english.  On Sunday there was free admission to all the museums in Paris so I went to the Musee d'Orsay.  The museum is in an old train station with this giant clock inside.  Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take any pictures.  There is also this grand ballroom which I think is honestly the most beautiful things inside the whole museum.  I enjoyed the interior design displays of furniture and other household goods most. I saw impressionist paintings, like the Picasso self portrait and the broze dancer statue.  I think I prefer the paintings of Renoir.
The metro situation is going pretty well. I have a pass like a true Parisian.  It feels pretty awesome just holding my bag up to the scanner and walking right through all the weary ticket holders.  You can get to just about anywhere in Paris without having to walk too far.  I have taken it at 10:30pm but that is about as late as I will ride it.  Once again, you just have to maintain a blank stare.  Now the hard part comes, walking around the city to master my map.

I've booked my first trip too! September 30th-October 3rd, Oktoberfest here I come.