August 12-13

Last night we had a soirée chez the new Temple professor directing us. We had a wonderful time, drinking good wine, eating fabulous tart, and seeing at the top of our lungs to Beatles songs. We acted like real Americans. Her apartment is very close to the Eiffel Tower and has a balcony. It was beautiful.

This morning my language exchange partner canceled on me at the last minute, so I went to the Conciergie and the Sainte-Chapelle. I had to wait an hour to get into the Sainte-Chapelle, and I've seen so many French churches that I'd started to become disenchanted, so I wasn't expecting much. But after just 30 seconds in the Sainte-Chapelle, it was worth the wait. All of the French cathedrals I've seen are missing their former painted walls, but the Sainte-Chapelle has kept all its colors. I was absolutely floored.

I finally got up the Eiffel Tower tonight. It's hideous up close -- all brown twisted metal -- until night falls and it's lit with bright blue light. It was freezing, windy, and crowded ... but absolutely beautiful. The view at night is stunning. I fell in love with Paris all over again.