My train in Milano was cancelled, but I caught another one in time for my flight. Ryanair was good. It's kind of like a flying mall, though. Cheap flight, but they try to sell you anything from on flight food and drinks to perfume and watches to scratch tickets and smokeless cigarettes. Pierre and his father and friend Nicola came to get me at the airport. We recognized each other right away. 
My sweet ride from the airport.
A pretty house. France is full of these things.
Outside the Casino. There were music notes all over the pavement. Lalala; Ohlala. Ps, they don't say this. Ever. 
The Casino! This picture does it no justice. There were really awesome lanterns hanging inside and the whole front was just glass so you could see in.
There is a nice pond next to it that Pierre told me I should go swimming in. Hilarious. Oh, a note about Pierre for those of you who don't know him, he is insane. Also, he thinks he's very funny. He stayed with my family 6 years ago as an exchange student and we kept only in slight touch until now. However, when we saw each other, it was like no time had passed. We were right back into our old habits. These habits include jokes that aren't funny and lots of eye rolling on my part and lots of laughing for both of us. We remembered his first joke in English. Rollie and I were arguing. "I'm right." "No, you're wrong, I'm right." "No, I'm right, you're wrong." Pierre walked in and said, "I'm left."
We told him later that we only laughed because it was his first joke. But when I remembered it, I laughed a lot. Oh, Pierre. An idea of our relationship lies in a moment beside the little pond. There was a man outside the casino who heard me speaking English and he came over to talk. He was very chatty and ended up speaking French with Pierre and Nicola. He asked Pierre if I was his girlfriend, and he said, "No, she's my sister!"
We walked home, talking about Grimshaw and family and life, and went to bed. I slept in his brother's old room which was super awesome. He traveled to Africa, loves Bob Marley and is a huge advocate of legalizing Marijuana.
A sweet doll that I may or may not have had nightmares about...
Bahaha.
Before bed, Pierre's father gave me some chocolate from his wife who was away for the week with their current exchange student. We were both pretty sad to miss each other, but I will just have to head back.
We went into Paris and got out of the underground right below Notre Dame! 
One of the 48 (I think) bridges that connect Paris to Paris. 
Some beautiful roses at Notre Dame
Notre Dame
We went many places this day, we just walked and walked and walked and saw so may things and had such a fun time. It was really great to be with a Parisien in Paris. He would tell me stories about taking the trains or being in pubs as we passed them. We talked all day about the people in Grimshaw and had a great time. He made fun of my socks, and I made fun of his shoes, which were breaking but he did not want to wear his new ones because they still hurt his feet. It was really great to see someone I recognized from home. We talked about Paris and what we had both been doing since he left Canada and why I chose Italy instead of France. We talked about our futures and plans and it was great.
We argued about whether this was a horse hitch or a place to put your children while you went into the bank. I think I won with the horses idea.
Arc de Triumph! E multo bello. Did you know it is for all of the wars that Napolean won? I did not. There is an unknown soldier grave there too. I like those.
Pont des Arts. I liked this place. So we swapped cameras with a couple.
A pretty building with pretty columbs. Is that how you spell that? That looks crazy. Also, I should really start writing down some of these places that I go.
The front of the statue. The name reads Condocet.
This was the back of the statue. The name reads Perrin. Also, a pretty accurate representation of how much graffiti is mingled with the history in Paris.
Pierre! And the statue with two names.
Outside the Louvre. I would like to spend a whole day inside next time I go. I hear it's pretty spectacular.
More of the Louvre.
Those cute litte rats at the Louvre.
Art Nouvelle at the Louvre. There is lots of this new art around this city. Like, everywhere you go there is a very strange sculpture or big black balls lying around.
A temporary exhibit.
An Institute for Scholars. They pretty much sit there and think until their beards grow.
A picture for Rollie! Silver is coming around!
Highlander Pub and a sweet, mysterious looking alley.
A picture for Brianne. I thought you would like this and then Pierre said it looked like you.
The Great Canadian Pub! They were hiring. We met a friend here later. But that's another story for another post. 
Cute little beaver and a brunch menu. O man, do I miss brunch.
At the most beautiful fountain ever. Later, when we were on a boat, (Oh yes. A boat.) the guide said students often make it into a bubble bath. Hilarious.
The fountain
I pretty typical representation of the Italians in France.
The crowded streets that smelled of cheese and smoked meat and pasteries. I think I will label this picture "Heaven".
Sweet gargoyles on a building among cafe's and souvenir shops. Did you know souvenir means both a physical souvenir and a memory in French? I prefer them to be seperate, personally.
A pretty much perfect picture of the French Flag. But I don't want to brag. 
