c'est comme ça // it's like that

After almost a month in France, I still find myself mostly enamored with the Parisians. What I want from them will come when it will come, but in the meanwhile, there are two things that I would like to ask of them. Specifically, two things that I would like to ask of Frenchmen:

1. I respectfully ask the men who 35+ years of age to please refrain from hitting on me or checking me out. While flattering, it is also creepy. On the other hand, if you could, please do introduce me to your sons. They don't notice me nearly as much as you do, and it'd be nice if that changed.
2. I also respectfully ask that Frenchmen of all ages refrain from excreting any bodily fluids in public. It is just gross. Taking little Capitaine Jacques out in the middle of a crowded street is just not cool. There are bathrooms nearby.

Just for the record, the above two points are not related. But I just thought I'd put it out there.

This weekend was the journées du patrimoine in France, where all the public buildings are open to the public, even if they are not normally. This means that places like l'Elysée become really crowded, and that people stand in line for five hours hoping to catch a glimpse of Nicholas and Carla.

I went to l'Assemblée Nationale. This is effectively the building where the legislative branch of the French government works. It was not as big as I expected it to be--or maybe it was just because it seemed much more...homey?...than Capitol Hill does? At the same time, it was very opulent and lavishly decorated.

This is me attempting to look picturesque.


These are random men who have been paid to stand there and look like they are doing something important. So that tourists like me can stand there and gawk.


Opulence.


Some random ceiling.


Big hall where all the deputies live. I mean, make law and discuss stuff.

The rest of the pictures, as always, are on facebook.

After my trip to the National Assembly, we waited for a while on Line 12 of the Metro to get on and see this old, old train from the end of the 1930s. I got a free postcard! And the train was pretty cool looking. There were different cars for different classes. The first time around, I was in the second-class car. The second time, I upgraded to first class.

Up next: cooking lessons in swanky Parisian apartments and discovering long-lost relatives.