suitcases are for bums

We trained into Paris today...slight gong show. First of all...the land lord only gave the four of us ONE key for the door to the apartment building...not to our apartment, but to the building. So we all have a set of keys, 3 of which are useless. I left Nemours and had to BURY the keys in the dirt in a secret location and then email the girls where I left them. It's like I'm Dark Wing Duck or something. Ya, that's right, Dark Wing Duck. Anyway. Val and I got on the train and I realized I forgot my passport in Nemours, but Geoff and I need it when we fly to Rome...so off the train we get. The worst part is that Val's luggage got messed on her flight over, and now her suitcase is missing a wheel, a very vital wheel, one that makes the luggage roll and steer. We get back to Nemours and realize we have 10 minutes to get back to the apartment, get my passport and get all our luggage to the next train platform. So we devise a plan...a genius plan. I will take both the purses and sprint to the apartment, dig up the keys, unlock all the doors, get my passport, bury the keys and sprint back to the platform...meanwhile Val will take my duffle bag, her duffle bag and her POS suitecase, down a flight of stairs, under the train tracks and then back up a flight of stairs...This plan is fool-proof...
Not too worry we made it in time...just in time for metro traffic in Paris...awesome.

Safe and sound...a few steps in front on the Eiffel Tower

It's time for a baguette. 

Montargis!

Yesterday Val and I went on a true adventure. We got on the train and went in the opposite direction of Paris. We got off on the last stop and just waled around the town. You wanna know what we found? A town that Joan of Arc travelled through. WHAT! HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? Literally, we walked through history. Montargis has the most canals in France, apparently its called the Venice of France and it has a spectacular primary growth forest, with a track in the middle of it. I found a track in the middle of a forest. Only in France.

Forest in Montargis

Joan of Arc was here in 1419

Does this need a caption?

Enjoying our wine..the French way

Wandering around Montargis after a titch too much wine

Pere Lachaise

Pere Lachaise is like a town for the Dearly Departed

Kissing Oscar Wildes tomb...its what you HAVE to do, only a 9000 euro fine

Pere Lachaise

Today Val and I spent the day at Pere Lachaise (cemetary) in constant awe of the tombs. Some of them are small houses. The cemetary is so beautiful, its impossible to feel sad when one is surrounded by that much beautiy. If you took the graves away it would still be a gorgeous garden.

C'est la vie

The past few days with Val have been good. We went into Fountainebleau where every French king from the 12 - 18 century lived. The castle was magnificent and the forest garden surrounding the castle was just as grand. I was super jealous of all the runners, running through an ancient royal forest without a second thought. No words can actually explain the days here. Yesterday we trained into Paris and spent some time at Sacre Coeur, my favourite basilica here. It the most amazing place, you know that God is there the second you see it. Afterwards we walked around Paris and took more (and more) photos of The Eiffel Tower. It doesn't get old! Today we're going to take the train in the opposite direction of Paris and explore the country side. This is truly the good life, but don't mistake me, I miss everyone at home to n'th degree, it's *hard* being away from you guys!