My Time in Paris Part 2

Continued ...

In desperate need to exchange money, I decide to walk back to my hotel, hoping the handsome Frenchman working the desk would be so kind to give me directions to exchange money. He did, ironically back in the direction I was originally. No problem. I had enough money to take a bus, which he told me how to do. At the bus stop, I am waiting by a typical elderly couple, looking through my purse to find the International numbers my sister Amy gave me in case of an emergency. Her last words to me: "don't lose these because it is just like money.". Yep, the post-note went flying. I have to go behind the bench to retrieve it, and when I do, the bus comes. I'm literally showing my American side by yelling, "hold the bus, hold the bus" with the couple staring at me, not quite sure what to make of this silly woman. But no worries-- I get on! yes! Once seated, I look up to see that the bus is not going in the direction I assumed, so I look around and realize that I am on Bus 92, NOT 80. Yep, insert the line, my friends ...

So with no Euros, I have to get off the bus and hike the very, very, very long journey to Champ Élysées, the famous street, known for its shops, its wealth, its Arc de Triumpe. A year later (deliberate use of exaggeration), I arrive on this street, passing so many places I would have enjoyed seeing, but this gal was still in panic mode, seeing myself eventually begging for a few Euros to eat ... I could surely find a kind couple who would take pity on me. Believe me, I am not exaggerating these thoughts ...

Finally, the Exchange Station! I will be just fine, a little hot and sweaty, my feet aching, but I have money. Damn, I am hungry and thirsty. By now, though, the thought of sitting down to wait for a meal on this avenue of materialism and exploitation just didn't seem right, so I grabbed the American Baseball meal of choice ---a hotdog and an Evian water.

I further didn't feel the desire anymore to climb the Arc, which I had planned to do the next day, so I pulled the Chevey Chase's character in the movie Vacation when Clark Griswold says to his family after stealing money, "Look kids, the Grand Canyon" and then moving them along after a minute. If you haven't seen this classic, this comical moment will be lost, so let's just say that the Arc, a magnificent site, didn't receive its worthy attention from me. Smiling, I took the less tourist-infested streets and found myself truly enjoying my journey ...