strasbourg and paris

just wanted to say that we had a good time in strasbourg and im glad we added it into our trip. the first day there we just wandered around for a long while. it was nice because its quite smaller that where we are used to being. it felt like a cozy little city. yes, still a city yet it didnt feel like one. we found a few fun stores and wandered into them and got some good tea and coffee. there are lots of canals there too so we were constantly around water again. of course we wandered around the old town a bit, something almost every city in europe seems to have. its just like a part of the city where the older-style buildings have been preserved and it just looks quite quaint. it felt really good in that part of strasbourg too, i really enjoyed being there. if felt homey. the second day we had there was the day of the music festival that takes places throughout all of france. it started slow and got busy fast. there were tons of bands playing all over the whole little city. each of the bigger sets were only 30 minutes and there were probably ten sets per "stage." and there were many stages. plus all the people randomly set up everywhere. we saw young kids playing too. we hung out around one band playing classic rock songs. its funny to hear sweet home alabama with a french accent, haha. but it was really fun. actually, that bands music was spot on, the singing was the only slightly odd part, other than that it was well done. it was fun to just happen to be there while that was going on, and knowing that the entire country was filled with people doing the same thing. it was good to share something thats such a celebration and special to that county. i know we have music festivals at home, but it was just interesting to me that it was country-wide. the people we couchsurfed with there were really nice and we actually had our own room because one roommate had finished school and went home. we were very welcome there and it just felt good to have some space.

here in paris we are staying with frederique and shes a nice woman as well. we have own own room and shower, we are quite spoiled! couchsurfing we typically expect to really just be on the couch but this has been nice. we slept late today and werent in anyones way. we have a key in and out and just come and go as we please. yesterday we wandered some parts of paris weve never been and i felt like i was ina different city. weve never stayed in or been around this end of the city so its fun and new even though weve been in paris twice before now. we are forever discovering new things. we went to the pompidou museum and actually just spent time in the bookstore and boutique. its a pretty amazing building. its really fun and almost feels like cosi or something, haha. for the most part weve just been happy wandering around new parts of paris (new to us) and eating japanese food. haha, i know, its probably a sin to eat japanese food while in paris but it was so darn good! hahaha. shh, dont tell!

okay, well i must sleep now, its midnight. this is our last nite here. tomorrow we head to the airport at midnight (catching the last metro train) and our flight leaves at 6am. weve got one short flight to frankfurt and then an 8-9 hour flight to detroit so we will sleep on there. ill try and write tomorrow before we head to the airport.

much love,
adri