Thursday 8-23

     I am now sitting in a train on my way to Interlaken, Switzerland.  This is a six hour train ride, so I have quite some time to sit and be reflective.
     Yesterday was our last day in Paris.  Right after I wrote you last I had quite a fright!  I asked the information desk at the metro station for directions back to the hotel.  I followed the directions and ended up in a town where noone spoke English.  After asking about 6 or 7 people if they spoke English and could help me, I finally found someone.  She was an angel who made directions very clear.  She pointed to where I was on the map, and I learned I was in the complete opposite side of the city from where I wanted to be.  I then followed this angel's directions, but -silly me- I took the correct train, but I ended up going the wrong direction.  At the next stop, I got off to turn around.  At this stop, I made eye contact with a man.  I smiled at him.  He did not smile back in response, so I looked away.  After about a minute, I looked back at him only to see him staring at me- no smile, just a stern look in his eyes.  I smiled again, and he just glared back.  The train came and this guy was behind me.  To make sure he wasn't following me, I walked quickly to the other train car to be sure. 
     He followed.
     By this time I am completely freaked out. -Thank you so much Zach Boever for showing me the movie Taken :P-
     Since I knew this guy was no good (and maybe I was wrong, but I couldn't be sure) I had to get away.  I mean here I was all alone, lost, and in a whole new country.  No way was I going to be a target.  Bring it on Buddy!!!!
     To ease my anxiety (or paranoia), I jumped off the train a millisecond before the doors closed.  No way was he going to follow me now!  Ha! Sucker!  I then waited for the next train and was eventually back at the hotel safe and sound :-) 

    That night, the girls and I had a idea to picnic in front of the Eiffel tower at sunset with a bottle of wine and dinner. Once it would get really dark after eating, we would climb to the top.
     Our idea did not go according to plan.
     Instead of sharing one bottle, the girls decided to buy their own bottle. Each. I bought a small bottle and drank only a small glass of it.  The other girls, however, finished an entire bottle on their own.....:-/  Can you guess what hapened next?  Ding ding ding!  You are correct! Yep, instead of climbing the tower, we ended up caring for one of the girls who puked in front of the tower. 

It was a memorable day AND night.  Bonjour Paris!