7e Arrt.

            The seventh district is definitely one of the most famous—and expensive—districts in Paris because of the world famous Eiffel Tower. The first time I saw the Eiffel Tower was just around the corner from the Bir Hakeim metro. I stopped right in my steps in awe. I had dreamt of this day for as long as I can remember and finally it was real life. I was looking at the real Eiffel Tower. Not posters in my friend’s bedrooms or scenes from movies but the real 301 meter high Eiffel Tower.


 I was a little surprised by the dark bronze brown color of the tower, for whatever reason I had always envisioned it to be more gold. The color really does capture the light though and give it a depth of beauty and detail. The Champs de Mars is a long lawn in the front of the tower lined with large trees on each side and gardens to the side of the trees. Hundreds of Parisians and tourists fill the lawn to enjoy each other’s company, picnics, and of course, the amazing view! One of my first real Parisian experiences was enjoying an assortment of breads, cheeses, and sausages while they drank cheap wine and smoked very many cigarettes. It’s very interesting how the smoking culture is so dramatically different from America to France. In America, the only place you’ll see many cigarettes are outside a coffee shop or maybe the smoking section at an amusement park, in France, there are as many cigarettes as there are people—Which are a lot! Still proud to say after almost four months studying abroad, I still have never smoked a cigarette!
            Near the Eiffel Tower is a popular tourist shop called Le Petit Duc. They sell an adorable assortment of baked goods including cookies shaped like the Eiffel Tower! Delicious? Yes. Overpriced? Yes. When you are living a dream though, sometimes you don’t want to walk away from a cute cookie and wake yourself up, so you have to try one!
            The Musée d’Orsay is known as the more modern Louvre. Although the work inside may not be as old, it is equally as unbelievable. You could easily spend weeks inside and never get sick of it. Each piece has an endless story behind it. Art has always had a very special place in my life. Wondering through the different museums always makes me a little sad that I changed my major from art to business, but then I remember I wouldn’t even BE here looking at the museums if it weren’t for the business school. Life is funny like that.
            On a side street away from the Eiffel Tower is the Hotel Kensington for 105€ a night. Pretty cheap! Although it is in the same district as the grand monument, it isn’t in the nicest neighborhood. In this case, the grass is a little greener on the other side of the street. The near by market sold milk for 1.32€, eggs for 3.70€ and steak for 30.11€/kg; pretty cheap for the location as well. You win some you lose some (money).