The Opposite of Vegas

It's been an eventful weekend!

Friday night, Brit, Suzanne, Stephanie (Suzanne's classmate), and I went to meet Ben at New York Club - the hot new club in Paris. Ben's friend had organized a party at the club and we were on the list... or so we thought. The beret-wearing, cigarette-smoking, epitome of French snobbery bouncer decided that the rules had changed and there was no more list. After looking us up and down with his evil eyes, he determined for no particular reason that the 4 lovely ladies could not come into the club. However, he would let Ben, a sole man, into the club by himself. We deduced the reason was the cloud of American patriotism that followed us as we walked around the city. I miss Vegas!

Needless to say, the 5 of us decided to venture to another - much better - club. We went to this Austrialian bar. It was supposed to be a stopover to the Social Club,but when we walked in and heard the early 90s American rap playing, we knew we'd stumbled upon a gem. It was incredibly packed and filled with rowdy American-like party-goers (aka fun and not French), and we had a wonderful time.

To be followed by a day of shopping where I bought the cutest French jacket and purse, and a night of fondue with the girls and Sebestien and his girlfriend, "The Finn." But this wasn't just any fondue restaurant, this was a two-table joint where the tables go wall to wall so the waitors must put you on a chair and help you step over the table so you can sit on the other side. Then for 17 euros, they bring you a glass of wine, appetizers, fondue that was basically wine with a side of cheese, dessert, and a baby bottle filled with wine (apparently to get around the wine glass tax law?).

After suckling on some wine for awhile the restaurant gets quite fun and rowdy. You're packed in like sardines so you make friends very quickly. Funnily enough I was seated next to a guy who looked like Simon Camden from 7th Heaven. Even funnier - the French guys knew he looked like Simon Camden, knew the show, and the theme song. You haven't lived until you've heard young French men sing "when I see their happy faces...smiling back at me...7th Heaven..."

Today we were quite tired, but we finally met our 4th girl from the Craig's List apartment search, Marjorie. She seems well-behaved...I'm not sure if we will hear from her too often. But she did take us to a great falafel place where we stuffed ourselves before going to see the film Ce Que Pensent Les Hommes (He's Just Not That Into You). Tres mignon!!

Finally, I came home, made a yummy pasta dinner for Ben and his brother (with some sappy French music in the background, because that's what the boys listen to here), and now I'm ready for some sleep!