L'arc to Triomphe is a terrible meeting place

Last week, i had plans to meet Sibel's friend annie.  she is from portland, but staying in saint germain, just outside of paris.  we decided to go get coffee, and chose to meet at l'arc de triomphe because it is just in between us.  

after i got off the metro, i spend 20 min walking around the arc trying to figure out how the heck i could cross the street and to the monument.  there is a very wide circular street surrounding it.  eventually, i saw stairs that went under the street, and back up to the arc.  i heard dozens of languages as i made my way through the dark passageway.  i was in awe when i came up the stairs and saw the monument.  it was one of those "omg im in paris!!!!!" moments.  

now it was time to try and find annie. our phones didn't connect for some reason, so we both wandered around a huge national monument with hundreds of other people looking for someone i had never seen before.  i called my dad at 7 am in portland and asked what annie looked like.  tall and blonde.  okay, that was like everyone there.  he suggested that i cough her name loudly woody allen-style to see if anyone perked up.  there was a girl who was tall and blonde and looked lost too, so i awkwardly approached her and asked in french, "are you annie?"  she said "no," in a brittish accent.  "do you speak english?"  duh!  we laughed and she said was looking for someone too, but not me.  boo hoo.  why not? i'z a fun pursun.

so i decided we would just have to meet another time.  i walked around the monument, and then the champs d'elycee.  omg. soo many people. it was super crowded because it was beautiful sunday afternoon, and well, a busy shopping district in paris.  there were lots of high-end shops and restaurants, but mcdonalds and monoprix too.  i loved the windows at louis vuitton.  i also found some fantastic sunglasses i want--can anyone loan me 420 euros?  

i wanted to just chill outside with a latte and a magazine, but it was waaaaay too packed, so i wandered for a while and then went home.  i made a little vydeo, (click on vydeo to see video) but cut it short because i was talking to myself  ...

SMB