Friday night I met some friends at a wine bar in the center of town for my friend's birthday(very far from my home). I was so proud that I found the place by myself, even if it meant turning the wrong way down several streets and stopping on street corners to glance at my pocket map. The bar was ridiculous. It was literally a wine cave, packed with young French folk. The best part was that the music they played was old French music and Hebrew music. Yes, that’s right. They played the Hava Nagila and about 50+ French people started jumping up and down and singing along! (See video)
Anyways, the bar got super hot with sweaty Frenchmen, so I went outside and stood around with friends trying to figure out what to do and where to go. At the recommendation of my friend’s host brother (a 22 year old French dude), a few of us headed to the Seine to hang out. However, being my first night out in Paris, I was worried about getting home all by myself. The French dude, Christophe, promised me that the metro stopped at 2am. False.
I took his word for it, and walked to the metro around a quarter to 2. It was closed. I called my friends to come get me. Christophe helped me find the night bus that would take me close to my apartment, and he stuck me on the bus without another word. Bam. I was on the night bus by myself heading somewhere towards the Arc de Triomphe. Fortunately, I live near the Arc and it’s easy enough to figure out which stop is mine. Regardless, I still hate buses. But I did manage to get off at my stop. I walked from the stop to my apartment, about a 7 minute walk. I got harassed twice. The first time, 2 guys crossed a street in my direction trying to get my attention “Mademoiselle! Mademoiselle!” No idea what they wanted, I kept walking. Next, some guy got in my face asking me for a cigarette. Being a woman of few words, I decisively said “Non!” and kept walking. I managed to get into my apartment around 3am, exhausted, but glad to be home.
I think from now on I’m going limit my going out in Paris (even though it wasn’t a crazy night at all and I was 110% sober!) It’s unfortunate that I live so far away from everyone else, but once I get better with the metro and directions it’ll be better.
I took his word for it, and walked to the metro around a quarter to 2. It was closed. I called my friends to come get me. Christophe helped me find the night bus that would take me close to my apartment, and he stuck me on the bus without another word. Bam. I was on the night bus by myself heading somewhere towards the Arc de Triomphe. Fortunately, I live near the Arc and it’s easy enough to figure out which stop is mine. Regardless, I still hate buses. But I did manage to get off at my stop. I walked from the stop to my apartment, about a 7 minute walk. I got harassed twice. The first time, 2 guys crossed a street in my direction trying to get my attention “Mademoiselle! Mademoiselle!” No idea what they wanted, I kept walking. Next, some guy got in my face asking me for a cigarette. Being a woman of few words, I decisively said “Non!” and kept walking. I managed to get into my apartment around 3am, exhausted, but glad to be home.
I think from now on I’m going limit my going out in Paris (even though it wasn’t a crazy night at all and I was 110% sober!) It’s unfortunate that I live so far away from everyone else, but once I get better with the metro and directions it’ll be better.
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