Not your usual tourist day in Paris

by Alexandra Mukareva (Bulgaria)

A leap into the unknown France

Paris.January 27th. I woke up before sunrise and immediately went to the Parisian cemeteries.The doorman told me I’m crazy and told me to go away. I was very angry that I could not see the famous James Douglas Morrison memorial but eventually I got over it. My next decision to go out with some friends who live here.They suggested visiting Monmartre, Sacre Couer the Louvre and other postcard-worthy famous sights but I firmly said I wanted to explore the outskirts of the city. A little frustrated,they agreed with my idea.So we had a very nice walk in a Jew neighborhood where Jews sell delicious falafels.Unfortunately, today it is Shabbat and we have no jews or falafels. Later on, we decided to visit a “quartier” (french word for neighborhood) where North Africans sell delicious North African Manju..Then our food trip continued in another neighborhood ate Chinese food and Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi, with delicious Bangladeshi Manju. We sat at the most famous restaurant and we were served meatballs of lentils in yogurt. After the restaurant, I insisted that we go to the dreaded Saint-Denis neighborhood, from which (as they say) you cannot get out alive. There were satellites and soggy Romanian gypsies kicking a ball. We then took the subway to Saint Denis Basilica.There were late French kings and an organ in the basilica.We got out alive out of the neighborhood . As the day came to an end,I decided to be a basic tourist and not leave Paris without taking beautiful night pictures of the Eiffel Tower. In the subway, I made my way to an honorable lady who told me, "Merci!” (the only french word I know) The beautiful night pictures of the Eiffel Tower became blurry, the rain messed up my camera, I got angry again and three drunken Russians told me something in French. I replied in russian. They started laughing and I went home to drink wine.