I was ecstatic to be able to see her again. The fact that we were able to spend her birthday together in France will remain a happy memory for us both for years to come. I surreptitiously planned, with the assistance of Danielle, a surprise birthday party upon her arrival. So while we spent the morning in Paris, walking along the Champs Élysées, the best part of the day was allowing her to meet my friends and see the city I now call home.
My landlady was gracious enough to allow her to stay here with me at a much cheaper rate than we would have found at any of the local hotels. Even though I frequently had class practically every morning while she was here, we passed the afternoons wandering around town and seeing the sights. I went to the local aquarium here, which I'm told is the best in western Europe (and I believe it). We walked along the ocean, picnicked in the park, and, of course, rode bikes. Rebecca isn't much of a cyclist, so mostly we strolled around town. We got to spend St. Patrick's day together, which was insane. I got a free t-shirt and hat, as well as a little drunk. There are several Irish pubs here in La Rochelle, and my friends and I managed to stop by most of them over the course of the evening.
I'll try to post some more pictures of the time we spent together, but check the separate post below for a few photos from our time together. I'll try to update further this weekend or some time next week. This blog is very taxing during a busy school year, especially when I'm hopping off to Paris every other weekend.
