Everyone in Paris had spring fever today, and I was right there with them. It was a rare day for me insofar as I was done with class at 11:00 am. Faced with a beautiful day and an open schedule, I did what any normal pseudo-tourist would do. I walked. I walked from my apartment to Beaubourg and back. I sat outside the Centre Pompidou and people watched and drank hot coffee even though it was so warm out that I got a little sunburnt.

Most of Paris smells like Bourbon Street, except replace the stale beer smell with dog poo. On my walk, however, I passed a small square on rue Rivoli that was overwhelmed with lilac and honeysuckle bushes. It smelled so fresh and so delicious that I kind of freaked out a little. I stood as near to the gate as I could and just inhaled for a full five minutes. I didn’t look any crazier than most people in Paris, and hey, even city folk appreciate a little freshness.