600 Shots and an Irish Pub

We have a new friend! 

Zach's first night in his apartment!

Zach finally made it over to Paris, so now its Mary, Zach and me until we make more friends at school. Mary and I met up with Zach on Tuesday and took him around Pigalle, the neighborhood where his apartment is located, and helped him pick out some groceries at Carrefour. We hung out, drank Champagne and talked about Paris so far. Zach and I decided to meet up at 11 so I could help him get a phone, metro pass etc while Mary was at ISA orientation. Once we finished our errands we met up with Mary and went to the 9th arrondissement to do some shopping at the Galleries Lafayette.

So pretty

Even French department stores look like museums

Stores are only allowed to have sales during 2 government mandated periods, one that is going on right now and another in the summer. Otherwise prices stay at their normal (very high) rate. So basically, sales are a big deal. We ended up getting some clothes at H&M and I got my mom a Longchamp 'le pliage' bag for only €50! Very successful trip. 

Hunter green and on sale, what more could you want?

We all had orientation the next day, but Mary's was separate with ISA, so I met Zach at a boulangerie called Au Levian D'Antan, which won the 2011 Best Baguette in Paris award, for a quick breakfast and then we headed off to school. The first part of orientation was boring, but then we went on a boat tour of the Seine and got to see a lot of famous and historic buildings. 

Musee d"Orsay looking very French

The best part of orientation was the introduction of CIS, an organization of 4 full time students who organize events to find new bars or clubs and for everyone to socialize. They deemed an Irish Pub in Oberkampf named O'Connell's our "headquarters" bar, and all the study abroad kids went there together after our tour of the Seine for happy hour. 

The first thing that's painfully obvious the second you see the prices board is that "Happy Hour" in Paris does not mean the same thing as "Happy Hour" in Columbia, SC. We are used to dollar liquor at Monday Night Pavs and $2 Pint Night at Delaneys. O'Connell's Happy Hour is €5 vodka cranberries and €3.50 pints. I opted for the €2 sangria and, while it was a smaller portion than I'm used to, was good and cheap. 

After O'Connells, Mary, Zach and I went back and ate dinner then returned to Oberkampf. Mary's friends through her ISA study abroad program were going to a bar with 600 shots and invited us to meet them there. Of course we were down. The name of the bar is Espit Chupitos and they literally have 600 shots and nothing else. 

They have everything from LSD to Finding Nemo to Bin Laden

All shots except a select few are €2.50, but that can easily add up. Every shot has a unique twist to it, and Mary and I chose one with Pop Rocks that was recommended by a friend in ISA earlier in the night. We spent the rest of the time watching people do flaming shots, shots in syringes, shots with dances and shots that the bartender mixes in your mouth by shaking your head as fast as they can. 

Syringe shots looked painful

Since there are no descriptions with the shot names, you just have to be surprised and hope you didn't chose one with tabasco sauce that leaves you crying. 

P.S. Since I know everyone is wondering, we did find a hair dryer and curling wand at Carrefour!!

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