[The view from my window.]

My room was down the hall from the main apartment. From my window, I could see the Eiffel Tower far off in the distance and I spent many nights staring at it.

We were on the 7th floor.

This is important so I’m going to repeat it —

WE WERE ON THE 7TH FLOOR!

My cousin was having a good day so she was out with her boyfriend and daughter. She locked the door. I had woken up late so I was starving but my food and the stove were in her room. I jiggled the knob. I tried to pick the lock. I looked for a key. I peeked under the door and felt the breeze coming through the open window inside her apartment.

I made a decision that causes me to shudder to this day.

I went back into my room, opened my window and climbed out into the narrow ledge.

About halfway between my window and her window, I realized that I could die. Literally.

WE WERE ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR!

I remember thinking that if I climbed back in through my window, I still wouldn’t have food so I kept going. Knees shaking, I crab-walked along the seventh story ledge of the ancient Parisian building, holding onto whatever I could grasp on the way.

I often wonder if anyone saw the crazy American desperately clinging to the side of the building like Spider-Man and I am eternally grateful that there were no cell phones back then.

I reached the window and was able to push it fully open. I grabbed onto the window ledge and hoisted my skinny leg over and dropped down into the kitchen.

It remains one of the most stupid things I have ever done.

[Same picture but the arrow shows a ledge similar to the one I traversed.]

*shudder*

Postscript~

When I initially wrote this, I sincerely thought we were on the 6th floor.  My cousin corrected me.  As I changed all of the sixes to sevens, I got the shits all over again.

[End of Part 6 of 7]