Whooooo; with only today and tomorrow te explore Paris.....i was a lazy woman today and couldnt leave the house.....of course it's lovely being around DElphine and her family and I got to have a lovely Sunday meal, look through all my photos with Delphine and laugh hysterically with Delphine about funny things that have happened over our 3 or so weeks together, so it's fine that i didnt discover and explore more of Paris...I have tomorrow.
So yesterday, had a huge day....started at 10 and came home at 1....the entire time i've been in France....excluding some of the days I was sick, though i can include some sick days too, i have not gone to bed before midnight....I al a party animal.
However; even though i stayed out late with C and D's friend, my eyes were red and i was tired by 6 pm...but i worked through it;)
We started off in Montmartre and walked up, down, and around the neighborhood. There was a fabulous singing duo that i happened to hear and we were lucky enough to catch the end of their act, i swear to god one was Johnny Hallyday, the french"elvis" but when i showed the pic to Delphine, she said, "You are so not French, because no french person would believe he is Johnny."
Then we walked and we walked to the Bassin de la Villette, where I was treated to the BEST, non-homemade, French seafood meal I have had in Paris (I have to be very specific because I've had so many best meals. After a 3 hour meal, it was off to 3 different parks I've never been to, followed by the canals of St.Martin made famous in Amelie Poulain and where I was lucky enough to find rocks i could try and skip, then to a homeless encampment at the place de la republique (sf and paris are not that different; i'm so happy to learn!), an aperitif with Campari, which might be one of the worst types of alcohol i've ever tried, then a nighttime bikeride past le louvre, notredame, les iles de la cite, and the latin quarter and finally a picnic along the Seine including a candle...because as C and D's french friend explained you always have to have a romantic moment in Paris.
So...I had to rest today. 4 big, packed days and one more tomorrow, and then home again home again, jiggidy jig.
xoxoxoxoxo
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
latin quarter
Yesterday, i was this close to the tomb of Alexander Dumas!!!!!!! He was along side Hugo and Zola.....which leans he is a "grand ecrivain"!!!! an important french writer!!!!! my teacher's at SJ State always downplayed his influence, stuck their nose up at his style, and wouldnt include his books in any of our classes.....ok ok, so some of his books are swashbuckling heroic tales, but still...oh it was magic to be in the Pantheon,this close!
Today I'm not sure what I'm doing but going to meet up with a friend of Cyrille and Delphine's and probably walk around Montmartre, Belleville, and the canals of Amelie Poulain.
xoxoxox
Today I'm not sure what I'm doing but going to meet up with a friend of Cyrille and Delphine's and probably walk around Montmartre, Belleville, and the canals of Amelie Poulain.
xoxoxox
3rd brush with death!!!!
Wow, yesterday was certainly not a walking death tour....it was a deathride on a bike; I was sure I was going to die because Delphine was my guide and her philosophy is, "Well if they hit you, it's their fault!" Good God, My Lord!!!
None the less, touring Paris on a bike, which I have not done before and really only if you are French do you do it;), was fantastic. We went into the opera, (I now have to go to the Milan opera house to compare but Paris's house is opulance to the t) While the actual stage and seating is small in comparison to SF, outside, the staircases leading up, the large salons on each floor, truly the opera house is a place to show off your finery and be seen! Then it was off to La comedie Francaise, the big theater in Paris, which used to be a palace, and then to Marais, the gay neighborhood....sadly i didnt dance, but I did exchange a bauble for a few others (thank you Mick)
Then it was off to the Jardin des Plantes, the oldest structure in Paris, a roman arena, which was kinda like a circle of rubble, then on to an old aquaduct that has been turned into a raised park above the streets near la gare de lyon, and finally a race to Belleville....but sadly we didnt make it because we were meeting a friend of C and D, who took us to a Mauritien restaurant, he's from l'ile Maurites, and we went for drinks afterwards....a very big day.
And finally, I also realized that Paris is not that different from SF in that there are sadly a lot of beggars and crazy people. In Begle, where D and C live, I had run into my first crazy person, a man who told me, "You cant kill me". It's true, I couldnt kill him. Yesterday, though was a different story. As we were parking our 'Velibs' and then getting new bikes, a guy with a beer can in his hand told me that the way I "style my hair" was all wrong, that my glasses are wrong because my eyes are too small, and that I was ugly. Delphine thought it was hilarious that i attract crazy people....i find it hilarious that not all frenchies are adorable!
xoxoxox
None the less, touring Paris on a bike, which I have not done before and really only if you are French do you do it;), was fantastic. We went into the opera, (I now have to go to the Milan opera house to compare but Paris's house is opulance to the t) While the actual stage and seating is small in comparison to SF, outside, the staircases leading up, the large salons on each floor, truly the opera house is a place to show off your finery and be seen! Then it was off to La comedie Francaise, the big theater in Paris, which used to be a palace, and then to Marais, the gay neighborhood....sadly i didnt dance, but I did exchange a bauble for a few others (thank you Mick)
Then it was off to the Jardin des Plantes, the oldest structure in Paris, a roman arena, which was kinda like a circle of rubble, then on to an old aquaduct that has been turned into a raised park above the streets near la gare de lyon, and finally a race to Belleville....but sadly we didnt make it because we were meeting a friend of C and D, who took us to a Mauritien restaurant, he's from l'ile Maurites, and we went for drinks afterwards....a very big day.
And finally, I also realized that Paris is not that different from SF in that there are sadly a lot of beggars and crazy people. In Begle, where D and C live, I had run into my first crazy person, a man who told me, "You cant kill me". It's true, I couldnt kill him. Yesterday, though was a different story. As we were parking our 'Velibs' and then getting new bikes, a guy with a beer can in his hand told me that the way I "style my hair" was all wrong, that my glasses are wrong because my eyes are too small, and that I was ugly. Delphine thought it was hilarious that i attract crazy people....i find it hilarious that not all frenchies are adorable!
xoxoxox
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Day of the DEad
I love Paris...it is romantic, magical, bursting with excitement....it's amazing!!!! and so on my first full day, I decided to go on a death walk. Inspired by my sister and figuring at least one person in the family should do it, I went to the catacombs...Now, i dont know if i described Carcasonne at all, but it was like Disneyland....and well the catacombs was like waiting for a ride at Disneyland...Bif, I waited 2 hours in line to get in!!!!! That's the only time and the longest I've had to wait in line this entire trip...but it's Paris; I can wait! Everything in Paris is worth the wait....and the catacombs were incredibly interesting. I greatly admired the detail oriented workmanship of placing the bones in a very organized manner:)
Then I went and walked around the cemetary in Montparnasse, I saw the tomb of Beauvoir and Sartre and missed Man Ray, Col. Dreyfus, Serge Gainsbourg, Marguerite Duras....basically everyone else....including Petain....but that would have been a long shot to find since he wasnt even listed with the other noteworthy individuals.
Then it was on to more death in churches!!!!! Went to 4 I've never been too, tried to get into the Pantheon another great crypt for the dead but it was closed...c'est la vie.
Finally, walked on the Ile St. Louis and then came back to Delphine's parents house for another home-cooked meal and voila!!!
If you havent guessed, I am doing things that I havent done before and trying to stay off the beaten path....of course 2 hours waiting in line at the catacombs is not a non-touristy site....but then again I'm in Paris in August and basically it's one big city of tourists right now.
Tomorrow, Delphine is coming with me for an adventure!
xoxoxoxoxo
Then I went and walked around the cemetary in Montparnasse, I saw the tomb of Beauvoir and Sartre and missed Man Ray, Col. Dreyfus, Serge Gainsbourg, Marguerite Duras....basically everyone else....including Petain....but that would have been a long shot to find since he wasnt even listed with the other noteworthy individuals.
Then it was on to more death in churches!!!!! Went to 4 I've never been too, tried to get into the Pantheon another great crypt for the dead but it was closed...c'est la vie.
Finally, walked on the Ile St. Louis and then came back to Delphine's parents house for another home-cooked meal and voila!!!
If you havent guessed, I am doing things that I havent done before and trying to stay off the beaten path....of course 2 hours waiting in line at the catacombs is not a non-touristy site....but then again I'm in Paris in August and basically it's one big city of tourists right now.
Tomorrow, Delphine is coming with me for an adventure!
xoxoxoxoxo
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Paris Paris!!!!
My weekend in Pays Basque was absolutely amazing!!!! I have never eaten so much in one weekend and never met so many family members, that are all amusing, adorable, and very proud of their Basque coutryside.
And then we came back to Bordeaux last night where Delphine declares diet and noone would drink any wine with me because they said they drank too much already....Pffff....they're still adorable but that's not very French!
So Cyrille is not continuing with us to Paris and I was very sad to say good-bye because he's a very nice, good Frenchie and though he said I can come back whenever I want, I dont think we'll ever be able to travel the 3 of us like we did this trip. It will of course be different the next time I come to France. ;)
But if I write cards to all of his family members, like his grandmother hinted to me on 10 different occasions, I will remain in their good graces.....as many of them said, I was absolutely charming;) ;) ;) hee hee hee hee!
Oh they're adorable!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
And then we came back to Bordeaux last night where Delphine declares diet and noone would drink any wine with me because they said they drank too much already....Pffff....they're still adorable but that's not very French!
So Cyrille is not continuing with us to Paris and I was very sad to say good-bye because he's a very nice, good Frenchie and though he said I can come back whenever I want, I dont think we'll ever be able to travel the 3 of us like we did this trip. It will of course be different the next time I come to France. ;)
But if I write cards to all of his family members, like his grandmother hinted to me on 10 different occasions, I will remain in their good graces.....as many of them said, I was absolutely charming;) ;) ;) hee hee hee hee!
Oh they're adorable!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Sunday, August 15, 2010
la fete de la famille
Yesterday went into Bayonne, a small/large city/village depending upon who you talk to.
I went on my own and did a little shopping, a little walking, and a little people watching.
Then Went back to Tarnos to meet C and D and off to Espelette, an authentic BAsque town where C and D were married and where C's aunt lives.
D and C gratiously reenacted marriage photos for me and i did a little more shopping and tasted a little bit of this and a little bit of that in the cheese, meat, and chocolate.
Then it was another big meal!!!!Fois gras, cheese, gateau basque, wine, champagne....more and more relatives.
And in a couple minutes, another family midday meal!!!!!
I love it!!!!
xoxoxoxox
I went on my own and did a little shopping, a little walking, and a little people watching.
Then Went back to Tarnos to meet C and D and off to Espelette, an authentic BAsque town where C and D were married and where C's aunt lives.
D and C gratiously reenacted marriage photos for me and i did a little more shopping and tasted a little bit of this and a little bit of that in the cheese, meat, and chocolate.
Then it was another big meal!!!!Fois gras, cheese, gateau basque, wine, champagne....more and more relatives.
And in a couple minutes, another family midday meal!!!!!
I love it!!!!
xoxoxoxox
Saturday, August 14, 2010
La fete de Bardos
The basque country is not good for the waist line. There's no denying that most French like to eat but here at least when family comes over or there's a festival most of the day is reserved for eating and drinking.
We arrived in Tarnos, a suburb of Bayonne, yesterday around noon and went straight to Cyrille's grandmother's house. There we had a noonday meal, (buffalo mozzarella/tomato salad, sirloin steak with onions, potatoes with fresh cepe mushrooms!!!!!, cheese, fromage blanc with berries, lots of wine and pastis)which lasted until 4 and then at 5 went to Cyrille's great uncle's house for the aperitif (more pastis and champagne), and then at 9 went to the festival where there were more aperitifs (pastis) and dinner(tuna steak, pipperade, bardos cheese, gateau basque, and of course more wine), which concluded around midnight-1in the morning. What did i do in between eating and drinking, sit and chat!
Now i am not complaining because the food was excellent, the conversations were greatly amusing, and of course the French are adorable! But I am likely to come back weighing a ton! It's ok, i'm on vacation!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
We arrived in Tarnos, a suburb of Bayonne, yesterday around noon and went straight to Cyrille's grandmother's house. There we had a noonday meal, (buffalo mozzarella/tomato salad, sirloin steak with onions, potatoes with fresh cepe mushrooms!!!!!, cheese, fromage blanc with berries, lots of wine and pastis)which lasted until 4 and then at 5 went to Cyrille's great uncle's house for the aperitif (more pastis and champagne), and then at 9 went to the festival where there were more aperitifs (pastis) and dinner(tuna steak, pipperade, bardos cheese, gateau basque, and of course more wine), which concluded around midnight-1in the morning. What did i do in between eating and drinking, sit and chat!
Now i am not complaining because the food was excellent, the conversations were greatly amusing, and of course the French are adorable! But I am likely to come back weighing a ton! It's ok, i'm on vacation!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)