Raoul, Cupcakes, et Roti Magnifique!

Today may have been one of my most wonderful days in Paris yet!

I had no classes at AUP today! Both my French class and Art class were held walking about les rues! I started with French class, where we went down to Montparnasse, where I had not yet been! Madame Picard showed us around the area, pointing out her favorite cafes, cinemas, et boulangeries! We stopped at a cafe for chocolate chaud and just talked about la vie! There was a street marche that we walked through, looking at jewlery, food, clothes, art, all the various things in the market. We talked to the venders in French, we laughed, we bargined, then we walked some more! It was so fun! Our tour continued through les jardin de luxembourg, and ended near la Sorbonne, and I had a bit of time to walk around and up to Les Halles for my other class, History of Paris through its Architecture. Today we met at St. Eustache, and learned about the church there becuase it is a great example of a hybrid style (half gothic half Renassiance). It is a beautiful church, patroned by the marketplace that used to thrive during the reign of Francis 1 in the fifteenth century. Tres beaux et magnifique! We also went to the Fountain of Innocents, right beside it. I am learning so much about Paris - I love it! It is so fun to see things and know the history behind them! It makes everything even better than it is.

It was beautiful today! So after class was finished I hopped on a Velib and biked over La Bourse to go to the outdoor market and buy a chicken for dinner! If you don't know - In Paris there are Rotis on the street, that have chickens roasting in them and potatoes cooking under! So the potatoes have all the chicken flavors dripping on them while they both cook. It is AMAZING! The smell alone makes your mouth water, and I hadn't eaten since breakfast so I was starving! But - I got to la bourse and the market was fini! A bit discouraged, I got another velib and headed back towards le marais. On the way, a cute and delicious looking organic store caught my eye, so I locked my bike up and went inside to see if they had something for dinner! When I came out minutes later, without food, I could not get my velib unlocked! The key wouldn't turn! I flagged down other bikers for help after trying myself for 15 minutes, but no one could unlock my bike!

You get charged by the 1/2 hour for your velib, so you don't want to just leave it sitting there! And if you don't return it in 24 hours, they charge you 150 euros! So it was crucial that I unlocked my velib fast! I decided to go search for a policeman, meanwhile I attempted to explain my problem in French over the phone to the police. I must have looked very distressed, because three men sitting in tabac saw and overheard me, and offered to help.

They were a funny group. A young french guy - Raoul, who was playing cards with an old french guy, Marcel, and the bartender, a young italian guy, was keeping their score. It was their daily routine: sit in the Tabac, play cards, have a boisson, and they were quite funny. I tried to explain my problem in French to them, and I think they only half understood me - because Raoul responded with "Cheri, don't worry about the bike - what would you like to drink!" But I didn't want a drink - I wanted help! So, I re-explained my problem with many gestures, to their amusement, until the bartender presented me with these giant wire clippers - and told me to clip the cord! I took the pliers and tried it, but the cord had metal inside so it was not working. While I attempted to vandalize my velib, Raoul came out to help me, and was able to turn the key and unlock my velib! I was so relieved, and my new friends insisted that I have a "coke light" to celebrate. They were a funny trio - Raoul from Paris, Marcel from Provence, and the bartender from Italy. After much laughing, bad French, and a proposal of marriage from Raoul, I thanked them all again for their help - and started walking towards home again.

I turned down a street I had not yet seen, and it turned out to be la rue de la chance! Right there was a charcuterie with a roti, roasting chickens and potatoes! The butcher told me "dix minute pour le petit poulet', so I occupied myself by continuing down the rue - and found a cupcake shop! I could hardly believe it! 15 flavors of cupcakes and mini cupcakes, beautifully decorated and lined up in a case! Monsier Cupcake began to tell me the flavors: Oreo, red velvet, chocolat blanc, poivre, peanut m&m, casis, and I stopped him at "caramel burre salee"! Une petit si vous plait! OMG was it amazing! There was salted carmel filling, carmel frosting, and chunks of peanuts on top as a garnish. All in a two bite, mini gateaux! Dessert before dinner! High on frosting, I continued to find the cutest little shop of clothes, shoes, and umbrellas that was so cheap! I tried on some robes and contemplated buying a black umbrella with cream hearts and ruffle trim, but decided to wait until I lose or break my current umbrella. Which will happen any day, most likely, given my history with umbrellas. Which could be a whole blog post on it's own. It rains a lot in Paris, so a cute umbrella is a must have for la blonde parisienne!

So after all my fun, I went back to the butcher and bought my little chicken and yummy potatoes, and carried them home with the smell sweet of rotisserie teasing my tastebuds with every step. Inside, I carved the chicken, dished up some potatoes, poured a glass of vin, put on my French music, and had a delightful fin to a delightful day!

Oh, I forgot to mention.... I am never leaving Paris!