It was so nice to be able to speak French again, and all the italian food made baguettes and crepes taste like the first time again! Oh, Paris. Tu as mon couer pour toujours!
Monday apres l'ecole Caroline and I went to Le Grand Epecerie at the Bon Marche. If you are unfortunate and do not know what that it, it is the Bergdorfs of grocery stores. How many grocery stores do you know of that decorate for Christmas? It is a wonderland of expensive cheeses, pasteries, breads, and meats. They had this entire new display of candied fruits that belong in the Louvre next to the Mona Lisa.
So, we got the ingredients for me to make some baked ziti. Because I was still craving italian and the only food we had was tons of pasta. As I was dancing around the store in a Parisienne/Christmas/amazing food frenzy, what to my wandering eyes did appear but a petit jar of PB&Co Dark Chocolate Dreams! I couldn't believe it! Santa must be real, because my Christmas gift came early, in the form of my FAVORITE peanut butter being sold in Paris!
They were also selling those ginormous containers of nutella that all the creperies have, that weight like 20 pounds. I actually considered buying it because it would save a lot of money in the long run. Had I been alone, I probably would have. Luckily Caroline was there to talk some sense into me! There are some quite funny photos of me hugging it though, which Caroline has to incriminate me with later on in life.
So, since Monday at Le Grand Epecerie had been so fun, I decided to spend my 3 hour break inbetween French and Paris Architecture class at La Lafayette Gourmand, same concept - only at Gallerie Lafayette! Along with gourmet food, they also have all these mini restaurants/shops inside where you can sit at the bar, eat fresh food, and watch all the shoppers and shop owners!
So, bien sur, I sat at the cutest one, and had the most amazing assisette de trois fromages, cut before my huge, delight-filled eyes, with this amazing salad and mini baguettes! Everyone at the bar with me was French, and I felt to Parisienne sitting and eating my cheese in the Lafayette Gourmand, chatting the cheese-man and the nice woman next to me (in French!). It was magnifique!
Afterwards, I went into the Opera Garnier to do my reading before class. Because why wouldn't I want to do my homework under the gorgeous, Marc Chagall ceiling of the Opera House, starring out into the beautiful theatre? Could there be a better place to read a chapter about Haussman's modernization of Paris? Je pense que non!
Marc Chagall is such a wonderful, modern, twist to the very Baroque Opera Garnier!
Today, it was warm!! Well, warm-ish. Paris is essentially freezg, so 50 degrees and sunny is like swimsuit weather to me now. When I got out of 3 hours of French class, the sun was shining on the Eiffel Tower, and I mentally confessing my love to it. Things are getting serious between us...
Since I had a couple hours until I had to be at the Pantheon for my architecture class, I decided to get lost in the 6eme. Getting lost in Paris is one of my favorite activities! I just go somewhere I haven't been yet, and start following the cuteness and discover the most wonderful things! Today, I was wandering about and came upon of the cutest Parisien, cobble-stone streets I've seen yet!
Rue de Mouffetard. It begins at this adorable, ivy-covered church, and ends at a beautiful sqaure with a foundtain and cafes. If that weren't enough, it is lined with the most wonderful fromageries, boulangeries, patasseries, boutiques, bucheries with chickens roasting outside! I mean, the smells alone that you get from trapsing down the rue are worth the visit! So, when I got to class I told everyone they had to go - and my teacher said "You really do go everywhere!" And I said "OUI!"
Tonight, I went to see "Tenatation" with some friends from French class. To you Americans, it's "New Moon," the second book of the Twilight saga. Which yes, I love. And yes, I know is ridiculous. But I am pretty much the queen of loving ridiculous things. So it works. So, to be a movie critic for a moment - I throughly enjoyed it! It is far better than the first movie, which Kristin, Amanda and I laughed our way through and left crushed. It is still full of cheesy moments and bad acting, but that's what makes it wonderful, non?
So afterwards I got tricked into going up to the 7eme to go to an Irish Bar. There was some important soccer game going on against Ireland and someone, and people were going mad! They told me we were going to the 5eme (close to my apt) but since I was not paying attention I realized too late that we were in the 7eme (far from my apt). But, it all worked out for the best, because just as I was leaving - the giant tour started to sparkle, and all the lights of the city were on, and I was standing there, looking around and admiring the tour, and I was SO HAPPY!
I love that the tour and I have memories together... I remember the first time I saw it! Eating a croissant from Polaine under it with Tre! Screaming and running down the rue de Montaigne at night towards it because I saw it sparkle for the first time! Having a crepe there with mom and dad when I finally returned to Paris in August! Josh taking me to the top to have an amazing lunch at Jules Verne! It's not just the Eiffel Tower to me. It's so many wonderful memories now, and I LOVE that!
First time in Paris, seeing the Tour with Tre. The best trip ever!
Tomorrow, I leave the tour, because I'm going to London! I am even extra excited because I get to see my brother, Todd - and my adorable friend, Amy! It will be so nice to spend time with family and friends I haven't seen in months!
I am also excited for London because of high tea! I LOVE having afternoon tea, and London is THE place for tea! Eveything about tea is fun! Fancy clothes, pretty setting, nice china, little sandwiches, little desserts, scones and cream, good manners! I can't wait!
Also excited because London is where Harry Potter lives! Well, technically Little Whining, but Diagon Alley is in London. And yes, I kind of believe Diagonal Alley is real.
Also because of TopShop (duh) and the queen (which I should be someday) and British accents! I love them. I am contemplating adopting one for the weekend. We'll see. My Britsh accent is kind of crap, I need to work on it before I execute this idea. Perhaps I can do that on the "tube" tomorrow!
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