Il Faut Que Je...

Today is the day I have long been dreading! December 1st...
The day that marks the beginning of my last month in Paris...
There is only 17 days left until I have to pack my bags - and leave Paris...
My eyes are tearing up just thinking about it.

3 months of living in Paris has flown by. I really feel like I live here now. I know my way around without my map (most of the time). I know the best boulangeries to get a fresh, crispy, baguette. I can almost visualize from memory the impressionism rooms of the Musee d'Orsay. I've even gotten used to the million stairs I have to climb to get into the apartment.

So - my plan of attack is to be the most proactive I've ever been. Not waste an hour when I could be doing things in Paris.

However - my annoying finals are going to get in the way of my Parisien fun! So I will do my best to not fail out of school while still spending my afternoons strolling through St. Germain.

I have made a list of things that I must do before I leave Paris. It's divided into 2 parts
"things I still must do" and "things I must do again." It's a work in progress - but here is the start.

Things I must still do...
-afternoon tea at Laudree
- visit the Grand Palais
- Musee de le Quai Branly
- Maison de Victor Hugo
- stroll and shop on Rue Mouffertard
- tea at Marriage Freres
- go to Merci
- have a fondu dinner in Montmarte
- eat a religeuse
- walk through le parc Buttes Charmont
- tour the Catacombs
- Musee de la Vie Romantique
- get ice cream from Berthillon
- voir un film au Cinema Rex

Things I Must Do Encore
- go to the top of the Eiffel Tower
- spend a dat at the Louvre
- Musee D'Orsay
- indulge in chocolat chaud at Angelina's
- sit in the Opera Garnier and stare at Chagalls ceiling
- wander around Montmarte and pray in Sacre Coeur
- get macarons at Pierre Herme
- Musee Rodin
- Seine boat ride at night
- shop at Gallerie Lafayette & Printemps
- get a croissant at Polaine
- drink wine and eat cheese on the Champs de Mars

My last day must be planned out carefully! Full of crepes, tour-gazing, and la vie en rose singing. (And inevitably lots of crying.)

I need to mention that now that it is December 1st - the offical month of Christmas - the decorations throughout the city are plentifull! Every rue is lined with unique Christmas lights, garlands, tress! Paris is so magical at Christmas! On the bus-ride home tonight I basically had my face pressed to the window starring out and oooing and awwwing!

As we rode past the Louvre, I looked out over the jardin de Tuileries, and saw the giant ferris wheel lit-up and the arc de triomphe glowing in the background - I literally jumped up out of my seat and my heart stopped.

And it just made me say - Paris... je t'aime!

Tonight I went to the Cinema Pagode. It is a very famous, old, Parisien movie theatre that is Japanese-inspired and beautifully decorated inside with Japanese influence! A famous French actress, Fanny Ardant was giving an interview-type thing there and they showed a bunch of clips from her most famous films!

It was in French - and I could understand almost every word! It made me feel so wonderful! She pronounced everything so clearly and spoke a slower pace (compared to most parisiens) so I caught almost everything she said! Even jokes!

The night at the cinema was quite fitting because yesterday after class, I went to the Cinematique Francais! It is the museum of the cinema, and also a movie theatre of international and classic films. It was sooo incredible inside!

They had a free audio-guide - which I LOVE - because then you get to learn all about everything you're seeing in depth! The museum had some amazing things. From the very first ways of doing special affects, to early camera, and even several costumes! My favorite things were the costume of the woman from the movie Metropolis, which I watched and wrote an essay about in the 10th grade! And still remember vividly! And also the dresses from both All About Eve and Little Women! It was tres incroyable!

Perhaps tomorrow I should make it a true cinema week by going to see a French film at the Cinema Rex! I've got to start working on that "things I still must do" list immeaditely!