Mon Post Finale

Today was my last day in Paris...

I cannot believe it. You cannot believe it. But we all must believe it because sadly - it is true.
C'est ouvert. C'est fin. Tomorrow I return to the United States.

I don't even know how to write this last post. There is still so much to say. So much to do. So much to aime. But my time is up.

I did, however, have the ultimate last day in Paris. I know you're dying to hear about it - so let's begin.

Woke up to more neige! Falling lightly and covering Paris in a layer of buttercream frosting!

The day started with a trip up to my banque, to close my account. Which was very sad! They made me hand over my checks, and my French credit card - which they proceeded to cut in half in front of me!I had wanted to keep it as a souvenir, so I was very triste! And watching them cut it up was kind of traumatic! I needed to go to a patisserie after to feel better.

So Caroline and I went to our favorite boulangerie in the 7th, where I got my final pain au chocolat. It was parfait! Buttery, flaky, chocolate filled. Oh how I will miss seeing them stare at me in every boulangerie window. Chocolate, butter, and bread...the perfect breakfast!



Next on my list was a final trip to the Musee D'Orsay, my favorite museum of the big ones in Paris. I had to say "au revoir" to my pals Van Gogh and Degas. It would have been quite rude if I left without saying goodbye.

The musee had two amazing exhibitions on - so I spent a couple hours in there, admiring the art nouveau metro entrance and macabre, post- impressionist paintings of Erson. It is such a GORGEOUS musuem. Walking out those doors for the last time was very difficult for me. I felt like sobbing. For the fifth time that day.



As I started towards home, I noticed the snow-covered jardin de tulieries across the Seine. So I detoured and walked through it one last time, and said goodbye to the Louvre. I LOVED my runs through Tuileries. I loved watching the cute french children play with boats in the pond, and sitting in one of the nice chairs looking all the way up to l'arc de triomphe. Simply - incroyable memories.



I picked up Caroline at our apartment, and we went to have afternoon tea at Marriage Freres, which we had been wanting to do since we moved in. The smell is intoxicating when you walk through the doors, and it is adorable inside with the white-tux wearing waitors. Such a lovely experience.

We got sandwiches, sweets, and eventually were able to choose one of the 1000 kinds of tea that they have when we saw "tea du Noel". As Caroline said, "It was Christmas in a cup." The sandwiches were amazing! Foie gras, salmon croque monsieur- need I say more? The sweets included mini creme brulee, madelines and bien sur macarons. It was the most perfect afternoon, and most perfect final lunch in Paris!



Ice skating had been in my intital last-days plans since the day I saw them building the rink at Hotel de Ville. However - the rink never opened, and I was getting very frusterated....until today! It opened today! A bit ironic, non? It's like they were saving their opening day to make my last day even better! Like Paris wanted to surprise me with a going away present!

Awwwwwww Paris! You shouldn't have!
Okay, okay - you should have!

I nearly cried when I saw it was open! The rink is right in front of Hotel de Ville, with the roof sparkling, two giant christmas trees, and Notre Dame off to the left. Skating around there was like being in a dream. One of my crazy, Paris-obbsesed dreams. I could have stayed all night - but I had lots to do still before the night was over!

We jumped on the bus (LOVE the bus - it's like a free tour of Paris) and went to Trocodero, to go to the Marche du Noel one last time, and see the Eiffel Tower of course! I went to order my final crepe after a long process of choosing the stand with the person who looked most trust-worthy and capable for such an important task.



I ordered my crepe jambon fromage and explained in French to him that this was a very important crepe because it was my last. He proceeded to not only make me a truly delicious crepe, but told me I speak "tres bien" and that I am "tres jolie!" I definitely choose correctly! What a wonderful crepe making man! If I was staying another week I would make him my Parisien BFF.

I munched away, savoring every magnifique bite until I was right underneath the tour. The Eiffel Tower always takes my breath away, but when I am actually right next to it like that, I also am not able to move. I'm just paralized, not breathing - and tearing up.



I wanted to see ALL of Paris one more time on my last night, so I walked over to the Seine just in time to catch a Bateaux Parisien river cruise! I've taken Bateaux Mouche, and Vendettes du Pont Neuf - but Bateaux Parisien blew them out of the water. Or I should say out of the Seine!

They played French music the whole time (including la vie en rose, songs from An American in Paris, and au Champs Elysees)and had the most fun facts! Some of which I didn't know already, which is a true accomplishment on their part since I know everything about Paris.
I don't have to be modest. This is MY blog.

There is no way to see the city and the lights like you do from riding up and down the Seine. It is so magical. All the boat-people were talking to me since I was seule, so I got to speak a lot of French which made me even giddier than I already was. To end,you ride past the tour. I had my face pressed to the glass and tears in my eyes. I'm sure everyone else on the bateaux thought I was insane! If so, they thought right.

When I got back on land - I HAD to go up. The tour was begging me to. Because of the snow, only the first level was open so I couldn't go all the way to the top. But - I had never been to the first level, and didn't know there was a mini Eiffel Tower museum up there! Quel surprise!You can imagine I almost peed my pants when I realized that.

There are all these different paintings of the tour by various artists, and also a short film with video of Gustave, the 1889 exhibition, and even a clip from Funny Face! I was freaking out! I braved the freezing weather to walk around the outside, and say goodbye to all the beautiful things in Paris one last time. Opera, Sacre Coeur, the Pantheon, Place de la Concorde, Pont AlexandreIII, Grande Palais....This is when I started crying.

I went into the cafe and sat journaling for a bit, smiling just knowing I was inside the tour - crying because tomorrow I'll be on a plane...At least I'm flying AirFrance.

I exited the tour at 10:59,and at 11:00 the sparkling began. I stood there right in front of it for the full 5 minutes - LOVING IT, watching it sparkle and wondering how my life would go on without it. I'm not sure it will....

Then, because I have a clinical-obbsessed-with-Paris-disorder, I remained outside in the FREEZING weather for another 20 minutes, watching the Eiffel Tower do it's light show where it lights up a million different colors and ways for 10 minutes after the sparkling stops. It even turned completely pink!! I don't remember what happened next because I fainted from the sight of the pink tour.

Okay - I didn't faint. But I did stay there until 11:30, when I caught the bus back to Hotel de Ville, watching the tour get smaller and smaller as we drove away until I couldn't see it anymore. I stood in front of it for a moment, turned to look at Notre Dame, and then I walked to my apartment in the Marais for the last time - eyes filled with tears....

Go ahead and make fun of me. I know it's just because you are jealous that Paris and I are in a serious relationship.

Now I'm in my bed - for the last time. Bloggin about my Parisen day, for the last time. It's sad my blog has to end, but really - you wouldn't want to read post after post of how much I miss Paris, and baguettes, and the Eiffel Tower. And I can guarantee that is ALL I will be talking about for the rest of my life.

I want to thank you for following my adventures, and for those of you who helped me get here and supported me coming - rest assured you are on Santa's good list for doing such a good deed! The biggest and most sincere "merci beaucoup" goes to my parents. There is no way no to describe how these past 4 months have changed my life. Allowing me to come to Paris is the most generous and wonderful thing my parent's have ever done for me. I could never thank them enough.

I had the most parfait, most incroyable, most magnifique last day here. And the most parfait, most incroyable, most magnifique 4 months of my life, living in the most beautiful city in the world. And for that I am truly blessed. And truly awesome. (it's MY blog - remember)

I can't believe it's le fin. I have truly enjoyed sharing my vie parisienne with you! One day, La Blonde Parisienne will revenir to Paris to live again. So it's not "au revoir" that I must say - but instead, "à bientôt."