Day 40 of 78: Confessions and addictions

 Ladies and gentleman, it's official! I have a full blown addiction to Le Louvre. I went today for the umpteenth time. That place makes me feel like a million bucks. I walk and walk and walk and always have something new to see. Sometimes I just sit in there and think about all the history and beauty I'm surrounded by. Feel so luck to be there every single time. O boy! That was extra mushy. I can't help myself.

Today I visited Napoleon's apartment again, my old pal Mona Lisa and did a drive by Nike. That plus a million other pieces along the way. I walked there instead of the metro and walked back. That's about 6 added miles to these limbs...needless to say I'm soaking up all that I can.

I also passed by another one of my favorite Parisian gems. It's a gallery and studio shared by tons of different artist. It's free and open to the public. Each level has 2-4 artists studio's. Some are there at work and others perhaps on a coffee break. Every one different then the last and all with their own spin on their individual space. It's pretty amazing and like nothing I've seen before. I'm not sure what it's called but it's right on the Rivoli, East of the Louve and you can't possibly miss it.

Day 39 of 78: Locks of love

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m using you as my work out diary. I’d just like to say thanks for listening. Makes me feel loads of love. So…Yes! I went for another run this morning. Are you proud of me? I’ll take that as a yes. Today there were more people working out than ever before. Takes that whole alien stigma right off my shoulders. In fact, this whole city is swelling up. I hear it is because with the end of August nearly here, all the locals are back. 

 

The first of Camilla’s friends from Spain arrive. Three gals in all, all arriving on separate days. Patty was the first. The moment I met her she jumped from the couch, full of life and smile from ear to ear. The Spaniards are wonderful people! I happen to have a special place in my heart for those from Madrid. Always full of life, warm, welcoming just feels damn good to be around them. Patty was no exception.

 We spent the afternoon roaming the streets of Paris and all along the Seine. First stop was the bridge of love  aka Ponts de Arts. It is covered end to end with padlocks that lovers attach to its rails and then throw the key into the Seine below.  With the backdrop of the city and the boats passing by, you can’t help but buy into the romance. I’d also like to note that it was in the last episode of Sex and the City. The truth comes out! I am in fact a girly girl at heart. It just took a little Parisian stroll or 38 of them to bring it to the surface. 

I’ll have you know, I tried my very first taste of beef Tartar and it was fantastic! Not at all what I expected. I was thinking it would just taste like meat, like a rare burger. Not the case, flavorful, texturally pleasing and absolutely delicious.

LA & New York...singing along

Madrid, Paris, Miami, LA

Day 38 of 78: Randomness

A 2 hour walk followed by a morning run….This place is so darn expensive that perhaps physical fitness should be my full time pass time. Truth be told, there are so many wonderful things to encounter down every street. Every district different from the last and every back alley holding it’s on charm. New York is the closest thing we have and even then, there is something about here that feels so much more diverse. My favorites are the random passages to be discovered. They don’t happen often but when they do, it’s always a surprise. You’ll just be walking down any street and where there may be a store front is an alley way to a bundle of shops, most often winding in. 

Here are a few of the random other things I’ve encountered on my walks….for a Parisian they may seem mundane. For American’s this does not just happen! 

 

Day 37 of 78: Part 1...Happy Birthday Mommy

I woke up this morning a bit tired. I was restless all night with thoughts of how I could celebrate my mother’s birthday. At home, I like to get together with my family and tell stories of her life and look at pictures over dinner and drinks. Ever since she passed away 3 years ago, I’ve hoped to not consider the day she passed as her day of remembrances but instead the day she was born. It helps shine a little light and joy on an otherwise heartrending day. I’d hoped to do something that she would love and write a poem in her honor. Sounds silly but she loved poems. 

I had heard music outside but just assumed that it was a neighbor. I didn’t even think to look out the window as I quickly rushed out the door, not wanting to waste a single moment of the sunny day. I exit the front door to literally a wall of people. The streets lined with flowers, people singing, chanting, dancing, smiling, celebrating and dressed in ornate and beautiful outfits. My eyes water up and my whole body warmed to the point of shivers. I stood in the street and wept with an overwhelming feeling of her presence. Paris threw her the party that I had not.

The view from my balcony.

The party was the Festival of Ganesha. A Hindu celebration that takes place every year on August 28th.  The devotees pull ornate floats bare footed down the streets in honor of Lord Ganesh. An elephant headed and human bodied lord that is worshiped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles. He’s invoked before any major undertaking. They cracked coconuts in the streets, burned incense and carried baskets of offerings. There were people giving out free cups of some milky, jalapeno and red onion juice. It tastes just like it sounds. Huge vans gave away plates of garbanzo beans with coconut shavings, rather delicious and some sort of oat pudding with pineapple and raisins, also super yummy.  There are 1 billion Hindu’s and it felt like they were all here dressed to the nines and full of happiness.

 

 

Having wet my appetite, I sat at a restaurant with a great shot of the processions and had a fantastic meal! Happy as a clam and feeling all warm and fuzzy, I smiled ear to ear with total satisfaction and gratitude for that moment. 

Day 37 of 78: Part 2...Kill me now, Cabby!

Started off the evening at our favorite spot Candelaria for some drinks and yummy eats. On Sundays you can eat at the bar, which is a big hit with the locals. There we met up with a couple of gals that work there. We had met them a few nights before and found them to be a super interesting duo. They told us about an outside party along the Seine that promised to have great DJ’s and be loads of fun. Into the cabby we go. 

Being not that far, we were getting a bit antsy when 15 minutes later we had yet to arrive. Noticing that we were going at turtle speed, we politely tell the cabby that we are in a bit of a hurry.  He promptly throws a fit and tells us to “Take the fucking Metro!” (direct translation) and then proceeds to drop us in the middle of the street. We quickly collect the funds for the fare and exit. As we are getting out he demands more money and says that the meter is wrong. We tell him he’s crazy and we are not paying a dime more. Three of us are out and he locks Camilla in the cab, holding her ransom for the funds. She makes her way out and he gets out of the cab,  grabs my arm and starts yelling after us to give him more money. We shake loose and head to the curb. He finally speeds off.

Having heard but not seen the brawl, a couple of cute Venezuelan boys ask if we are alright. They too are heading to the party and offer up protection in the not so kind streets of Gard de Lyon. They may be strangers but they speak our language and we are not in the position to be picky. It’s late, dark and we are not in our hood. 

They turn out to be super cool dudes! We hang out with them all night. The party rocks! The scene is full of people dancing, laughing and having a great time! The power goes out a couple times and the crowd roars and chants for the music to come back. All and all a great time! They even offer up snacks and decently priced drinks. 

After a long while, Camilla and I decide that we are pooped and head out. It’s not until then, when the dancing has stopped, that we realize how absolutely freezing it is out. Thinking that with a party this size, there would be cabbies lined up outside, we head to the streets. Bad idea! We wonder about for 45 minutes in the deserted streets. . 45 minutes that felt like 6 hours. Cold, tired and nearly lost we curse Paris, France, everyone, the world!  Cabby after cabby pulls over and asks our name. Apparently everyone else reserved one. Just as we were ready to throw ourselves in the street and play dead, a cabby appears. Our night in blinking green light armor! We must have thanked him a million times. My fingers even tingled as they regained warmth. 

Ladies and Gentleman we’ve been to the end, dangled off the cliff and come back. A new lease on life.

Day 35 of 78: Keeping it indoors

Not much in the writing mood today and so I give you a couple shots, It was a relaxing evening in the company of wonderful people. I can honestly say that this has become the norm during my stay in Paris. I am a super lucky gal. 

Day 34 of 78: So fancy. Have we met?

I may have bitten more than I can chew on this one. I took a 30 minute walk to the Sacre Coeur, energized, determined and in my tight little gym clothes. I get there to find crowds of people. It’s early!! What the heck. You guys should be sleeping. These tourists quite obviously aren’t staying out long enough.  My workout buddy ditches me. You knew who you are!! Rrrrrr… Having made it all this way, I decide “What the heck. I don’t know these people.” And so begins my 45 minute workout up and down the steps, steep, wanna die steps. I was huffing and puffing like a panting child  knee deep in a tantrum. Had I gone any longer I would have surely foamed at the mouth. Sexy. Stew on that for a bit. If your workouts are glamorous, you’re doing something wrong. 

Back to my casita to get ready for an evening in the park; Buttes Chaumont with the cutest mother daughter duo, Safia and Apple. We made a picnic, chat it up for hours, laid in the grass and soaked up the sun as we watched Apple work the crowd. She’s just 3 and a half with social skills like I’ve never seen. Totally uninhibited, she bounces about from kid to kid, making it up as she goes along and filling the park with laughter. So much fun to watch. 

I finish up my work and race out the door to meet up with Camilla. We head to Candelaria to get things fired up. We ended up meeting tons of people from all over Canada, Spain, a Parisian or two and even Miami! The sexy bartender happens to also be from Miami. Sexy and Miami go hand in hand. It’s decided. He thinks up drinks for us to try and even sets up a vermouth tasting for us, complete with shots of 4 different types from all over the world. I had no idea. I just assumed it all tasted like ass. Not so, my friends. It can be floral, herby, aromatic goodness. 

My stunning counterpart.

 We aquire an invite complete with a loaner black card to a members only club underneath the Louis Vuitton store on the Champs Elysess, Chez Raspoutine (click here for a youtube video sample). Now this is what I’m talking about! A chance to see the Parisian nightlife that I had envisioned. The place was gorgeous, burning red, chandeliers, complete with DJ’s dancing crowds and men in suits. Reminded me of Glass at the Forge in Miami Beach. They even had a bathroom attendant, first I’ve seen here. It reminded me of home. 

Then to Le Baron. I’ve been hearing everyone talk about this ubber posh, impossible to get into spot. Apparently Sofia Coppola and Bjork are fans. Plenty good enough for me. It had been closed for August like most of the best places, from what I hear. Clearly on our game and in the best of company, we walk right in. Am I gloating? Yes. It’s silly and the thrill wears off at some point but it’s fun to play the game sometimes. The drinks were delicious, the crowd was hot and dancing it up like rock stars. It was everything that was promised. Starting to regain confidence in the Parisian Nightlife. I hope I haven’t peaked. 

Day 33 of 78: Bag thieves in operation

I came across a movie preview on Youtube while listening to my daily tunes. “This Must be the Place.” It seemed super interesting so I IMBD’d it and come to find out it is opening today in France. Wait a minute! It’s today and I’m in France! Bingo…FYI fellow USA folk, it doesn’t open there until December so I won’t divulge any spoilers. 

I promptly contacted a pal and made plans to see the flick. We meet up for dinner before  hand in the 6^th district. I’d been here once before and found the streets very nice but dead as a ghost town. Not tonight! Apparently everyone is coming back from vacation and the streets were a roar. Slam packed café after bustling restaurant. I love this! We found a perfect spot just beside some live street tunes and partage’d some grub. The staff was super friendly, sing along and all. From there to Amorino for my second Gelato of my trip. Even more wonderful than the last and it was the same exact place and the same exact flavor. Just proof that great company and a wonderful evening can change even your very taste buds. 

We pried ourselves away as movie time was approaching. Came across the best warning sign ever! “Professional bag thieves may operate in this theater.” Awesome! As we waited for the theater to open I observed movie patron’s exiting the theater. Everyone of them in a daze and completely silent. Not just one movie but 3. Unless they are only showing the Saw or Poltergeist, this is the strangest movie behavior I’ve ever seen. Camilla advises that this is absolutely the norm. In America, the minute the credits role, we turn to our peops to get their take and discuss the film. Anxiously having waited even that long. The afterwards chats are nearly as good as the movies themselves. I’ll have to consult a Frenchie as to why. I’m very intrigued. 

 

Then to take our seats. It was probably 80 degrees in there with the slightest A/C and it still felt better than most any place I’d been to, temperature wise. The theater seats slant backwards instead of forward. Ummm…why? That just means you are guaranteed to have the movie watchers head front, center and as big as a full moon. It felt like I was in a plane during take-off. Even the slight backwards slant sensation, made me a bit nauseous.  

Any who…The film was pretty awesome but a bit slow. Sean Penn is the shit and can usually carry a film all alone but this time he may have needed a supporting role to help out. 

I have tons more questions…the moral of today’s story is not everyone has to be wrong for you to be right but I’d like a chance to understand why.