Day 8 of 30: If that wine was a man.

Today was my first real homesick day. I miss ENGLISH, washing machines, pollo empanizado, Katarina and warm sunny days. And so I partook in the most optimistic day yet.

 First stop Jardin de Luxembourg. What was most fascinating was that this felt like an everyday residential park. It was the first time that I had seen a slew of locals; playing with their children, jogging, resting up and reading. Paris is the most visited city in the world and summertime is prime time. That makes it hard to find a group of locals. Even more astonishing was how absolutely gorgeous it was and how it just seemed so normal to them. I felt silly taking pics. This is the type of beauty the Parisian’s are not phased by. Lucky bastards! The gardens were colorful and seemingly wild yet obviously not with fountains and sculptures everywhere.  

From there to the Ile St. Louis a small island in the middle of the Seine. No metro stations or bus stops here all residential 16^th and 18^th Century Mansions. Most definitely for the ubber rich and probably famous…Voltaire once lived here. Not a show stopper but it was on the way home. 

Place Des Vosges the city’s oldest square and also where Louis XIII and Anne of Austria had their wedding ho-down. Totally uniform red brick buildings with art galleries and café’s all around. Not the most exciting place I’ve ever step foot but definitely worth a looksie since it’s like nothing like the rest of Paris. 

Eleanor & Xavier, cordially invited me out to dinner in Montmartre. I had the yummiest quiche ever and delicious red wine, Chinon. I’d never had it before and it was perfect. Very simple, tasty but unobtrusive and perfect with everyday food. Like the classiest table wine around. If Chinon was embodied as a man he would be the most situationally appropriate plus one EVER! If you find him...send him my way.

 Then an after dinner walk to the Sacre Coeur. Remember the big church that looked a bit like the Taj Mahal…well apparently in the evening all of the local hoodlum kids come by to blare their rap music and throw beer cans. They must have come all night and piss where ever they land because the entire place reeked of urine. We got out of there with a quickness. 

Off to the Plaza du Tertre, a tourist dream land with music and tons of artists ready to paint your portrait. There are more tourist per square inch here than anywhere else in Paris. Seemed a bit staged for my taste but the history is there…Picasso used to live here. 

Past the one week landmark and I'm fully intact. I’ve never gone this long without a longtime friend or boyfriend by my side. It’s rewarding and terrifying all at the same time. Alone in the most romantic place on earth. Lol…Only I would dream up such a thing. 

Love you and miss you all…xoxo 

Night…Night…