Wine for Breakfast

Aaahh, Paris (pronounced Paree, of course!). This city is alive and vibrant and I am so fortunate to be a part of it! My first day was fabulous and my experiences rich, despite a little bit of jet lag early this morning. But I'm okay with that and just starting to feel tired after a most busy day!

It all started with a trip to the market, prior to breakfast. The market was just opening but the goods were appealing and there was everything from bedding to veggies to wine. Which is where I'll begin. I went to the market with the assumption that I would buy some nice veggies, fresh cheese and whatever else might build a few good meals. And yes, I did attain many of those goods, as you can see from one of my photos! However, I did get distracted by a seller of wine who approached me quickly with a sample of his best 'rouge' - onceI was able to get that out as my preference. Yet I was not able to share with him the words in French about not having eaten my petit dejeuner so instead something came out like oooh la la, I would like to try more of that one and maybe I could try a bit of that. Thus by the time I was complete at that booth I had drank a glass of morning wine and bought a bottle from this gentleman. I did find a cafe quickly after that (find is said lightly; they are everywhere) for a cafe au lait (and it was excellent despite the absence of extreme hotness) and a quiet start to my morning, reading a good novel street side while seeing the morning hubub in the city.

I went for a VERY long walk through the Pere Lachais cemetery which I finally located. Really not far from here at all, just missed it yesterday in my blur of awakedness for 24 hours! I don't know that I planned to spend 2 hours there, but it just so happened that my map reading was not so great today in a location that truly is something to see in terms of tributes to deceased loved ones. The graves were beautiful in so many ways. I was taken with the tribute to Chopin and interested in the grafitti and crowd who observed Jim Morrison's sight; although today it seemed rather minimal.

The day progressed with my first metro experience (all went well once I discovered you can purchase tickets en anglais), to the Louvre. Yes, I chose the most daunting museum for my first day. Why not? Tourist central. But the line moved quickly and in I went to see the Mona Lisa and other works of art that were amazing and left me awestruck in so many ways. The detail, the subject matter and all the work that must have gone into each piece is intimidating. I can't say I'm familiar with a great deal of the art at the Louvre, and it doesn't help much that their descriptions are in French, so I found myself creating my own stories about them. For instance, this piece that I photographed above, would appear St. Thomas is saying "It's okay man ". I'm so cultured! One thing I did find rather interesting was that despite signs everwhere that share 'no flash photos', about 50 % of the people were flashing away at the Mona Lisa. Apparently the icon is not universal!

Well this is getting long now, so I will end sharing that I took long walk along the river, by the Paris Beach. It is quite entertaining to see Parisians sitting in their beach chairs on a rather hazy day, though warm, riverside on the sand, with palm trees to enjoy among themselves. Quite cute and maybe something we should have in Edmonton? I popped into see Notre Dame as well and was amazed by the size and intricacy of it all. Beautiful!

PS - sorry about photo placement. You'll just have to match to the story the best you can. I can't seem to move them to where I would like!

t.

Went down to the cemetery...but it wasn't where I thought it was!

Bonjour mes amis! One thing I learned today is that no matter what language we converse in, it always seems to go back to the weather. The few people who did approach me this evening tried to start conversations with the heat - however when I stare blankly at them and try to share that I don't speak French, they quickly giggle politely and move away slowly!

Well then, here I am in Paris. I wonder what jet lag surprises are in store for me now that I'm here. But let me share a few tidbits from the trip so far prior to my worrying about lack of sleep here! The flight was great with no problems unless one remembers the days where there was actually a meal on a plane. Not eating is a problem and one can only live on Lara Bars and lattes in between flights for so long. But alas I've made up for that since. Iceland Airlines was quite an experience and I'll give it to them for good marketing as Iceland is now on my list for a visit someday. I didn't see much of the country, but what I didn't see was made up for in a lovely slide show of highlights on the plane. Looks diverse and interesting. The people were beautiful, both inside and out - very pleasant flying experience.

Now Paris. The highlights so far have been this little apartment, dinner, the sights and sounds and walking and walking. I would describe my place as very simple, with all I need and a taste of what it would be like to live here. I am sitting on the bed right now with the two main windows open to the street adn the noises are just pleasant and lively at the same time. I'd say I'm on fairly quiet street as when I went walking around this evening, I left this area and embarked on liveliness then calm and an ongoing pattern of that wherever I walked! My intention was to find the cemetary, but I never did and so that will be another day. What I did find was my ability to get 'lost' in the viewing of places, people, architecture, stores, boulangeries, pattiseries, many other 'ies' and even a chocolaterie (however it was closed until August - maybe a good thing?). All these fabulous places led to my most healthy and satisfying dinner, a baguette, some wonderful goat cheese that was like a brie/goat combo and a glass of rose wine of which the bottle cost less than bottled water in Canada. And it's good!

Not sure what's in store for tomorrow, but it will involve a market that happens on the street below and perhaps an adventure into the city centre!

Hope all is well and thanks for all your positive encouragement! Now, back to that jet lag sleep...

tlm

The day before tomorrow...or le jour avant demain

Well, for those of you who speak French, I'll try my best. But I, a minimalist when it comes to second languages, may not always succeed with the proper grammar and usage! Anyway, I think I'm ready to set flight tomorrow to Paris! Of course there are all those little minute things I'll have to do, and this blog is one of them! So it's a quick entry today - for those of you who have asked where I will abide while in Paris, here is the link to the apartment. It's quite far off the beaten track, but that's okay when you have 3 weeks to enjoy! And...it's by the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery which is where many well known deceased are buried. I plan to do some incredible people watching there (of the living, not the dead!) So, for a 25 euro delivery charge, I will arrive there on Tuesday, mid day! And you can see for yourself where that arrival will be!
One more sleep to flight time!
http://www.vrbo.com/247427#features

What to write... or Why the Tour de France helped me start my blog.

What does one write on a blog? Should I blog? Last time I traveled to Europe, did blogs even exist? Does anyone even care if I blog?
Nonetheless, here goes. The countdown to Paris begins. 16 days until I touch down in the city I know so little about but know I need to get to see in its glory this year. It pulls me towards it and at the age of 41, invites me to live in a little apartment, far from the city centre, yet from what I understand, in its own position of beauty.
Do I know what I'll do there? Nope. Sure I have some plans, I'll walk and see the sights that one must see, I'll drink wine and eat cheese, I'll hopelessly destroy the French language in my attempts to be in receipt of what I want to gain at each interaction. I'll pursue the best option for viewing the Tour de France in hopes of catching that little glimpse of Lance. I'll eat croissants and tour the Louvre.
So the journey towards Paris begins. And my blog begins. All because this morning I turned on the tv and saw the cyclists commencing their own journey. Thus it's time to begin mine.