I have now been in
Paris for two weeks and three days, & thought it was high time
for an update on the optimistic list of goals I set myself. Somehow
without trying too much, I had managed to check off more than I had
realised! It must be living in this amazing city where there are
treasures to discover on the coin de chaque rue !
A Cultural Festival / Event - Check!
Last
weekend, on the 14th and 15th September, Paris held a brilliant event called the 'Journee du Patrimoine'. Paris' offices, embassies, museums and government buildings are opened to the public, for free or a reduced rate. I eagerly sent off a list to my friends - including The Elysee Palace and the Observatoire. At 3pm, waiting outside a Metro station & engaged in a chat with a friendly policeman, he told me that the queue to see Monsieur Le President's office was 4 hours long & we should have begun queueing at 6.00am! Instead, we aimlessly wandered up the Champs-Elysees & joined the queue for The Lido, Paris' famous Cabaret. Not knowing what to expect, The Lido was slightly insalubrious, very glitzy & glamorous. A show with dinner is several hundred euros, so this was the only time I'd set foot inside.
It
was not the most culturally inspiring moment I'll admit, and I would
have rather gone to the Elysee Palace. But seeing the costumes was
fun & it was very Moulin Rouge. An experience to be sure!
Church, cinema & swimming pool - check!
If you are looking for a church, I can't recommend enough 'Paris-Nation' and 'Paris-Villiers'. I spoke lots of French & had the warmest welcome! I've already spoken about the swimming pool - check out my post 'Dipping my Toes'. The less said the better about 'Tirez la langue, mademoiselle', a thoroughly underwhelming film...nonetheless if you're interested, here's the trailer:
Still
to achieve are the more profound goals like feeling right at home. Sadly I
seem to be more often the brunt of jokes rather than cracking them
myself! I still feel like this (all credit to the brilliant Humans of New York Blog):
New goals to set & achieve soon, classes start on Monday - lots to do!
À Bientôt !
x
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