Toussaint Goals

It's now the holidays, and high time I looked forward to what next term is going to be like. It's nearly two months since I arrived in Paris and I've had a brilliant time - but I've got so much more to learn! Here are my new goals:

After trying macarons, loving them, and nearly spitting them back out on seeing the ridiculous price tag, I think I'd like to give this notoriously difficult recipe a go myself! Crossed off the list is finding a gem of a local shop, which I've happily discovered in 'Da Rocco', an Italian deli in the 7th. Apart from their delicious take away foods such as pizzas and focaccia, they do the cannoli that I waxed lyrical about in this post, back in Rome. The icing sugar on the cannoli (haw haw) are the cheerful owners who wave at me as I walk by. It was made to be!




Crossed off my list are the visit to Les Deux Magots (see my post here, and a concert (remember Olly Murs here?)  

Added are a visit to the Île St. Louis - one of two remaining natural islands perched in the Seine (the other being the famous Île de la Cite, home to Nôtre Dame, and Disney Land - a bit of a pipe dream but a girl can dream!

I've gone far past answering simple questions in class (although this is still terrifying!), and have now taken my first test. Over the holidays I face the task of writing a commentaire – certainly a big challenge! Eek – wish me luck.

À Bientôt !

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Flânerie

Flâneur (pronounced: [flɑnœʁ]), from the French noun flâneur, means "stroller", "lounger", "saunterer", or "loafer". Flânerie refers to the act of strolling, with all of its accompanying associations. The flâneur was, first of all, a literary type from 19th century France, essential to any picture of the streets of Paris. It carried a set of rich associations: the man of leisure, the idler, the urban explorer, the connoisseur of the street. Honore de Balzac described flânerie as "the gastronomy of the eye".[3] Anaïs Bazin wrote that "the only, the true sovereign of Paris is the flâneur."

Yesterday, I played the 'flâneur' and took a stroll around the Tuileries Gardens and backstreets behind the Louvre, up to Les Halles. I was meant to be seeing a Frida Kahlo / Diego Rivera exhibition in the Musee de l'Orangerie in the Tuileries, but of course many of Paris' big museums are closed on a Tuesday. On your Paris adventures, make sure you check ahead, (unlike me) to avoid last minute disappointment! 

Not a cloud in the sky- whilst "The Great Storm" 'rages' in Britain, Paris is experiencing an indian summer!

One of my favourite things to do in Paris is simply to walk around to the rhythms of this great city. I am so unbelievably lucky to have been given the chance to live here, and sometimes when I'm walking I get this feeling of desperation that I won't have enough time to appreciate every little thing. What if I miss out a street, or never go into a shop or round a certain corner and see a certain view?! When I've been so blessed, it seems wasteful not to step out and try to embrace and gather up every last sight, sound and memory. I take some of my favourite pictures whilst walking - it's free, it's healthy and I think it's good for the heart!

 

The day wasn't wasted, however, as instead we headed through the gardens and enjoyed a free impromptu al fresco exhibition, as, as if by magic, large sculptures had grown majestically out of the dirt paths of the jardins and settled themselves ostentatiously on the lawns. Quelle chance !

Can anyone solve the mystery of the glowing left hand in the picture above - I've been imbued with some kind of mystical power ( /the light is shining on my hand) !

In the afternoon, I met a friend for what was going to be my first sushi experience (she couldn't believe I'd never really tried it!) but the restaurant, again, was closed! Something tells me I need to do better planning in the future. Instead we wound up in a cute cafe-cum-restaurant called 'Le Loir dans La Theiere'.

     

I had an amazing goats cheese and onion tart and my friend was really happy with her paella. We both agreed we'd have to return for their amazing cakes, as, trying to keep down costs, we were only able to feast our eyes on them.

Today is a study day as I plough through 'Ruy Blas' by Victor Hugo & knuckle down to writing my first 'Commentaire', before my Mum arrives on Tuesday!

So excited!

À Bientôt !

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Paris from my Phone

À Bientôt ! 

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Le Marais

After a hectic couple of days, nothing could have been more welcome than my Saturday night plans for a quiet wander around town and easy chatter over dinner with friends. I headed to Le Marais for the first time with two girls I had met at Interfac. I imagine this area is normally bustling with cooly dressed girls and boys wearing scarfs and skinny jeans - but we came later in the evening as dusk was settling over the high roof tops and narrow streets. 

Le Marais felt to me like a forgotten remnant of an older, quieter world - now filled with clothes stores, thrift shops, cafes and markets. I didn't manage to take many photos, apart from when I emerged at 'Hotel de Ville' metro. 

 I never get tired of coming up from under Paris network of underground lines into a different part of town, having no idea what to expect when I step up into the overground world. Hotel de Ville was a startlingly ostentatious and impressive start to our Le Marais adventure, before we dived off into the little maze of roads that make up the quartier.

I'm going to drag my sister to Le Marais when she comes to visit in December, so I'll be able to take some better photos then.

For now, here's a photo my friend took of us enjoying crepes at 'Crepe Suzette'. Check out the blog post I linked to the name - it's much better than mine! After some agonising decision making, I chose The Barbette: melty cheese, ham, basil and potato - proper comfort food. It's not cheap but it sure does taste good, so take yourself there for a treat if you're in need of some TLC, then hit the shops for a bit of retail therapy (all window-shopping, or un peu du 'leche-vitrine' -literally, window licking - in my case). I, for one, am looking ve-ery tired!

Another trip to Le Marais tout de suite I think!

À Bientôt !

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Remembering Summer

The summer of 2013 was bittersweet. For the first time it really hit home how quickly the sands of time slip between your fingers, no matter how firmly you try to pack them into place with photos, concrete plans inked into diaries and bear-hugs with friends you don't want to let go of. 

I had a really magical time, first going to Bologna with university friends to teach English to children in a tiny local church, then having my flatmates come down to London to see me. 

I saw 'Once' the musical, ate at Borough Market for the first time, surveyed London from the Shard, and then had my own Roman Holiday in Italy with my beautiful family. 

Friends from school gave me the best send off anyone could ask for with cocktails and a 'Despicable Me' cake. But all of it was tempered by the knowledge I'd be leaving for a year for Paris. I can't believe how lucky and blessed I've been with all the opportunities I've been given. Moving on is hard to do, but I don't think I'd change anything, given the brilliant experiences I've had so far in Paris.

A snap-chat I sent to friends after booking my trip

I made this video so I'd have something to look back on - and I'm so glad I did. I can't travel back in time, but this is a small way of flipping the hourglass back over and seeing time spent run its course again:

 À Bientôt !

x 

Redlight

Friday night was the much anticipated 'The Sorbonnales' welcome party (yes, about a month & a half after our official university welcome - typical!) On reflection, this may have been a good thing as it gave everyone a chance to find a little friendship group to go with. Luckily, I'd found a group of sweet girls and we got together at mine to 'prendre un verre' before the party.

Tumbleweed might as well roll slowly over the desert that is organised university social life - I think this may be one of the biggest differences I've noticed vis-à-vis with English universities, where most people live on campus or in halls, and societies might hold anything from a costume party to a masquerade ball or casino night in just one week.

Paris by night - stunning! 

The party was at a venue called 'Redlight' in Montparnasse, but as it was an event specifically for Sorbonne students, I really can't recommend the venue or say what a normal night might be like! If you are thinking of a night out in Paris though - one important thing to note: the girls here dress much more demurely than in England - no American Apparel 'disco pants', crop tops or bodycon dresses here. Girls were wearing denim skirts, jeans and tea dresses - clothes we might expect to see more for a meal out or shopping trip. Party animals - take note!

The party started our 'Vacances de Toussaint' with a bang - but I feel like I could sleep for about a week!

À Bientôt !

x

Musing in the Louvre

On Thursday afternoon, I headed straight from classes to Paris' most famous art gallery - The Musee du Louvre. Despite this being the third time I have locked eyes with The Mona Lisa and the fourth time I have ventured into this palace's vast galleries, there is always something new to be discovered. I've heard an old piece of trivia that if you lingered for 30 seconds in front of each work, it would take you about a fortnight to go around - and I can well believe it. 

Once again, it's free for European students from 18-26 years of age - just flash your passport and swan in like royalty. There's no excuse for not paying a visit, but as a seasoned Louvre devotee, here are my suggestions:

1. Beware of pickpockets !

 Imagine the scene: you arrive under the shiny carrousel, and immediately start snapping pictures of the impressive inverted pyramid in front of the entrance. As you fluster over the security gates, a hand slips into your bag- having locked eyes on an easy target as you innocently brandished your camera minutes before. Bam - like stealing candy from a baby. True story - this happened to me the first time I went to the Louvre so be savvy & please don't fall into the trap I did.

    

2. Don't let the mona Lisa get a big head
There are thousands of amazing works of art in The Louvre - so of course prioritise Leonardo da Vinci's most famous painting if you're stuck for time, but I would take a whole afternoon just for the luxury of not having to rush past the equally beautiful 'The Virgin of the Rocks' or some of the other galleries (The Egyptian Gallery is my favourite!). 

3. spend some time in the tuileries Gardens
If the weather is good, step outside and take a promenade in the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries, located just outside. Sit in one of their chairs, admire the fountains and take a peek in the cute Orangerie gift shop on the left hand side by the far gates.

4. Go at an odd time
We visited just before closing, so were able to stroll around without following hoards of mindless tourists filing towards The Mona Lisa. Last visitors are allowed into the the museum at 5.30 on a Thursday, but they have later opening times on other days.

5. Enjoy the art, or making fun of it!
Sometimes the most fun you can have is laughing at a statue with a silly face or finding one who looks like your friend. Just because it's old, doesn't mean it has to be serious!

À Bientôt !

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Paris from my Phone

À Bientôt !

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Hugo Round Two

It's just over a week until my Mum comes to see me - and I've been busy dreaming up some fun things for us to do. I had a lovely time with my Dad experiencing round two of Hugo's duck salad with grilled goat's cheese toast (round one here)- but it might be time to move on and enjoy some different culinary delights. 

In the meantime, here are some photos that escaped being posted:

Salad starter 'Mesclum de salade et de fruits saison au basilic' with amazing poppy seed bread and pesto starter, on the house :)

No pictures of the duck salad, but here is the tarte au citron dessert with some kind of raspberry sorbet. Miam miam ! (yum!)

 

Paris by night on the way there / way home. Les Invalides dome is beautiful!

True to her word, my amazing sister delivered freshly baked 'Hummingbird Bakery' brownies via my Dad - with her own secret twist. These are an incredible, with a shiny chocolately tempered surface which cracks to reveal gooey, almondy, white chocolate chip spangled goodness underneath. They didn't last long!

These food goodies might look amazing - but sadly I don't always eat like a king. My weekend wasn't so fun after I flippantly let my stockpile in the fridge run out. Shops and supermarkets alike are closed on a Sunday - so beware the trap I fell into if you want to pick up some groceries in Paris. Mugs of black tea, a red pepper and marmalade toast for Sunday dinner had to see me through to Monday morning - cereal with milk has never tasted so good! 

À Bientôt !

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Is there a Doctor in the house?!

When someone mentions the words 'night out', I'm much more likely to be the one jumping up and down to go to a musical or fireworks display than to be commandeering the dance floor until the birds start singing. What I do like is going to a cool bar with fruity drinks and fun friends. So Friday night in a kooky watering-hole was pretty perfect, as I could be home, in bed with a cuppa tea and a 'Great British Bake-off'  episode loading on my laptop well before my self-inflicted curfew! Call me Cinderella - but it's so important not to miss the last metro home at midnight, leaving you with about as many options as if you'd lost a shoe & your carriage had turned into a pumpkin. Luckily, I find that my area is really safe too, and the metro stations are full of friendly faces returning from the theatre, from bars and restaurants. 

Food and friends in another 'chambre de bonne'. I was particularly taken with France's version of 'Monster Munch': these cute little ghosts. (England's version of the crisps are monster feet).

 

A friend suggested we head to 'L'Urgence Bar: Le Bar de Malade' ('The Emergency Services Bar'!) which was unusual to say the least. It was medically themed, with x-rays, acupuncture diagrams and optician's charts adorning the walls, whilst the tables displayed under their glass syringes, pillboxes and bandages. Gory! I felt like I was in the Science Museum's 'Medicine through Time' exhibit. The most 'bizarre' (as the French say) feature was the drinks, which were served in 'Biberons', or baby's bottles. I got a mocktail (sorry - I can't remember its name) which was really yummy, although I couldn't get over the weirdness of its receptacle! 

The bar is really pricey, €8.00 for a soda and €10.00 for a cocktail) but it's got a cool vibe, fun music and a wacky theme - and free sweets are brought as nibbles to your table. 

Certainly an experience - although it won't be my local. If you fancy making an appointment with L'Urgence Bar, you'll find it near the Odeon metro stop in the 6th arrondissement. Right, I'm off to make a cup of tea! You can take a girl out of England....

 À Bientôt !

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