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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10 Things

I can't quite believe that I've been in Paris for a little over a month. It seems like only yesterday that I came up the steps of my local metro station into the bright sunshine and caught my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. I felt an enormous sense of relief, and since then my trepidation has lessened as my excitement has grown. I love love love this city, and day by day I'm finding more things I like about it. Here are my Top 10 Parisian sights and sounds.  

1) Parisians buying their daily baguette, ripping off a piece & sneaking a taste as they make their way home for dinner.

Photo Credit: http://www.yanidel.com/Pictures/man%20eat%20baguette%20paris%20HR.jpg

2) The blind man at the Gare St. Lazare who has a great taste in music, which he plays each morning on a jukebox whilst I wait for the metro.

3) Themed metro stations, especially The Sorbonne-Cluny where the signatures of famous authors are written in mosaic on the roof.

4) Haussmannian Architecture and wide tree-lined boulevards.

5) Da Rocco, the Italian Deli where the owner waves at me when I walk past.

 6) Parisians who have dressed in stripes, who have moustaches, or who are walking poodles. The cliches do come from somewhere! 

7) Mail in my own little mailbox at home. I just love getting post!

8) Rue St. Simon and The Aurore Statue near home. One reminds me of my Dad, and the other of my Grandma. The statue is called "Les Ailes de l'Aurore" which is the French translation of "the wings of the dawn", a line from Psalm 139 which my Grandma knows I love.

9) Coming home to my cute little room, a cup of tea & my very English quilt. Still a Brit at heart.

10) The Eiffel Tower, which keeps popping up proudly against the sky-line. Bravo, Monsieur Eiffel.

 À Bientôt !

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