This is my last Sunday in Paris, at least this time around. I have some bucket listing, packing, and exam-ing (have my last final Tuesday night blah) to do, then back to NY on Wednesday. Some days definitely lagged on and certain weeks seemed to inch forward at a sluggish rate, but in general, I can’t believe that it is finally time to pack my bags. Being in Paris, it is easy to realize how and why many have been inspired by this city. I have been here for a good chunk of time and still have more to see here. J’adore Paris and I'm going to miss living here. I have found a niche and routine here that I didn't think I could or would find. But, I could never picture myself living here permanently.
There is so much natural and man-made beauty in the world. For me, this beauty is well worth experiencing and visiting if you have a will and a way($) to do so. I realized that people always make a place a home. And I want to be back home, NY me manque. I'm ready to head on back. I have a hunch that I will be back to Europe for a visit in due time, dès que I have a way to do so.
Clearly the blog tempo has slowed down to an adagio, so I will try to quickly skim over some solid memories of the month.
But first, a REWIND back to Spring Break. Alors, a quick synopsis of my excursion from Paris:
À la France
To Montpellier, where cold rainy times were
challenged by sunny company (Maddy/Katy) and warm savory crepes. But the Sun was a shining in
Sète France, so sneaks were switched with bright orange flip-flops and hot café
was swapped with water. Nice hiking (back-peddling) trek to the top of the
summit.
Hm, what was my favorite part of
CAAAAH-DI?
Was it shoveling sand with my toes
Or burying my legs in the sand?
Was it trying foods that I thought
I didn’t enjoy…like green olives
Or realizing that I actually
love green olives?
Was it going to the Farmer’s
Market everyday
Or eating lunch on Sarah and
Carmen’s balcony?
Was it taking a nap on the
beach
Or doing yoga at sunset?
I don’t have a clue.
Memorable moment in Cadiz: Flamenco dancing. We watched a male flamenco dancer for two hours. It went by quickly as the dancer/the guitarist/the singers were a captivating ensemble. Sarah took some vid footage for her honor’s research on Flamenco dancing.
Picture above:Arcos de la Frontera, Espagne!
Next to Sevilla, Espagne where Egg and
I found gelato under the hot sun, met up with an ol friend Paul and made our
way up to the windy Cathedral.
Tapas hopping!
Finally, to BarTHelona, Espagne which
was filled with lots of Gaudi, Gaudi and uh, Gaudi. My favorite place was Parc
Guell.
Sagrada Familia cathedral by Gaudi.
La Boqueria Farmer's Market!
Back to Paris…
Fondation Scelles Internship
is over!
I am going to miss the people
at work. My internship officially ended in the beginning of May but I have been
finishing up my project there in the meantime.Tomorrow(Monday) will be my last day there. I’ll have some more work to do back
home for the Fondation but I will have plenty of free time in a few days!
Sandra and Catherine gave me
this going away gift from l’Occitane.They smelled my vanilla perfume and gave me lots nice of vanilla-narcisse products.Merci!
I had a overdue realization that even though I enjoyed working for CRIDES, there is no way I could ever do work like this for a living (subject was a too heavy and quite draining for me). I also realized that there is no way that I will go to law school for international human rights, which was an idea in the back of my mind for awhile. I had to read about so much legislation these past months and even though legal action can facilitate a worthwhile and important end result, I doubt I would enjoy being a lawyer. I think it would be too much of an act for me. It just doesn't interest me. Yep I said it. This internship was a good experience, in that it made me realize what I don’t want to do in the future and helped me figure out what I do want, or at least what I think I want. I can see myself really enjoying dietetic and nutrition studies, big change but I have become really interested in it the past year. I might need an additional bachelors degree for it, but I'm fixated on that idea right now and don’t mind extra schooling.
I promised CRIDES (esp. Caro) that before I
leave, I would bring a pecan pie to work. Many were looking forward to a real
‘American’ pecan pie even though I warned them that I don’t know how to bake that well, but a deal is a deal. So I made one
today with Christine. Christine did volunteer editing work (she worked on editing an English edition of a CRIDES publication) once a week at CRIDES and she’s going to come with me to the Fondation tomorrow for our à la prochaine pie... à la mode bien sur.
Buying the ingredients for the pie, I realized why it wasn’t a common dessert in France. For one pie, I bought 30euros worth of pecans, putain! But, worth it.
Buying the ingredients for the pie, I realized why it wasn’t a common dessert in France. For one pie, I bought 30euros worth of pecans, putain! But, worth it.
Christine’s pic of our pie:
REWIND TO RODIN.
LAUREN GAVE US A TOUR LAST WEDNESDAY.
Lauren showed us around the
Musée Rodin. As an intern, she was doing an extended bibliography on the Porte
de l’Enfer (based off of Dante’s Inferno’s ‘Gates of Hell’). Rodin’s major
works are based off of the Porte de l’Enfer and the characters in this gate of
hell have been expanded into separate sculptures. ‘Le Penseur’ (The Thinker) in
the Porte de l’Enfer is a miniature version of the larger expanded work. ‘Le
Penseur’ is in fact, Danté’s incarnation (according to Rodin). Many other characters in Dante's rings of hell such as the three shades, Paola and Francesca and Ugolino and his children are
represented in the gate and were realized into separate sculptures. Really
interesting stuff, esp. when Lauren can give us so much background info. You did a pretty fantastic job Loo<3!
Voila la Porte de l'Enfer Below:
If you wanna check out more info on Rodin :http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en.
GOOD EATS (some of these I have never blogged about earlier, so I gots to do it now)
Vietnamese Food near Lena's:
Voila la Porte de l'Enfer Below:
Rodin's Le Penseur was sculpted in many sizes and mediums.
"Le Baiser" The Kiss (of Paola and Francesca) later recreated by Gustav Klimt (below).
Bust of Auguste Rodin (below).
If you wanna check out more info on Rodin :http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en.
GOOD EATS (some of these I have never blogged about earlier, so I gots to do it now)
Vietnamese Food near Lena's:
Au Rouleau de Printemps
42 rue de Tourtille, Paris.
Lena left almost two weeks ago but when she was here we went to the Vietnamese place near her apartement a few times. Located in the 20th arrondisement, Au Rouleau de Printemps had delicious authentic food and the prices were amazing. Unfortunately don't have pics of all the food I got here, but I have a few!42 rue de Tourtille, Paris.
Dishes ranged from 4euro-6euro50.
French Café near me:
Café le Départ
1 Boulevard St. Michel.
Skimming through my food pics and found this salad. I went here about two months ago with Lena and Mary. This salad was called the "New York Salad" and was moyen-expensive at 10euro50, but Lena's mom covered the tab muhahah. It was good authentic French food.
Have been wanting to go here for awhile. Tucked in the Marais you can find this vegan/gluten-free food in a chicly decorated salon. I went here for lunch with a friend Cailey and Maria (my roommate for 2 weeks from Brazil) last Friday.
Side note: Oh, so after Anne-Sophie officially left I had the room to myself for a few weeks, then Maria came for 2 weeks (she was on a solo euro-trip) and after Maria left (last Monday) Xena from Latvia came for 3 days (Thurs-today, she left in the morn.). They were both friendly. I didn't mind sharing the room, it was just strange because I was never informed that they were coming. Fingers crossed that I have no more roomies.
Back to Café Pinson...SO fucking GOOD! Resto that opened up last year and was founded by Americans from Seattle. 17euro for a 3 course lunch! Delicious almond milk lattés. They opened for dinner service this Thursday!
-Cailey snapped some pics of us at Pinson. I don't have any food pics, wah dommage!
Le Bouillon Chartier
7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre
Céline took the SUNY group out to dinner Saturday night here! One of the oldest restaurants in Paris, built in 1896. Nice authentic food. But faire attention, very rich and heavy.For more info. check this out:http://www.restaurant-chartier.com/www/visit/filsdesans.php.
I tried escargot (Ally shared hers, wasn't brave enough to order it) for the first time!
She wasn't sure how to deal with her fish's eyes 'staring' at her.
I didn't have to deal with any eyes on my fish (poisson à la sauce provencale).
Laurens and Mei-lin.
Chou glace vanille, chocolat chaud 3.90 € TROP BON! Not too sweet pastry puff with chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream and chantilly.
Lauren loved her Baba au rhum chantilly. The cake was really soaked with rum 4.50 € .
Marchés: Hit up two this SUNDAY. Had a delicious food-filled journée. I went to the Bastille Marché, met up with Christine to make a pecan pie and then went to an organic marché 'Green in the City' that afternoon.
Today (Sun. morn) I woke up early and went to la Bastille Marché. Lauren E. is obsessed with their Lebanese hummus so I had to give it a try. So many fruit/meat/cheese/vin/crepe/spice vendors. I think I was there for 2 hrs just staring at all the food.
Bd. Richard Lenoir entre les rues Amelot et Saint-Sabin
75011, Paris.
later on Sunday...I went to Wanderlust festival's Green in the City Market
Café Pinson, The Kale Project and a few other organic resto/stores in Paris were having a sampling of their food between 13h-17h. It was really low-key and chill event. Sunny day and met a lot of French and American peeps. Dommage that I have to leave right when things are getting exciting, but I'l be back.
Bob's Cold Press:http://bobscoldpress.com/
Opened up last month in Paris. Interestingly enough Bob's Cold Press is owned by a few New Yorkers.
The Kale Project:
Check out : http://www.lmwilliamsillustration.com/the-kale-project-paris.html
and: http://thekaleproject.com/2013/01/kale-jour/
Check out : http://www.lmwilliamsillustration.com/the-kale-project-paris.html
and: http://thekaleproject.com/2013/01/kale-jour/
Opened up last year in Paris. Also created by a New Yorker, Kristen. Her mission was to bring kale to France (the leafy green just didn't exist here so she decided to make this nutrious veggie known to some health conscious Parisians).
Café Pinson: Talked to some people from Pinson. I would love to waitress there. Lurv lurv it!
BYE ALAIN! I went to Alain's creperie 2-3 times a week and we became friendly acquaintances. He is such a quirky old man. I'm really going to miss him (and his food). I hope he's still in Paris when I come back. He was my favorite Parisian.
FUTURE-PARISIAN GOOD EATS. Never made it to these places on my list, But next time to Paris, I'm going!
->Tuck Shop
->Tuck Shop
->Les Cinq Saveurs d’Ananda
->Jardin des Voluptés
Exercising for the Mind and the Body:
Wing Chun.
My Aunt Kathy Jo practices the martial art Win Chung and has made many international contacts throughout the years. She got me in touch with two contacts in Paris.
Better late than never, I went to my first class (with Lauren) on Friday. Alpha Mike (fbook contact) trained us. Wing Chung is based on fighting discreetly, using your tendons instead of your muscles and using balance instead of brute force.
Some info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_Chun. I wish I started this earlier in Paris but there are places in Albany and Rochester to practice it.
Wing Chun.
My Aunt Kathy Jo practices the martial art Win Chung and has made many international contacts throughout the years. She got me in touch with two contacts in Paris.
Better late than never, I went to my first class (with Lauren) on Friday. Alpha Mike (fbook contact) trained us. Wing Chung is based on fighting discreetly, using your tendons instead of your muscles and using balance instead of brute force.
Some info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_Chun. I wish I started this earlier in Paris but there are places in Albany and Rochester to practice it.
We Own the Night
My first semi-marathon! It took place near the Bibliotechque Francois Mitterand and the course was unexpectedly quite hilly. Nike did a good job motivating the runners (2400 women). At every other kilometer there was a "suprise" such as: athletes in suits and rollerblades carrying water on platters, Dj's blasting Mackelmore, tunnels with fog and techno, bubbles, edible confetti and balloons galore....It was overwhelming and overdone, but so great! It was a fun run and was one of my first "dang, I'm proud of myself" moments.
Résultats :http://womens10kresults.nikeapp.com/weownthenightparis/fr_FR/2921
My first semi-marathon! It took place near the Bibliotechque Francois Mitterand and the course was unexpectedly quite hilly. Nike did a good job motivating the runners (2400 women). At every other kilometer there was a "suprise" such as: athletes in suits and rollerblades carrying water on platters, Dj's blasting Mackelmore, tunnels with fog and techno, bubbles, edible confetti and balloons galore....It was overwhelming and overdone, but so great! It was a fun run and was one of my first "dang, I'm proud of myself" moments.
Résultats :http://womens10kresults.nikeapp.com/weownthenightparis/fr_FR/2921
J-3, BUT TWO FULL DAYS LEFT IN PARIS.
I can go on about what I'm remorsefully leaving in Paris and what I'm thankfully returning to in the States...Lauren and I have been making two big lists. But right now, I am going to try to enjoy my last days here! This parting is not bittersweet. I have a solid feeling that I'll be back again.
Paris, Merci pour tout. J'ai eu de la chance de partager cette ville avec deux millions d'autres. Certains vont quitter cette ville mais certains vont revenir. En attendant, prenez bien soins de vous et à la prochaine.
FSC.
