Me Sing French One Day

Since I've been working on the ukulele for quite awhile now it's about time I drop my first single. Unfortunately without my lovely lyricists, original verses are hard to come by. 

So I stole this from Edith Piaf.

The Colorful City of Lights

A quick afternoon exploring the colors of Paris with a colorful friend.

Centre Pompidou and the Things We Do

After an almost missed train from Montpellier, I found myself like I’ve found myself quite often these past seven months : slightly confused, slightly shaken, slightly weighed down by suitcases and backpacks and faced with a huge city to explore. In no way can Paris be explored in a day, perhaps not even months and months. So I narrowed my choices to accessibility and headed to the ugliest building I have seen in France yet. Centre Pompidou is steel framing with glass tube escalators attached to the side. But it can't be judged that easily : the views are amazing and sifting through the large galleries is lovely. After being refused from the exposition with my measly student ticket (it’s scary how accustomed I’ve become to the bureaucratic “no’s”) I spent the afternoon looking Matisse’s, Picasso’s and some other shtuff. Then I headed to the airport to tuck myself into a bed of ceramic flooring and the sound of a jackhammer.

At first it seemed very doable. However, I was slowly realizing that it would be a long night if I had to continuously watch my bags. Luckily, I met Ms. Better-Than-Mary-Poppins (she named herself this). A German au pair sat next to me nervous to be all alone but prepared beyond belief. As we started talking she whipped out and willingly shared juice and chocolate bars and she might’ve been the most practical-minded person I’ve met; I mean she secured my charger in an outlet with a Band-Aid. We took turns napping and although we’ll probably never cross paths again it was an honest learning experience sitting next to her. And so perhaps we can trust strangers a little bit because otherwise I might’ve died of thirst or had a dead computer. But instead I am watching the sunrise in a Charles de Gaulle airport terminal.

Dodo's Conundrum

1. Wear new party dress
2. Take afternoon train to Paris
3. Go to Bataclan Club
4. Watch opening band
5. THE SHINS
6. MORE SHINS
7. Paris bistro dinner
8. AH? What do we do now, it's midnight!? (midnight in Paris does not include Owen Wilson)
9. Go to train station, freak out..
10. Umm, oh look! A free club open until 5 am
11. Get sunglasses and dance at The Iguana
12. Too tired, pain aux raisins.
13. Train back to Montpellier

14. Vow to become better at taking pictures of people and steadier video

A Resumé of Winter Break, Part II

I. Be Reunited with the lovely Goose at the McDonald's in Barcelona Sants

A. Imagine worst scenario possible : Goose is in the middle of nowhere and we'll never see each other again

B. See her, jump up too quickly

C. Get massive bruise

II. Explore Barcelona

A. Parc Guël

III. Paris for New's Years

A. Champs-Elysées Mayhem : Fancy Outfits

B. Drinking coffee and tea for 20

i. La Durée macarons

C. Philosophic talks in La Madeleine

D. So much walking...

IV. Grenoble

A. Climb to the top of the Bastille A.Q.A.P.

B. Mountains!

C. um, THE ALPS

V. Jump on the wrong train; detour in Avignon

A. The dirtiest of hostels

B. A nice park by the Palais des Papes

VI. A day late, arrive once again in Montpellier

A. Let more adventures commence!
B. Family dinner
C. Check off the checklist 2012
D. Bike to the beach

Photos coming soon!

The City of... Des Petits Choses.

la Place Madeleine

It's the little things that I'm enjoying the most in the hustle and bustle of Paris. Like that the sink says chaud et froid rather than hot and cold, the exits are marked sortie, tes toilettes cost .50 euros and everyone seems a little sarcastic with me as I try to spit out the French I learned from textbooks.

90 euro macaroons!

Jetlagged, we've done well. Mom and I took the necessary boat tour, spritzed ourselves with Parisian perfume and have drank our weight in coffee (although I could use much more before I would actually feel awake). Today was a bright sunny day where we got what felt like a private tour of Napoleon III's apartment at the Louvre (hardly anyone was there at 9 and I got in fo' free!). Napoleon was a gaudy man and the hunting murals in the dining hall would make any animal lover shove their plate across the table. Through the chandeliers and windows you can see some vain reasoning in taking people's taxes and using them for personal gain.

l'Ile de la Cité

Après, we walked along the Seine river and every once in a while the sun would hit the water and gold plated statues in a way that convinced you that the city might be enchanted.

Enter the tour bus

As the day went on, the population flood gates burst. Soon there were too many tourists mixed in with too many annoyed Parisians pushing their way through said tourists. After naptime, we hit the streets in search of la cuisine française and ended up with a mediocre tourist café. However, I'm glad we came to Paris before zooming through the country to the southern comforts of my future home; I've learned to mumble and purse my lips and soon enough, I'll be walkin' in heels on them cobbled streets. I've been reminded that there are little things that make it all okay (I know right, straight out of la fromagerie).

Paris, it's been nice but I'm ready to find my niche in Montpellier tomorrow!

le Palais Royale