It was the best of weekends, it was the French-est of weekends. It started with a simple plan to eat dinner one night with Colin's researcher friends Anthony and Anne-Claire (who have since moved out of the apartment with the toilet that traumatized me), but it ended up being the most social weekend we've had … Continue reading A tale of two parties
Paris
Through the seasons
Writing about last week’s snowstorm reminded me that I wanted to share some “through the seasons” photos I’ve taken this year. I wasn’t particularly disciplined about the project, but it was a good excuse to revisit some of my favorite spots in Paris every few months. I picked three places: Notre Dame, the Coulée Verte … Continue reading Through the seasons
A little white lie
In a strangely comforting full-circle moment, it snowed in Paris yesterday. It almost never snows in Paris, according to our French friends. Certainly not enough to accumulate. We were inclined to believe them, seeing as how it's now late January and the grass is still green and our window boxes are still as colorful as … Continue reading A little white lie
Countdown to Noël
Well, it's been a week since my unfortunate tête-à-tête with a pigeon, and I've only had one nightmare involving birds since, which seems like a win. I haven't had anything quite as interesting to talk about at French class, but that's a price I'm willing to pay for personal space. Also, thanks to all of … Continue reading Countdown to Noël
Les pigeons
Yesterday was a beautiful day in Paris. It was sunny, not too cold, and bustling with holiday spirit. I left for French class early to soak up the sun, and as I walked, I brainstormed blog topics for this week. I had just decided on a photo-laden post about the holiday lights strung up across … Continue reading Les pigeons
Les Gilets Jaunes
Paris has been in the news a lot lately and not for good reasons. I've received a steady stream of worried messages from family and friends. Although I am wholly unqualified to discuss the political issues at the heart of the protests, I can reassure you that Colin and I are safe. The protests of … Continue reading Les Gilets Jaunes
American cuisine, according to the French
For the holiday season, our local department store (the Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville, or BHV) has added a few displays of international cuisine. Here's the American one: French's mustard, Hellmann's mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, Tabasco sauce, popcorn, pancakes, Star Wars potato chips, Reese's peanut butter, and Marshmallow Fluff. I'm so disgusted that I don't know … Continue reading American cuisine, according to the French
Gustav Eiffel and the Île aux Cygnes
A few weeks ago, I decided to walk to the western side of the city, past the Eiffel Tower. I had just discovered that there are, in fact, three islands in the Seine in Paris. The first two are well-known: Île de la Cité, which is home to Notre Dame, and Île Saint-Louis, which is … Continue reading Gustav Eiffel and the Île aux Cygnes
Beaujolais Nouveau: il est arrivé!
Yesterday - Thursday, November 15th - was a totally French holiday. Not the kind of holiday that gets you out of work but the kind that warrants drinking wine just because. It was Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which is the day - always the third Thursday of November - when that year's vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau … Continue reading Beaujolais Nouveau: il est arrivé!
I ain’t afraid of no ghost
Halloween isn't really a thing in France, so Colin and I decided to celebrate on our own in the most spook-tacular way: by going ghost-hunting in the catacombs. The Paris catacombs, created in the late 1700s to address problems with overflowing cemeteries, are hidden deep underground and are full of artfully arranged human bones, mostly … Continue reading I ain’t afraid of no ghost
Practice Makes Parfait 