La vie

I keep reading other people's blogs and I have come to a conclusion - I shouldn't. I really started this blog with the honest intention of writing about touristy things and la vie Parisienne. Instead it has turned into ways my friends and I have embarrassed ourselves and random ramblings. Apologies for this. From now on I will try to write about things in Paris, things I love and have seen so far and what I plan to see in the future. This is my first attempt at a more informative blog so forgive me if i'm a bit rusty...

So this weekend didn't include many tourist style visits as I had only just recovered from having 'la grippe' and decided to take it easy. On Friday night Nora, Ilana and I went tol'Avenue for some drinks and the general relax we needed at the end of a stressful week taking care of children! There was a very good looking waiter who served us too which was a nice plus point, although the girls insisted he was only 18 so needless to say nothing else happened ha. L'Avenue is one of my favourite brasseries to go to and with limited choice in Maisons Laffite it's nice that we have found one we like. They also do one of the best CroqueMonsieur/Madames that I have ever tasted.

Saturday I worked all day as I offered to babysit for another family, two families in fact - one French and one American. It was a good day all in all and easy babysitting but the best aspect by far was being able to speak French with Melanie. She is only eight but she is such a bright kid and she doesn't speak any English besides hello/goodbye/thank you alors we spoke only in French. Ideal practice for me. Saturday evening was spent with the girls, watching movies, drinking wine and eating bread, cheese and pizza. We also dyed my hair...well Rachel helped me to dye the blonde out. It finally looks natural I am very pleased!

Sunday we tried to go to one of the famous American diner's in Paris Breakfast in America but the queue was huge and the people at the front of the queue had been waiting for half an hour. So sadly we settled with a Starbucks brekkie (not so bad) and promised ourselves we will eventually get brunch from the American diner. If anyone is interested in getting a real American breakfast then visit...

4, rue Malher
75004 Paris, France (map)

Métro: St Paul

After we headed to one of my favourite places in Paris...The Long Hop. Yes, that's right. Not the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe but an English pub hidden quietly down a side street to the right of Notre Dame. The pub has a great atmosphere, friendly staff and really reminds me of home. We have watched every England six nations there now and have somehow be-friended the bar staff. This led to far too many drinks being consumed on Sunday and the lying down game making it's break on Paris. Hilarious times, looking forward to the final this weekend at one of my favourite places in Paris.

I also just remembered I went to Parc Monceau with the girls a few weekends ago so I will update on that soon but for now i'm exhausted and all this serious tourist talk has made me tired.

Ciao

To do list

Firstly have to say a quick shout out to Tokyo - after experiencing a powerful 8.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked the capital a 33ft tsunami has devastated northern coastal areas. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone there. These natural disasters are becoming far too frequent.

Anyway aside from less depressing topics this blog is a to do list, a list of all the things I have left to do in Paris before Summer. Here goes...

1. Unrelated to Paris but related to the process of how life altering this experience has been. Read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

2. Go and visit the Vel d'Hiv memorial and all the plaques around Paris which commemorate what happened on that awful day in July 1942.

3. Visit the Pantheon. DONE

4. Find someone to put a padlock on the Pont des Arts bridge with, even if it's a friend. Romantic stuff peeps got to be done. DONE, WITH STACEY, APRIL'11

5. Go to Musee d'Orsay again.

6. Finish the Louvre (over several days)

7. Climb the Eiffel Tower (night & day) DAY - DONE

8. Take my parents to have falafel on Rue de Rosiers

9. Visit all the Paris parks

10. Buy a Longchamp bag and become truly Parisien DONE

11. Go the the Sex museum and Moulin Rouge

12. Learn how to make croissants from a French baker

13. Visit the Chateau de Versailles

14. Learn how to skateboard from Noah TRIED, FAILED

15. Go to a real French market for bread/wine/cheese

16. Go to a flea market

17. Take a river cruise down the Seine

There are many more but right now I am off into Paris as I am FINALLY feeling human again so I will update it when I can think of more.

The minutes, the hours, the days.

It's been a little while since I last blogged and a lot has changed in that time. Firstly, something that I thought was increasing my happiness actually happened to alter it greatly. I won't go into so much detail, mainly because I don't want to relive the painful experience but let's just say: lesson learnt - people are not always as genuine as they may first appear. A wise friend told me an incredible quote today (she really understands my literary side) that

"Most loves are like that ... You heart starts to feel like an overcrowded lifeboat. You throw your pride out to keep it afloat, and your self-respect and independence. After a while, you start throwing people out - your friends, everyone you used to know. And it's still not enough. The lifeboat is still sinking, and you know it's going to take you down with it. I've seen that happen to a lot of girls here. That's why I'm sick of love."

After that I am determined to read the book - Shantaram, recommended to me by my lovely friend Charlotte.

I am also reading a new book, given to me by the lovely American family that I sometimes sit for. It's called 'Sarah's Key' and it's based on the story of young Sarah Starzynski - a young French, Jewish child living in Paris during the occupation. It jumps between Sarah's story in 1942 to that of Julia Jarmond in 2002 and how their past, present and future have become inextricably linked. So far it's been incredibly moving and emotional and I would recommend it to anyone. It has also opened my eyes to how few people are aware of the Vel d'hiv Roundup of 1942 and how responsible the French really were. I've been angry and sad whilst reading this novel but it has reminded me how important it is not to forget the past and how important it is to learn from our mistakes. A really good read.

Lastly I have flu, big bad old horrible flu. La grippe as the French call it, like it literally grips you. Bloody nightmare. Been in bed most of the week, missed my exam today and its still not shifting. Hope it's gone for the rugby and my babysitting on the weekend :-/ already feel like a social hermit. Also stressing about next year, all I know so far is that i'm leaving Paris to go home for the summer and I have no idea after that. If you know me well you should know I plan, EVERYTHING. So for me not to have a plan is...different. Brave? Or just plain foolish? Who knows yet.