"Sheep Shaggers"

To begin my first actual weekend in Paris, a bunch of us went on a group pubcrawl. And after I finished pouting about the lack of frenchies in the bunch, I had beaucoup de fun. Went to four bars. I talked to a Brit for awhile and asked him what the Brits thought of the Welsh. He responded with, " we call 'em Sheep Shaggers." Amusing and enlightening?

After going to the bars, they took us to a club off of Champs Elysses. Quite the scene. Wild music, nasty men, lots of hysteria. A crazy time for sure. We left after the excitement wore off and evolved into disgust...Champs Elysses was AMAZING at night. The store fronts lit up and the arc de Triomphe in the distance--such grandeur!!

There were two notable crazies on the pubcrawl. First, the smallest Indian man I have ever seen. He wore a backpack the entire time and was at least ten years older than the girls he approached. The second man was also older. Bearded with glasses and stood with a slouchy stance. He was from New Zealand and carried an SLR around his neck and made so many puns. He had the social skills that make you cringe.

On Saturday I slept in! Got up and headed out to Le Marais. I walked for part of the afternoon and explored the area--great shops. French/European flower shops are incredible. The flowers themselves range from exotics to roses and the shops look like something out of a watercolor painting. I went in one that had interesting blue tiled flooring and decorated walls. The whole shop felt so organic and stylish. AH so much love for that little place.

By around 4:30 I had made my way to the Picasso Museum. I wasn't partial to Picasso before I went but seeing his original work was unreal. The bold colors and lines gripped me so much more than they had in pictures and seeing his obsession and the development of his depiction of the female form was nuts. A few of them stayed in my mind in the days following: Nature Morte à la tete de taureau, the farmers wife, and one of the "woman with clasped hands."

On my walk back I stopped in a book store. Fantastic selection. Can't remember any titles but I spent a while browsing. Really great stuff. 

That night, some friends and I headed over to Montmartre for a fancy french dinner. We ate at a place I had read about, Chez Toinette. The restaurant is small, boasting only about 1o tables. It is on one of the hills leading up to Montmartre. The feel of the restaurant was  quietly chic but not stuffy, and modest in comparison to the unbelievably to die for food. The entree and dessert I had at Chez Toinette was the best food I have ever had. in my entire life. ever. When we sat down our server brought us some tuna pate with a bit of cornichon on a baguette. We ordered a bottle of red wine and for dinner I had lamb chops and vegetables (a bit of mashed potato, mashed sweet potato, mushroom, and broccoli). The food presentation was perfect--effortlessly beautiful, not at all overdone. Other entrees ordered were veal, porc, and duck. We bite swapped and each meat was perfect. The food sent me in such a tizzy. Culinary heaven. For dessert, I ordered a chocolate business and Gina ordered creme brulee and we split the two.  It would be impossible for me to describe the pleasure of these desserts. The chocolate was moist and rich. The Creme Brulee was the most delicious, most smooth, most flavor just enough to inspire eating with eyes closed, dessert. There was my life before this meal, and now there is my life after this meal. 

Sunday, Luxembourg gardens all afternoon. Lazy in lovely weather. BEAUTIFUL garden.

Yesterday I took a walk in the rain. I saw a girl coming out of the metro entrance crying. 

I BOOKED MY TICKET TO PRAGUE today!!!! The last weekend in June is a four day weekend: I am GOING TO PRAGUE. The tickets were fairly reasonable, hostels cheap. This will be my main adventure during my program. Every other weekend I'll spend enjoying Paris. Paris, Prague, Italy...maybe benelux if there is time (and money?!?)!!!! Insanity. Everyday is a wonder. 

After Prague planning....H&M. Not what it used to be. Or is it I who have changed?!? Had to get an outfit for tomorrow's L'Oreal company visit. But for recreational shopping purposes, the clothes are trash and the experience, a nightmare. From the perspective of a shoppingphobe this place is scary and gross. 

(In the line at the dressing room I saw an elfish girl with a shiny hair cut in a bowl around her head)

I just got home from lounging in a park all evening. So many families, couples, guy posses, and old ladies lounging with me. Lots of kidnap worthy munchkins. I fell asleep in the sun. Everyone just sits and enjoys.