Bonjour!

[intertext]

I sit, as you see me, in my Paris apartment, munching on a croissant aux abricots. I have accomplished my first successful shopping expedition and made myself understood in French, as I ordered a baguette avec poulet, the afore mentioned croissant, and a salade aux tomates.

It's a bank holiday of some sort today, and everything is closed. That's one disadvantage of having to forage for myself. No doubt in a day or so when I'm less stupid with tiredness I'll find a good marche and get in some supplies. Meanwhile, on my street

there are a number of interesting looking cafes and other eating establishments, including a number of Japanese restaurants, should I develop a craving for sushi. The one about three doors down even delivers, or so it would seem from the fleet of Vespas parked outside with little cold boxes decorated with the company logo on the back.

The trip over was very, very long and uneventful. Highlight was bus-ride in from the airport, through what I realized was Montmartre. I was filled with the utmost glee. Travel squee :)

Right now I have been up for going on 28 hours and am just pushing through to avoid the worst of the jet lag. No doubt I shall awaken, starving, at about 2 in the morning. I have half a croissant left to stave off the pangs if so.

So far, I'm liking it a lot. No dog poop misadventures yet, though I have seen a lot of dogs.

Comments

[lidocafe.livejournal.com]

Bravo! Glad to know you arrived safe and sound. Montmartre! So romantic!

Hey, I just happen to know that it is WWII Victory Day in France on May 8, at least I think it is (too lazy/bust to look it up), so that's why things are closed. Perhaps by this time, a parade has occurred?

Yesterday afternoon at about 1:30, summer arrived in Victoria, and it's beautiful now. But I am quite sure that Ghandi and Gertrude Stein could be having lunch in my office (where I am) and you'd still not care a whit BECAUSE YOU ARE IN PARIS! (Of course, Gertrude Stein would only have lunch in Paris in any case.)

Looking forward to hearing the details.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

You must have our weather, then, as it's forecast for cloudy with showers for the next few days. Oh well, all the better for museums, and at least it's warm! Yes, someone said it was something about the 2nd world war (trust you to know!) I didn't see a parade, but they obviously take public holidays very seriously here.

[superfoo.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! I am uber jealous. Have a good time!! Maybe you will find a sexy french man to have a steamy affair with before you come back ;)

[intertext.livejournal.com]

heh, peut etre. who knows what could happen when you let me loose for three weeks :)

Royale with cheese

[(Anonymous)]

Sushi...you're in Paris - stay away from the sushi! Your diet should consist of nothing but baguette, fromage and wine...and maybe butter and the livers of small animals.

Is there a more universal food than sushi? Okay, maybe Le Big-Mac, but I'd take sushi any day of the week.

Glad to hear you've arrived!

Clint

Re: Royale with cheese

[intertext.livejournal.com]

heh, yes, you're right. But I'm sure Paris sushi would be pretty good, too :) Today I think I'm going to the Rue Cler, where there are a multitude of "real" French food shops.

[owlfish]

I'll be in Paris for four days in the first week in June. Will you still be there then?

[intertext.livejournal.com]

malheureusement, non - only until the 28th. I did consider a side-trip over to London, but I think I can spend all my time (and money) in France quite happily and it costs too much to change my air ticket. Next year, perhaps!

[vaframenti.livejournal.com]

WOW, how exciting. Thanks for the post AND the pictures. Sushi? I would be very happy there! Would love to see more pictures!

[intertext.livejournal.com]

you will I'm sure :) I was too tired yesterday to do much more than poke my head outside the door. Note, also, the link to my Flickr site in the side bar of my blog page, or if you click on the pics I'm posting, they should take you there, too.

[marri.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is a gorgeous view. For me, one of the highlights of a Europe trip would be seeing the architecture which is, at times, older than the very country we live in here.

As for sushi in Paris, it might sound amusing, but you should be pretty safe if you try it because there's some kind of "sushi police" thing going on right now. Japan got upset that the sushi in Europe was 'unauthentic,' and started demanding standards. I don't know if it's in effect already, but in either case the experience of sushi in France is just kitschy enough that I think you should go for it, at least once!

Good luck getting over your jet lag. I hope you have lots of fun!

[intertext.livejournal.com]

There seem to be almost as many Japanese restaurants as there are French ones, so I think I won't be able to resist. The best Japanese food I've ever had was in London, but perhaps Parisian sushi will be superior even to that! I like the idea of the "sushi police" :)