Tut tut. It looks like rain.

It was the rainiest day today and because it is one of my favorite times to be in Paris I ventured into the city to have an adventure.

Sometimes I choose a random metro stop to get off at and explore. I don't know why, but I still get surprised at how each new place I visit, I fall even more in love with Paris.

Today I found a 50's inspired restaurant. The 50's and Paris? I can think of no better combination. Plus I've been craving a strawberry milkshake since I left America so I tried it out.

After being completely satisfied by my "HD" (Happy Days) Diner experience I walked around in the rain, window shopping and people watching. Finding out that my water proof boots really aren't water-proof, I came home to watch Gilmore Girls and eat a baguette with some camembert. It was such a perfect day.

-M

America, here I come?

Once again, this post may result in my immediate, and forced, departure from France.

Today I visited Angelina's. Sigh. I don't know what it is, but I'm just not able to embrace so many purely French things {like macaroons!}

Angelina's was founded in 1903 and is world famous for it's hot chocolate and Mont Blanc. People like Coco Chanel and Proust would frequent this salon de thé and it is at the top of many traveler's lists.

I am still trying to figure out why.

I sat down to a lovely little table and ordered the two things they are most known for. I was presented with the most charming setup. I felt so French. But that's where it ended.

I poured my hot chocolate from the little pitcher into my cup and added a dollop of whipped cream. My first sip almost sent me into a coma. After adding a packet of sugar and more whipped cream I could still hardly drink it. It is just like the Paul's HC. I don't know if you remember my post about that experience but I likened it to drinking a bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup. Same thing with Angelina's. I could only take a few sips. So I moved onto my Mont Blanc. I can see why some people might like it {sort of?}, but it's just not my cup of tea, or hot chocolate {pun}. So two bites, 5 sips and 14 euro later I left Angelina's feeling like I'd had my sugar and chocolate quota for... my life. How depressing. I know this all sounds so incredibly dramatic. But I take my hot chocolate and desserts seriously so, yeah. I am a little dramatic.

I will say the atmosphere is lovely though and the service was great. I know people love the HC {I saw a lady literally licking the pitcher. Classy?} but I couldn't take it. I still have a headache from it.

Whew!

I did find out that I love escargot and veal. So, maybe the French will keep me?

I went walking around after Angelina's and saw this ballet shop. Look at how lovely this tutu is! I wanted to wear it and dance around the streets of Paris. Plus it reminded me of my best so I had to take a picture.

In other important food news, my new favorite are chaussons. I don't think I'll be able to describe them adequately. They are these sweet, crusty, bread pastries filled with chunks of apple and sauce and make your mouth happy. Ooh they are delicious!

A la prochaine!

-M

I Love the Metro: Part 1

This is the first of many posts about why I love the metro.

Troubadours.

Probably my favorite aspect of metro riding. It never ceases to excite me when someone/a group of people get on the metro and pronounce:

Bonjour mesdames et messieurs!

I always know what is to follow will greatly please me.

After they greet you, they station themselves against a pole to stay steady during the ride, and then give a little speech to prepare you for what they are about to do. This is when I get out my proverbial bag of popcorn and settle in for the show I'm about to witness. They begin to play and their sweet, sweet music fills the air. Some troubs will stand in place, others will serenade their forced audience, pouring their heart out to whoever is "lucky" enough to have made eye contact with him/her. They play through a few metro stops and once they are done, walk up and down the isle saying "Merci mesdames, messieurs" to those who offer up a euro or two. Once they leave, silence fills the car and it leaves me longing for their presence again.

Now, there are sub-categories of these roving musicians: Troubs that are actually good, and the ones that are so horrible you wonder if they are possibly tone deaf.

Those that know how to wield their instruments add a wonderful soundtrack to what could be an average metro ride. My favorite is to hear the musician's renditions of La Vie en Rose. Hello, how more French can you get? Sometimes, if you're lucky, they have their own speaker system as to ensure the whole metro car can partake in the musical feasting. Sometimes they sing along, sometimes they have harmonicas. It's bliss.

While the actual musicians make me so happy, the tone-deaf troubs are possibly even more entertaining to watch. They don't know how to sing or play their instrument but they play anyway. Hearing them butcher well known classical pieces or what I'm sure is some form of La Mer just makes me smile. These "musicians" are just doing what they love and I can fully appreciate that.

It's not uncommon to run into a group of musicians in the corridors that connect various metro lines. One of my favorite memories of this was a group of about 5 musicians playing Flight of the Bumblebee. Can you imagine! People were running and bustling about trying to make their trains and to have this song playing was like out of a movie. So fantastic!

These troubadours are not all the same either. You can be sure that you will never get bored with the genres offered. It's a new style every time. Classical, rock, and even Mariachi.

Yeah.

Basically I love the troubadours. They make my heart so happy and add such joy to an experience that I already love. It's genius!

There is definitely more to come on my love of the metro.

-M

Normandy Field Trip!

Today I found out that I am going to Normandy the beginning of March with one of my schools. I don't really know details yet but I am very excited! Yeah yeah yeah!

-M

Just a touch behind

I've been a lazy blogger as of late. But I wanted to add the rest of my pictures from when my aunt was here. We went to Shakespeare & Co. {HEAVEN}, ate at Les Deux Magots {Picasso and Hemingway would eat there often. So cool!}, strolled around the Latin Quater and that night ate at La Gaulois. It was so lovely to have her and Karyn and Celia here. I miss them already!

Karyn brought this all the way from the States! It was a little piece of home. And they were delicious.

In other news, I have something of a date this week. I'm kind of excited about it as well! I met this guy at H&M before Christmas and we've been in contact while I was away and he asked me out. Mainly it will be nice to hang out with someone. I'll let you know how it goes!

-M

Happy Valentine's Day

I love you!!!

-M

Thick as Thieves Pt. 2

I have such a special valentine that always thinks of me! My person Jenna is the most thoughtful person in the world and I adore her more than I could ever express. She sent me the cutest Valentine's day package. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful best friend!

Thanks Jenna girl!

-M

This is what I saw today:

-M

A Dashboard Confessional Birthday Wish

To the most beautiful Belle of the Boulevard:

Hey Girl! Happy Birthday! I love you so much. I hope that you're happy, you really deserve it.Even Now as I sit here, I can only think about how we are just as Thick as Thieves, being born like sisters to this world.

We have so many great memories together. Sometimes when I’m pouring over photographs and Living in Your Letters {fb messages and such} I think “she just might get you lost trying to find a mansion in the hills,” but I laugh at all of your funny little things. I always think that you are fairly agile when you are dancing around in your highest heels and I know that you can bend and not break {I wish I could say the same about myself}, and that you may smile like a saint but you curse like a sailor {half true}.You’ve got a smart way about you, you’ve got a fine laugh, and your smile is the most genuine thing I’ve ever seen. I also think about how much I love hanging out with you in the Dusk and Summer.

I think you are So Beautiful and that you have such a charming beautiful exterior, laced with brilliant smiles and shining eyes and perfect make-up. Hands Down you truly are the best one, of the best ones. I couldn't ask for a better sister. I know you’ll always be there for me, especially when I’m a walking open wound and a trophy display of bruises. You’ll say "dry your eyes, don’t be afraid, life is always hard," and "everybody learns from disaster." You always get me right.

Even though we're not 21, don't wait to get out your fake eyelashes and celebrate your birthday! I hope you have the best day you can ever remember!

I’m tired of this distance, I believe it’s over-rated. But I'll meet you where we started once again, cause I miss you! You're my favorite sister forever and ever! I LOVE YOU!

So long, so long!

-M

I miss my friend.

So much.

100!

Happy 100th Post!

Yesterday I went into Paris to meet my lovely Aunt Kathy and her friend Karyn and her daughter Celia. The weather was absolutely perfect and I had the most wonderful day. I met up with them at their hotel right next to the Eiffel Tower. Amazing. We then headed up to the most beautiful monument in Paris: the Sacré Coeur. Oh my heart feels such happiness when I go visit it. We spent some time walking around Montmartre {the artist's square is so charming!} and even saw the Moulin Rouge {last time. It's in the sleaziest area! But I take the blame. I just wanted to see it.}. After having our eyes visually attacked by one too many strip clubs we went back to the Eiffel Tower and had an amazing dinner with a classic French waiter. Curled mustache and everything! It was so wonderful to spend time with my aunt. I adore her and to have family here for just a few days is just what I've needed. Tomorrow we are planning a boat tour on the Seine. I'm very excited!

-M

Sick!

Apparently my vertigo is a warning sign for illness to come. This happened in October and is occurring once more. I'm feeling absolutely terrible so I'm going to hibernate for the next few days and hopefully I'll feel better for Kathy's visit. Ughhhh!

-M

Too cool.

For some reason MC set the fridge to be at a sub zero temperature. My cheese is frozen.

I just. I don't even know with her sometimes.

-M

No thanks.

I realize that I will most likely be deported for what I'm about to write because it is offensive to the entire French nation and every Francophile alive. With that preface, I do not like macaroons. Yeah I said it. I had some from Angelina's and now from Ladurées {both are world renowned} and I just don't understand why they are so beloved. They aren't gross by any means, they just don't taste very good to me. In fact they give me somewhat of a stomach ache. Maybe it's just me, but I just can't see, or taste, why they are so amazing.

I tried the rose, caramel, lemon and chocolate today and I couldn't finish one of them. Even the chocolate! That is saying something. Maybe it's the plastic like texture/flavoring. I don't know but I'll pass.

-M

Yes please.

Um. I found perfection today. A blog all about turquoise and teal? I can't even. I just had to share it with you.

Click here!

Oh isn't it completely lovely?

-M

Mind punch

Because I am 5,000 miles away I have to mentally punch the entire ISP office. Seriously right now. I think they are playing "How many times can we drop the ball with Madison?" I don't like this game, so let's stop playing?

-M

Les Gourmandises

I purchased this little tub of candy canes at my new favorite grocery store. Mainly I bought it because it was so cute! I'm a sucker for cute things.

Pun intended.

Love!

Hm hm hmm!

Last night I stayed up until four am working on my scholarship application that I forgot was due on February first. Although it was already the first in France, Utah was still in January. Thank you 8 hour time difference. I finally got it done but I would really love one night of normal sleep. Pretty sure that would be a good thing.

I went to school number three today, the one I like least, and actually had a good time. There was a new teacher in the class I went to. The former teacher left on maternity leave {she had a koi fish tattoo on her lower back that I saw one too many times}. The new teacher is young and cute but speaks very quickly and I'm pretty sure she referenced my death today... Other than that I really liked her. Plus she actually kept the class in control. Without screaming at them.

Imagine that.

It is still so bizarre to me to have the teacher read out loud and comment on the student's work. "Luis, you didn't learn the lesson and did very poorly." "Steve {there is a student named Steve which is so unFrench to me} you did well, but you made some mistakes." It is very far from how my teachers handled things. Luckily.

I found my new favorite bakery and grocery store today. I've finally found somewhere that sells potato chips! I know. But sometimes you just need some chips. After my new discoveries I had a little picnic in my room as it was utterly freezing outside. I purchased the most delicious baguette {I wish I was eating it right now} and some cheese {I've decided that camembert is my favorite} and watched some of Grey's. It was a perfect day.

France is amazing to me and it holds the largest place in my heart. Tomorrow I'm going into Paris. I can't believe that I am able to visit Paris whenever I'd like. I have the most wonderful life and I am beyond grateful for everything I get to do and see. It's just lovely!

-M