Brunch is Breakfast Without an Alarm Clock

Brunch has always been an after church ordeal for me, a special treat reserved for Sundays. We had a Sunday buffet, where there is a myriad of options from fruit to salad to shrimp to fried chicken, and there is always a dessert if you saved enough room (which if you have gathered anything so far…I ALWAYS save room for dessert). However, I quickly caught on that in New York brunch is thoughtfully planned out in advance and not reserved strictly for after church on Sunday Brunch requires it own menu at most restaurants, and some restaurants even cater to a brunching crowd refusing to serve other options. So needless to say, I have been scouting out my favorite brunch spots since arriving. One thing I have learned, is to always go with what the house is known for. If you walk around the restaurant and it seems like most people ordered the Uovo in purgatorio (which is way to cook eggs at one brunch place) then don’t order the fritatta. Also, going healthy at a brunch restaurant that is not known for its healthiness is going to be disappointing. Maybe walk to brunch or go for a stroll around central park afterwards as an alternative to bland egg whites.

So, all that being said, I have officially found one of my favorite brunch spots. It is called Jack’s Wife Frieda. You will find it on just about every New York brunch list. Therefore I am going to disagree with the great Yogi Berra saying, “No one goes there its too crowded.” I think if it is that popular, it must be that good–and I was not disappointed. I ordered the grapefruit with homemade yogurt and granola and coffee (of course), and I added a poached egg a la carte for protein. I must say, it was the perfect balance of everything, the ambiance was great, and the food was delicious. I went to the one down in SoHo and the bench seating with exposed wooden ceilings and floors could not have been more charming. Everything about my Jack’s Wife Frieda experience left me eager to return.

Jack’s Wife Frieda

Another favorite place I went to was Rosemary’s. This is a quaint place complete with a rooftop garden. Any herbs mixed in the dishes are straight from the roof. The house dish, uovo in purgatorio, was recommended by our waitress and we spotted it on several other tables as we made our way to our sunny little corner by the windows. Between the three of us, we ordered one eggplant panini, the Uovo in Purgatorio, and eggs benedict. Additionally, if you are looking to make you brunch a little boozy, there is a whole drink section for mimosas and bloody mary’s that begins at noon. In fact, most New Yorkers make their brunching selection based on the drink options. Many places offer bottomless mimosas or bloody marys for a fixed priced. It is a very interesting afternoon if you just sit and watch the locals wander into the restaurant and stay for a while.

Rosemary’s

Finally, one other aspect of brunch culture that really threw me is their use of avocados here. In Texas, avocado means guacamole. I mean, where else would you use an avocado other than between the queso and salsa and a bag of tortilla chips? I stand corrected. There is a very popular dish here called avocado toast. It is exactly what it sounds like, just toast with a heap of avocado on top. Curiosity got the best of me and I had to lay my Texan pride aside and try this popular dish. I am so glad I did. Avocado toast is my new favorite. It is just filling enough to satisfy your brunching desire without leaving you stuffed. I have officially passed my stamp of approval on this dish for an alternative use of avocados (I’m sure the local New York foodies were holding their breath for my opinion).

Bluestone Lane Cafe

Overall, I am sold on the brunch culture here and I am excited to scope out some new places!

Avec Amour,

Caroline

Run N.Y.C

I feel like the best way to get to know a new place is to explore it by foot. One of the first things I always do after unpacking is lace up my running shoes and hit the streets. Usually “exploration” is just a better name for getting lost, but it has allowed me the opportunity to see things I normally would have missed from inside a cab or underground in a subway (which is a whole different kind of lost). Additionally, going for a run around my new home helps me get a familiar routine in a new place. It is different for everyone, but to me running is kind of a home base. I began running at college as a way to learn Greenville and when I went to Paris last summer I ran there as well. So naturally, as soon as I arrived in New York, I had to scope out my new world for the summer on foot.

Obviously the first place any tourist visiting New York City should go is Central Park. Therefore, one morning before I began working, I ventured to the park to see more of the renown “urban oasis”. I was shocked not just by the amount of people out and about, but by the way Central Park manages to capture a retreat in the middle of this bustling city. Everything was emerald green and the paths wound throughout the trees toward boulders, benches, and ponds.

(Central Park)

I was running along one of these paths when I came to the Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir. This was a gorgeous small lake in the middle of the park that was surrounded by a gravel path and skyscrapers towered above the tree line. I began running around the lake and was met with some interesting stares. Turns out, there is a correct and incorrect way to run around the lake.

 

(the wrong way to run)                            (Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir)

In the following week, I ran along Chelsea Pier and the Highline. Future reference, it is best to run the Highline early in the morning before the city wakes up.

           

(from the Highline)                                                (from Chelsea Pier)

So far, I have loved my NYC explorations that almost always wind up with a long cool down walk studying my GPS back to my starting point. There is so much to see around the city it is best to do so by foot.

Avec Amour,

Caroline

I Love “The City” a Latte

    I LOVE “THE CITY” A LATTE

Jacks Wife Frieda (separate post to come about the incredible food there) Coffee provided by Stumptown Roasters.

So I have been in “The City” as the northerners so lovingly refer to this bustling metropolis for about one week. There are a few things that I have noticed that separate the Northerners from the Southerners some good and some bad. Unfortunately, the friendly “Hello!” and spontaneous conversations while waiting in line at the grocery store are not common, neither is chatting with your waitress about where she went to undergrad what her favorite entrée is. However, one of the things I have quickly embraced is the northern love of coffee. There is a reason why people say this is the city that never sleeps. I genuinely believe it is because people drink too much coffee during the day to fall asleep! (It could also be because there are a myriad of activities to do at any given time).

I would like to call myself a “Coffee Connoisseur”, roommates and close friends may suggest something closer to “Coffee Addict”. Either way, I enjoy a great cup o’ joe at any time of the day. All that is to say that I am constantly trying to find the best cup of coffee anywhere I go, and New York City is no exception. This post may be premature since it is only my first week and there are still many coffee cups left to be tested. However I wanted to get my list down on paper (blog).

While wandering around the first day, I made my way toward Chelsea market. Along the way, I saw a small shop with a great logo and creative letterpress. Now, I know the cardinal rule is to avoid judging a book by its cover, but this coffee shop had such a great aesthetic, I felt that the coffee would rise to the expectations. In this instance, my intuition was right and defied the old adage. Not only was the hipster environment enjoyable, but also the coffee was incredible! It doesn’t stop there though; I had stumbled upon a roastery that holds free coffee tastings on Tuesdays at 10 am. Since I had not started my internship, I was available to go through the tasting. A true coffee enthusiast taught us all there is to know about coffee. Think of a wine sommelier and a wine tasting with various years, bottles, and flights and substitute that for coffee. I was in heaven! We had about 5 flights of coffee (a flight is three cups of the same coffee to ensure there aren’t any human errors and to get a consistent taste). First you smell the grounds without water, then you “break” the ground with piping hot water and smell the brew, then you slurp—yes, slurp—a spoonful of the coffee to taste. It was such a cool experience. The coffee shop is called Stumptown Coffee. Take note of their tastings if you are there in The City on a Tuesday at 10 am. The following pictures will also describe other cups that I have enjoyed throughout the week.

One more thing I would like to touch on is a new app. It is called CUPS Unlimited. So the premise of the app is like Netflix for coffee. You subscribe to a plan that has over 160 participating coffee shops in NYC. It includes a map with balloons indicating where you are in relation to the CUPS affiliated locations. On the app you choose which café, what drink and size, then place your order. It will just deduct the amount from you account instead of paying at the register. This may be dangerous for me, but I have a feeling to check everything off my growing NYC summer bucket list, I’m going to need a lot of coffee.

BEST COFFEE (so far): Stumptown Coffee

Picture of the tasting with our enthusiast:

The Butcher’s Daughter, better atmosphere than food and coffee

Joe’s Coffee, good college student’s grab and go by NYU

Avec Amour,
Caroline

Welcome to New York

The last time I set foot in the Big Apple, my list of “Things To Do” included: ice skating in Central Park, seeing the Balto statue (also in Central Park), and visiting Eloise at the Plaza. There are two things to note with this scenario. First of all, by second grade I was already making to-do lists; and secondly, too much time has elapsed since my last visit to New York City and it was about time I changed that. I have always dreamed that I would someday live in New York City. It has been a slow and steady progress  in the North East direction to get to this point, however I am excited to say that for the next ten weeks, I will be able to call Manhattan my new home.

Obviously, the news of my internship and my new relocation prompted me to gather as much research as possible and begin making a list. My partner in crime from last summer is joining me, and together we are setting out on a mission to see everything NYC has to offer. Since my summer allowance isn’t quite the same as Blair and Serena’s in Gossip Girl I have added a challenge to make the most of the free activities the City offers.

Currently my bucket list is a little short, and very touristy, so I am hoping to find more local gems and add to it as the summer goes on:

The Bucket List-Rough Cut:

• Take the Staten Island Ferry
• Visit the MOMA (free admission on Fridays from 4-8)
• Visit the Rubin (free admission on Fridays from 6-9)
• Visit the Whitney (free admission on Fridays from 6-9)
• See the Museum of Moving Images (free admission on Fridays from 4-8)
• Kayak the Hudson River
• See the NYC skyline from a rooftop
• Visit the Union Square Market aka: Greenmarket (Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday)
• Gallery Hop in Chelsea
• Visit the Morgan Library (free admission on Fridays from 7-9)
• Purchase a novel in Books of Wonder (18 W. 18^th St.)
• Find a vintage steal at Housing Works Thrift Shop
• Conquer the subway
• Find the best cupcake in New York-maybe settle for the best dessert in general????
• Find the best coffee

Send me more must sees!

Avec Amour,

Caroline

Just a little recap

So, a brief summary of the past few days:

      And we’ll never be royals…
Wow, the gilded gates of Versailles loomed above me as I looked at the royal palace of Louis 14th. Upon entering the foyer, so many questions rushed into my head at once. First, my practical side wondered how one man/family could possibly need so much space and dramatic decor. Second, my romantic side overcame me as I dreamt what it would be like to have Marie Antoinette’s closet, and where I would hide during a game of hide-and-seek Versailles edition, and finally was the gold that accented everything 24k? My favorite room was the hall of mirrors. The walls were covered in antique mirrors and low hanging chandeliers lined the ceiling. After we left the palace and entered the gardens, again, I was awestruck. The perfectly manicured hedges and lawn were calling me to take off my shoes and run around.

        I say Monet you say Manet…
Not the same, Monet is the artistic genius behind the famous Water Lilies, also known as Nympheas. Monet was obsessed with light and decided to paint multiple variations of the water lily scene in his yard at Giverny (g-ver-knee). For three years he set up canvases around the pond, and would move from one painting to the next in order to capture the shadows perfectly. Today, Monet’s house is a museum where you can walk the grounds, and stand on the bridge where the famous painter once stood.

       I See Dead People…
The Pere Lachaise cemetery is huge but we found the directory of where people were buried and mapped our route. I was unaware of how many people were buried there and it was very interesting to walk between centuries of famous historical figures. We found everyone from Molliere and Seurat to Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf. It was surreal thinking about their contributions and how they affected the course of history.

 Aquaducts: not funny animals in a different shade of blue
My mom joined me for a few days before returning to the states. We took a train out to provence and began in Avignon and from there made our way to Pont du Gard to see the ancient Roman aquaducts that cross the Gardon river. The structure was 31 miles, built in the 1st century, and is one of the tallest aquaducts constructed and still preserved. We toured around and explored the countryside for the day stopping in St. Remy and Les Beaux de Provence.

        Porte de Clingcourt sil vous plait
As we stepped out of out taxi, my mom and I were faced with aisle after aisle of stalls from furniture to pots and pans. Thankfully, we had a guide with us who was able to navigate the flea market easily so we saw the best of the best at Vernaison. In the Northern part of Paris (off of metro line 4, or a cab ride away) there is an incredible flea market just past the bridge. The main one is Vernaison, others in the area include Dauphine, Paul Bert, and Serpette. Some shops were like museums, there were gowns from Jean Patou’s 1920 spring line, or vintage Chanel cuffs, there were antique armoires and bread barrels. We spent a little over half a day walking in and out of stalls, I found some delft spice jars that were hand made from a cute elderly couple, while my mom found pillows. There is something for everyone in these markets and they are certainly a must-see.

The remainder of my week was spent sharing final dinners with my French mom, picking up a few last “must haves” from my favorite boutiques, and concluding A Movable Feast written by Earnest Hemmingway. I sampled a few more macaroons (Carette is the best), and enjoyed one last crepe along the seine. I am so thankful, especially to my parents, for allowing me to have such a wonderful experience these past five weeks. How many times do you get to begin a story with, “this one summer in Paris when I just packed up my bags, downloaded the iTranslate app (because Bonjour was not enough), and learned the most interesting lessons inside and outside the classroom?” These past few weeks were magical and as Earnest Hemmingway says it best,

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young [wo]man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

Avec Amour,

Caroline

Howdy, and Ca Va?

I have come to the obvious conclusion, that Americans and Parisians have more points of difference than points of parity. (Points of Parity is a marketing term my teacher here uses to make a similarities and differences chart.) Since I am more than half way finished with my program, I figured I have spent enough time immersed in this culture to figure out at least ten reasons why I stick out like an American more than a Texas fan at an A&M game (sorry, only my Texan friends will understand that). So here it goes:

1- White jeans: it doesn’t matter if it’s after Memorial Day or before Labor Day, the French do not wear white jeans.
2- My teacher opening class with, “Who smokes? You will be my time keeper now”: classroom breaks are taken according to the necessity of a smoke break, and the Americans get a coke.
3- Fromage (cheese) is eaten at the end of the meal as a dessert, as opposed the Texan way, “Would you like a medium or large queso to start with”.

(Fromage tasting at Fil O’Fromage provided by ISA! so yummy! Start with the first tray and work your way towards the end. The cheeses are best appreciated fro mild to bitter)

4-“Toilet? 1 euro.” I learned very quickly, not to leave an establishment without going to the bathroom, even if you don’t need to. In France, and most of Europe, running in to a store or restaurant just for the restroom is definitely frowned upon.
…speaking of frowns…..
5- Pokerface: No matter how good the song is on your iPod, do not crack a smile or make eye contact on the morning metro. Once the doors close, Parisians put on their best pokerface which seems to say “Why am I awake right now and why is the girl in white jeans smiling and singing Happy at 8:30am? She must be American”.

6- The only time you run is for a metro that is about to close. One of my first days in Paris I decided to go for a run, I quickly realized:
Lululemon leggings-no
Nike shirt/shorts-no
Tennis shoes-no
Sitting in a cafe and watching the American pant her way up the hill as you eat a baguette-yes

7- Shrimp and grits are not a thing here. Going to school in the South, and having two roommates from Alabama, it was only a matter of time before the easy grits surfaced. Although french food is amazing, it is pretty rich. Therefore, we decided to tell our host-mom dinner was on us, and made cheesy shrimp and grits for dinner. We hung an American banner from the window, and served some grits, and  chocolate cake for dessert. When the meal concluded, all she could say was, “Grits are Great! Grits are Great!”

(Libby and Allison making shrimp and grits in the kitchen)

8-“Une Grande (gr-ah-nd) Cafe au lait, s’il vous plait”: When I ordered coffee for the first time, I was shocked to see the cup was just a little bigger than a shot glass. “This is the grande? I can only imagine the small!” I thought. Then I began to worry, as an avid coffee drinker it was going to take a lot of “grande s’il vous plait” to equal the normal “vente latte with two raw sugars”. Little did I know, French coffee, though small, is very powerful, and one Cafe au lait was all I needed for the morning.

(Allison, Libby and I happy to get some coffee)

9- Stripes: Always a good idea, when in doubt put on a striped shirt–preferably Petit Bateau. At least until I start speaking I might be French.

10- Pedestrians have the right of way….kind of…..: The French approach the crosswalk as though the checkered flag is about to start the Indy 500 and the people are in the way. Don’t think about crossing the street without the right of way either, there will be a few choice French words, and you are flirting with fate.

As of right now, on my walk to school, these are all I can think of. Mostly because I am wearing white jeans, I was listening to happy, I ordered a cafe au lait, crossed the street at the wrong time, bumped into a girl from another class on her smoke break. Whew. I think I addressed at least half the things on that list in the few hours I’ve been awake. Ahhhh just a day in the life as a Texan transplant living in Paris!

However, when it comes down to it, despite the differences, there are some similarities that make the adjustment pretty easy.

This is a picture taken from my bedroom window here in Paris

This is from my bedroom in the states

Avec amour,
Caroline Clarke

Made in America

“This embattled shore, portal of freedom, is forever hallowed by the ideals the valor and the sacrifices of our fellow countrymen”

Today I went home. Not the 8 hour plane ride from CDG to Houston that awaits me on the 30th, but instead I walked among Americans on United States soil along the beaches of Normandy. Although I had read about it in textbooks, written papers in social studies, and even watched Saving Private Ryan, nothing was comparable to the memorial, museum, and cemetery, that presents the unphotoshopped truth of WWII. Statistics line the walls with staggering numbers of fatalities, and photos show soldiers entering battle with commrades falling on either side of them

.  

Letters have been found with soldiers’ last words written to their loved ones describing their fear and parting wishes as they plunged toward the chilling waters of Normandy. It was truly moving to see that although they were entering a battle where death was not only eminent but expected, the soldiers still said things about freedom, duty, and loyalty. however they also mentioned fear and uncertainty about the future. Standing among 9,387 white crosses on the hill above Omaha beach it is evident that dedication and belief in liberty propelled the soldiers to fight despite the risk.

  

I was struck by the patriotism of our nation, but I also noticed the importance of the UNITED states of America. Next to an Illinois cross there was a Texan cross, then New York, Minnesota etc. It showed me the truth behind united we stand, divided we fall. Thanks to the soldiers that stormed Normandy, the world was one step closer toward ending communism, fascism, and the deadliest war in history.

“Reflection upon the ways of history and of memory has become essential to our knowledge and understanding of the past particularly with regard to the fashion in which nations and memories of times past made history their own and put it to their own minds. “

Avec amour,
Caroline

Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest

This post is long overdue, I cannot deprive you of the Chateau experience in the Loire Valley any longer. This past holiday weekend, we took an excursion to the Loire Valley to see three chateaus, and stay a night in Tours, France. For those geographically challenged…like moi….the Loire Valley is about 2-3 hours southwest of Paris. The Loire (pronounced la-wah), is famous for the chateaus, but more importantly the beautiful countryside which lured the kings to hunting, and summer homes.

Chateau de Blois: This was the first chateau we visited. Nestled away in a sleepy town along the river, it was home to 7 different kings, and 10 different queens. The first King was Louis the XII and it served as the barracks in the French revolution during the final days of the Chateau before it was restored. I could list lots of fun facts about the chateau, but I will keep is short and simple to maintain your attention. One part I found very interesting, was that the chateau was built in a 3-sided square with a courtyard in the middle. When standing in the center one can notice the different styles of each King as he took over Chateau Blois. Louis the XII initiated the construction with medieval architecture, then Francois the I added on in Italian style, finally the third side incorporated Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders layered for 3 stories. Unique architecture was also found inside, especially in Catherine de Medici’s room built during her time at Blois. Within the room, it there are secret compartments; each shelf or drawer is opened only by pressing another spot on the wall. Very National Treasure-esque right??

(2nd side of the Chateau) (secret cupboard)

Chateau Chenonceau: Was the second Chateau, walking up to the chateau was like a combination of driving down the driveway of an old Georgia plantation and seeing Cinderella’s castle. Chenonceau was built in 1513 and teems with the feminine touch of Catherine de Medeci (apparently she had two chateaus), Katherine Briçonnet, and Diane de Poitiers. Although the house is incredible, I especially liked how the Gallery of art served as a hospital ward during WWII to help people escape Nazi’s stationed across the river. The second outstanding attribute, is how incredible the grounds are. It was like Garden Club on steroids, everything from a vegetable garden, to a Rose garden, to a life-size maze was a vibrant green and all incredibly well maintained.

 

Following the visits, we were surprised by a wine tasting event in the Loire. We came across a very historical vineyard owned and operated by passionate family that told us all about the wine making process. Then we tasted everything from Rose to Champagne! Our night in Tours was very calm since we had been exhausted from a day of sightseeing and wine tasting. We walked round just a bit before dinner and found that Tours is actually pretty cosmopolitan with shops like Zara, and a smaller Galleries Lafayette. We decided on a small pub in a cute plaza with lots of restaurants. Just across the street, we ate some of the best gelato, It was a very small stand but the flavors were delicious.

Our final Chateau, was Chateau de Chambord. Hands down, this one looks the most grandiose. As we drove up, I kept thinking I had seen the Chateau before somewhere, but that had to be impossible. I finally realized why it looked familiar when our guide told us the chateau was the inspiration for the castle in Beauty and the Beast. We continued to walk around the enormous chateau and came across some stairs. These were very unique stairs, there were a double helix staircase where two sets of stairs both followed the same direction but never met. This was said to have been beneficial when soldiers needed to transport precious cargo, one could go up and not risk running in to someone on his way down. The architectural feat was very intriguing and ended up becoming a famous attraction for the Chateau.

        

Back in Paris, while sit in my bedroom on the fourth floor of a winding staircase in our town home, as the traffic rings outside my window; I can’t help but dream of a time where I could wander the maze of Chenonceau, or hide secret gems in the walls of Blois, or run around the stairs of Chambord. Alas, though I have to wake up from the dream as soon as my iPhone reminds me we are in the 21st century and I have class in a few minutes.

Avec Amour,

Caroline

8 Days a Week

            (I have been out of range for wifi for the past weekend, so this post is an update of last week. Soon I will have a post about the fabulous chateaus I visited this weekend.)

Whew, what a week! It began a little rocky, with a midterm and loss of communication, but the crisis has been averted and the midterm went well. Monday was more of a studious day, but it ended with a lesson on becoming a Parisian in one hour. There is a comedy show in the 3^rd Arr. where a Parisian comedian highlights the stereotypes and extreme differences between Americans and Parisians. Overall I thought it was hilarious, although viewer discretion is advised for some more PG-13+ parts.

            Tuesday was a long day of class back to back but once I finished, I decided to explore the area around my school in Canal Saint Martin. I came across a few very cool restaurants and settled on the Tuck Shop. Two Australian girls own the rustic lunch spot and cook some great dishes ranging from tomato basil soup to sandwiches. It is very modestly priced and has great wifi. I enjoyed a latte with my “healthy plat du jour” and wrote in my journal. To finish my meal I took a cookie and ginger caramel biscuit to go for the girls at home for our movie night featuring Midnight In Paris. The rest of the evening we just hung out and watched Midnight in Paris.

           

            Wednesday after class, I visited the Conciergerie. It used to be the main jail for Paris, housing everyone from petty theft, to the queen, Marie Antionette. It was an interesting building to meander through. As I drifted from plaque to plaque reading about how the prisoners were guarded, where they congregated, and how they were divided according to status. Tales of Robispierre’s rebellion ultimately leading to his demise, and Marie Antoinette’s failed escape, kept me entertained for hours while the rain poured outside. Fun Fact: Marie Anrtionette did not say “Let them eat cake” and she had to increase security after she attempted to run away early in her sentence. That evening, when the rain cleared up and the sun began to shine as it set, Allison and I went on a run. We took the metro a few stops and just decided to get off wherever and run as far as we could. Our route took us through the Louvre, Place de Concorde, and by Hotel De Ville. It was surreal running along the Seine and saying, “Oh look, the Eiffel Tower is sparkling”. It was easily one of the best runs I have ever been on, around every corner there was a different landmark to admire.

            Thursday was really fun! My marketing class took a field trip around Paris looking at marketing techniques in different stores. We focused on perfumeries, since Paris is home to Chanel No. 5, Jean Patou Joy, Guerlain, and many others. We walked through Palais Royal, where there is a small courtyard which hosted lots of Royal parties that were not condoned by the state. In addition to the little bakeries which surround the fountains, the park is home to stores that sell art, vintage Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and more high end merchandise. After we finished our tour, I returned sit by the fountains in the center of Palais Royal and enjoyed a juice and Jane Eyre. I got lost in the book and the calmness of the park and ended up having to run to the Bateaux Mouches; which is a boat tour along the Seine. From the Seine, it gives a different vantage point for the big monuments of Paris. Dinner was at a great little bistro in St. Germain—Le Petit Bientot, and then we hit the hay.

           

            Friday and Saturday we went to a few different lunch spots and walked around Paris and stopped in and out of stores. Sunday we leave for the Loire Valley! I cannot believe how fast time is flying by, each day is filled with activities and so many cool things and yet we still have so much more to see and do, I better get out my to-do list and start writing and scheduling if I’m going to get it all done in time!

 Avec Amour,

Caroline          

C’est La Vie

No need to call out the search party, I am alive, well, and I have officially accepted black on black as a non-emo outfit. We have been on the move nonstop since Friday, and I am just now sitting down with a cup of coffee to begin recounting my first official weekend in Paris. Friday began with an early class, the metro takes about 45 minutes to get to school in the morning, and attendance is called promptly at 8:30. As soon as class finished, I went straight to the Pompidou center. It is amazing. Not only is the artwork inside incredible with very thought-provoking modern pieces, but the actual structure of the Pompidou center is a work of art. The Pompidou is an inside out building where all the infrastructure is visible from the outside. Once inside, I saw various collections from modern artists and architects, however my favorite was a display by Martial Raysse. 

Following the Pompidou, I went to Merci; which is a concept store. This means the merchandise and “concept” of the store changes monthly. It is entirely non-profit benefitting those in Madagascar. Famous designers donate the left over merchandise to Merci, where it is resold at a slightly discounted price. It was one of the most well marketed stores and had some of best looking products. It wasn’t until I glanced at my watch that I realized I had been wandering for nearly an hour and needed to get back across town to meet friends for dinner. We ate at chic pizza place, Dan Palo. We then went home to hit the hay since it was already midnight in Paris.

Saturday morning, I was feeling ambitious, so Allison and I woke up early and went to the Place Concorde and then to the Musee L’Orangrie. This museum houses Claude Monet’s Water Lillies, works by Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Rousseau, Alfred Sisley, Chaim Soutine, and Maurice Utrillo, among others. The museum was re-designed around the Water Lillies to provide a respite from the war torn world in the 1920’s. It was a treat to sit in the all white room with the sunlight filtering in through the skylight and look at the lillies depicted from sunrise to sunset through each mural. We slowly  made our way through the other exhibits, and then out through the tuileries. It seemed like everyone in Paris was out enjoying the sun. People lounged by the fountains reading Hemmingway and newspapers. Only Parisians seem to possess that attitude of “being”, no one seemed in a rush to get anywhere or do anything except sit. We walked to Saint-Germain des Pres and had lunch at a quaint brasserie on the left bank. Since living here, I have realized the left bank is more polished, older, expensive, while the right bank is younger and more “hip”. Again, we skipped dessert and went to Angelina’s a famous tea room on Rue Rivoli, along the tuileries. We split desserts and deemed the hot chocolate (chocolat chaud) the “nectar of the gods”–it was to die for. Following our afternoon of decadence, we walked the tuileries and over to the Marais area. Along the way we stopped by the flower market. I have never seen such amazing Hydrangeas and Peonies in my life!

(clearly enthralled)

 Later in the evening we returned home, got ready, and left to see the Eiffel Tower at midnight. Libby had a Parisian friend that she had kept in touch with since their exchange program in high school, and she arranged for some locals to surprise us at the Eiffel with an authentic french picnic. We had everything from hardboiled eggs, to jambon avec fromage on bauguettes (ham with cheese on a bauguette), to champagne.

Quittrie (her french friend) had brought two others along for the picnic–Louis and Lancelot. We played french music and gazed at the Eiffel Tower as it sparkled. It was one of those moments where time freezes and you look around and realize how surreal it is to be in Paris. At about 1am, we left the Eiffel tower and went to a small underground pub and danced to Macklemore and Brittney Spears. What a night. We decided to call it quits at 2 am, even though our french companions said the party was just getting started….whew! Sunday was a lazy day after all the excitement on saturday. We woke up and found a quaint cafe on a backstreet in the 3rd Arr. The wifi is fast, the coffee is good, and they speak perfect english. The Strada Cafe has become a new favorite for our little foursome. They have a wonderful plat du jour (plate of the day) for only 13 euros. I worked on my midterm that was due monday (too early for a midterm…but hey, it’s France right?). Overall, for the weekend I had the most authentic french experience, found my favorite cafe, bought a new jumpsuit, and experienced the finest modern art…I would call it a success. What an unforgettable experience and hopefully many more memories to come. 

 

Avec Amour, 

Caroline