Les Nécessités

Being in a different place can be overwhelming talk less of being a place where people speak a totally different language. Before I came to Paris, I thought I was a french speaker, not fluent, but good enough. Wellll all of that changed when I arrived, I now know better. I'm an 'abebelube' as I'm frequently told. I like exploring, knowing where this and that is, knowing my way around, discovering new places and such. I can be a gallavanter. And I have brought this behavior to Paris. But it's not as easy but I have gathered a couple of guides/maps that I would not survive with them. I take them everywhere with me.They are my bare necessities.

1) The Pariscope which is a weekly bulletin listing things to do, what events are happening in Paris. Movies, shows, dining, theater. It's all there. Very efficient and convenient cause searching online can be a headache.

2) Visual Phrase Book: my saviour. Has common and essential phrases that are very useful for almost every situation. Best believe I study this little book religiously 

3) Paris Metro Map 

4) Paris Pratique: the reason why I am never lost. This wonderful book maps out each arrondissement. If you aren't so good with maps, it would be of no use to you. But it's a serious lifesaver especially when I decide to walk instead of riding the metro. It's better than mapquest and google maps!!

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Les Petits Incidents - Quatre

Will You Like That Raw?

I would like to first start off with the fact that I am African and as one, it is safe to say we like our meat, chicken, fish, all of them, well-cooked. Obviously, being exposed to new cultures and cuisines, some of us have been brave enough to experiment. Well not me. I would eat other cuisines but when it comes to meat, I would like my meat cooked. Well done, Always. Burn it if you please as long as it's cooked. Now, there are five levels of meat "doneness" (I didn't make that word up, it is the actual term). It goes from Rare, Medium Rare, Medium, Medium Well and Well Done. I personally do not know a lot of people who go ahead of Medium Well. But that's not saying anything.

In Paris, they have a different scale. It goes from Raw, Medium Raw, Rare, Medium Rare, Medium. That's not official by the way but this is the best way I can explain this situation. Yes, I said Raw. It is quite the norm in Paris, to eat raw meat. To me that's a bit much for me. Is one to say that they went to a restaurant and ate a delicious steak when it was raw and they threw some spices on it?? Apparently, this is the French way of preparing their meats and I have been looked down on and questioned for the way I asked my meat to be cooked. I just refuse to eat food when there's blood in it. Bear in mind, when I ask for "Well-Done" I get Medium/Medium Well. Having to ask my food to cooked again times over, I have officially given up. I guess I'll just stay away from meat and enjoy everything else Paris has to offer.

X

J’ai deux amours…..Mon Pays et Paris

Marina and I had lunch at Le Monde des Grillades. A little restaurant in Bastille.Had a very "homey" feel to it and the staff were really nice and funny too.

I had the Rumsteak and Marina had Squid. I usually never used to eat meat but I guess new habits in Paris!

 

Endless wine :-)

 

 

Marina et Moi

We decided to go to Hotel de Ville to go ice skating. For some reason, I've always loved ice skating, even though I'm not expert and I fall, frequently. But this was a Sunday afternoon, so the lines were ridiculously long. So we decided another time. Hotel de Ville is the french phrase for 'City Hall'. Sounds more glam right? French does that. LoL. I've fallen in love with the architecture in Paris and it's all over the city.

 

Hotel de Ville

 

I watched 'Midnight in Paris' and I absolutely loved it. But then I love almost every movie that is set in Paris.  So I wanted to go to the Shakespeare and Company bookstore he went to in the movie.

It was right across from the famous Notre Dame de Paris.

Right off La Seine

 

A Few Ponts (bridges) 

Paris can be so beautiful 

 

Notre Dame is a church but it's so weird that they still allow people to tour and take pictures while mass takes places. I can imagine it can be very distracting and annoying for regular churchgoers.

Right when I left, I remembered  'Hunchback of Notre Dame' and the gargoyles in the movie. They are really small but they are all over. You might not be able to see them.

L'Arc de Triomphe!!!

We dared to climb it to get to the top. The elevators weren't working but we figured we could do it.We were WRONG! This total climb took about 5 minutes (no exaggeration). Seems endless cause of the Parisian staircases. We were out of breath when we got to the top and we and many others stopped along the way to breathe. Yes, it is that insane.

But once you get to the top, you forget all of that and you realize it was all worth it

La Tour Eiffel

 

Street Lights

 

The Panorama of Paris

 

Les Champs-Elysees

 

Me, pretending to use the telescope

 

:-)

 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (La Tombe du Soldat Inconnu)

 

L'Arc de Triomphe

 

My 'Vogue' pose

*sigh* J'adore Paris!

A Tout Suite...x

Les Petits Incidents - Trois

Une Baguette, Un Jour

I've always loved baguettes and occasionally I bought them in America. But it wasn't something I couldn't live without. Well little did I know that I wasn't getting the real deal. The baguettes here are the real deal. You could eat one in one seating under 30 minutes. It's so ridiculous. I wish I could go back in time so I could stay in my oblivion. At first, I used to have like 2 a day but I realized if I continued that way I would become a rolly so I'm down to a quarter a day. I'm not a lover of bread, I could do without it but I haven't gone a day without  having a baguette. Lent starts tomorrow so maybe it would be a good idea to give it up. But if I'm being realistic, that's not gonna happen.

Montmartre

I visited Montmartre last week. I have been wanring to go because it was Montmartre where 'Amelie' was set and that happens to be one of my favorite French movies. So Montmatre is a hill but I'd like to say it was a mountain cause I climbed and climbed and it took a long while to get to the top. But once you get to the top you get to see the whole of Paris, well the North side of Paris. I went there to see Moulin Rouge, The Wall of Love and Sacre Coeur. Speaking of Moulin Rouge. I mentioned earlier I would try to see it...well that was before i found out tickets went from 150-195 Euros...*cough* Can I get a sponsor?!?! LoL.

The renowned Moulin Rouge 

To Love Is Disorder Yet We Love!

 Le Mur des Je T'Aime

I thought this was so cool. Apparently, it is filled with "I love you" written 1000 times in more 300 languages. I wasn't really able to recognize any another language but French and Dutch. They did however say that "I Love You" in Yoruba was there too but I had no idea what it translated to, to even look for it.

Mine. I was inspired  :-)

The climb up. Notice how steep the roads and stairs are. Rest assured, that was my exercise for the day.

Basilique du Sacre-Coeur

View from the Top!

A plus! x

Les Petits Incidents - Deux

Hi!!!!!

I'm sorry I have not posted for a while... a week..that's bad, but I was away. But rest assured, it wont' happen again. *fingers crossed*

Cite d'Amour?

So I came back to Paris on Valentine's day. To be honest, I didn't want to spend Valentine's day in Paris all by myself..so I kinda ran away but I found out that I didn't really have to. Paris is what you would imagine it yo be on Valentine's day. It is pretty much like everyday. There isn't an excess of couples kissing in the streets or red and pink decorations in every shop. Well, I do not stay in a tourist area, so maybe places around the Eiffel Tower and such may have exhibited this, but as far as I know it was pretty less than ordinary. It might actually be a bigger holiday in America cause a lot of people wear red and pink...here...classic black. LOL. I would say that all the boulangeries had decorations and desserts to celebrate the day but I expected a spectacle!! Oh wells!!

I got this box of Pink de Marc Champagne Truffles and they are they are to die for! Chocolate-y center covered in pink champagne frosting. Amazing!!

Hope you guys had a good Valentine's day

A tout suite! x

Les Petits Incidents - Un

Upon arriving in Paris, I couldn't help but notice such drastic and peculiar differences from America. Obviously, every country is different and has its unique mannerisms. Well, I learn a lot about Paris everyday and instead of just showing you what I have been up to, I thought I could also share some of my experiences. That way you get a sense of how life really is in Paris. So.... les petites incidents..

Bathing Is An Acquired Skill

Before I came to Paris, I heard "Oh Paris isn't like America. The apartments are really small, tiny even." But i figured, if my friends can survive, I can survive. Well, let me just say I don't think anyone can ever be prepared. I have actually seen the smallest apartment ever in Paris. Think a normal-sized bedroom, that's the size of that apartment. Kicthen, bathroom and everything included. If you are claustrophobic, Paris definitely isn't the place to live. Well, unless you're balling. Anyways, thankfully my place is actually manageable. However, I have realized that the bathrooms in Paris are quite tiny. To add to it, the actual space where you take your bath... *sigh*

My first few days here were a struggle, not only am I basically hugging myself as I shower, there is a time limit if you're interested in using hot water, plus they use those hand-held shower heads that you maneuver to get water on your body. Doesn't seem fun...It isn't. I'm not going to go into details but I have figured it out.

So next time you're in shower, able to use two hands and even have space to move around and sway...stop and thank God..cause in some parts in the world...that's a luxury

x

Louvre - Take One

I woke up to no power today again...So ridiculous. Am I in Paris?? I wasn't going to wait it out so i decided to try and do some little sightseeing. I planned on going to the Louvre and Le Jardin de Tulieries but I got there way too late. However, i was able to take some pictures. Have to go back again

Le Louvre Pyramid

 

Louvre Inverted Pyramid

L'Arc du Carrousel

There it is again... Ever Present Tower 

It's actually insane to take these pictures cause you see them on TV or in pictures, but you never actually think you're going to be able to take your own pictures. *Sigh*

Had to get a few goodies for myself

My New Found Love - Macaroons

Then I saw these really cool gnome statues in one of the stores

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

Hehe.

X