I am learning more about detachment and attitude choice than I ever could have anticipated. I am close to tears as I begin to write this entry. Some joyous tears…some sad…some just release from holding myself so tight trying to keep it all together. I am being challenged to be stronger and more attuned to the goodness of strangers, myself…and life in general. Imagine that.

The second leg of my flight to Paris was on Air India. What a beautiful experience. The flight attendants were so colorfully adorned in saris, sandals, bare bellies showing, and red dots. The food was great, and each seat was equipped with little screens showing Indian programming. I didn’t sleep a wink. The first day of 3, actually, that I would go without sleep. Go ahead…try and predict how well I coped with the events to follow……

I arrived at Charles DeGaulle airport in Paris…alone….easily slipped through customs (amazing, with how shifty I look) and was excited to get my bags and take on Paris. Yep…..get my bags. Hey….where are my bags? They should be RIGHT HERE. Nope….not here….or here….or there. It was a great opportunity to recognize the grace and helpfulness of the French when an American speaks little French, beyond basic greeting. I’ve become a proficient mime. They know exactly what I mean when I do that little Trapped in a Box gig.

I could have cried…but I didn’t….I could have gotten mad, or afraid…but I didn’t. Okay…only a little afraid. I decided it was the Universe’s way of helping me get all of those heavy bags holding all of my clothes and art supplies to my hotel.

Two days later, the morning I was to leave Paris for our village…my bags were found and returned to me. It was a beautiful reunion.

Paris is unlike any other place I’ve experienced. I love it. I’m gonna marry it. Oh….and I LOVE speaking French….or English with a French accent most of the time actually……they don’t really know what I’m saying…but I feel very cool.

We ran around Paris like fools with no sleep…because we were. We tried on wedding dresses in a Couture Wedding shop (Rita did the trying on) and saw some of the most beautiful and unique dresses ever. Took a tour of the city at night, bought Eau de Toilette at a very fancy shop, ate gelato cones that they scooped to look like flowers, drank great coffee, and shopped at Senelier….a famous Paris art store, where I got my artist’s pallet. Did I mention I broke out in a rash from my really expensive Eau de Toilette? Somebody back home is going to get a very nice gift—a barely used bottle of Mure et Musc. The nights never seem to end in Paris. People are still dining, drinking, smoking and laughing into the wee hours of the morning. We also went into Notre Dame, which is indescribable.

Romance is everywhere…lovers embracing and kissing, sharing their hearts and passion on the sidewalk, in the streets, on benches and bridges. Love, beauty and laughter, at a pace that allows for smelling the roses. What a lovely way to be. I am learning much from the French.

We took the train from Paris to Angers day before yesterday…then a cab to Argenton-Chateau—the village that is our home for the next month. It is lovely, and small…about 1,000 population. Access to Internet is very limited, so my Blog entries and emails will be sporadic at best.

Our house about a 5 minute walk from class. It’s a new house, so it does not have the ambience I had conjured up in my head, (you know, the sash open, lace curtains blowing in the breeze, overlooking a valley of green and cobblestone…oh, and a cow) but in exchange….it is clean and beautiful, sparse and simple. It’s perfect. The vistas here are breathtaking, and after I am done writing today…I plan on roaming the town and taking pictures.

The old bartender at the town café is already making fun of me when I slaughter the words for the different kinds of coffee. I must make this goofy face and do something funny with my shoulders…because he mocks me, and gets quite a kick out of himself at my expense. So, last night I got out my Rick Steves’ French Dictionary before bed. We’ll see who’s laughing today!

I’m off now to the little grocery store, “Shopi” to get a few staples. I’ll write again soon.

Au revoir!

written by  Lifeisjuicy on July 21, 2007 from Argenton-Chateau, France
from the travel blog: My Excellent French Adventure!
tagged Paris and Argenton
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7 comments...

Staying in the Latin Quarter is great because it is lively and close to great train lines. Our hotel was quite good - simple but very clean and 2 minutes walk to the Metro and we had a private juliet balcony (for K to smoke out of anyway). We didn't have enough time in Paris but that's life! We packed so much in to 4.5 days but it's so expensive here that we had to make the decision to move on...

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Georges Pompidou Centre (5th Floor) - Jane could have spent hours here and Kristian enjoyed it too - Kandinsky, Dali, Matisse, Tanguy, Delaunay etc all in the one spot....superb. Can,t say the same for the 4th floor (see low lights below);

Picnic in Bois de Bolougne

Jane loves Berthillon!

Fruit at Hediard

3. Rue Mouffetard - great area and fabulous market;

Place Monge market

4. Beautiful St Chappelle - unfortunately being restored so the main Passion of the Christ window wasn't visible but absolutely the most beautiful monument in Paris

St Chapelle

Some painting...

6. THE METRO - I am Jane Queen of the Metro and I would sell my car tomorrow if we had a train system this good!

7. The Lalique shop.

LOWLIGHTS: Georges Pompidou level 4 - call us uneducated but really, the current brand of modern art is a crock! Jane is a 1900 - 1960ish girl - we wasted time TRYING to get it but we don't!; The Louvre - sorry but again just not interested - even got the tour to see if we could be; Paris is pricey; the Champs Elysee is not what it was!; French keyboards suck - stupid extra characters and letters in different positions!

INTERESTING FACTS: Police in Paris outdo the Amsterdam police being on bikes as they are on rollerblades!!!!; In Amsterdam and Paris they have a cute habit of serving gingerbread biscuits with tea - very nice - Jane is going to recommend john So bring in an ordinance making that compulsory in Melbourne cafes!; The French love the sound of their own voices (fair enough too!) so we have found ourselves watching US TV shows being dubbed - not subtitles - but dubbed - very funny!

USELESS INFORMATION: Jane can express herself in French but never understands the response!; You can virtually learn another language on the Bateaux Mouche as it's translated in so many languages!; Jane hates Becky the stupid host from CNN - the only English speaking channel in the hotel....but we loved the crazy weather girl; Believe it or not Jane forgot to bring sunscreen and managed to get burnt during a 22 degree day!

BEST LAID PLANS......Unfortunately even organised and well researched people like Jane can get it wrong from time to time.....We had the beautiful Luxembourg gardens within walking distance but a guide book had made it sound like it wasn't such a great picnic spot so we went all the way to the Bois de Boulogne only to find we were at the wrong end and considering it is about the same height as the whole map of Paris that was too bad, so our tip for a picnic is Luxembourg!!

Beautiful Luxembourg Gardens

Little boy playing sail boats

written by  JaneandKristian on September 14, 2007 from Paris, France
from the travel blog: Jane and Kristian's honeymoon
tagged Paris
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1 comment...

Je me prepare pour le depart, la valise est faite et prete à partir. La dernier chose a faire c'est mettre ce blog en route et tout devrais etre bon.

written by  Sebou on October 19, 2008 from Paris, France
from the travel blog: Around the World
tagged Paris
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Je me prepare pour le depart, la valise est faite et prete à partir. La dernier chose a faire c'est mettre ce blog en route et tout devrais etre bon.

written by  Sebou on October 19, 2008 from Paris, France
from the travel blog: Around the World
tagged Paris
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comment on this...

Je me prepare pour le depart, la valise est faite et prete à partir. La dernier chose a faire c'est mettre ce blog en route et tout devrais etre bon.

written by  Sebou on October 19, 2008 from Paris, France
from the travel blog: Around the World
tagged Paris
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comment on this...