I am as giddy as can be to be back in Paris, the first time since Ethan brought me back here five years ago (already!). This time, I am toute seule, here for a client conference that starts tomorrow. My flight arrived at 9:30 am, and after an hour journey via RER from Charles DeGaule airport, I emerged from the metro at the Vavin stop in the Rive Gauche. As I made the last step up from the underground, I nearly let out a celebratory whoop. Could I really be here again? I wanted to pinch myself. Paris is hot, and it’s Sunday so the city is calm. I made my way to the Atmosphere Hotel where I changed into something cooler and left my bags until I could check in. First stop: a local cafe to get refreshed with a juice and coffee. The cafe didn’t have breakfast and was nothing special, but I sat outside taking in the morning, happy to be here. Even the water the waitress brought me with my coffee seemed to be the best water I’ve ever tasted (jeez, why am I such a fan?!!). Next, I found my way to a pattisserie and bought, then ate the best croissant I’ve had since I lived here. (Side note: Why is it so damn hard for the rest of the world to repeat the recipe? How hard can it be???)

From there, refreshed with a little food in me, I made my way to the Marche via the Montparnasse Cemetery; a brief walk beneath the towering gravestones and trees brought me to a Sunday market where I wandered among the stalls of used goods. But again, like the water, like the croissants, I’ve NEVER seen a street sale like this in the States.

Where do they get all this cool stuff? Lamps, china, old film reels, hand sewn napkins, etc. I ended up buying a pretty pink beaded necklace, a dress(!), and a couple of little gifts for my friends here. The purchase of the dress was the most fun I’ve had shopping in a long time; the lady selling the dress had me strip down right there on the street to try it on, as she helped me take off my pants so I could see if it fit. With no mirror in sight, she sent me to look at myself across the street in the reflection of the nearby buildings. How could I do anything but buy it?!

Once I’d made my way down the boulevard, I decided to walk to the Denfert Rochereau neighborhood, where I’d stayed with my parents during the millenium new year we spent in Paris. I landed on a sweet little cafe and wasted no time ordering a muscat, order of pate (who knows what kind, who cares?!), and a green salad (again, how is it that a little butter lettuce can taste so damn good? Why is that so hard to find outside of this country?!)

I returned to my hotel after an extremely satisfying meal, and learned I’d been “OOpGredded” which I didn’t understand immediately till I clarified with the hotel host, “ah oui, UPGRADED!” I have a lovely if little room that overlooks the roofs of Paris, includes a jacuzzi tub with LED lights that cycle from blue to green while you tub with the windows to la ville providing an excellent view. Meanwhile, the worldcup games continue, and I forgot how much a part of European life they become when they are going on. I could hear the shouts when Germany scored their second goal from blocks away. Tonight, dinner with my former roomate, Daphne. I may just borrow one of the beautiful bikes the mayor of Paris and the JC Decaux company have filled the city with for short term rentals.


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