A week in Paris..

Tartelette Framboise

I am a list maker. There are countless lists that I maintain on an excel spreadsheet. Things to do today, things to do this week, things to achieve within the month, the year, my lifetime. I am constantly referring to them, making sure that I am on track, that no goal will go forgotten only to haunt me one day. And once an item makes its way onto my list(s) I become rather obsessed with completing the task. From washing the kitchen floor to my most lofty and challenging goals.
Number 5 on my list of things to achieve in my lifetime: live in Paris.
And here I am.

After 6 days in the city, my feet are sore and my legs suffer from a constant and dull ache, marks of my enthusiasm to discover this city that I now call home. From day one, my mind has been firmly focused on the fact that this time I'm not a tourist. I live here. This is my city now. And it is with this idea in mind that I have gone about familiarizing myself with my new neighbourhood and doing my best to blend in with the locals. I have walked and walked, and walked some more, some days with a destination in mind, other days wandering aimlessly, but always with a big smile on my face. (Ok, so maybe I did restrain the smile a little bit. I wouldn't want to reveal my true geekiness by walking around Paris smiling at myself, now would I? I'm working on my Parisian decorum, you see.)



watching the birds at the Luxembourg Gardens

On Wednesday I found myself at the Luxembourg Gardens, where I sat myself on a chair and watched the pigeons bathing in a puddle in front of me. I pulled out my trusty notebook, which follows me everywhere, and began to write. I couldn't help but think: "Hmm. Hemingway used to do this here too.." Although my pages were filled with nothing more than many variations of "Oh how I love Paris". But I'm sure that I can be forgiven for having a rather preoccupied mind lately.


Notre Dame

Wednesday was a rather hot and sunny day and after a time I headed back in the direction of home. I took a slow stroll past the Notre Dame Cathedral and through Ile St-Louis, where I found myself standing in front of Amorino; a small store specializing in Italian gelato that Clotilde had recently written a favourable review about. How could I resist? Did I not deserve this for all the blisters I have endured? Hard work deserves a fitting reward, and gelato suited me just fine. I ordered a cup with 2 flavours: Caffe and Creme Caramel and headed toward the river to enjoy the view as I savoured every creamy bite. I could have stood there forever, until I realized I was just a girl by a river, with an empty gelato cup in hand. A rather unfortunate state to find oneself in. I made a mental note to add the following to my list of things to achieve in 2005--try all flavours of Amorino gelato. Now this is a task that I will thoroughly enjoy. Look at me aiming high, a woman full of ambition.


an empty cup of gelato.. so very sad..


It has taken all my strength to resist coming home from my walks with a new dessert discovery each time. How can you not love a city where you can actually get a Creme Brulee to go? The Tartelette Framboise pictured at the top did somehow find itself in my hands. Funny how that happens, isn't it? Today I came home with some large and plump Saucisse de Toulouse from the local Butcher's. If they taste as good as they look I'll give you a full report next time.

So, as you can imagine, I find myself this past week in a bit of a daze. As soon as I can get this dreamy fog out of my brain and focus on the computer for more than 5 minutes at a time, I will fill you in. But I can barely be in our apartment for more than 30 minutes before my wanderlust is gnawing at me again to get myself back outside. In fact......