Hello there…it’s me, checking in for my weekly blog. I am sad to report that I have been sick and out of commission for the last few days, so don’t have a weekend of excitement to write about. And for the record...I do have pics, but the internet won't let me upload them...so I'll try again later...argh.
Last week we were visited by the kids Grandma Ya-Ya. She was scheduled for a visit mid-September, but everyone decided we just couldn’t wait that long to see her again. She got in on Saturday morning and spent as much time as she could possibly fit in with the kiddos. Sadly, Rob got sick early in the week (a bug that has been passed around the whole house now) so he wasn’t able to join in most of their activities. My schedule is always a bit up in the air when we have visitors in town…so I am just kind of around, for when I’m needed. I did end up with most of Monday and Wednesday off.
To be honest, I don’t remember what I did on Monday…I’m sure it was lovely and delicious though. On Tuesday, I found a track-a running track. It is a bit of a commute on the train from the apartment, but well worth taking for a good track workout…which I did, and was totally sore the next day. Fantastic.
Wednesday I went to visit the Montmarte neighborhood…with my trusty walking cards. (the neighborhood is all built on a hill and after the Tuesday evening workout, the walks were slightly painful!) This is the area where my mom was suckered into buying a friendship bracelet for 15 euros when we were here together…and on my way away from Sacre Coeur, another fellow tried the friendship bracelet thing on me- I stopped him before he had a chance to put it on my hand…and told him I already had one….this is the part where they get you- they act all offended that you are interrupting them and not listening to what they have to say- because surely, it is important. And being the polite girl that I am, I feel a little guilty and start to let him talk…but the trick is- as they talk, they start to put the bracelet on your hand…as he tried to start his spiel over and put the bracelet on my hand, I said, “no, I already have one…I know, I know- make a wish…hakuna matata…” and he stopped and said “oh…sorry” and left. He knew I had already paid the tourist price.
Montmarte is a cool artsy neighborhood…it is the neighborhood that used to be where all the poor artists lived- until that became known and it is now too expensive- and touristy for that matter- for the poor artists to live. It is the area where several scenes from Amelie were filmed…I got a pic of one of the cafes from the movie.
Grandma Ya-Ya went home early Thursday morning and we were back into our usual routine of playing pretend and hitting the local playgrounds. Thursday night, the sickness hit and I went to bed at 6pm-woke up to my alarm at 7am the next morning. The kids and I had a mellow day on Friday and I was asleep shortly after my workday again.
I thought I was feeling a bit better Saturday morning, so got up and took a book with me to sit in the park at Notre Dame. Ugh…soooo many tourists. Everywhere. Some advice for you- if you are ever planning on visiting Europe, don’t do it in August. The cities are full of tourists and all the locals have left for holiday. I didn’t feel great and spent the rest of the day in bed. This morning I woke up, felt better…had a couple of pancakes and went out to catch noon Mass. I did a bit of window shopping on the Champs-Elysees and started not feeling great. Decided to take a little break in the Virgin Megastore…spent a good hour at their listening stations, checking out some new tunes. I realized how out of touch I have been with my normal life when artists I like came out with an album in May, and I not only haven’t heard it, but didn’t even know it existed. I started picking out albums to buy, only to return them to their shelves, realizing that it doesn’t make sense to buy them at 1.5 of their price (darn exchange rate) and have to pay to ship them home…I ought to just stick with itunes. Boo. After my vacation in music, I went and saw The Dark Knight…which finally came out here. I’m not a big fan of dark, scary movies, but figured I should see it, as it has gotten such great reviews. And it was exactly what everyone said- dark and scary and a well made movie. I can’t say it was enjoyable…because I’ll probably have nightmares, but it was good.
Now I’m back at the apartment…fighting with our internet, yet again…why can’t it ever just WORK?! And waiting for the “kids story before bed time” to go down and make myself some comfort food- top ramen. (Word on the street is there is a pho place in our neighborhood…if I find it, I’m staying in Paris forever!)
I’m reading a book right now, called Paris to the Moon. It is about a guy from NYC that decided to move his family (wife and baby son) to Paris for 5 years…and all he learned and observed. It is fun to read, as he has gone through many of the obstacles we have…I just read a part about how he was surprised about the things he missed from home…it isn’t the usual things you would think of- not the restaurants you enjoyed at home or your favorite stores…it is the little everyday things that you have always taken for granted- the way people have exchanges, the way you fit in to the routine…and it is so true. It is nice to read about someone else having those same thoughts. I really can’t wait to return home…as amazing an experience as this is, and I want to make sure I appreciate the whole thing, I still find myself counting the weeks and days. I know that shortly after I return home- within a couple of months, I’ll be searching for my next adventure…but I find it interesting that none of them are ever as good as home.
That’s all for now…I do miss you terribly, even though I heart Paris.
