08092008
(Prelude the reading of this entry with a large, wistful, yet satisfying sigh)
Mes amis, je suis de retour!
My flight to LAX came in last night around 9:20 pm,
and I ran down the stairs with my souvenir-laden backpack, my large purse,
and a mind full of memories to meet my beautifully patient Matthew.
The thought of actually leaving Paris didn't hit me when I said goodbye
to my soul-pal of an apartment-mate, Lauren, it didn't hit me when
I dragged my 24 kg luggage up and down the metros of place d'italie and
république, not when I stood through 2 hours of security, or even when
I tried spending the last of my euros on bon bons and chupa chups...
But only then I saw the city from 13,000 feet in the air, and it was finally
enveloped by a sea of clouds...did I let myself miss the comfort of people
speaking in French all around me, my favorite 1,48 euro Louis Cajou red wine,
tartlettes aux fraises, the smell of strong perfume, my pink apartment walls, stocking
the fridge with cheese and fruit, and even the Eiffel Tower
at sunset when it just starts to light up in all it's blue glory. (Lauren had gotten
into the habit of calling it her "baby")
I woke up this morning forgetting I was in my own bed again. . .
and suddenly the entire month spent away feels like my own imagination,
much like a dream...but everything I experienced was so very real.
And now all I have to do is unzip that luggage I so meticulously packed
and find proof that it was real.
All the 800 + photographs as well.
But I'd like to share just some of my favorites,
in hopes that you'll fall in love with Paris as much as I have.
My neighborhood :]
My metro stop!
Big, marvelous door to the courtyard of my school!
Can you find it??
Yayy there it is
There I am...in relation to it! (facing it, with the big door behind me.)
Excited for dessert.
And Becca. . .
More excitement on the other side of the table...
9 hr. difference
oh noes....gots to escape the fireee..
Atop Centre Georges Pompidou --> Museum of Modern Art
At the very very top! You can see Sacré Coeur to my right! Barely.
me & Becca
Honestly, he was asking for it.
The mime taking a break...
Notre Dame was also by our school...about a 7 minute walk. Lauren made me do this with her.. haa
YES!
Our kitchen :] (well part of it)
pain au chocolat. . . . before class.
Paper mache giraffes...after class ;]
Recognize this? From a scene...........in a famous MOVIE?!?!
Needless to say, the view was stunning.
This year's experience here was more pleasant than lasts'...let me just say.
Because we had a lovely picnic!
Also from the movie.....
"Poetry is an extreme sport." AND I'M PLAYIN' IT, BABY
This is Lauren, by the way.
The senate in the Luxembourg garden
Loner with 2 ducks and a boat.
We saw a puppet show in the garden! It was so adorable.
There she is! In all her glory!!
(oh yes, and the Eiffel Tower too)
She was ecstatic..
WHOOOOOOO me too.
Eiffel Tower crepes....SO . GOOD. SO GOOD.
Aboard the Bateaux Mouches
We got ourselves a stalker.
Haha
ma chambre
A day of being one with nature...
AHHH
Can you find me?
haha
Dancin' gear
le soirée
Champ de Mars
la fête nationale! Concert w/ Rose, Raphael, James Blunt, various others before the fireworks show.
Fireworks!
Not my favorite wine, but I liked the bottle.
Chillin' out on the Champ de Mars. . . and playing guitar
When suddenly.....FREE FOOOOODDDD
BAHHH ATTACKKK!!!
Ave de Gobelins at night
HAIRCUT!
Inside, gettin' ready
The aftermath..
Mmmmm hostel breakfast...
Prolific photograph shooting on our excursion to the Loire Valley
This was at Cheverny
In another castle..
Chateau Chenonceau
oh noes!
I'm wiiishingg
Loire river..and me
You can actually find the photograph that I'm taking in this picture on my contact sheets.
Never printed it though, my instructor liked it.
We went to a fashion show....I think this is the only picture you're getting..
We also went to EuroDisney...but this isn't the only picture you're getting.
:D
Yes, you may call me princess tiffany.
Everything is topsy turvy in Disneyland Paris. Whooaoaaaaa?!
So purtyful.
Not like home though.....FAKE PARISIAN SQUARE TREES.
me & remy. Hangin' out.
wheeeeeee
Dreams do come true!
You can't tell, but we're at the Parc de la Vilette, where they screen open air movies (like the Fox, except
in a nice park) and everyone has picnics!! :] We saw Ouvre les yeux, which was a Spanish movie,
with French subtitles. hahahaha
Versailles...it was hot.
So...very..hot...
Back home (the apartment)....painting my giraffe :D
I miss youuuu
and youuuuuu
MEGAN!!! I FOUND OUR HOTEL IN MONTMARTRE LAST YEAR!!!!
I was so excited because I had no address, no name, just memory....
and nothing had really changed, except a few boulangeries they were remodeling, and a
new hair salon ;]
and.....does this look familiar??? We ate at the same restaurant :]
café créme
On the very very top of the eiffel tower :]
Ohhhhh Champs Elyseessss
Pont Alexandre
Ladurée!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
reminded me of daya !
La Limonaire..wine, creme brulee, (seen above) and french music.
My photo prof. Our last day of critique/class. We had delicious champagne!
The final "exhibition". I was so excited because she was very impressed :D
Last night out ;]
We chose the Concorde Atlantique, and boy, have I got stories!
Quai Anatole
Espace Dali
It actually wasn't that great...not worth 6 Euros..no paintings, just lithographs and sketches...
Père Lachaise
NEVERMORE!
M. Oscar Wilde. RIP.
Last fancy dinner...
Even the city was sad we were leaving..it rained on our last day.
C'est tout :]
Mes amis, je suis de retour!
My flight to LAX came in last night around 9:20 pm,
and I ran down the stairs with my souvenir-laden backpack, my large purse,
and a mind full of memories to meet my beautifully patient Matthew.
The thought of actually leaving Paris didn't hit me when I said goodbye
to my soul-pal of an apartment-mate, Lauren, it didn't hit me when
I dragged my 24 kg luggage up and down the metros of place d'italie and
république, not when I stood through 2 hours of security, or even when
I tried spending the last of my euros on bon bons and chupa chups...
But only then I saw the city from 13,000 feet in the air, and it was finally
enveloped by a sea of clouds...did I let myself miss the comfort of people
speaking in French all around me, my favorite 1,48 euro Louis Cajou red wine,
tartlettes aux fraises, the smell of strong perfume, my pink apartment walls, stocking
the fridge with cheese and fruit, and even the Eiffel Tower
at sunset when it just starts to light up in all it's blue glory. (Lauren had gotten
into the habit of calling it her "baby")
I woke up this morning forgetting I was in my own bed again. . .
and suddenly the entire month spent away feels like my own imagination,
much like a dream...but everything I experienced was so very real.
And now all I have to do is unzip that luggage I so meticulously packed
and find proof that it was real.
All the 800 + photographs as well.
But I'd like to share just some of my favorites,
in hopes that you'll fall in love with Paris as much as I have.
My neighborhood :]
My metro stop!
Big, marvelous door to the courtyard of my school!
Can you find it??
Yayy there it is
There I am...in relation to it! (facing it, with the big door behind me.)
Excited for dessert.
And Becca. . .
More excitement on the other side of the table...
9 hr. difference
oh noes....gots to escape the fireee..
Atop Centre Georges Pompidou --> Museum of Modern Art
At the very very top! You can see Sacré Coeur to my right! Barely.
me & Becca
Honestly, he was asking for it.
The mime taking a break...
Notre Dame was also by our school...about a 7 minute walk. Lauren made me do this with her.. haa
YES!
Our kitchen :] (well part of it)
pain au chocolat. . . . before class.
Paper mache giraffes...after class ;]
Recognize this? From a scene...........in a famous MOVIE?!?!
Needless to say, the view was stunning.
This year's experience here was more pleasant than lasts'...let me just say.
Because we had a lovely picnic!
Also from the movie.....
"Poetry is an extreme sport." AND I'M PLAYIN' IT, BABY
This is Lauren, by the way.
The senate in the Luxembourg garden
Loner with 2 ducks and a boat.
We saw a puppet show in the garden! It was so adorable.
There she is! In all her glory!!
(oh yes, and the Eiffel Tower too)
She was ecstatic..
WHOOOOOOO me too.
Eiffel Tower crepes....SO . GOOD. SO GOOD.
Aboard the Bateaux Mouches
We got ourselves a stalker.
Haha
ma chambre
A day of being one with nature...
AHHH
Can you find me?
haha
Dancin' gear
le soirée
Champ de Mars
la fête nationale! Concert w/ Rose, Raphael, James Blunt, various others before the fireworks show.
Fireworks!
Not my favorite wine, but I liked the bottle.
Chillin' out on the Champ de Mars. . . and playing guitar
When suddenly.....FREE FOOOOODDDD
BAHHH ATTACKKK!!!
Ave de Gobelins at night
HAIRCUT!
Inside, gettin' ready
The aftermath..
Mmmmm hostel breakfast...
Prolific photograph shooting on our excursion to the Loire Valley
This was at Cheverny
In another castle..
Chateau Chenonceau
oh noes!
I'm wiiishingg
Loire river..and me
You can actually find the photograph that I'm taking in this picture on my contact sheets.
Never printed it though, my instructor liked it.
We went to a fashion show....I think this is the only picture you're getting..
We also went to EuroDisney...but this isn't the only picture you're getting.
:D
Yes, you may call me princess tiffany.
Everything is topsy turvy in Disneyland Paris. Whooaoaaaaa?!
So purtyful.
Not like home though.....FAKE PARISIAN SQUARE TREES.
me & remy. Hangin' out.
wheeeeeee
Dreams do come true!
You can't tell, but we're at the Parc de la Vilette, where they screen open air movies (like the Fox, except
in a nice park) and everyone has picnics!! :] We saw Ouvre les yeux, which was a Spanish movie,
with French subtitles. hahahaha
Versailles...it was hot.
So...very..hot...
Back home (the apartment)....painting my giraffe :D
I miss youuuu
and youuuuuu
MEGAN!!! I FOUND OUR HOTEL IN MONTMARTRE LAST YEAR!!!!
I was so excited because I had no address, no name, just memory....
and nothing had really changed, except a few boulangeries they were remodeling, and a
new hair salon ;]
and.....does this look familiar??? We ate at the same restaurant :]
café créme
On the very very top of the eiffel tower :]
Ohhhhh Champs Elyseessss
Pont Alexandre
Ladurée!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
reminded me of daya !
La Limonaire..wine, creme brulee, (seen above) and french music.
My photo prof. Our last day of critique/class. We had delicious champagne!
The final "exhibition". I was so excited because she was very impressed :D
Last night out ;]
We chose the Concorde Atlantique, and boy, have I got stories!
Quai Anatole
Espace Dali
It actually wasn't that great...not worth 6 Euros..no paintings, just lithographs and sketches...
Père Lachaise
NEVERMORE!
M. Oscar Wilde. RIP.
Last fancy dinner...
Even the city was sad we were leaving..it rained on our last day.
C'est tout :]