Pere Lachaise

On a beautiful day in Paris there is no better a place than an enormous cemetery to get lost in...literally. I believe it took me about one hour to find the tomb I was searching for, and I have list about ten deaths long. I'll have to go back, I suppose. Nonetheless, it is an amazing place, filled with some of the greats: Oscar Wilde, Moliere, Edith Piaf, Chopin... Jim Morrison (his name looks so out of place). I am starting to feel that my theme this year is death (by the way, it has nothing to do with watching Six Feet Under all of the time with Jacques). But, rather that I would really like to visit the cemeteries of all of my favorite writers and artists. I am certainly not trying to be dark and morose, there is just something to be said about standing next to their graves; they become real as opposed to just names in/on a book...

Chez Brigitte

Here are some photos of where I am staying until our apartment is finished...when that will be? I have no idea. Here is a quick runthrough of the photos, some of my favorite things about being in a foreign country are the quotidien things that we take for granted. Sometimes I find myself looking like a complete fool because I have no idea how to use a waching machine or how to open some of these old doors! The hot water heaters often hang from the ceilings to allow for more space, the showers are sometimes short of a shower curtain, the windows have no screens, and keys come in all shapes and sizes. Our apartment is much smaller than this one, but I am looking forward to having my little corner in Paris.

Sunday in Paris

I think that Sundays in Paris are going to be my favorite. Nearly everything is closed on Sunday (thanks to a good socialist country) giving people the day to be with family and take it easy. It is the perfect time to sight see because the streets are empty and it is very quiet. Peace in a big city, if you will. The first photo is a photo of a statue commemorating la Bastille, where the French Revolution began. It was here where the prison (la Bastille) stood, when the people revolted against the government and destroyed the prison, releasing the prisonners who were locked up for arbitrary charges, or for no reason at all. The second photo is the perfect example of the many hidden courtyards throughout the city. Many of the courtyards are located inside places that are named les hôtels particuliers that date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Many nobles owned these not so tiny buildings, lavished in spoils and quite extravegant. I want to be a noble...
The last photo is St. Paul's cathedrale (I'm 90% sure) with reminents of a wall dating to the middle ages when Paris was a fortified city...History is alive and well here, reminding me how young our country really is. I must admit that this information is brought to you by a true-blooded Parisian family friend of Jacque's, who is also a history buff, and was kind enough to walk me around Paris yesterday giving me details on the history that I have studied for so long. I only wish that i could convey the awe that I have when I see these places (I do hide my drool, however, in front of my tour guides).

café au lait

Well here I am, smoking and drinking coffee (quite a typical routine in Paris). This cafe is in the quartier (neighborhood) where existentialism was born...Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir... and la musique jazz. So far we have wandered aimlessly through different spots in Paris, avoiding most tourist locations. In between the rainy spells and the sunshine I often find myself pensive and inspired by this city. Life is calm here, and yet there is still so much to do. I have gone out with Jacque's friends, who are all very kind and a lot of fun. I have also already indulged in wine and cheese (in spite of rules and regulations) as well as a little shopping here and there. We have also gone to an art opening in Montmartre, with an exhibition of postcard art, eventhough much of Paris is an exhibition in itself. For the moment I have not taken too many photos, but there will be plenty more to follow... I love and miss you all and...à bientôt!