Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

I find it funny that after a whole year (and then some) that I have yet to share some of my favorite things in Paris.

Here they are, in random order...

Enjoy a brief tour through my eyes! :)

Breakfast in America
My favorite spot in Paris for homesick days...nothing that a pint of Stella, plate of Nachos and fun friendly American wait staff can't cure!

San Francisco Books
This is where I buy and sell all of my English books.

UGC Cinemas and my unlimited movie pass for 18 euros a month!!


L'As du Falafel
Totally old article but informative since there is no official website. Usually there is a long wait, but totally worth it. Plus, the awesome sandwich only puts you back 4.5 euros. YUM!


Pierre Herme
My favorite place for sweets and treats. DELICIOUS!

Jardin des Plantes (Garden of Plants) and specifically the ZOO
The site's in French but you'll get the idea...The primate exhibit is AWESOME and it's a 5 minute walk from home.


Frog Pub
A perfect spot, with free Wifi and GREAT homemade beers.



___________________________

**** List in progress ****

Gotta run :)

Saturday

Well, after finding out some bad news yesterday I am a bit crazy today....for a year now I have been living under the assumption that my end of school thesis and report on my internship (memoire et rapport du stage) are due at the end of December. So, I have been very lazy about it knowing that come Halloween I will be unemployed with plenty of time to research, read, write and be a good student.

I got back to my desk from lunch yesterday and opened the email that will change my life for the next month or so....it read somewhat like this...(in French of course)

"Dear students, Please be advised that your complete projects are due at school no later than COB November 26th!"

WHATTTT????

So, a few freakouts later, I am on track, albeit a bit frantic. However, I went to the library today planning to work and research a little bit only to discover that you have to PAY to use the library in Paris. WHAT AGAIN? Thirty-five euros for a year-long card, knowing I may very well be kicked out of the country in a few months?? No thank you. So I left.

Now, of course, knowing me, I will be back there tomorrow, 35 euros in hand, ready to pay for the card as the convenience of the library and allure of "free" research is a big deal.....but for now I am wallowing in my disbelief and annoyance and enjoying the pint of beer and free WiFi in the British pub next door. :)

I'm still alive...

....but a HORRIBLE blogger.

Life lately has consisted pretty much of the following :

* Riding the bus, the train, the bus again and walking to and from work...
* Being a happy homemaker in my spare time...
* Looking FAR AND WIDE for a job in Paris (my internship ends October 31 and the clock is ticking)...
* Stressing out, sometimes to the point of tears (see above)...
* Seeing movies with my UGC Carte Illimite (PERFECT for a student with dwindling means...best 18 euros a month I could ever spend!)...
* Missing the U.S. a little bit...anyone want to FedEx me some good Mexican food? Some magazines? Some books? Some friends? ;)

I will do my best to be better at updating (if anyone is still reading) and will definitely have TONS of time after Halloween when I am officially unemployed.

Rain, rain, go AWAY!

It's raining in Paris.....

......again......

It's always raining - July and August have shown me the rainiest summer in life, and it's not over yet!

Looking SO forward to my first trip to Spain this weekend, where I HOPE to catch some sunshine!!!!

YESSSS!!!

On a non-Paris note....

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-rosacea6aug06,0,1305081.story?coll=la-home-center

SO happy. Please note this was discovered at UCSD! Of COURSE! :)

I miss summer in L.A......

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke27jul27,1,2792757.column?coll=la-headlines-sports

WISH I could be there, but I still would have no idea what to do....

Heard on the train this morning...

"Si vous decidez de me donner une carte bleu, n'oubliez pas de me donner le code secret...."
("If you decide to give me your ATM card, don't forget to give me the pin number!")
- A beggar on the train this morning

Nothing like a little laugh in the morning....I take what I can get. :)

A week later....

Bastille Day was last weekend - July 14th, and I celebrating by braving the crowds and heading towards the Eiffel Tower to watch the fireworks across the river at Trocadero. To be honest, the fireworks show was up there with the ones that I praise at Dodger Stadium...but the musical selection, not so much. I mean, they played the theme from Star Wars and songs from the Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge to celebrate their national holiday...

I mean, could you imagine the uproar at some celebrations in the U.S. if "La Vie en Rose" started blaring out of the speakers amid hot dog eating contests or apple pie tastings???

View from the Balcony...

Well, after months of awful weather (I'm talking DAILY rain...what is this, Seattle?) it has finally become summer in Paris. Here's a view from my balcony to commemorate the occasion. :)

Amazing Street Art

Please note the awesome street art I happened to notice yesterday on Rue Moufftard. Amazing!

I have yet to share it with the fam, but I have a feeling we are going to get a good laugh!

Back in Paris

Well, after a crazy, hectic few weeks all over the U.S., I am back in Paris today and I feel so strange, to be honest...

For the first time, I kind of feel like a visitor in BOTH countries....like I was not fitting in the way I used to in the U.S. but I do not feel 100% at home here in Paris.

Some of the things I LOVED about the U.S.:
Family
Friends
The freedom of my car
Seeing the ocean
Food
Space to spread out
Customer service!!!! (This was huge)
Not being pushed (haha!)

Some of the things I MISSED about Paris:
Friends
The scenery
Food
Metro
Walking
My "routine"
Being complimented on my language skills (haha!)
My balcony

I could go on and on but I know that while I am happy to be back I also am missing L.A. in ways that I don't think I have before...maybe it's because I've never been away for this long?

My cousin's wedding and grandpa's birthday were both SO much fun...pictures to follow once I get over this jet lag. :) It's back to work tomorrow!

Lazy Saturday at the Louvre

I spent yesterday at the Louvre and had such an amazing time- it's been literally almost TEN years since I first visited the museum, which is crazy, and it was a wonderful trip.

It made me want to go back more often, and I think I just might....

The weather continues to be absolutely gorgeous so it was almost a shame to spend the Saturday inside...

Here are a few of the highlights of what I saw, without overwhelming you with photos. Enjoy!

More views from my walks...

P.S. I GOT AN INTERNSHIP!!!!

Just wanted to keep you all up to date!

Although I am not going to post exactly where I will be working on the blog (see www.petiteanglaise.com who recently got fired from her job and went through extensive legal proceedings because of her mention of her employer on her blog) because in France you can never be too careful about this stuff......but let me just say that I am sooooo excited! It's from late April to late October, a HUGE American company, a marketing job, they hire Americans, and I will be SO thrilled to be getting a discount on their products!!!!

Email me to find out the company- I am so glad the search is over!

New Space Invaders

The Oscar the Grouch one is probably my favorite of all time!!!! I found him over by Les Halles, near the HUGE crazy mall that I tell everyone about. :)

P.S. I recently discovered that there are TONS of Sesame Street clips on YouTube. I have been having a FIELD DAY watching some of the old favorites! SO awesome!

Walking in Paris

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous again (although borderline too-hot) and I have started trying to walk EVERYWHERE.

Not only is the scenery amazing, but I am enjoying learning my way around town ABOVE ground and out of the metro, and I have been enjoying the exercise too!

The other day I decided to walk to the movies- about 45 minutes away, and the view was gorgeous.

Just thought I would share some of what I see....

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

Some scenes from Pere Lachaise

I finally took the time to visit the beautiful Pere Lachaise cemetery in the 20th arrondissement in Paris...it's well-known for being a place where famous Parisians are buried but it's also where Jim Morrison from the Doors is laid to rest.

The whole thing was absolutely gorgeous and the dark rain clouds that were looming over the city just made the setting even more perfect.

I took a TON of photos but here are a few that I wanted to share....

NEW Space Invaders...

Boy, have I ever had a Space Invaders FIELD DAY!!!! Seriously, it seems like now that I am looking out for them, they are everywhere I go!

Here are a few from my walk in the 5th and 6th arrondissements last week with old friends L&L. One was above a video game store near the Sorbonne and the other over right by Luxembourg Gardens.

Enjoy!!

By popular demand....

Just a little post to let you readers know that I am still alive, happy, well, and having a BLAST with three different groups of visitors here this week. Plus, the weather is absolutely gorgeous- almost dream-like, and I am really enjoying being outside.

I have been taking a TON of pictures so please check back in a few days...as much fun as it is to have visitors, I am all over the place (literally) and don't have much time to be online.

Can't wait to catch you all up with everything!

Bye for now. :)