Now that the fun of the transit strike is over, France has moved on to one of it's other favorite pastimes.
I wonder what will be next?
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Salon des vins
Eh, it's late, and it's been a long day, so you'll have to make do with these pretty lousy pictures. We were very excited about having remembered the camera this time, but seemed to forget about it pretty quickly once the fun got started.
Oh, and mental note: spending the afternoon at the wine show, then having people over for dinner on a Sunday night may make Monday morning a bit more difficult than usual. At least I didn't have a presentation to do....
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sunday Afternoon
Today I took a day off from the gym, partly due to utter physical exhaustion, and partly due to the extreme hassle of getting there because of the transit strike.
It was nice to have a day to myself, except it's been so long I almost didn't know what to do.
First on the list of things I wanted to was baking, but our lack of sufficient butter meant that a trip out of the house was going to be necessary. We decided to take a walk down to the park before hand, as it's been awhile since we've been there.
Unfortunately for us wimpy Canadians, it was absolutely freezing today. We wandered through the art market on our way to the park, and quickly decided that a having hot chocolate in the cafe near the park would be much more enjoyable than actually walking through the park. And it was, especially for Erik who ordered a shot of Bailey's to go with his.
Once the butter was procured, we headed home. I started baking, and Erik set out once again on video detail. We rented Amelie and C.R.A.Z.Y., and enjoyed a cozy afternoon watching French movies and eating cookies. In bed. Cause we don't have a couch, and it's cold outside.
And now we return to our regular Sunday Night Routine, where Erik cooks, we listen to our Sunday Night Dinner playlist and drink wine. C'est la vie!
***
On an unrelated note, we went out for an Argentinian dinner last night to celebrate our Franceversary. I started with empanadas, Erik with grilled Boudin sausage, and we shared 650grms of Baby Beef, an absolutely delicious peice of Argentine beef grilled to perfection and served with salad and fries. We really didn't have room for dessert, but I am physically incapable of saying no to anything sweet, so we both had things featuring dulce de leche. Mine was a simple banana smothered in the stuff, and Erik's a sort of pastry with rum filling and cream cheese/whipped cream on the side. Yum.
Les Grillades de Beunos Aires
54 rue du Montparnasse,
75014 Paris
01 43 21 56 74
It was nice to have a day to myself, except it's been so long I almost didn't know what to do.
First on the list of things I wanted to was baking, but our lack of sufficient butter meant that a trip out of the house was going to be necessary. We decided to take a walk down to the park before hand, as it's been awhile since we've been there.
Unfortunately for us wimpy Canadians, it was absolutely freezing today. We wandered through the art market on our way to the park, and quickly decided that a having hot chocolate in the cafe near the park would be much more enjoyable than actually walking through the park. And it was, especially for Erik who ordered a shot of Bailey's to go with his.
Once the butter was procured, we headed home. I started baking, and Erik set out once again on video detail. We rented Amelie and C.R.A.Z.Y., and enjoyed a cozy afternoon watching French movies and eating cookies. In bed. Cause we don't have a couch, and it's cold outside.
And now we return to our regular Sunday Night Routine, where Erik cooks, we listen to our Sunday Night Dinner playlist and drink wine. C'est la vie!
***
On an unrelated note, we went out for an Argentinian dinner last night to celebrate our Franceversary. I started with empanadas, Erik with grilled Boudin sausage, and we shared 650grms of Baby Beef, an absolutely delicious peice of Argentine beef grilled to perfection and served with salad and fries. We really didn't have room for dessert, but I am physically incapable of saying no to anything sweet, so we both had things featuring dulce de leche. Mine was a simple banana smothered in the stuff, and Erik's a sort of pastry with rum filling and cream cheese/whipped cream on the side. Yum.
Les Grillades de Beunos Aires
54 rue du Montparnasse,
75014 Paris
01 43 21 56 74
Friday, November 16, 2007
Happy France-iversary to Us!
Yesterday, November 15 was the two-year mark of our lives in France.
And you know what, France was nice enough to get us a gift.
A lovely transit strike, that started on Wednesday.
But I have to say, that despite the hassles of extremely limited service, it hasn't really been too bad (ha ha, I say that now that I'm home on a Friday afternoon, with the heat on). On Wednesday morning I enjoyed a nice Velib ride up to St Lazare train station to catch one of the few trains that took me out to the American School, two hours early. On Thursday morning I squeezed my way onto the metro after a 25 minute wait, then walked from Passy to school. That evening I walked 40 minutes to the line 1 station at the Etoile to catch the train out to Nation so I could teach a fitness class. Luckily I didn't have to wait too long for the line 6 once I was done, and enjoyed a much needed seat on a quite empty train all the way home. And today I was lucky in the morning to catch both of my very crowded trains and make it to school early. On all of the way-overpacked trains I've been on the last couple of days, people have been generally pleasant, and even helpful. We're all in the same boat, I guess, and I'm sure none of us would choose to get sucked into a stampede of people while entering a train, or to spend our ride with our cheeks pressed up against the glass, praying that no one will get off or on at the next station.
And there is some consolation in knowing that despite the fact that I have spent more time walking and biking in the cold than I would normally do, I've also gotten to spend more time appreciating how beautiful this city was.
I biked all the way home from school today and as I cursed the cold and choked back exhaust, I couldn't help but appreciate the view as I crossed over the Seine. Eiffey on one side, the Statue of Liberty on the other, and calm river waters as far as the eye can see . A wrong turn took me through an interesting neighbourhood that we'll have to check out some day. Warmed my heart enough to get me home.
And so, here I am, feeling very at home in Paris, and also excited about the year to come. We still face all the same unknowns (dare I say that I'm getting used to not knowing what our plans are?) that we have for the last two years, but we're also getting quite used to our lives here, and feel more and more each day like we 'belong'. We handled the renewal of our cartes de sejour like pros, scowling for photos, lining up in the cold and leaving everything to the last minute. We are starting to forget what it was like to have more than 36 square metres of living space. We think it's incredibly strange to eat before 8:00 (and the one night we did, we both woke up starving in the middle of the night). And, I can't imagine life in a city that doesn't sell fresh bread and pastries at every street corner and wine at the grocery store.
So let me raise my (imaginary--it is after all 3:00 in the afternoon) glass of Beaujolais Nouveau (plus if I was to have a glass of wine right now, I'd want a good one, not the banana-y stuff we had last night) and toast our vie a Paris. Let's hope this third year is the best one yet.
And you know what, France was nice enough to get us a gift.
A lovely transit strike, that started on Wednesday.
But I have to say, that despite the hassles of extremely limited service, it hasn't really been too bad (ha ha, I say that now that I'm home on a Friday afternoon, with the heat on). On Wednesday morning I enjoyed a nice Velib ride up to St Lazare train station to catch one of the few trains that took me out to the American School, two hours early. On Thursday morning I squeezed my way onto the metro after a 25 minute wait, then walked from Passy to school. That evening I walked 40 minutes to the line 1 station at the Etoile to catch the train out to Nation so I could teach a fitness class. Luckily I didn't have to wait too long for the line 6 once I was done, and enjoyed a much needed seat on a quite empty train all the way home. And today I was lucky in the morning to catch both of my very crowded trains and make it to school early. On all of the way-overpacked trains I've been on the last couple of days, people have been generally pleasant, and even helpful. We're all in the same boat, I guess, and I'm sure none of us would choose to get sucked into a stampede of people while entering a train, or to spend our ride with our cheeks pressed up against the glass, praying that no one will get off or on at the next station.
And there is some consolation in knowing that despite the fact that I have spent more time walking and biking in the cold than I would normally do, I've also gotten to spend more time appreciating how beautiful this city was.
I biked all the way home from school today and as I cursed the cold and choked back exhaust, I couldn't help but appreciate the view as I crossed over the Seine. Eiffey on one side, the Statue of Liberty on the other, and calm river waters as far as the eye can see . A wrong turn took me through an interesting neighbourhood that we'll have to check out some day. Warmed my heart enough to get me home.
And so, here I am, feeling very at home in Paris, and also excited about the year to come. We still face all the same unknowns (dare I say that I'm getting used to not knowing what our plans are?) that we have for the last two years, but we're also getting quite used to our lives here, and feel more and more each day like we 'belong'. We handled the renewal of our cartes de sejour like pros, scowling for photos, lining up in the cold and leaving everything to the last minute. We are starting to forget what it was like to have more than 36 square metres of living space. We think it's incredibly strange to eat before 8:00 (and the one night we did, we both woke up starving in the middle of the night). And, I can't imagine life in a city that doesn't sell fresh bread and pastries at every street corner and wine at the grocery store.
So let me raise my (imaginary--it is after all 3:00 in the afternoon) glass of Beaujolais Nouveau (plus if I was to have a glass of wine right now, I'd want a good one, not the banana-y stuff we had last night) and toast our vie a Paris. Let's hope this third year is the best one yet.
Friday, November 02, 2007
A True Scientist
Erik sent me this article today. I'm always asking him to give me sources when he tells me 'facts', and well, look what he found today. Looks like we're going to be spending more post-gym time at the Raspail Vert from now on. :)
Study: Beer beats water for hydration
GRENADA, Spain, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Researchers at Granada University in Spain said drinking beer after strenuous physical activity can be beneficial for the body.
The scientists said their study found beer can help dehydrated people retain liquid better than water alone, The Telegraph, a Biritsh newspaper, reported Friday.
Professor Manuel Garzon, who led the study, said the bubbles in beer can help quench thirst and the carbohydrates in the beverage can help make up for burned calories.
The study involved a group of students asked to perform strenuous activities at a temperature of about 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Half of the students were given a pint of beer after their exercise and half were given a pint of water. Garzon said the hydration affect on the beer drinkers was "slightly better" than the sober group.
Juan Antonio Corbalan, a cardiologist who has worked with Real Madrid football players and Spain's national basketball team, told The Telegraph he has long recommended beer to professional sportsmen after exhausting activities, as the drink is optimal for rehydrating the body.
Study: Beer beats water for hydration
GRENADA, Spain, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Researchers at Granada University in Spain said drinking beer after strenuous physical activity can be beneficial for the body.
The scientists said their study found beer can help dehydrated people retain liquid better than water alone, The Telegraph, a Biritsh newspaper, reported Friday.
Professor Manuel Garzon, who led the study, said the bubbles in beer can help quench thirst and the carbohydrates in the beverage can help make up for burned calories.
The study involved a group of students asked to perform strenuous activities at a temperature of about 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Half of the students were given a pint of beer after their exercise and half were given a pint of water. Garzon said the hydration affect on the beer drinkers was "slightly better" than the sober group.
Juan Antonio Corbalan, a cardiologist who has worked with Real Madrid football players and Spain's national basketball team, told The Telegraph he has long recommended beer to professional sportsmen after exhausting activities, as the drink is optimal for rehydrating the body.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Field Trip
Today is All Saints Day, a holiday here in France. Since I'm already on holiday, it was business as usual for me, or almost as usual because lucky Erik also took the day off.
A journee feriee calls for a sleep in, my first in almost two weeks (it's been a busy vacation so far!). Also on our list for the day were a trip through the brocante along Edgar Quinet (Erik is looking for a guitar) and a trip out to the magasin d'usines on Ile St Denis, north of the city.
Unfortunately we didn't find any guitars at the brocante, but had more luck at the outlet store. We were both in the market for new running shoes, and Erik was desperately in need of new work shoes. This mall is currently having a promotion where if you buy three items, the third is only 1 euro. So, we walked out of the Nike store with three pairs of baskets for only slightly more than the price of one new pair at a regular store. Erik also found a suitable (read: exactly the same) replacement for his work shoes, so he can now enjoy the walk to work without any unwanted ventilation. :)
We've just enjoyed a typical Sunday evening of cooking, kir and iTunes, enhanced by the fact that it's not Sunday yet, and we'll get to do it again in a couple of days. Sometimes we're just so lame.
Oh, we've also managed to squeeze in as many episodes of the Office as we can. So. Freaking. Funny. And to think we didn't think we'd enjoy it cause neither of us work in an office. Hah.
So there you go, a glimpse into our glamorous lives here in Paris. (insert eye roll here)
Hope everyone had a scary Halloween.
A journee feriee calls for a sleep in, my first in almost two weeks (it's been a busy vacation so far!). Also on our list for the day were a trip through the brocante along Edgar Quinet (Erik is looking for a guitar) and a trip out to the magasin d'usines on Ile St Denis, north of the city.
Unfortunately we didn't find any guitars at the brocante, but had more luck at the outlet store. We were both in the market for new running shoes, and Erik was desperately in need of new work shoes. This mall is currently having a promotion where if you buy three items, the third is only 1 euro. So, we walked out of the Nike store with three pairs of baskets for only slightly more than the price of one new pair at a regular store. Erik also found a suitable (read: exactly the same) replacement for his work shoes, so he can now enjoy the walk to work without any unwanted ventilation. :)
We've just enjoyed a typical Sunday evening of cooking, kir and iTunes, enhanced by the fact that it's not Sunday yet, and we'll get to do it again in a couple of days. Sometimes we're just so lame.
Oh, we've also managed to squeeze in as many episodes of the Office as we can. So. Freaking. Funny. And to think we didn't think we'd enjoy it cause neither of us work in an office. Hah.
So there you go, a glimpse into our glamorous lives here in Paris. (insert eye roll here)
Hope everyone had a scary Halloween.
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