Paris Market & Les Halles

Rainy Dimanche in Paris

This is going to be a melancholic entry. I'm listening to Nina Simone sulking alone in my very expensive temporary apartment.

Yesterday I found out that the place I thought I had found is not my home in Paris after all. This place was 1200euros per month and 44 square meters with a modern kitchen and a tiny patio on the 1st floor (which is our 2nd floor). It was slightly furnished but not over the top -so I could still add my own touches. IT EVEN HAD A CUTE LITTLE FAKE FIREPLACE! It was centrally located. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I was ready to close on it today, Sunday 8 of March.



The neighborhood is called Chatelet and everyone kept telling me it was a bad area in Paris. So I did my homework and went early morning, midday and late night Thursday everything was fine! What were they talking about? Last night after dinner at Buddha Bar we wanted to have another bottle of wine so where better than my new neighborhood AND I could see it on a Saturday night (12am-sh). WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY on a Saturday night. The street is Rue des Lombards between Sebastopol and Rue St. Dennis (further up on St. Dennis is the prostitute area). Apparently Saturday night my hood is heavy gay neighborhood. Fine but not the Chelsea type more like the West 4th street thug type. There's also lot's of French from outside of Paris/Northern France who take the train in to party on the weekends. Lots of really fucked up people and apparently lots of Nigerians who come in and traffick drugs. And I'm thinking "whatever, I grew up in the city all my life and I just came from NY, I know what's up". So my friend Soph's boyfriend Simon asked the waiter about the neighborhood. It came down to this... "Don't wear a nice watch, don't carry your purse exposed, don't talk to the Africans or guys who super well dressed because they're probably with the mafia and will drug your drink... and always watch your back at night" Not good for someone who wears a diamond encrusted Gucci watch, cute handbags and clearly stands out in this neighborhood. But I'm still contemplating at this point.
I stayed to observe some more after my friends left and chatted with the waiter myself in broken French. He basically said it is what it is and I'd be fine BUT he wouldn't recommend it for a single girl. So I left the bar STILL unsure and THEN a guy fucked with me (not a huge fucking with just a little one) but it was a sign. So I came home and emailed the owner. I would not be taking "the cute little apartment in the shitty neighborhood that was almost mine."


Now I'm down. Pouted on the way to brunch, had a vodka orange juice and a burger with friends. I know I'm in Paris, I know I should not be pouting but I am. So here's France on a rainy Sunday from the eyes of an unhappy Sofia.

You know what makes me happy...

The first dance at weddings. And I'm not a wedding type of gal. But the couples always look so in love in the first dance. The songs are carefully chosen from the heart. Some even throw in a little fun choreography and you can really see the dynamic between the two. Puts a genuine smile on my face.

For you dirty dancing lovers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYhlm9GTAQ0

If you don't laugh at this, something's wrong with you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QujA8YYgTWU

Throw some hood up in it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XClUAPwE4Z0&feature=related

If you're white and have money for choreographers AND a dance crew...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm4AKCGrySk&feature=related

If you're white and don't have money for choreography or a dance crew...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7BKWoNMyLg&feature=related

Just warms my heart I tell ya.

Bon Weekend!

My first weekend was great. On Saturday Rue Montorguiel is a sweet little place to hang. It's a perfect little street for someone who wants to experience the ambiance of Paris in one afternoon. Starting at Les Halles if you walk north on Rue Montorguiel you'll find tons of cafes packed with people watchers, boucheries, fruit stands, cheese shops, wine shops and boutiques.








On Sunday the best place to be is the Marais in the 3rd. Most all of Paris closes on Sundays except Le Marais (I'll be living here soon hopefully). Marais is known as the gay neighborhood but also the boho hood. Soph and I hung in Marais today. She showed me this little nook in the Marais that is occupied by a prominent Jewish population. Reminded me of the Hasids in Williamsburg but not as hard core.
Had to snap this in honor of my mum (sorry can't resist UK English)

Paris - The beginning

I arrived Paris on Wednesday morning, 2/25 and it has been uphill ever since. Not exactly what you'd expect given all the Franco stereotypes. Wednesday I jumped right into the day by checking into the apartment I'm renting at 24 Rue Jean Jaques in the 1st arrondissement. this place is on the 6th floor (our version of the 7th because French floors start at zero) and there's no lift. In other words, my calfes are HUGE after just 3 days. My first day I saw an apartment, walked around the city, worked a little from home, went grocerie shopping and finally came home (almost camped out on the 4th floor) to rest. Oh wait! I forgot the coolest part of the whole day. February 25, 2009 is ash Wednesday or in French "Mercredi des Cendres." Typically I'd go to the local church in Cicero to get ashes but this year I got them in the churches of all churches, le Notre Dame. It was a French mass but the most beautiful experience I could have asked for on a first day.

Thursday was my first day at my new office in Bolougne Billancourt. BB is a suburb of Paris but only two trains away from where I'm staying. Not a bad commute at all. I was still jet lagged this day so I came straight home, had some wine, olives, cheese, prosciutto and knocked the FUCK out. Something about French wine seems MUCH stronger than back home. Hmm...

Today was my first day partying in Paris. I went with a friend named Sophia to St. Germain (in the 6th) which is full of bars and restaurants. We ate at Boulangerie Rouliere (24 Rue des canettes) and it was fabulous. A great first French cuisine experience. I had entrecote (steak) with their frites (not thin ones like in the U.S.) and bone marrow. To start I shared cured fish in oil and lemon with spices covered in a mixed salad. It was all delicious. The waiter was amazingly sweet. After we went down the block to Chez George where you can get two glasses of wine (deux vin) for 4 EUROS. That's the best deal ever in this freaking economy.

I decided to walk home across the Seine river and past the Louvre. Not to brag but here's what I passed on my walk home...

Overall I have to be thankful for such a smooth arrival. Thanks God! Hopefully it keeps going this way...

Saying Goodbye to the Chi

The day after Christmas I had a little farewell party at a tiny dive bar on the south side of Chicago. My brothers friend owns the place. So many of my friends and family showed up to give me love.

Highlights:

Mom and Manda made me a Bon Voyage sign SO CUTE! The best part was the little "we-we!" on the top right corner... Supposed to be "oui-oui!". This was THE BEST gift ever.



Manda and Megan were decked out in their berrets.

Papi stayed the entire night!!
My two best friends -Jenny & Vicky- did shots of Cazadores with me alllllll night. In between shots we sipped on "Shady Ladies" a little name we coined but the real name for the drink is "Paloma" which is basically Cazadores Tequila with Squirt and lots of lime and salt. Why don't people know Squirt?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirt


Mom made her famous mostaccolli for post drunken munchies.


Kristin and her sister came all the way from Schaumburg... actually all the way from NY and Baltimore. Awesome.

DJ WAS AMAZING -DJ Miguel

.

Everyone danced allllll night

Elvira, Tanya, Me, Sis and Megan.

I couldn't have asked for a better night.

Beautiful white...

Some people hate this about Chicago's winters... I absolutely love it.
Chicago, December 23, 2008