Sunday Funday: Parisian Style

This afternoon, Paris took "Sunday-Funday" to a whole new level! Waking up to an *unusually* sunny, warm, and beautiful (weather-wise) Paris, we took our fun outside today, enjoying this festival and the (also free) Petite Palais across the Seine.

A new friend from school, Kathleen, heard of an art exposition/festival taking place on the lawn at Les Invalides. I am learning quickly...Paris is one large and rotating art exposition. I accidently stumble upon one daily. Though a bit confused on the details, we understood this one to be a "playground for all ages." NATURALLY, we went with out further questioning. There were many "avant-garde" expositions set up on the perfectly manicured lawn, but my favorite (shown below) was this free, public, Stonehenge-replica MOON BOUNCE! And yes, thats the Eiffel Tour on the top of my head.

More than family, fall, afternoon fun alone--this "moon-bounce" had a larger purpose. In reference to this installation, the artist described that his purpose in creation was to challenge the untouchable and sacred qualities in ancient places, such as Stonehenge. He surely accomplished that and more, as we, in the happy company of generations of families and hundreds of others, ran, chased, round-house-kicked, belly flopped, and enjoyed every inch of inflatable-stonehenge today. 

Paris has a beautiful way of making a huge city feel like a small town--bringing together a community with FREE events full of art and culture, ideal for all ages.

"Tu fais quoi maintenant?"

"What is it you do, now?" or "Tu fais quoi maintenant?" have been repeated questions (in English and in French) regarding my life as of late. For my response: I'll blog. And just for kicks, here's where I am blogging from, right on MY STREET, facing "Café Delmas," a favorite café of Hemingway, frequently mentioned in his book, A Moveable Feast.

(click on all the pictures to make larger!)

Alas, my days of globe-trotting and seemingly endless summer have now come to an end. Though it may sound bizarre to those of my friends inundated with medschool studies, gradschool, etc. I am very happy and eager to begin school and enter into a more structured life here in Paris. Moreover, through this recent involvement with Rotary, I am refreshingly reminded that I am not alone in this adventure, but instead supported by and propelled to action here in France through Rotary International.

As a timely punctuation mark for this new phase of Ma Vie Parisienne, the Rotary-Scholars to France welcome weekend took place two weekends ago in Paris. Joining 16 other scholars assigned to France and Morocco, we enjoyed a great weekend of dinners, speakers, general orientation, and a final grand soirée as our formal welcome to France from Rotary International. Similar to most everything the Rotary does--it was a top-notch weekend, with informational speakers, friendly people, beautiful meals, and a humbling welcome to us as "ambassadors of goodwill."

Rotary Scholars to Francophone countries, France and Morocco  

@ Auberge de Jeunesse, Opéra

Rotary Scholars before our grand Rotary soirée meal and program

@ Novotel, Gare de Lyon  

A major highlight included meeting the other France-scholars, and bonding across many cultures and origins.

Rotary Scholars from the United States and Italy- we 3 are assigned to Paris!

@ Seine Cruise with Scholars

 Thus, for those of you who have asked, puzzled over my ostensively endless traveling around euroland  (consider this a personal shout out to you, Madison McMahan!) May you rest assured, I have returned to glimpses of my life back in the States--now happily grounded by school and motivated for community involvement via my support and affiliation with Rotary Club- Paris la Défense.

Le Blog Proveçal- Pt. 2: Cassis

After Emily finished her classes for the day- we left on our hiking adventure to Cassis (click here!), a petite ville on the Mediterranean Coast, east of Marseilles. Though I have been near, I had never gone to Cassis before. It won't be my last time!

We set off to hike the famous Cassis calanques (click here!), essentially limstone inlets lining the Mediterranean coast. Though the buses ran a bit later than expected and we didn't get all of the hiking in we wanted to, Cassis was a tropical paradise- I felt 1,000s of miles away from Ma Vie Parisienne-much like a vacation within a vacation within a vacation.. You get it, there was a lot of good going on:

Vineyard beyond vineyard...

Palm Trees welcoming us to Cassis

"WELL DRESSED REQUIRED" beach town problems, I suppose

Port de Cassis (no, I promise this isn't a calender or post card pic)

Naturally, a castle overlooking the port

Excuse the hiking clothes!

Nothing washes down paradise like SPECULOOS (my newfound love thanks to the Vandy house) gelato 

cafe au port

... Don't know how I ever left this spot

tour guide Emmy

It's a hard life, but someone's gotta have it.

So thankful for Emily for hosting me, touring me, and generally entertaining me with much laughter in the South. What a week!

Le Blog Provençal- Pt. 1: Aix

With one more week until my courses begin here in Paris, pourquoi pas take a trip down South and warm my bones in preparation for the Parisian winter? Having an apartment found, a bank account set-up, a French cell-phone, and many daily-life details taken care of--I found every excuse to take off to the South before my Rotary Welcome Weekend and school begins.

Thus, what in seemed like minutes I was on a train (student fares here RULE!) and arrived to a drastically different vibe and situation--departing a busy Paris in a cold drizzle and greeted in Aix with warmth, sunshine, and people with ample time. It seemed as though I left New York and in 3 hours arrived in California..Oh, the magic of France continues.

Luckily for me, another dear friend from home- Emily (PTHS is very well-represented in Europe this year, I'd say!) is living in Aix-en-Provence this semester through Vanderbilt's program "Vandy in Aix." She studies and lives in a gorgeous house with 3 other Vandy students, a house which I quickly crashed, feigning that I was still in college, attending Vandy, etc. 

With Emily, after our first café in (sunny!) Aix

A glimpse of le Maison de Vanderbilt

It had been 4 years since I was in the South of France, and Aix--and, wow, what a beautiful place. Being back in Aix reminded me of wonderful times with my friend Martha and also my program through Millsaps in Nice. Coming from 3 weeks in Paris, I was quick to notice all of the differences in prices, language, attitudes, foods, geography. 

Aix is known for its numerous and beautiful fountains- the main street, Rue Mirabeau (shown here) is flawless--lined with the trees and full of fountains

"Cat Juggler" on the street

With Cezanne, his presence endures throughout the region, but most especially in Aix (near his studio!)

Fountains, continued (also, LOVED THE BLUE SKIES!)

Vin Provençal

Em and Me, in front of yet another fountain (de 4 dolphins)

Street near the Vandy House

Les Deux Garçons, hangout of Cézanne, Zola, Picasso, Pagnol, Piaf !

Aix was even more beautiful than I remembered! It was great to catch up, laugh with, and see Emily. I imagine many more visits to Aix to see Emily and her great roommates before her time there is over!

These are a few of my favorite things: Bikes and Gardens Edition

Friends, family, good people of the blogosphere--I'm back!
*My apologies for the delay in posts, however know that good things come to those who wait-- my next few blogs will reflect the busy and wonderful events of late!* (JUST when you thought nothing could beat the excitement of looking in someone else's Parisian apartment ha)

Last weekend, my great friend from home (shout out to Paducah!) Katherine, who has now moved to Rotterdam, Netherlands came in for her inaugural Paris visit. Our weekend began just as the rainy weather in Paris cleared to beautiful sunshine, and as it so often does our spirits/engagements/luck followed suit.

Friday evening we did the Fat Tire Paris by Night bike tour, guided by our Aussie guide and the full moon- it couldn't have been better! As if Paris by bike could be more beautiful, it also included stops to the famous Parisian Berthillon (natural ice cream) spot on Ile-de Cité and a River Seine cruise with unlimited complementary wine. If you are coming to see me, I will happily repeat this tour. It was a blast:

Steps from "Midnight in Paris" as we walked my neighborhood!

My School!

My bike's name: "Wes Anderson" (YES!)

Absolutely loved the full moon as we biked. 

The Louvre at night is as magic as it looks.

Second boat cruise, success!

The fairy tale during the full moon continues as we headed the next day to Monet's gardens at Giverny, a 45 minute train outside of Paris. 

We met up with my friend Guthi and his friend, my new friend Ricardo, originally from Brazil. In what, in retrospect, was the BEST DECISION EVER we rented bicycles when we arrived in Giverny and biked the 5K from the train station to the gardens. All that I had missed in my last visit 4 years ago  (by taking a bus to Giverny) was now visible: the ancient town of Giverny, medieval churches, adorable cafes, and a beautiful river. The entire ride was magnifique, mostly on a quaint gravel bike path weaving through the town, a marina full of sailboats, and residential areas with homes covered in ivy. As for the gardens, I'll save my words and instead post pictures as inevitably my words would fall short of adequately describing their beauty. Let's hope these pictures do better justice:

obligatory cafe stop

rows of flowers leading to Monet's home

group shot

Jardin de l'eau

View from Monet's window

So happy to get to spend time with Katy and other friends, enjoy the beautiful weather.. watch Katherine try her first bite of Indian food (not pictured, sadly) and welcome my first guest to Ma Vie Parisienne. If weekends get better than this, I will let you know, but in all honesty this one ranks high among all of my weekends, here or anywhere. 

A la prochaine!