Bonjour, Paris!

I'm strictly tourist, but I couldn't care less, when they parlez-vous me then I gotta confess, that's for me: Bonjour, Paris! 

Instead of practicing my francais in the weeks leading up to my departure, I prepared for my month in Paris by watching movies set in Paris, like Midnight in Paris and Funny Face.  While it might not have been helpful in the practical sense, it did help calm some nerves I had about moving to a new city (again) for a month.  Though I must admit, my attempt to channel my inner Audrey Hepburn failed miserably on my first evening, when I tried to ride a bike.  Thankfully, my ego was the only thing bruised.

Lack of french language (and cycling) skills aside, I am in Paris!  And it is shaping up to be everything I imagined a month in Paris would be: full of delicious food, lovely wine, and lots and lots of trial and error.

I have been here for five days, and not one has passed in which I have not gotten turned around on the streets or the metro, or completely butchered what little french I can remember.  I have tried to see exhibits that are not yet open, go to a museum that has been and will continue to be closed for renovations for a year, and - perhaps the most serious error as of yet - visited a major tourist attraction on a Saturday (Sacre Coeur - the pick pockets/scam artists were in full force).  **If you are planning a visit to Paris in the very near future, a word of warning, from what I can tell, the gypsies / vandals are much more prevalent -- or at least more aggressive -- than my last visit, even Parisians have told me to be extra vigilant.

But it certainly has not been all errors!  I have strolled through the Marais, crisscrossed the Seine on its lovely bridges, tucked in to more macaroons than I care to admit, and taken a cooking class (more on that in another post).

The last (and first time) I was in Paris, we had about 5 days total and we filled them with tours and shopping and eating, making a fairly detailed and full itinerary for each day.  Having a month in Paris is a bit overwhelming. I don't want to cram each day full of museums and shopping and burn out too quickly, but I also don't want to wast too much time (after all, when am I going to get another month in Paris?).

So, I have made a list of exhibitions I want to see, things I want to do, and day/weekend trips I want to take, and every day I try to tick at least one experience off the list.

So far I have seen the delightful Little Black Dress exhibit at the Mona Bismarck center (the exhibition is sponsored by the Savannah College of Art and Design and curated by Andre Leon Talley),and the wonderful Roy Lichtenstein expo at the Centre Pompidou.

 I have enjoyed macaroons from Pierre Herme, scarfed down crepes avec fromage et jambon for lunch,lingered over un cafe and un glace Berthillon on the isle-de-cite, and tracked down a recommended fromagerie in Montmarte, where I successfully ordered and enjoyed some delicious cheeses.

On my last visit to Paris, we stayed in the 7th Arr, on the Blvd. St Germain.  It was incredibly convenient to everything we wanted to do and see in Paris and we did not stray too far off the beaten path.  This time, I am living in a lovely little apartment (courtesy of my new friend Nathalie) in the 10th Arrondissement, very near the Canal St. Martin.

While it is not as central, this is a very fashionable and "hip" neighborhood, filled with cute cafes, bistros and one of the best boulangerie's in all of Paris (it is literally around the corner, I have not decided whether this is a good thing or a very, very bad thing...).  The four flights of stairs up to my apartment should help mitigate the proximity to world class croissants...right?

It is also a very typical Parisian neighborhood, without the touristy trappings you might find elsewhere, meaning I am getting a very nice view of life in Paris. I am also getting very familiar with their very convenient metro system!

All in all, it has been a great start to my time in Paris, and I look forward to what the rest of le vie parisienne has in store!