emmelyn goes to paris

Moving...

2009-08-10T15:52:00.000-07:00

Hey...I've since moved here, at http://ladymacaron.blogspot.com/ a blog all about french macaron & french itzy bitzy stuff. See you there!

xoxo Emmelyn

Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club

2009-07-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

I love Molly Ringwald and her teen 80's flicks. The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and I thought she and Robert Downey Jr. were the perfect couple in The Pick-Up Artist. My cousin who lives in Sydney is the one who introduced me to all her movies and she used to teased me about it. After commenting a few times that Molly always reminded her of me, especially in Pretty in Pink, as we both love making clothes, her curly short bob were like mine when I was small. That aside, I found out that we are pretty moody characters, she in her movies, me in real life. Again, That aside, I thought I'll introduce you to some of the greatest teen flicks of all time. Let's start with The Breakfast Club, a group of five students who had to spend detention together in small classroom and guess what, the whole film is mostly set in the detention room.

John, Andrew, Allison, Clair and Brian, all wondering and thinking what in the alien world do I deserve to be in detention...stuck with all these people! and yet...each has something that they can relate to each other.

What's so ironically fun to watch is that all of them each represent a different stereotype of teens, from the spoilt Claire played by Molly Ringwald, to the geeky Brian played by Anthony Michael Hall who teamed up again with her in Sixteen Candles (and reportedly dated when they filmed together!) Then there's the strange Allison, grungy and slightly mentally disturbed who has a therapist. John, the naughty kid who endears his father's physical abuse and of course it would not be complete without the popular sporty Andrew. Unlikely to be friends outside of detention, they all somehow bond and tells their story, with often hilarious upbeat scenes. The classic teen film of 1985 that made all of them the brat-pack nickname.

The princess of the group, she started off being a very spoilt and arrogant character, who later humbled herself and won the audience.

Aside from the classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, I think Molly did a pretty awesome job cementing herself as the teen actress in her time with Matthew Broderick as the all time teen actor sensation. Don't you think so?

This is Molly in Pretty in Pink, she is not as wealthy as most of her peers in school and makes her own clothes. She falls for the most popular guy in school, a rich boy who is pressured to be in the same 'rich' group as everyone else. He falls for Andie played by Molly but in doing so he failed to withstand the peer pressure and at one turning point left her. She took it hard and...well you just have to watch the film to find out what happens, don't worry, it's a happy ending...bo-ha!

Anyway if you have not watched any of the films mentioned above, you are missing a huge chunk of your teen years, so to make it all up, do rent them and make sure you are watching them with a bucket full of popcorn! caramel flavor..yum.

Tien! It's 4th of July

2009-07-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July friends in Paris, french people in Melbourne, francophiles all over the world and for Americans as well for their l'independence! What better way to do than to escape the crowds from the street than a morning scroll through Le jardin du luxembourg and munching on a nice sweet croissant au buerre. Lovely.

Le Multicouleur

2009-07-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

Steamed Bun in multicolor craziness, made by my sister and I this afternoon. We decided to go 'imaginative' with the greens...ha ha ha actually she put too much green coloring. I think it should be called Le Monster instead. But they taste yum though. In my native country, they're called bolu kukus.

R.I.P Michael Jackson

2009-06-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

It takes a life to entertained a world.
Michael Jackson, Rest In Peace.

Here are some of my favorite MJ songs that you can see from you tube. Enjoy

Stranger to Moscow

The Just Don't Care About Us

Liberian Girl

Remember The Time

Billie Jean

main picture from zonamusical.net

Le Hamburger Macaron

2009-06-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

Mesdames et Messieurs, je te présente, le hamburger. Taa daaaaaa...dripping with ketchup (red strawberry sorbet) stacked with Kraft cheese (white chocolate), patty beef (chocolate cream), fresh sliced tomato (sliced strawberries) and minty peppermint leaf (exactly what it is) and two very delicious buns (do I really need to explain myself?). So here it is, the joke of the day. Enjoy le hamburger macaron only in Melbourne.

Cours de MACARON

2009-06-26T01:57:00.000-07:00

Voilà! The winning MACARONS: flavours left - right: Citron (lemon curd) -Chocolat Caramel (with baileys caramel)- Framboise (raspberry coriander infused)- Fidel Castro (w chili flakes) - and finally Menthe Glaciale (peppermint chocolate filling).

Here it is le cours de macaron that I participated today from 8am-3pm at Savours School in Brunswick today! I had such a wonderful time, the chef or le chocolatier by profession, Paul Kennedy guided us (...did most of it actually..ha ha I was told to stay put...) *cough* I'm accident-prone :O

So there were six Macarons flavors, each made differently according to it's country of origin, ranging from Italy, Spain and France. Surprisingly the most widely-used being the Spanish ones, the sugar doesn't need to be dissolved and less ingredients. However the macarons that I saw in Paris had a very nice gloss, and if you want to create that, then you must follow the French recipe, using more Almond flour.

Squeezing the paste from piping bag is tricky at first, you squirt from the bottom of the surface, be still, don't make a snake out of it, when you get the right size, flick the bag. Flick Flick Flick it! It will raise in the oven and it takes only 12-15min tops, bring it out and leave at room temperature for 20 minutes until it's ready for the filling.

Chef Paul said that Pierre Hermé leave his unfilled macarons for 24 hours until they softened, he is the iconic créme de la créme of French patisserie chef, however even the macarons from Ladurée are very chewy whereas the ones we made today are crunchier.

Of course ideally we would leave them for more than half a day until they softened. It's up to you really whether you'd prefer more of an Italian meringue texture or a gooey bite. I prefer the gooey gooey. To get the colours we wanted, you must experiment, trial and error, the raspberry macaron flavour should be in a rich red colour, but the chef opted for something subtle, which I also liked. In the future, I would really like to use natural colouring...from fruits perhaps or jams...??

This is the French recipe, they are flatter, more chewy and is my favourite because we sprinkle them with expensive metallic powder (70 dollar a pop!). The filling today is changed to blackberry, frozen then mixed with sugar, melted to become a liquidy sorbet. Refrigerated and then glazed on top of the macarons.

Aaaah don't they look so beautiful? he he he, these are done, the top rack holds the raspberry flavor with metallic glaze, and the second rack is caramel macaron with baileys cream filling. Next time I'll use a bit amount of butter for the filling as I don't really like that creamy mousse taste in my mouth. I'd prefer the caramel to be pure melted sugar, dark and clear.

I really enjoyed myself today, I wish I could rewind and go back again. I told my friend who came with me that for a day, I felt I was back in Paris. I didn't feel like I was in Melbourne, sorry, I have this love-hate relationship with this city.

Moreover, I can't wait to practice baking them, it'll be a challenge but I'll let you know how it goes of course. Next time, I'll tackle it using natural coloring perhaps, more classic flavors like vanilla, coffee, and pistachio. If you are interested in the course, go www.savourschool.com.au It's worth it! and you'll meet fancy characters while at it!

Bloc Color Magasin

2009-06-25T03:58:00.000-07:00

pistache
citron
cerise
menthe glaciale

chocolat

café

Can't stop thinking about macaron flavours...

Le Pain Rustic

2009-06-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

Ever since I arrived back in Melbourne, I have been craving for some good ol' rustic french bread just like the ones I buy in Paris every second day from Boulangerie Julien or Eric Kayser down in the 5eme arr. opposite the entrance of Rue Cardinal Lemoine, on Blvd. Saint Germain. Chewy, densey, filled with mix nuts, cranberries and apricots, they sometimes they call it le mixte, le fruits or just a small dollop of goodness for me. I love it as an after-lunch snack, healthy yet still sweet and quite filling with a cup of black coffee. So rather than doing an hour trip to Phillipa's on High Street everyday to get a good brown bread, I thought I should give a hand at making my own bread at home, another plus when you have lots of free time in the afternoon (cough*). So this week, I'm up to my third batch, and getting seriously addicted to it!

Can't wait to have my homemade bread in the morning! So this batch is filled with lots of cranberries, almonds, pumpkin seeds and a few other nameless nuts and sweet raisins. I used self-raising wholemeal flour and a few tablespoons of honey.

My favorite part is always when I'm shifting the wholemeal flour with tiny amounts of water and milk combined, and seeing the whole transformation of paste becoming a small dough in my sticky hands. I can't get enough it! It's quite therapeutic, especially when Desperate Housewives is on!

Stuffed with mixed nuts and cranberries. Really yum with yogurt, or toasted with a smear of honey or jam. A sweet tartine for breakfast.

A similar recipe I found which includes more of the necessary ingredients like yeast and salt can be followed as below (makes one big loaf)

3 1/2 cups of self raising wholemeal flour
1 cups of water
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/8 teaspoon instant yeast
2 tablespoons of honey
1 cup of trail mix with lots of cranberries

Mixed the flour with little bits of water and milk, knead and add all the ingredients gradually. Once it becomes a dough, leave at room temperature for 1 hour for it to rise (cover with a damp cloth) Add the trail mix at the end, make into a round shape and slice two thin lines at the top. Bake at 200 degrees for about 40-45 minutes. Make sure the insides are baked evenly before you take it out.

Lady Macaron

2009-06-11T23:53:00.000-07:00

French macaroons at a local boulangerie at Rue de Sevres near Le Bon Marché in the 7eme arr.

Did you know that french Macaroons are slowly making it's mark outside of France? and I have a
feeling it will have similar-like effect of the cupcake phenomena when it first entered the New York scene and burst like waterfalls to every bakery and cake shops around the world. Little did anyone know outside of Paris, what is a french macaroon. Most of you reading this would probably already know what is the true french macaroons and how it actually look like (the image above is a giver) however for a minuscule of you who come across this article by sheer accident, here is a petit l'introduction to the differences of the macaroons you grew up eating - to the french version that for many le boulanger and I will tell you that this little gem is the true flag of France.

Like everyone else, I grew up with this version:
a cracky surface with a chewy texture made from egg whites, sugar and ground almonds. When I was growing up in Jakarta, I blurry remember eating them for the first time as a gift from someone who just came back overseas. I loved it instantly, from the sweet perfumy aroma from the almonds to the way it blends perfectly over a cup of hot milk. This version is called amaretti, originally from Italy and thought to have been made by the Italian monastery way before the 16th century.

The french version...is famously created by no other than Pierre Desfontaines Ladurée in the beginning of the 20th century. Today, Ladurée sells up to 16,000 macaroons each day from their three green painted salons, my favourite one is at Rue Bonaparte and my heart smiles each time I passed it on my way home. With more than 20 flavors and a new one added each month to last only for a couple of weeks until sold out, Ladurée is the true maker of french macaroons.

When I was in Paris, I had the fortunate chance to try many macaroons from different establishments, from the ones at Four Season where the serveuse secretly admitted that they were inferior to Ladurée's. And the different versions at countless local boulangeries in different arrondissements. Each one is beautifully tasty, I remember the rosé flavored macaroon from Jules Verne up above La Tour Eiffel that was uniquely rare in taste and aroma.

www.ladurée.fr

Of course no trip to Paris is ever fully complete without a visit to one of Ladurée salons. It is an experience even just to wait patiently at the long queues of tourists and french people alike waiting for their turn to be serve, and then goes the next daunting task of choosing which flavors you're after. Try the classic ones first if you're confuse, I always go for caramel with a salty after-taste from the au beurre salé, then for your next visits roll out your tonque with framboise, citron and fleur d’Oranger.

I have not seen any french macaroon here in Melbourne since I arrived. However if any of you have spotted these delicious diamonds around town, always leave a comment! Thank you

Warhol Madness

2009-06-10T21:21:00.001-07:00

Two different Warhol exhibits at two different galleries in Saint-Germain. One was in Place de Furstenberg and Rue L'Université, is it Warhol season?

I'm Back!

2009-06-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

I am back and feeling fresher than ever today eventhough it was raining hail this morning, and my hands and feet are close to freeeeziiingg...yes that's Melbourne!

I thought of doing a new blog and had actually signed up a new one but I deleted it after half an hour. Why? because I made a promised to myself I will come back to Paris and after all I fell in love because of my 90 days stay, so why not continue it...after all I dream of Paris every night...

So here it goes...my day-to-day thoughts on all things related to Paris...

The other day while I was finishing lunch with my cousin at Cooper and Milla's, High Street, Armadale, I found Grapeseed, a little cafe with tolix chairs from Paris! If you have been following my blog, you would know that I have this thing with Tolix, a french company specialising in chairs and is best known of course for their metal chairs. I can't believe I found them in Melbourne! It all started with Potato Head, my brother's restaurant in Jakarta that uses Tolix for their outdoor seating, then when I arrived in Paris, I started noticing them everywhere, in a little creperie, in a really cool boutique/warehouse in the 11eme arr. displayed as art, in markets with killer prices and in the Conran Gallery shop down in Rue du Bac, 7eme arr. Apparently Tolix is a household name there and it's iconic style and metal-made is very much recogniseable. The next time I'm in High Street, I'll definitely try Grapeseed.

Grapeseed is at 1084 High Street, Armadale. Tram no. 6 from Melbourne Central.

MERCI Paris

2009-05-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

The owners are the same peeps behind Bonpoint, an exclusive children clothing brand from Paris that has art-like window displays and most of their shops in the seventh arrondissement.

On the way back home, I had kept a note to visit this newly-opened giant boutique, Merci that has been getting loads of favorable attention from blogger and french people as well. The warehouse-like building with high ceilings, combining lots of black steel and aluminium is a very cool shop indeed. At first I was very sceptical because a lot of french has been saying that the clothes are way to expensive and all just 'for show' but you know what, I loved it. Just the way I would imagine it if one day I have my own place. They have vintage furniture, french-designers clothes, perfumery by Anick Goutal and homewares in the top floor. The concept is anything but new, but they did it well and I would recommend it for anyone visiting Paris.

An old fiat, if I'm correct? Stuffed with plants and flowers. A cool display of spontaneous art.

Au Revoir Paris

2009-05-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, malheuresement, my time's up and I'm returning to Melbourne, not anticipating it obviously but I know I will be back soon, not exactly sure as I don't want to jinx it, but I think I've develop a fine relationship with this city. I'm actually surprising my parents back in Australia, they don't know I'm coming back on Monday night. Honestly I'm not too sure how they'll react, shock...and probably wondering why I'm back so soon. But I came here with or without the intention of staying for 90 days, I thought I'd cruise in, see how it goes etc...But it's been pretty intense this couple of days. My landlady didn't take it so well, I'm sad too, she's très gentille, beautiful, elegant and oh she's just a great person. I have a habit of vanishing without telling so I guess I gotta work on that...

Anyway, every blogger on Paris does it...so perhaps I should do it to, no actually I've always wanted to do it...So here it goes

10 Things Why I Love Paris

1. The L'Air. Often I would close my eyes for a moment while I'm walking, it's usually when I feel so at ease with mysefl, in with that particular moment. Everything seem to be in perfect motion, the air of Paris.

2. The Boulangeries, yes not just the bread, but the facade, the beautiful handiwork, the actual place with old ceramic tiles, little cherubs flying over the ceilings of bygone era, and the anticipation of getting your bread, the aroma, the taste and the funny french ladies behind the counter who always says "Bonne Journée" truthfully.

3, The French Women. They walk with an expression of anticipation, like as if they are searching for something, always in the look out for suspension. Their natural l'air de la mode, très naturel, fashion so understatedly elegant.

4. Rue de Buci, Rue Bonaparte, Rue de L'Université Three of my favourite streets in Paris around Saint-Germain that I passed every single day. The cool galleries in Rue de L'Université, the bistro cafés in Rue de Buci, where Picasso used to do his food shopping, and of course the Laduree in Rue Bonaparte with its playful-trademark green walls, a soft candy palette of boxes arrayed on the shelves. I smile whenever I pass it.

5. The Latin Quartier: from the end of Boulevard Saint-Germain on the 6eme arr to the start of Rue Cardinal Lemoine, The Pantheon, Rue Mouffetard, the little old cinemas with just one or two viewing rooms inside, Rue Monge that stretches endlessly with the most authentic boulangeries, the calm feeling I get when I am walking around there opposite to the Institute du Monde Arabe. Yes everything in Paris seem to evoke a sense, a feeling...

6. My room: my polly-pocket room I call it, with the pink toiles de jouy bedspread, tablecloth and a little rack that holds my clothes. The antique green dresser, the high window with red curtain and of course, the violet sky, the night that never turns into a night that sleeps with me every night.

7. The Yogurt: If you never tasted french yogurt, then you don't know what real yogurt taste like! thick, condesed, milky, fresh, it's like having it straight from the cow! I especially love the Caillé brand. Oh how I will miss it.

8. The Brocantes: The fleamarkets, Yes they are actually the same as the ones in Australia, but it's so celebrated here they have themes that go with each event, or they set it up for a week and when you go visit one it's like being in a entirely different world.

9. The Food Market: Each arrondissement has one or two fresh market that's open every couple of days a week, my best-pick so far is the Bastille Market however I passed the Raspail Market on the way to school on most days. I especially love the chocolat chaud à l'ancienne there on a cold Sunday morning. Perfect!

10. Lastly, it's Paris, the city itself. Everything, when my teacher, the lovely Linda asked everyone to express our dislikes of Paris, I could not think of anything. I just love everything about it, it's so strange for a lot of friends I'm sure, they've had some bad experiences I'm sure, but since the day I've arrived, on that cold Sunday morning, coming out of the Eurostar at Gare de L'Est, I knew right there in that moment, that this city is in favour with me, and I am here to enjoy it!

Au revoir Paris, je n'oublierai pas, et je vous voir bientôt!

As requested...

2009-05-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

For *Lady Jicky* A photo of the Kenzo satchel/slig bag I got from the Brocante de Printemps du 3eme, with my unsuccessful attempt at bargaining the price down.

I could not resist the logo. Sometimes I wonder why I wasn't born Japanese...I am always assumed a Japanese...I think it runs somewhere along my bloodline...and why can't I be french..?

Comité des Fêtes fleamarket

2009-05-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

So this morning I went to one of the biggest event in Paris, that's on twice a year! That is....The antiques & vide greniers in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. The second biggest fleamarket after Porte de Clignancourt in the 18th. Called the Brocante de Printemps, the venue is a step away from Le Marais and Bastille. By the time all the vendeur spilled their stuff into the table, the whole area looks like a treasure box flipped inside out. Literally. I know my brother who loves vintage and antiques will go crazy if he was here, it's like a little kid who was lost in a giant toy store. He would spend hours and hours for sure.

You can find absolutely anything here, name it and I'm sure you will find it. There is a guy who sells vintage luggages, from Louis Vuitton to nameless brands in immaculate conditions. Not that I'd go for those stuff, but my brother would....I didn't particularly want to get anything in particular, because we have the exact market but in a quarter of the size in Melbourne with almost the same kinds of antiques (a quarter of the price tags too) but I thought if I did found anything I reaaaallllllyyyy like, then I'll get it. And that was just the story with me the whole time I was there. I was kinda subconsciously looking for a nice leather bag, and well I found a nice seaweed (more like very dark muted army green) leather Kenzo satchel that this french lady was selling. I've always been a fan of Kenzo, his collection are very understated yet each are very well thought of, elegantly chic, which is why the French lovveeeess his stuff. So all the time I kept circling the area, then after a few hours of rotating the whole place....in the end I thought, oh well, it's such a bargain and this is Paris after all. So I bought it! Happy, no regrets!

Le Cinema à Paris

2009-05-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

At the moment, I'm in that stage where I'm feeling very nostalgic about this place they called The City of Light. By the way, it is originally called city of light not because there is many lights that brightens up this city, although that is also very true, but it started as a city with many poets, writers, artists, philosophers etc that it was nicknamed the city with many smart people, hence where the word light appears. Anyway, back to feeling nostalgic, probably the mood that best describe me at the moment is très relaxé, I don't make a strict plan-ahead schedule I usually made up in my head at the start of the day anymore. If I want to catch a movie, I'll go and see one in the many cinemas around around the Latin quartier, hidden in tiny little rooms where you would probably will not recognise it as a cinema without looking up the address first in the Internet. Little neon lights, an empty booth, the light is usually switch off and there are hardly a living soul in le salle. But so far, I've had great experiences!

Paris Je T'aime, is a great movie, recommended by a cousin who lived in London, who lived in Sydney and came from Indonesia. I think this film represent not just the idea about Paris, but about different culture mixing together and for a foreigner coming to Paris or to another foreign land, there is a lot to absorb and this film transcends all ethnicity and background, that no matter if you're Chinese, Americans, English, Arabs or Japanese, I think everyone can enjoy it, as long as they watch it with the subtitles. It comprises of 17scenes directed by more than 12 directors, each with different actors.

Often I go to a café, read my book for awhile, eat my sandwich and do my french homework in between. I am enjoying my days here very much, although a tiny (or growing increasingly bigger by the day) part of me is always reminding me of future plans, how I can't wait to start a small jersey collections, silky cardigans de soie, soft flowy materials...of my drawings, of watercolours...

A Brazilian friend d'un certain âge, just retired and is definitely enjoying his retiring days of traveling Paris and taking up intensive french class in between with his wife in the other class! bravo! and sat next to me in each class (we all sit at the same table each day, like an automatic habit) so we always partnered up whenever there are conversation role-plays. Anyway...He told me to watch Chéri and said it was very good. So off I went to this tiny little old cinema at Rue Mouffetard today and well well well...what a film. Shock and surprise ending, well that's obvious since it's french, they always leave the audience either feeling bewildered, speechless or just utterly shocked...a film written by one of the most celebrated french writer, Colette, who also wrote the classic GiGi, quelle surprise non? this movie is definitely not for everyone, I liked it but hey I'm a francophile...So beware, I've warned you!

There are over fifty cinemas around the 6eme and 5eme arrondissement of Paris, that starts from the Place St-Germain-des-Pres all the way from Boulevard Saint-Germain, passing Metro Odeon with three cinemas within eyesight just when you reach the top staircase of the metro, then all the hidden ones around the Panthéon, Sorbonne and a handful so small it takes a courage to enter. Good thing for me I live around this area, and I am loving it! An insightful blogger recommended me to watch Villa Amalia with no other than Isabelle Huppert, recently the head judge of Cannes Film Festival and is probably the most celebrated of French cinema second to Catherine Deneuve (who I passed in Melbored end of last year!).

May the cinema force be with you this week! Enjoy a movie or two and don't forget to use a SPF 30 sunblock when you go out to the Sun, don't want to start looking like an orange peel too soon... and I've seen a few around Paris... euh*

Comfort & Joy: a novel

2009-05-24T08:19:00.001-07:00

Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah.

This book I picked up at Shakespeare & Co. yesterday afternoon simply because I liked the cover, the 3euro bargain price and thought to myself "Oh how bad can a book with a title of comfort and joy be thaaaat bad..." and you know what, I finished the book the same night!! It was so good I could not put it down...The story is truly mesmerizing and teared my eyes a handful of times. It is a story about a librarian who had previously been utterly dissapointed at how things happened between her ex husband and some family members of her, and one day she bought a ticket on impulse just to get away from her past and found herself in a plane accident in a town not far away from Seattle. She encountered a little cottage owned by this guy and his son who had experienced a similar tragedy. She tried to help them and in the process learnt many wonderful lessons from her friendship with the little boy. It is really not one of those romantic novels you'd think it's just about a woman falling in love etc and so on, the victim etc etc... It is about believing and finding faiths in unexpected places and the joy that comes with simple gestures...I love it so much! Now I'm desperate to read a new novel but has too much stacked in my side table...not too sure how I'm going to bring them back to Australia...perhaps I'll give some away... :(

Un Mariage de Rêve

2009-05-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

or released as Easy Virtue in the United States.

One of the reason the French Language is utterly intricate and complicated is that some words when joined as sentences and translated, are not what you think they would mean in English or is not as easy to translate as you would think. Such as this. I thought un mariage de rêve is translated as a marriage of dream, a woman's vision of her dream wedding, a film about having a great wedding and all those things wonderful about a wedding. But pas du tout! Not at all, when I looked up the English title, it was Easy Virtue! Woaah, that is so totally different meaning that what I thought the movie is about but when you think harder and search the meaning of virtue and of course have watched the film, everything made sense. In definition, virtue means having goodness, righteousness, and moral excellence. Easy Virtue is something as near-impossible of quality to attain if you are...lets say, a human living in this kinda-world. The film is not what I had expected, but I enjoyed very much watching all the commotions and problems that arises between the character of Jessical Biel as an American newlywed, entering a wealthy 'proper' English family. The fits and fights reached to a peak at the end of the movie, and the ending is surprising and I recommend the movie to everyone, particularly women of all ages.

When you think about it, a marriage of a dream can also means a collections of dreams, hopeful things that one wishes to gain or expects to have, yet often are dissapointed as real life promises the opposites. I guess one must watch the film to really understand why Easy Virtue would be translated to Un Mariage de Rêve. The lead character of Jessica Biel is the centrepoint of the film, for a bit of summary and I hope I don't dissapoint you in telling this, is that she is what the meaning of the film is about, in the end, even though she has the darkest history from all the English aristocrats characters around her, she has the imperfect virtue of a character.

Anyway from French translations to all this definitions, I must stop or I will trail into other dimensions...Hope you get to see this film when it comes out in DVD :)

Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-prés

2009-05-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

A group of jazz ensemble over at the corner of Saint-Germain-des-prés. The Jazz festival is until the 25th May. Come over to Saint-Germain to see all the action!

The next door church at the same location that says Easter: Christ Lives - Risen! Oh yeah!

L'Ascension

2009-05-21T01:21:00.000-07:00

A photo of the sky in Budapest, around 6 30pm, the day my cousin celebrated her wedding by throwing a memorable dinner in a beautiful old mason. I looked up the sky and saw a trail of what looks like the cloud tail of a plane perhaps? I recently watched a short clip of a French director's view of Paris and he said that when you walk the streets of a city, always look up, the view of the top is as equally interesting as the view below. Paris is one city that has interesting tops!

Today 21 May 2009 is Ascension Day in Paris, a national public holiday that commemorates the day when Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven following his crucifixion and resurrection, according to Christian belief. It the 40th day of Easter and is ten days before Pentecost Sunday. Public holidays in Paris is a tranquil day, there is not much happening, yet it is very lovely to walk the silent streets as you will feel or I usually feel that Paris belongs to me. All mine :)

Pray and Reflect about your life, Thank God and I hope you all have a blessed day.

"The Sweet Life in Paris" David Lebovitz

2009-05-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz. His sixth book, his recent was The Perfect Scoop, an ice cream recipe book, I have red great reviews about it, definitely a must-by if you love making homemade ice creams or if you fancy eating it :)

The book's cover is the facade of Laduree in Rue Bonaparte, 6eme arr, about a five minutes walk from where I live. It is a very beautiful corner, and everyone who passes it will slowly paced their walk and admire the colourful Laduree packagings on the glass window and for those who loves macaroons, I mean who doesn't? those cute round little cookies glued together with sweet filings, will go inside and buy a couple to munch on the way home.

The funny, whiney (self-confessed) Mr. David Lebovitz at his book signing today at WHSmith at 248 Rue de Rivoli, 1eme arr. I had a great time listening to his reading of whacky emails he received from fans reading his blog. Since 2002, David L. has been living in Paris, he shares his hilarious and just everyday crazy encounters with the French in his popular blog while writing recipe books, doing chocolate tours and just enjoying Paris and loving it more and more.

Once you love this city, it's hard to leave it behind...n'est pas?

I will surely enjoy my Sweet Life in Paris, Thank You David! All the way from Indonesia... :)

Budapest: gothic charm

2009-05-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

A doll's house in the apartment. Welcome to Budapest.

At last I had Hungarian Goulash...and it was Homemade! yum just the way your mom would made it and the way I had it when I was growing up. Yes it is very similar to my mum's soup surprisingly.. clear spiced water, potatoes, boiled-for-hours chopped diced meat, carrots and vegetables. My cousins family were saying it was the best-proper meal they had since traveling abroad in Europe, homecooked and delicious. And surprisingly after a two weeks fest of eating on the run that consisted of takeaway kebabs, nutella crepes in Paris and scary Chinese food, they all lost a considerable amount of weight! :) We were on a marathon in Paris but I'm sure they were pleased with themselves..

The remnants of modern art-deco furnishing...going up to the apartment...

Arriving on Friday afternoon in Budapest, I was feeling very relaxed, we passed some grey neighborhood along the way from the airport but once we were near to the apartment and the crowded streets, I knew I was in the city where they made all those spy movies! The city is surrounded by tall green hills, ancient gothic buildings now occupied as museums and government houses, and a few great bridges that separates Buda from Pest. My cousin's husband lived outside of Buda, along the hills, where most locals would prefer to live with clean air, big lands and fresh vegetables and fruits at your disposal.

A very tall guy...the mosaic-like ancient buildings, on the way to Vaci street. A beautiful sunny day!

Besides Metro lines, they have electric buses and trams. As you passed this street, you can see the hills around Budapest.

Although Budapest is not as pretty as Paris, the city has it owns...um gothic charm as I would put it, grey rustic monuments sits along the clear river, what looked liked a very old drawn brown bricked building has very cool modern art-deco interior, where our service apartment was.

Central Market, the biggest food market in Budapest, seeling fresh produce from meats to vegetables and spiced - liquor drinks. Palinka is a speciality Hungarian liquor, usually between 40-70% alcohol level. My cousin's husband grandfather used to make his own Palinka and it was abundantly served at the wedding dinner :O it burns the throat from 10 seconds and they a splash of warmth would engullfe afterwards, warming the whole body.

On Saturday we went to Vaci Street (Vaci utca), where cafes with nostalgic charm of little tables, flower pots and colourful chairs lined the long street, inviting many tourists and locals to sit for hours and absorb the sunny weather.

Colourful buildings with equally interesting folks and people to see from all over the world.

There were quite many embroidered patchwork cloths in antique speciality shops around Vaci Street; traditional way of embroidering and craftwork are still very much prided here.

We had a good walk, although my cousin had to walk for an hour to find a clothing store that did not exist anymore. Poor koko Chris...no wonder he lost so much weight!

Eventhough I didn't see any mini coopers in Budapest, there were some old-vintagey looking cars that resembled a fiat and a mini cooper all in one. I forgot what its name now, anyway I went crazy in the local supermarket, everything was so cheap, compare to Paris! yogurt..chocolates...sweets to bring back for friends. Ah I can an hour in a supermarket. If you want to make me happy, just drop me in a nice supermarket with lots of speciality sweets and food to see and pick me up in a few hours..he he he

Fête du Pain

2009-05-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

Fête du Pain à Paris

I had been waiting this moment ...since....well since Monday :P and the 22 minutes it took me to walk from Saint-Germain...every step of the way I was dreaming of being in bread heaven as the first bites of a good bread does to a french person. I knew the bread has to be good, I mean it is the event that showcase bread, one of the three Les goûts de Paris: du pain, du fromage et du vin. And also I knew they were making the bread inside and selling them outside afterwards...amidst the rain...I was marching away...closer and closer...

Once at the premise, off I went to the over-heated giant tent in front of Notre-Dame Church, filled with a jolly good bunch of hungry-bread-grabbing tourists eager to snatch not just a handful but an eager basket gesture with their hands filled with free cut baguette that were offered at each counter. Hey you can't blame them, I too had my greedy moments inside, it was nearing two o'clock in the afternoon and I was super famished! he-he-he. The music was on full-high, the chefs patisserie were singing aloud while shaping and moulding little unbaked croissants. They were having a great time and I'm sure each of them were very proud that they get to show visiters of Paris about their love of bread-and bread making.

After tasting a few snatches of bread inside, I needed to refuel my unsatisfied hunger, so I headed outside to one of the smaller tents selling the baked-goods.

I did had one of the best sandwich in Paris, of just plain jambon et buerre, my favourite, they are called Le Parisien in boulangeries, ham and butter, but oh my goodness, the butter is just so sweet and delicious. It melts in my mouth and the bread is so fresh I could taste a bit of the burnt sides of the bread as it was baked in a non-industrialised machine and it just came out of the oven before lunch! Um..to describe bread heaven, well it's like eating something that you like, it taste good in your mouth, it doesn't scratch the top of your gum as some crispy bread does and you know it's healthy for you so you eat with no guilt. Actually since living in Paris, I no longer think food as the enemy like I often does with certain food when I was living in Melbourne, including bread. :)

The mini croissants, crispy and yes I'm sure they melt in your mouth. Yum. I had a good lunch. Until 18 May and it is a yearly event. At the end of the festival, they usually have a croissant winner.

Cette Semaine

2009-05-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Corner of UGC Danton cinema, metro Odeon and Boulevard Saint-Germain 6eme arr.

Another reason why I love Saint-Germain so much...look at this little bistrot with little flower pots hanging above the awning...and the black boards with hand-written menus...I was over at metro Odeon when I saw this little gem of bistrot.

I was checking out cheap cinemas near Odeon as I was anticipating Anges et Démons with Tom Hanks in it and is out tomorrow! I gotta watch it...I think the story is crispier than Davinci Code...anyway I'm a bit tired today, feeling a bit restless...it's probably the build-up anticipation of going to Budapest this weekend! hurrrarrrr!!!

However there are some must-haves to do by the end of the week, a visit to the Brocante market in Bastille, where there are over 200 antique dealers selling their stuffs in a big giant white tent. I hope it's worth the 8euro entry ticket.

This afternoon as I was passing Notre-Dame on my way to Le Marais, I passed another smaller tent with the big text of "La Fête du Pain" Oh my goodness, I was screaming awweesssommeeee, anyway it is a yearly event where about eight to ten boulangers made breads at the premise from mixing flour and water to actually baking it in their oven. I'm pretty sure there are free tasting...! Starting from this Thursday 14 May through to the 18 May. Sweelll...

Every year, the event is held in Paris opposite of the Notre-Dame. This photo is from here.

And I also need to get a body lotion. :)

Infront of PAUL boulangerie at Rue Rennes...6eme arr. It was corner parking...it is illegal but there it's the norm in Paris.

Paris Space Invaders

2009-05-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Walking the streets of Paris, there are countless times when I was would suddenly stopped midway through my track because of something peculiar staring at me. Yes I am referring to the street arts of Paris. One of them called The Space Invaders introduced by my cousin in London, is one of the frequent artist that leaves their trademark mosaic tiles around the high corners of Parisian corners and street walls. They are one of the well-know street artists that does other cities around Europe. They look like little robotic insects, in colorful two-toned squares. I managed to find some more over the weekend around the Bastille area.

Another one that I'm sure many of you living in Paris has probably seen is sort of a sticker of a dandy man with their italic signature of Leo et Pipo printed at the bottom of the sticker. I managed to find a blog about their interesting history. It says in the blog that these two individuals came to Paris in the beginning feeling like a complete strangers, in a pretty cold city filled with complete often equally cold people. They wrote as I am quoting from the blog, that growing up in the east suburbs of Paris filled with sweetness and the quietness of the suburbs, they are appaled by the alienated feeling of Paris, a city-museum (quote) with artificial everything. Which is true I suppose and I am sure most people feels that way the first time they arrive here.

So, to break the ice a bit, in March 2008 they started to stick these characters on the walls of Paris as a way of saying "Hey there, I'm new here, let's be friendly!" They hoped that people would notice and stare for a bit and continue walking. The blogger said that for him/her, the characters felt like friendly ghosts watching over the neighborhood. Which is somewhat true, they represent watchful eyes and for new comers, that Paris is filled with hidden treasures. Another blogger wrote that it for her the characters injects human warmth and charm to the city. I'm sure that everyone has their own interpretations, for me though, I just find them so curiously cuttteee....scattered away in places for me to find and snap away.

The yellow cat is also another street art that has transform itself to a museum exhibition at the Pompidou centre. He was caught red handed donning a mask, which was how he found his fame in the first place. I spotted this one over the weekend too, just a day after my cousin told me about the cat in Paris.

Falling in Love with Paris...

2009-05-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Falling in Love with Paris...all over again

The flower market is also one of my favourite places to visit. The little flowers in their little pots are so inexpensive compare to the ones in the shops. A good place to take your mothers.

My cousin who got married last weekend in London came over to Paris this weekend for a short break with her whole family, parents and brother and sister-in-law. I naturally became the on-off tour guide, and had a fun time practicing my french the whole weekend when we had to do the daunting task of ordering food in a restaurant and just asking simple things to get by...and I really enjoyed their company here. Arriving with EuroStar on Friday morning, they rented a service apartment at Rue Saint Denis called Le Petit Châtelet over on the 1st arrondissement, which was very central and is just a stone away from Georges Pompidou Centre and within walking distance to the Louvre Museum. On Friday, we went to Le Marais, we had sandwiches by the Pompidou center, went passed by Île Saint-Louis and saw a really cool jazz ensemble and my auntie loved the flower market at the Cité had dinner at a cool brasserie over at the 11eme arr.
It was one of the personal highlights of my day, the light, the song of Ave Maria, along the passage of the Louvre in the afternoon. It was magical.

Unfortunately the crêperie place that we all wanted to go to was closed on the friday and the next day when we came back after walking a good 20minutes from the metro, and with each step we were discussing how many courses we were going to have and which toppings etc...we found out the place was fully booked!! Walking back to the metro with our down faces... I told them, this is one of the charm of Paris, a city that 'literally' takes your breath away but it also meant that they just have to come back to Paris..!

The carousel at Jardin de Tuilleries, my auntie said that the city of Paris is like a city made of squares of pretty blocks, like legos, all laid out in such a way that they lit up.

So anyway, on Saturday they went to see the Eiffel Tower, and at night, we decided to take a rest and get sandwiches and takeaways to eat in the apartment instead, which turned out better for everyone too as some of our legs were about to fall off...aahaha if you are not used to walking, well Paris can be a bit cruel...but because there were too many interesting places to see, we just kept going.

I realised that Paris is truly a captivating place sans les clichés, and with each day spending time with my cousins, auntie and uncle, I just wished more and more that my parents can come here and not just see this beautiful city, but feel it in their hearts as it has captivated my own.

I can't seem to get over the notion that you can just paint your hearts away whenever you feel like it in Paris. She is just splashing paints and enjoying every second of it and me being the thrilled tourist clicking away on my camera.

Can you see the expression on her face (sorry it's blurry) just enjoying and listening to her music and walking away like as if she is absorbing l'esprit de Paris. Walking along the Seine as I have said many times is the Paris to-do, you will not get bored trust me.

When we all visited Notre-Dame church, I lit up a candle and made a wish. I was told that if my wish came true, I have to come back there and say my thank you prayer. Although my wish was not so that my parents can come here, because that is too do-able, I'm sure they will come here very soon, it was something else I hope will come true. When it does, I will tell you all and by that time I would probably have a one-way ticket to Paris again.

Inside the Church, there were a long slides of resin sculptures like these one above, depicting the many scenes of Christ Jesus's lives. This one if I am not mistaken was when Jesus blessed the bread and wine, the last supper. I am just transfixed by the 'real' mimicking of the bread that the apostle is holding. Doesn't it look like a real bread, even at that time, they can do a real good impression of a real bread. Sorry, I just love bread...

Jazzy Friday

2009-05-08T15:55:00.001-07:00

The Jazz ensemble at Île Saint-Louis, entertaining, funny, cool and totally jazzy...with their matching hawaiian shirts...

The Red shoes ensemble...

Staring at the sky from Bastille

Metro Parmentier, 11eme arr. White bum bum slides, like the ones my brother has in his restaurant and the one we have at home in red. Miss sitting my bum bum on those...

CHERCHEMINIPPES

2009-05-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

Since living in Paris for the past two months I share this fact with almost every non-french human living creature I met in Paris who loves to shop and basically loves fashion (who doesn't) that Paris is so hilariously expensive and we could easily get the same exact looking piece of clothing in our own country whether Australia, America or the UK for half the price. Shoes are insanely overpriced, a cheap looking ballerina flats would start at about 59euros normally so that is equivalent to almost 120Aus dollar and you could get a really nice pair in Melbourne. So anyway while I dream of buying clothes at local boutiques like Sandro, Zadig & Voltaire and Isabel Marant almost every second day, I happened to (I think I was meant to find it after two months in Paris) bumped into CHERCHEMINIPPES at 102 Rue de Cherche-Midi (hence the name I suppose). It was literally like finding a treasure box filled with gold coins! There were racks and racks of brands that I mentioned above plus Agnes b, Paul & Joe, Margiella, Comptoirs de Cotonniers and many other chic French local brands. And to my advantage the prices started at 4.50euro, yes you red it right!! Being an experienced shopper, I think I am very good at controlling my spending here, ha ha, I surveyed the whole shop for probably about 1 hour and really really found a lot of things that I really like. However since I already know that I will probably come back a dozen times more, in the end, I only bought two really nice cream-rosy blouses for a total of 13.50euros!! I still can't believe it and it is truly one of those unexpected joys in Paris and one of the reason I love this place so much, is that everything is so mysteriously hidden and that you just have to find it at your own pace and not force it.

End of story, I found three other Chercheminippes along Rue de Cherche-Midi, high-end couture boutique with Diane Von Furstenberg silk dresses starting at 45euros (insane!!), Costume National skirts from 20euros and designer shoes and bags from 40euros. Chercheminippes for Men, Children and one specially carrying only shoes and bags. All European labels and all starting at the most 10euros. I love PARIS.

the above photos are from http://www.magasins-paris.com/magasins/chercheminippes-femme-createurs/

Les Amoureux

2009-05-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Attended a cousin wedding yesterday in London. She wore the coolest wedding dress, simple but classy and cream ballerina flats. Had the loveliest time, ate too much truffles, but I enjoyed every moment of it! Thank you Melissa and Laszlo, you guys rock my world!

Pink

2009-05-04T07:51:00.001-07:00

tickled pink. I know they're so granny-ish but I've always wanted them in pink. and they were such a bargain I had no choice. Literally no choice.

Another about Montmartre

2009-05-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

I like how the door curves at the top with the similarly curved sign done in simple black and white. Pure white walls, not overly done, with the antique window panels, it's like bringing the whole look back to its original state, back to ol' Montmartre. Dessous translates to 'being underneath' or 'under', Ginette is probably the name of the old owner, probably named because the place is under a stairway. Ginette's Hangout...

Guess what, I did a search in google and found what it looked like before (below). How ugly. Euck. Good thing they repainted the walls and did a new signage. What were they thinking??? It looked like a cheap birthday cake you get from Safeway...Sorry I'm just trashing it...eeuuck

original photo from here.

Oh by the way, this is a bar/restaurant/café.

A Slice of Montmartre

2009-05-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

The tilt of Sacré-Cœur can be seen from above the photo as most of Montmartre is made up of winding hills and narrow steps.

Au Petit Théâtre du Bonheur tucked in between the little houses that made up the up and down steps. How cute, like a red dot in the middle of everything white.

Another small gallery near Rue Lepic, where the french classic, Amélie was shot. Can you see my tiny weeny reflection on the narrow mirror inside at the center of the room?

A small restaurant, Chez Marie.
The replica of Moulin Rouge. A restaurant.

Rue Martyrs that goes down to the 9eme arr. has a lot of bakeries, food shops, epiceries and such. A nice afternoon scroll, children and mommies buying baguettes, dads too, and some tourists.

Le Parfum

2009-05-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

Why don't they make perfume bottles like this anymore?
Panthere de Cartier circa 1987 miniature bottle.

From Porte de Vanves market, 15eme arr.

Le Pain Simple

2009-05-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

All you need to make a simple bread is the wheat which turns to flour which then creates the bread. Voila! très simple non? An illustrative plan hung on the window pane of an artisanal boulangerie near Canal Saint Martin, Paris 10eme arr. This neighborhood known for its long river canal has many small artisan bakeries as well as the off beat cafés and discount shops. Generally pumped with yuppies, young families and students on most week days.

The ceiling with flying cherubs.

The bridge that connects from here to the other sides separates about twice to three times a day prompting cars to sound off their impatience at pedestrians.

Not too sure what he's up to up there...but it looks just like in the movies.

My Monthly Reads

2009-05-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

Here are three new books to keep me busy during those long lunches :) Got them today from Shakespeare & Co. 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 5eme arr.

Peter Mayle, the English writer who lives in Provence has written more than four novels about living in France, based partly about his experiences and a few fictions as well on the similar topic. Picked this one titled Hotel Pastis, cos I just like the word Pastis, sounds so classy. If I have another dog I would probably call it that...
The book is actually about an English guy who escaped to Provence to find a new meaning to his life...or something like it. And of course along the way he stumbles into the unexpected...
I've red Toujours Provence by the same author and finds it an enjoyable read, light, not too heavy and filled with funny encounters with the country side French gens.

Desert Flower by Waris Dirie and Cathleen Miller, a true account of her life escaping Africa and later becoming a successful model and an advocate of human rights. A good distraction from reading too many french-related topics. Might be a good read before bed...

Oops, didn't planned on buying or reading this one, but the lady at the counter mistaken this one to another one about a Parisian book that I had left on her counter earlier one...but the previous book had gone missing. So I settled for this one instead. Guess I'm a francophile after all. :(
French Lessons by Peter Mayle.

a friend's house in Montmartre

2009-04-30T12:12:00.000-07:00

A friend lives in a really cool cave-like house in Montmartre, 18eme arr. Paris.

La Terrasse.

Potato Head in Paris

2009-04-29T10:39:00.001-07:00

Here are the things I've found in Paris that reminds me of POTATO HEAD

Potato Head
-noun
a popular bistro/restaurant/bar in Jakarta
becoming a cool local institution to gather-eat-have fun-chillin' in Asia
has the best cocktail drinks mixed by a world famous mixer

Rue de l'Université, 6eme arr. I passed this gallery every day on my way home. They have the strangest, most bizarre yet utterly cool out-of-this world visual concoctions. This was this week.
Wooden Gnomes standing around a classical painting around the 18th century. Fake plastic mushrooms laid over fake green grass. Kitsch- so Potato Head.

This visual concoction was the past three weeks, the pink rolls on the sides are pink tissue rolls. Can you see the back walls are covered with pink tissue walls?

Part of the permanent collection of this gallery. Tiny miniatures of wooden fingers.

Mushroom plastic lamps that I saw months ago at Le Jupon Rouge, on the 9eme arr. Not as authentic as the ones in Potato Head but close enough to remind of them.

The first reminder at Marché aux Puces, 20eme arr. Orange Tolix chairs.

Etat de Siege off Rue de Seine, 6eme arr.,

At The Conran Shop in Rue du Bac, 6eme arr., opposite Le Bon Marche grand magasin.

Tolix silver chairs used for dining inside this famed crêperie Le Cape Breton, Rue des Victoires, 2eme arr.

Blogs and Newspaper reviews of Potato Head.

Cheeky Montmartre Boulangerie

2009-04-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

Is that picture right? did I miss something? why is he headless? Wait a sec...what's his hand doing in there....???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The things you can only find in Montmartre and not anywhere else in Paris. HA-HA-HA. A very cute artisanal boulangerie in Rue des Martyrs, 9eme arrodissement, the end of the 18eme. Opened by Didier Lavry, diplômé de la grande école de l'I.N.B.P. (Institut National de Boulangerie Pâtisserie) which is like the university to learn how to bake and make beautiful cakes :O

Wo ai ni Paris

2009-04-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

At Avenue de Choisy, tall flowy treest lined each paved streets, awning each restaurant day and night. With so many trees, the neighborhood feels very safe and seems like everyone knows each other.

Chinatown in Paris is on the 13eme arr., covering Avenue de Choisy et Av. d'Ivry; is a mix between a rosy neighborhood filled with a cluster of Chinese restaurants and its counterparts and Spring trees that lined the streets as if preparing themselves for a scene in a Meg Ryan movie, amidst all the chinese faces. It's funny, I have never felt as much of a stranger in this particular Chinatown, perhaps I grew up in places with chinatowns so crowded with lots of people that you could hardly walk in their little lanes or perhaps my notion of a chinatown, is one where the Chinese grannies don't speak french to their friends, or that the restaurants are not all closed at 5 o'clock in the afternoon (yes I don't understand why there hardly any restaurants open at this time? have living in France, Paris in particular have changed their habits, I presume they are playing mahjong or strolling the streets, stopping once so often as everyone seem to know each other from the little nods between the old ladies)

A corner french boulangerie follows tradition of closing its shop on Monday! c'est lundi, c'est normal!

My grand mission, is of course to see Tang Frere Supermarché. The huge chinese grocery opened by the Tang brothers from Laos. It has become the establishment in the 13eme arr., many people come there just to have a look at the exotic and well, chinese stuff that's available. There were definitely cheap exotic fruits like dragon fruits, custard apple (it is a fruit) rambutans and lychees. Though in the end, I only bought a few chinese snacks and sweets that I miss from back home, ginger chewy candy and black sesame crackers! and an aloe vera drink which I thought would at least heal me from the awful flue I am having at the moment.

She has blue hair. Elles se sont parlés en français, quel surprise!

But being a bloggist, you must always savour each adventures, whether far and wild, rain or thunder, hail or snow. So in all, I cursed myself happy for coming and seeing le chinatown à Paris, for a charming end, I have never seen a Chinatown so alluringly hidden and having such beautiful trees!

Spotted this oh so cool, you just know you are! brown tinted orange mini cooper at Rue de Rennes, Saint-Germain, 6eme arr. at lunch time!

Movable Feast...an interpretation

2009-04-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Oscar Wilde, the great poet. http://hubpages.com/hub/Oscar-Wilde--Brilliant-AND-Funniest-Playwright

I can't thank God enough for going to church this morning. The topic was 'Movable Feast'! as some of you might know, I've discussed this topic in my blog when I first arrived in Paris and was reading Ernest Hemingway's classic Paris memoir, titled of course...Movable Feast.

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast" ERNEST HEMINGWAY to a friend, 1950 (as quoted on the 1st page of his book)

However little did I know, that the words Movable Feast is actually biblical, it is the day when believers celebrate the feast of Easter prior or after celebrating the holy communion. The feast is this context covers the joyful spirit of the day, whether gathering with each other to reflect each individual's spirituality, listening to God's words or simply attending service. Reverend Scott Herr mentioned that for believers, we can have our own movable feast according to our spiritual closeness to God. For Hemingway, his Movable Feast is Paris, he brings that (this is where I think the French pronom en as a replacement to a subject is more useful than English!) to wherever he goes after Paris. More often than not, a feast is associated to a gathering of food, or enjoying a meal together. Mark 6 :30 is one of the chapter that Rev. Herr discussed when Jesus fed a crowd of 5000 starting with a few pieces of bread and fish and after blessing them, there were more than enough for everyone that they had leftovers. Whatever your interpretation of a movable feast, each of us can have our own spiritual feast.

I feel sad that Hemingway never got to listen to Rev. Scott Herr message of the true meaning of a movable feast for he might not have killed himself when he was consumed by alcoholism in his old age. Maybe he did listen but forgot, or he had forgotten about Paris by then...

Rev. Scott Herr also incerpted a meant-for-a-joke quote on this topic earlier in the sermon that goes something like this...

"If you have lived good enough, you might go to Heaven, but if you've been very good, then perhaps you would go to Paris" Oscar Wilde

On another tangent,

George Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, 1886.

Le Dimanche...

Sunday is one of the only day in Paris where there are very little happenings...

Middle-aged French men play boules* in parks, pigeons swath themselves in Paris amazingly clean drainage water washing their feathers (on other days they swarm around everywhere in the streets, hitting people off their tracks) but no, on Sunday everything is calm. It is also the day when I feel that Paris is truly mine.

Every Sunday morning, I would pass a crowd of middle-aged men playing boules in a park just opposite l'Hôtel des Invalides, 7eme arrodissement. Boules is a classic French game between French men and their counterparts otherwise known as pétanque. They throw small metal-looking balls into the air and I think they have to reach a certain point...Hardly interesting for a lady like moi.

Watching pigeons clean themselves seemed more amusing this morning. Every day, twice a day, most of Paris streets would be awash with clean pure water from the sewer/drainage. They spur up at first making spurly sounds and then the edges of the streets are flushed. It's true, Paris pride themselves of their flush system.

Mr. Blue at Rue Jean Nicot, just on the corner near quai d'Orsay, where Church is.

Bon Dimanche everyone and Happy Sunday for the peeps in Jakarta and Melbourne!

Muesli Date Yogurt

2009-04-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

Fruits in Spring seem to look brighter and happier in Paris. I have notice just recently that strawberries and blueberries are in. Every fruit grocer in the markets seem to be in a contest with each other, of who has the shiniest, most gigantic looking strawberries, their red skin glistening with the reddest of hues. For me, I just love seeing them, piled high in their carton boxes, so clean without a speck of dust. Now, I've been asked what sort of fertilizers those French farmers use, but I've actually just found out that, most of the markets I've visited are organic-friendly.

So...lets just say, they were born perfect.

The fruits display here are from Rue Poncelet Marché Alimentaire in the 8eme arrondissement. A small pedestrian street, tucked between Avenue Wagram and about 15minutes from Arc de Triomphe, closest Metro is Ternes.

Slurp, I can just gulp them down in one minute! I remember an uncle who had a bad case of diarrhea when my sister and I gave him a box of fresh blueberries we just picked from this little forest near our late-grandmother's house in Vancouver. Since that day, the sight of blueberries and fruits that ends with berries always reminds me of the Vancouver incident. Nevertheless, I still love them.

I was slightly dissapointed of this bakery so highly praised in David Lebovitz's blog, first of all, the colour green didn't appeal to my taste as I was picturing a more antique traditional looking bakery. I guess it's due to this new location, as the original is at the 20eme arrondissement, also this is more of a salon de the. They didn't have old-fashioned baguettes or simple stuffed sandwiches. The ones I saw were prepacked in transparent foil and started from 4.80euro! Trop cher!

The ricotta tarts weren't impressive either. :(
Though, I like the pink-paper packaging.

Dinner was the highlight of the day I'd say :))))) plain natural yaourt with almonds stuffed dates, a good throw of muesli mix with raisins and crunchy little things I got from MonoPrix. YUUUM

and the french conversation class I took with a friend at this church near l'Hôtel de Ville. Weather was terrible though today. Oh well tomorrow is Sunday! which means....cereal bread from Bastille Market!.............and church :))))))

Perma Vacationer

2009-04-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

image from here

Seriously considering being a full-time perma vacationer.

a person who is "permanently" on vacation because they work where people go on vacation

p.s:my mum actually taught me the word

Hump-Wednesday!

2009-04-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

So why do the people in Australia call it *hump-Wednesday*? Well my sister and my dad has this theory that it is approaching middle of the week, hence the 'hump' and it is also when a lot of blue collar workers and yuppies etc go to bars and fancy restaurants after work, to celebrate the coming-end of their work days. Apparently the term was coined by Americans.

However the effect is sort of worldwide I presume, in Jakarta, most bars and bistros are very crowded on Wednesdays.

In Paris though...

Wednesday is cheap movie tickets day! but I didn't make a full use of that, since I didn't have enough cash in my wallet and left my bankcard at home :( But a note to do for next Wednesday, I'm going to watch Coco Avant Chanel, horraaaayy it's out at last.

Audrey Tautou who also starred in the French classic, Amelie, will be playing Coco Gabrielle Chanel, oh how cool is she! I think she symbolizes the true laid-back bohemian Parisienne, with her almost-black curly crop, sharp complexion, pouty mouth and petite frame. My french professeur actually told me that French women actually have brown -black hair...not blondes...contrary to what I've always thought. Ok, now I have another task to find a nice Saint-Germain cinema, not those over-rated big touristy looking thing on Rue de Rennes.

Stopped over to Mono-Prix and remembered about David Lebovitz's blog about Paris having the grandest selection of yogurt! and it was true, il y a beaucoup-beaucoup des yaourts!

The selection on one long cold shelf, this is just the everyday yaourt, there is another shelf facing this one stacked with the dessert selection, including yaourt de riz, panna cotta, and chocolate to vanilla flavors of all kinds!

Besides my favorite, Caillé, thanks to David Lebovitz's blog, I also like the unsweetened Malo brand. Purely because of the packaging I think. Looks more organic doesn't it?

On the way home,...He actually has a little real gray feather sticking out of his bowler hat. Some of the french people I've seen dressed too immaculately bizarre at 5 o'clock in the afternoon!

At Boulevard Saint-Germain, 7eme, just after passing Rue du Bac. See its twin at Avenue Montagne that I snapped last week!

Now everyone will believe me when I tell them that French people parked their cars literally touching each others' bumpers.

Alright I hope you have a funny-weird sort of *hump* Wesdnesday...and ewwwww! for those of you who thought it was...

Les Marchés Parisiens

2009-04-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

These are the list of what's happening in antique and produce markets around Paris from now 'til June 09. From this website.

Image of Paris market streets in 1912-1925, Paris à l'Ancienne

Antiques et Brocantes

03 Arrondissement

Comité des Fêtes fleamarket

On Sun, Fri, Sat From: Friday, May 29, 2009 To: Sunday, May 31, 2009

Huge fleamarket which spills onto the surrounding streets of Eugene Spuller, de Bretagne, Perrée, Debelleyme and Dupetit-Thouars, Place Turenne, Carreau du Temple and the Cour de la Mairie in the 3rd. Vintage items, trinkets, clothing, furniture, toys and treasures starting from one euro. Métro: Temple.

04 Arrondissement

Bastille Antiques Fair

From: Thursday, May 07, 2009 To: Sunday, May 17, 2009

Annual Brocante. La Place de la Bastille (Arr 4) Metro: Bastille

14 Arrondissement

Puces de Vanves

Every Sun, Sat

200+ professional brocanteurs from France and abroad present their wares and most recent discoveries. Trade and amatuer object hunters abound from 07:00 to 13:00 on Sangnier and to 15:00 on av Lafenestrer. On weekends all year round. On av Georges Lafenestre, av Marc Sangnier. Metro: Porte de Vanves. Tel: 06 03 46 10

Les Marché Alimentaires par arrondissement (pour la semain prochain)

05 Arrondissement
Monge Market

Every Sun, Wed, Fri

Produce market held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 07:00-14:30 and on Sundays from 07:00-15:00 at Place Monge (Arr 5) Metro: Place Monge.

08 Arrondissement

Europe Covered Market

Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat

Produce market held Tuesday to Saturday 8:00-13:30 and 16:00-19:00, Sundays 8:00-13:00. At 1 rue Corvetto (Arr 8) Metro: Villiers.

12 Arrondissement
Cours de Vincennes Market

Every Wed, Sat

Produce market held Wednesdays 7:00-14:30 and Saturdays 7:00-15:00 at Cours de Vincennes, between boulevard Picpus and rue Arnold Netter (Arr 12) Metro: Nation.

Batignolles Market (organic)

8th arrondissement & 17th arrondissement
boulevard des Batignolles on the center divider strip between no. 27 & 35 (8th) and no. 34 & 48 (17th)
Métro Place de Clichy/Rome
Saturday

As quoted from here. "This delightful market specializes in natural and organic ("biologique") foods, both fresh produce and take-out dishes. With all the food crises lately, this is becoming more and more popular in France. You can also find raw silk blouses, mare’s milk, wine and sushi, all in the same space! This is a great market to visit to pick up a picnic lunch."

African Market Street Dejean

Every day from 9 am to 12 pm 30, except Sunday afternoon and Monday. Rue Dejean - Paris 18e. Rue Dejean - Paris 18th. M° Château Rouge. M ° Château Rouge.

Marché poncelet, Paris

Rue Poncelet, 75017 Paris

Tous les jours sauf le lundi 8H00/13H00 et 16H00/19H30

Nearest tube:

Ternes (0.2 km)

So far...

Les Moments Inoubliables

2009-04-20T10:49:00.001-07:00

Unforgettable moments in Paris...

Taken from my room close to midnight, the sky was a dark-purplish blue. I could not close my eyes...and stared at the sky for a while. One of those nights.

Walked past Jardin du Luxembourg after class and passed this lady painting watercolour, as with so many painters in Paris out and about in doing their business, carrying their little easels around town.

The white sculpture as the model. This is the third time I bumped into street painters around Paris left bank.

The french lady with the tallest legs I've ever seen from the back. It was a surreal moment to see her walking from the start of Rue de l’Université to Rue du Bac, 6eme. She must be in her late 50s and she was wearing the tightest superfine black jeans with really cool black pointy ankle boots. And a black leather jacket of course. French women and their skinny long legs :O must be all those walking ey?

However cliched it might be, everyone can have a piece of La Tour Eiffel in their mac notebook. This one is mine and I'll never forget walking along Rue Saint-Dominique on my way to church on a foggy Sunday morning and looking up to see the gray sky folding its flair around Eiffel. How mysterious, how enchanting...

Walking past the Seine along the long stretchy quai is the Paris moment, with the hundreds of books stands, souvenirs and vintage posters. My favourite walk along the river is from Quai de la Tournelle, passing Shakespeare & Co, the always-beat busy Saint-Michel, and finishing off at Rue du Bac on my way home. The street vendors with their witty hats, century-old drabs and little stools to sit on are the true characters of Parisians!

Where would I go for to spend my Saturday afternoons, but the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg with its manicured lawns and spring tulips. All the lines of Paris jardins, buildings and parks seem to running in a straight line, why?

There is the Paris line which is more orderly queue and everyone calmly waits for their order, but I've also come to learn that there is also the Boulangerie Line of Paris where the clock hits 1.00pm and everyone storms off to the nearest boulangerie and anxiously fidgets in their queue thinking if they should get the jambon fromage or the thons et crudites stuffed-baguette (sandwich) for 3.20e or should they opt for the formule de jour. This one is a local boulangerie down on the 6eme, towards boulevard Montparnasse, near Alliance Francaise.

Food markets on a Saturday or a Sunday morning is the authentic Parisian activity. They make up the character of each arrondissement and each one is a pleasure to visit. Even just walking from one end to another end is an adventure. This one is at one of a favorite, looking up La Tour Eiffel on the 7eme, Marche Saxe-Breteuil.

Dinner at Jules Verne, La Tour Eiffel, great mac and cheese and bread! Oh and the toffee mousse was heavenly too! I had a great time...

Le Mini Cooper à Paris. I had the best of fun taking pictures of these babies out and around town, each with their own witty characters. This one oddly found at the overrated Avenue Montagne 7eme arrondissement.

It might not be my permanent home, but everyday is a joy to come home :)

Jules Verne. Haute Cuisine

2009-04-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

Mon oncle, M. David, et ton colleague, M. Robert et moi. :)

So if anyone asked me have I been to La Tour Eiffel? My answer would be...

"No, I haven't, but I have been to Jules Verne..."

Jules Verne is a restaurant on the 123 floors up the Eiffel tower. To go up or shall I say, to go side up, you have to take a chaperoned elevator ride. It was super intense in the lift going up enclosed within the intricate rails of the Eiffel. Definitely a magnifying ride.

The interior of the restaurant is dark and sleek at the same time. Service is chic and professional, and world-renowned Chef, Alain Ducasse takes care of the haute cuisine.

l'Entrée: Creamy asparagus soup with thin bread roll.

Le Plat Principal: Seared Scallops with Macaroni and Cheese...haha it was really good mac and cheese!

I ordered Toffee and Coffee mouse cake for dessert, but was too in the mood of eating that I forgot to immortalize it...Sorry.

The panoramic view from our table overlooking the Paris skyline gradually came to a peak point when all lights of Parisian buildings lights up against the black sky. It was beautiful. We had a good chat about French life and a bit of their strange habits, Robert said that this is the first time in Paris experiencing good-waiter service...haha you would be getting this service for the Michelin-star restaurant! It was a great dinner and I think we all had FUN.

this picture from one of the articles about Jules Verne restaurant.

Definitely one of the unforgettable moments of Paris...

Jules Verne
La Tour Eiffel, 75007.

Hold Steady There

2009-04-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Île Saint-Louis

2009-04-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

Regarded as Paris most-expensive address, Île Saint-Louis charmed every visitors of Paris, including me. Century hold buildings, passageways and squares, this slice of tranquility is also the home of Berthillon ice-cream, or glaces in French. I passed Chez Julien today, set in a cobblestone steps with a two open-air terasses. The antique blue walls with its painted windows facing the streets attract first-timers and Parisiens alike. Here are some of the shots around Rue Saint Louis en Ille.

This next door cafe also boast a very picturesque l'exterieur, at Cafe Louis Phillipe.

One of the things I've come to appreciate recently, even before my travel is personalized stationary or paperie. I did a version of my own stationary while I was in Jakarta last time with JBdesign based in Indonesia. They do very well printed stationary for business and personal.

Paris being the city of art and design, I have come across a few artisan shops selling the most exquisite collection of papeterie and accessories. This one at Île Saint-Louis.

The quirky sign above showing two figures hugging a set of colored pencils. How adorable... I must take a full shot of the name of the shop next time I'm in the area. The shop must be some hundreds year old, judging from the antique and traditional looking tools and boxes displayed.

Clever huh? A magnifying glass on top of a giant beetle. The illustrations are just breathtaking...

I often wonder, how could a city be so filled with such appreciation to art and history, so inspiring. Hidden, mysterious, majestic Paris.

Île Saint-Louis is located in a little island, between the left and right bank of Paris. A sort of a little private island for the obviously lucky inhabitants. The tall buildings covering this island hides what is inside the little streets filled with rows and rows of Berthillon ice-cream sellers, artisanale honeys vendors, and gifts shops and speciality food merchants. A definite place to visit.

Le Dimanche

2009-04-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

Sundays...I'm still reminiscing what I did today...it was nice...

The reverend preached about Patience in Church this morning, from Colossians 3: 12-17.

¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

It was a personally touching and I hope to contemplate on that this week :)

Marche Richard Lenoir

2009-04-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

This has got to be the best food market in Paris so far! Just a step away from Place de la Bastille, Marche Richard Lenoir is fun, uplifting and has plenty to offer for everyone. Over 50 meters long with tree lined stalls in each lines, there are fruits from strawberries to mangoes, cheeses, roasted chickens, charcuterie with meats and saucisson and a great selection of natural honey!

The tall Bastile monument as the landmark of the market. I can't believe some of the stall holders were even singing! and there are fountains and places to sit and eat while watching the crowds. A friendly market I'd say.

Libanaise crepes next to French crepereries. I chose the french galette, since I've tried a libanaise crepe before. I ordered the Jambon Fromage today for 3,40euro.

My galette with buckwheat flour being made. Yuuum can't wait...

Can you tell from the picture, the melting butter around the skin of the galette..oh my goodness it was so good, the crispiness of the buckwheat golden brown and the melting cheese...ahh perfect.

Bob Paella seem to be in a few food markets I've been to. Very popular indeed.

One good pain au cereale...I'm a sucker for bits and nuts and dried fruits...

Are those the reddest biggest hugest strawberries or what, to buy in a carton.

Churros fellow...
A nice marche d'alimentaire, I'd definitely come back here more often! Open every Thursday and Sunday from early morning to about 3pm approximately. :))))) happy.

Best Yaourt in Paris

2009-04-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday favorite day.

I tasted Caillé yaourt on my way to Church this morning. This is what real yogurt is suppose to taste, dense, natural-milky taste that's heavy and hits you off right away, oh my the taste is indescribeable, which means you just have to read what David Lebovitz says in his blog about this.

Life and random 'Thoughts' on Saturday

2009-04-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

Why does it always rain on a Saturday?? and why is it always when I am out and about in Paris?? one of the strange phenomena I'd say.

After spending an unforgettable days with my uncles in Paris (photos will be updated soon), I am back to being the poor student in Paris! I have to say the experience is quite liberating...

I met with one of my uncle's HR assistant in George V after a trip to Hediard just yesterday and she was explaining about the downturn effect of the economy. If a customer starts limiting themselves to indulgences and the many things of everyday necessities, then sooner or later it will become a habit and then it will be a part of their lives. One will live with less things and surrounds itself with only a few basic pieces. Now, I am not inclining that One should do that in time of crisis but as I live my life in Paris each day, supporting myself with the money I've saved last year and of course my parents are a call away if I need more money... I feel that it is a valuable lesson to stop spending for awhile and enjoy free things in life. Being in Paris helps a lot I guess...but to know that I can live my life as I am living now, and taking each day as it is...well that is invaluable.

and to quote from my uncle... "Well 20 years ago...while I was in Paris for three months...I did survived with only 4euros a day!" (the latter a quote I will one day say to my own family and friends...)

What sitting on my bedside table

2009-04-17T12:26:00.001-07:00

A surprised little package from a very nice uncle who seem to know Paris secretly well (since 20 years ago).

Hediard is a Paris institution, started in 1854 by Ferdinand Hediard, this gourmet emporium supplies everything from spiced teas, magical chocolates, specially brewed coffee, spiced fruits, macaroons and a delectable selections of charcuterie.

"I had my first bite tonight of one of its 33 little chocolates...and it was pretty amazing...well if you're reading this 'ku, I can't thank you enough for taking me to the 123 floors of the Eiffel tower to Jules Verne and the wonderful company!" em

Eiffel at 19.00

2009-04-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Am I a Francophile?

2009-04-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

I seem to think so.

Books I'm reading as of today. From Shakespeare & Co.

Paris Mind by Jennifer Lee.

A collection of anecdotes, notes and essays from writers who have lived in Paris. Including from Hemingway, Sylvia Bleach who opened the original Shakespeare & Co. and T.S. Eliot.

French or Foe by Polly Platt

Not ready my cup of tea, but I laughing inside while reading some inserts from the book. Especially about this American guy who went to buy a baguette in one of those artisan boulangerie in Paris, and as normally they only wrap your bread in a tiny paper sack, crunched it at the ends, without an actual paper-bag, but a sheet of paper. So he asked for a sac and the old lady actually said NO and he dropped the baguette on his way out, on to a doggy-mess. So he went in again to asked for a free baguette as it was the lady's fault he said, and anyway, it all ended up a mess and she tried to call the police! ha-ha. I have to read this!

p.s: If you're in Paris, go to their bookshop, the pink blossoms are beautiful at the moment. Totally a kodak-moment.

See what I mean. Seriously.

Rue Monge

2009-04-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today I walked along Rue Monge on the 5th arrondissement. This is the second time I passed this long street in the right end of Paris Latin quartier. Rue Monge is one of those street that, if you're a tourist in Paris for a week, you would not have come across it, however if you've stayed long enough but not as long as visiting the country towns (like me), then you might start to explore the city like a true left-bank Parisien :)

Existing from Metro Cardinal Lemoine and turning its similar named street, you would see the old apartment of Ernest Hemingway. The area is still very much quiet and very peaceful.

Named after a scholar, Gaspard Monge, my first impression of the name Monge sounds like a street that has rows and rows of food, I guess I was just being silly because another french word, mange is another French term 'to eat'. Anyway, the real reason I wanted to spend my Easter Monday walking around Rue Monge, is because, the first time I walked here, I felt really calm and serene. I don't know why, maybe it's because it's very close to the Mosque de Paris which is the biggest grandest mosque (very beautiful architecture too) or to the Arenes de Lutece, one of last remaining amphitheatre from the Roman period.

Or maybe the fact that Hemingway used to live around here. That seems to justify it better.

Time seems to stand still for a moment, and you would see rows and rows of Parisian hausmanian buildings still in its state of glory with little balcony filled with pots of greens and the afternoon sun blazing away.

I could hear an apartment listening loudly to beautiful Norah Jones songs and no one seem to argue otherwise.

Les Petits Ecoliers. Yes you are very small.

The only open flower shop and Boulangerie on Rue Monge today.

A-Ha. Caught another one of you around Saint-Germain. Where else but you...

Postcard from Eiffel

2009-04-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

Parody in Saint Honoré

2009-04-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

LANVIN window display in Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 1er. Funny. Creative. Crazy. I like.

Simulacrum Hyperreal Paris

2009-04-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

At Rue du Fabourg St Honoré, 8eme, AKRIS boutique.

This is the perfect example to describe Jean Baudrillard's Simulacrum theory.

"...a simulacrum is not a copy of the real, but becomes truth in its own right: the hyperreal."
Baudrillard

and a reminder of my work in the past within this topic...and to keep going.

Au Printemps

2009-04-11T07:02:00.001-07:00

The beginning of au Printemps, Paris is transformed into little enclaves of fairy gardens. I have found so many little enchanting alleys and squares within the many hidden rue of Paris. Cafes with their own garden, hotels' facades filled with pots of greens, flower shops that are truly beautiful. Now, I truly appreciate Spring in its full form. Enjoy the flowers :)

Saint-Germain, 6eme. Between Rue de Saint Peres and Rue l'Universite.

Rue de l'Universite. Small hotel.
We clearly have the same habit of taking pictures of pink flowers. Coming off Rue de Seine, 6eme.

Rue de Lille. Saint-Germain, 6eme. My domain.

A long alley, at Rue de Lille.

Everyone is enjoying the sunny weather today. At Le Comptoir des Saints-Peres, Saint-Germain.

The perfect outfit to enjoy Spring in Paris at Dries Van Noten. Even at DVN, they coordinate their look according to the Spring pink blossoms and yellow leaves. And notice the gradient effect on the pants, how Spring is that! coming off from Winter...

Paris, mon amour.

The Mini Coopers and The French

2009-04-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

I think The Mini Coopers represent The French People in so many ways. And I have seen so many of these minis parked in the tiniest imaginable space in the streets of Paris, often I wonder how it managed to park itself or unparked. The mini coopers are eccentrics little cars, with their own funny streaks of colors, deceptively fast when one needs to be, quick little machine that has their own little funny characteristics.

Don't underestimate the mini coopers.

Good Friday

2009-04-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Good Friday everyone! It's Easter Weekend in Paris and everyone else who celebrate :)

I walked past Le Bon Marche today and spotted these babies on their window display.

Oops the last baby had its bon bon to us.

Aren't they just the most cutey little thing!! in a kinda strange way.

I was curious to check out Musee de la Vie Romantique on the 9th arrondissement today, so in the afternoon I made a quick visit there. It was drizzling when I got inside, the weather been a bit unpredictable today. Hopefully the weekend will be better.

On the way there, I passed l'Eglise Sainte-Trinite, just a few blocks away from Galeries Lafayette and Le Printemps. Beautiful old church surrounded by pink spring flowers. I don't know why I always take picture of old churches whenever I pass them around Paris, maybe because the old buildings reminds me of those classic Dracula movies I used to watch with my sister...Oh I'm being so random now. I especially miss watching "Interview With The Vampire"

To quote from the Museum sheet, "The museum used to be a house of Dutch-born painter Ary Scheffer (1795-1858). It was built in 1830, and remained in the Scheffer-Renan-Psichari-Ciohan family, til it was turned into a museum of the City of Paris in 1983"

The museum on 16 Rue Chaptal, is quite hidden amindst the long walkaway gate and situated next to juniour school and hausmannian apartments. I actually prefer going to smaller museums like this, less people inside, I don't get headaches and I can take as long as I want. And I got to chat with the attendants, Non, Je suis en Indonesie (not Japanese, thanks for asking), mais J'habite en Australie (ah..Australie...awkward silence...), et..maintenant, J'etudie francaise a l'Alliance Francaise... bla bla...

Inside one of the five rooms in Musee de la Vie Romantique. So dramatic and too riche European for me. It looks like it came from a scene of Interview with The Vampire...

Look who I met while inside, Lestat and Louis.

Just kidding.
Au revoir, been there done that...

Around Rue Notre Dame de lorette, close to Pigalle.

One of my favourite metro in Paris, St-Georges line 12, it goes straight to my stop too at Solferino. Again, I can't get enough of the pink blossoms in Paris.

Another perfect end to the day when I see one these babies. This one at Rue du Bac.

Le Soleil au Musee d'Orsay

2009-04-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

Cafe Les Deux Musees outside of Musee d'Orsay. Very popular with tourists and students waiting for the after-peak hour.

Um..not too sure what is going on about the free museum pass, but I had to pay my way in to Musee d'Orsay today. Je viens d'aller Musee d'Orsay...! there you go, learned about passe recent today just before class finishes! it means the activities that just happened. Emphasis on the just.
After spending some time doing homework by the steps of the museum and watching some hungry birds eating crumbs...and spotting students who were clearly sunbathing in their tank tops, I decided it's probably time to conquer Musee d'Orsay!
Previously a train station. Most of the railings are from the original period.

Standing on top of mini-sized buildings under this transparent glass. Pretty cool.

These are some of the paintings that...if I'm rich enough, I would buy them and hang them in my house.

La Femme a l'Ombrelle by Aristide Maillol, vers 1895.
Look at her expression! the slight frown near her eyes and the pout of the lips, ah exactly the attitude of a french woman.

Naissance de Venus, by William Bouguereau, 1879.

L'atelier de Bazille, rue de la Condamine, by Frederic Bazille, 1870.
The atelier or studio of a painter, with other painters discussing their works, sharing history, making history and painting history. I especially liked the ambiance of the space, ideas being thrown between each other, ideas...random things...and playing a piano in the corner. So alive.

Olympia, Edouard Manet, 1885. Shocked a lot of people at that time, but it is now considered one of the pioneer painting of Modern Art. After all he did created Impressionism...

Soir d'Octobre by Maurice Denis, 1891.

Portrait Mademoiselle L.L by James Tissot, 1864
Cute red jacket, used to have a dress with those little pom poms when I was small and would probably wear it again if I still have it.

Femmes au Jardin by Claude Monet of course. 1867.

Irma Brunner, La Femme au Chapeau Noir by Edouard Manet, 1880-1882.

You can tell by the selection that I am such a sucker for Impressionist paintings :)))))

Grabbed my lunch today at this boulangerie on Rue de Cherche-Midi and Rue Saint-Placide. Cheap and pretty good. Cost me 2.60euro for a sandwich d'emmenthal buerre, rather than the 3.20euro I usually forked out.

A really vintage looking mini on Rue l'Univeriste, for the third time spotted on this particular street, and on my way home! Cool.

Look I managed to catched those two ladies in their balcony! an accidental click on the camera.

Tomorrow its Easter Friday. Jour de Paques is what French people call it. I'm still miserable thinking whether I should go to Belgium or not...and see 'Girl with The Pearl Earring' in Den Haag. Or should I just spend the weekend doing heaps of free museum visits...?

Rue l’Université

2009-04-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

On the way home at about 5 30pm, I spotted this girl walking besides a nonetheless plain looking guy, nothing about her dressing is particularly chic or so-totally-hot-at-the-moment!, but that is what I love about French women and the way they dress. Unpretentious. Black Fitted leather jacket, upper-knee length skirt with boots. A light shawl draped around the neck. And a baguette as an accessory. Ah I am falling in love with this city as of typing.

And not to forget those cute minis! Spotted another one, in two colors! hurray

Un Musee Gratuit pour tous

2009-04-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

The interior in one of the lower ground corrider in Musee Carnavalet

Great news starting this 4th April!
For all below the age of 26, you can now enjoy free museum visits in Paris. It covers MOST of the big museums; Musee du Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Musee l'Orangerie, Musee du Picasso Oh the list are endless.

This list has most of the museums in Paris.

Entering to one of the alleways on the second floor.

So today I started with Musee Carnavalet in the Marais district, just around the corner from Places des Vosges. My french professeur has been bragging about it in class. Each floor is dedicated to specific French era. Art Nouveau, Romantique, Belle Epoque and French Revolution. A small museum tucked in between pretty French boutiques, it is quite easy to miss. But inside you are transform to different places in history. A calm visit.

In Belle Epoque, this room has all the walls plastered in scenes depicting grey clouds and strange looking people. The red is so French though. So dramatic.

Yes she would be me if I was living in the 19th Century. By George Croegaert.

Saw this fellow a few times already, this one was on Rue de Vaugirard, 6eme.

After walking for three hours straight since lunch, my head was about to explode in the sun.
So lets continue with the museum visits tomorrow okay. And let's try to keep it relax.

Pink Blossom Paris

2009-04-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Spring has definitely arrived in Paris.

I had my lunch today at this little park in Rue de Seine, Saint-Germain des Pres,6eme.

White Blossoms in Japan, Pink Blossoms in Paris.

C'est Super!

The tarte au spinach was good.

Boulangerie Patissier at Rue Mabillon.

C'est Lundi, C'est Normal!

2009-04-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

http://lesdurocasseriesdepierlouim.blog50.com

"Je suis fatiguee"..."I can't stand it anymore"...."What is she talking about?"...."I don't feel too well" my classmates complaining at about 12 45pm, 15 minutes before class finishes.

Qui. Je comprends!

It's Monday, it's normal!

Yes today is the day after Sunday, meaning most boulangerie are closed, the fromagerie decided to have another day off and one in two of your favorite shops is definitely closed. The after-effect of Sunday.

So I can't seem to find something interesting to write today. Other than I found another yellow mini in Rue Jacob Saint-Germain and I have never seen a yellow before. Typical french colour though, yellow and blue and red.

One boulangerie in Rue Vavin, 6eme, around Alliance Francais got the best of Monday, the other one boulangerie which is as good as that one just opposite it closed today, so everyone is packing to this one. There isn't a lot of artisan bakeries around Alliance Francais, three in my count so far around Blvd Raspail to Blvd Montparnasse. And by the time class finishes around 1 15pm, which is around the time ALL french people grab their sandwich a emporter. And I'm getting sick of eating Le camembert from PAUL. And I am getting pickier with my bread. And! today I've learned that the boulangerie that I go frequently has decided to change their bread on Monday. Instead of the ones from Banette, today I got some spongey sandwich for my Jambon et Fromage. Alas, stop complaining girl. See what Lundi does to you!

But good thing everyone respects the Paris Line (something that I learned since my stay here and also from parisbreaksfast.blogspot.com). You get in from the other side and you exit from the other side, everyone gets treated equally and no one can jump into line in whatsoever circumstances. Unless you're really really old and tiny and desperatly persistent, like this lady I saw in Monoprix today jumping the line.

Even the people passing by had to stare. With the many ecoles around the area, it's pretty normal though and one thing I've noted, there is always plenty of food-to-go for everyone so get into the line and wait for your turn, it moves pretty fast!!

Tomorrow I am braving myself to join the queue.

It's Monday, it's normal...

Even the pugs are stoned on Monday.

That apartment on Rue de l'Universite got the afternoon Sun! Nice...

Oh well. Another Sunny day in Paris. Sun is smiling and I need to apply more SPF30.

Bonne Soiree!

Bonpoint: très jolie

2009-04-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Parisians love their bebes and moreover, they spoiled their kids!
Case 1: Bonpoint
There are four Bonpoint boutiques behind my apartment around Rue de Grenelle and Rue du Bac, and each of them has specific clothing, for boys, for girls, for bebes, and the last ones...I'm not too sure...the ages in between?

Their window displays are so artistic, cute, imaginative and super Cool.

The strings with the little flying butterflies around the pink dress actually rotates 24/7. Unbelievable!

Bonpoint for boys. With their own green plastic car on display.

A childrenswear couture house, as it is described in their website, Bonpoint is expensive. Not your typical daywear for the little ones. Childrenswear is big market I've noticed in Paris, every commercial street has a few boutiques catering for 'couture' kidswear. This particular one that I passed every day has the most unbelievable window display.

A big bear cuddling a cub in a garden of Eden!

How could you not stop and say "aaaaawwwww......"

Like Jennica Green

2009-04-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

This book I'm reading, Maynard and Jennica, by Rudolph Delson is hilariously funny. Typical New York humor I think, a bit about a Jewish guy, a girl, and The Whole Thing about New York lifestyle-
http://h5l5n5-artyshow.blogspot.com/2007/08/blog-post_7472.html
The Cat Scene: When Arnie gave the kitten to Jennica

Recently I've been going to jardin du Luxembourg incessantly over three days in a row. I could not get enough of it's flowing tulips, green perfectly manicured lawn, The Palace all in the open and green chaise loungey chairs that are so unbelieveable comfey.

On pg. 119, I found something totally unexpected! Jennica's description of her life in New York when she was 22y/0, reads like this...

"...like when you move to New York (in my case Paris) when you're twenty-two years old (I'm 23). And you favourite pastime is walking through downtown alone....You're subletting....a room with furniture with no windows (I've got a big window) in an expensive neighborhood, and you own exactly one pair of blue jeans and one black cotton T-shirt, that don't make you feel ugly, but you've never been so inspired. All the flowers shops, all the drop-off laundries! ...and you invest all of your attention in reading about the city. And you read...free museum newsletter...And you're always how many weeks behind on telephoning your friends? But you sit in a cafe off of 2nd Avenue and write them messages on the backs of the weird free postcards that you got from the dirty rack by the cafe's bathroom..."

So to continue, I don't know what's funnier, reading my life story in a second-hand soft paperback that I got from Shakespeare & Co. bookshop for 4euro or the fact that some imaginary character has actually been through a similar experience. Ha-Ha-Ha.

I did found the book in an old pile, and as I've said before in an older post I picked up the book only because of its interesting cover. Whether or not I will like the book is not a big matter for me, I'd happily lay it around the room just to remind of me Potato Head.

Place Saint-Germain des Pres where an artist exhibits his artworks all weekends. He would quickly packed them when the rain pours in and when it stops, he patiently hand them up again, one by one.

And it's true, I brought only one blue pair of jeans, one black t-shirt that I know will look good on any bad days...to Paris. And there is nothing as beautiful as seeing fresh flowers on a bad day.

Chocolat Chaud

2009-04-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

A L'Ancienne.
This is what keeps me alive in Paris most days, everyday and every chance I get. This particular one is open only on a Sundays at Marche Biologique Raspail , after 1pm c'est fini. For 2euro, compare to PAUL 3,30euro, this one is definitely indulgence in a cup! Sweet but bitter, thick as blood and hits you like a eating a dark chocolate. I wish there's more in the city on week days...

It's PALM SUNDAY :)))))

2009-04-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

Today, it's Palm Sunday, which means everyone who attends a church service today, will receive a small palm leaf in remembrance of Christ when He rode that little donkey when He entered Jerusalem! Palm Sunday marks the Sunday before Easter and for a lot of believers, it signals the welcoming of Christ and for me, personally, a reflection of the things I've done over these months and what I've gained since my short time in Paris.

The grand interior of the American Church, with the beautiful tinted stained glass windows that depicts many saints and disciples below.

In the far right corner, the lady pastor is delivering the sermon about Christ coming to Jerusalem. The church is very full today and almost every other Sunday. Today there are new visitors from The Baltics (near Finland they said), Washington DC, Wichita, Houston Texas and even Seattle!

As it turned out today, the bell in Saint-Dominique Church rang for many hours, signaling Palm Sunday and there were a mass gathering outside. French men and women coming out of their Sunday cave to attend church service!

Look, the little kid even carries her own palm leaf! This is outside Saint-Dominique Church, I can't believe how many French people I saw today holding their palm leaf even while walking around the city. I don't know whether all of them attend a service earlier in the day, but now I belief there are still many French believers in Paris. Contrary to the notion that French are mostly atheists. I disagree! today is proof!

I had a such a great morning. Mostly it's because the spirit of Palm Sunday is everywhere felt around town. For those of you who've missed a service today, don't forget to attend a service near you on Easter Sunday next week! Bonne Dimanche as the bakery lady said to me today and so it goes to you.

Happy 4th of April Dad!

2009-04-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

My Dad, I wish he was here right now with me! I would take him to all the places I've visited today, he would enjoy the weather today, Sunny, a light breeze bringing smiles to our faces.

We would start by walking from Boulevard Saint-Germain passing Cafe Les Deux Magots and the funny stern looking garcons in their black and white attire. Straight to Blvd Raspail and passing Le Bon Marche just around Rue de Sevres. We would stop for a quick visit to La Grande Epicerie foodhall and stare at the endless arrays of jams and spices. But better yet, our first actual stop is Marche Saxe-Breteuil opposite La Tour Eiffel on the seventh, for the real deal. Two lined food market facing directly to Eiffel Tower, this market has everything you want.

Oh Ah! dried fruits! we both love our mix dried almonds, I would prefer the trail mix though. We would be picking our little bag of sweets while enjoying the many different fresh produce...

Ah..pain d'Artisanal, how can you resist that...By the way, French baguettes will only last 6 hours after its out from the oven, after that, you would be advised to wait for the 6pm batch!

Look Pa! the Eiffel tower is staring at us!

Marche Saxe-Breteuil is located in a premier district, with a huge percentage of American expats living in this area; the American embassy, American Library and Parson are all within the seventh arrondissement. Some of the American women have taken up dressing like the French too, congrats to them, I hardly see any wearing white sneakers and tracksuits anymore! Now I see more twinsets, tiny cardigans and snakeskin ballerinas in funky colours!

Half covered, this market not only sell fresh produce, but accessories, clothes, hats, plenty of scarfs and shoes. There are charcoal chickens with side dishes, three bakeries on my count, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. About two to three cheese stalls. What it's missing, I would like to see a sandwich stall...

Jus de Pommes in all flavours and colours. Pretty looking apples anyone?

Lets go and grab our lunch, that stall has people lining up, lets check it out...ah Arabian Food, they're called Manouche and we could order different kinds of fillings. I ordered the Souffle Epinards, basically stuffed with spinach, onions, olives and a bit of cheese. It took me 15minutes to get my order and 10 seconds to get my flat stuffed bread. For 3euro it is quite cheap and the size is pretty big. Can't wait to have my first bite!

So good, I actually closed my eyes for a few seconds after my first bite. It wasn't just the bread that's so GOOD, not at all oily, the vegies with the cooked onions, a bit of cheese and the spices. The bread is very soft. Very mild taste and healthy too with all those spinach! My dad would probably order the one with the chicken in it..

After such satisfying lunch, time to burn those calories Dad, we would walk all the way to Jardin du Luxembourg, passing back this time to Rue de Sevres, passing the small boulangeries with those macarons and lovely pint sized chocolates...desserts perhaps?

Melts in your mouth...chocolat, rose, cafe ou framboise? which ones should we get for our coffee break at the Luxembourg?
They're so tiny!You would not want to bite those...too cute to eat! best for gifts

Two cafe au lait apres-dejeuner, a few macarons, well that should keep us awake through the afternoon! let's have a rest first though. Ah Palace de Luxembourg, built for Marie de Medicis in the 17th century.

Alright, I think it's time we get up and enjoy the Sun before it gets dark! I stopped by the flowers market around Il de la Cite and wow, the sweet aroma of those flowers are addictive. I just want to stay here.
Little packets of dried lavender wrapped in mini-sized cloth bag. I bought one for my mum, she would love that!

Birdcages in all sizes and colours hung in the ceilings of the covered market, that's lovely. The flowers are very very cheap compare to the florist shops, starting from 2.50euro, you could get a small pot of daisy or lily. Tres jolie!

sadly this image is from google.com but I am still very much the little girl and I'm sure my dad is still very much the adventurist...full of vigueur as the French would say.

We had a good day right! Yep we did! Lets walk back home and drop by Monoprix to do some groceries! Bonne Idee!

p.s: My search will continue to find the best food market in Paris!

Jardin du Luxembourg

2009-04-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

Jardin du Luxembourg is so close to Alliance Francais, I am still in a state of disbelief why I didn't visit this little gem of Paris earlier in the week! I am now two weeks into my French cours and I am having a good time. I've been introduced to many people from different nationalities, everyone has a story to tell. And amazingly not everyone can speak English, it's quite liberating for me because suddenly I am out of my comfort zone, I have to adapt and learn new things to communicate and at the same time to avoid misunderstanding in conversations. I guess one of the reason I write in my blog is too keep in touch with things, people, stuff that I am familiar with.

Luxemboug garden is unlike any gardens I've visited, from London's Hyde Park, New York Central Park, to Melbourne's Botannical Garden. Jardin du Luxembourg is like a invisible garden from the outside, gated my tall black gates running around the circle, it did not seem friendly at first. Which is part of the reason why it took me so long to visit, but once you are inside, everything is out in the open, beautiful in all aspect, with a little fountain here and there and small palace and statues of French philosophers. It is crowded from students from nearby Sorbonne to office people taking a break to eat in one of its wooden stool.

I sat facing this fellow, eating my sandwich while my mind is in a New York subway following Jannica's adventure in my new book.

A boy fell while running for his ball, he reminds me of Luke in Adam Gopnik's Paris to The Moon, he brought his small son to this garden almost every day when he lived in Paris in the mid 90's. Now I can understand why.

The old fellow clearly enjoyed his spot.

Where else in the world could you find a chic granny in a pink wool coat without a hint of care in the world reading her roman...but in Paris

Picnic by The Eiffel

2009-04-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

Decided not to hang out in the library today, since the weather is tres tres tres beau! Next week is back to rain cats and dogs. Walked for about 30 minutes to Rue Saint Dominique on the seventh to get a sandwich from Moulin de la Vierge, it is one of Paris best boulangerie. Their baguette has won many awards and so is their brioche. My french teacher, Madame Nicoll, said yesterday that we French lives by three things, du pain, du vin, et du fromage. True. A good article I found just recently compares the Parisian like a French Baguette, read it when you have time and it also lists some of the best boulangeries in Paris.

I've seen the Eiffel Tower in distances many times now throughout my stay in Paris, however I have never been so close as of today. And it was breathtakingly beautiful, very powerful architecture. I had a little picnic while doing a bit of french homework. But mostly I was enjoying my sandwich from Moulin de la Vierge and the 1.05e canele. What I like about the boulangerie is that they make the sandwich in front of you, slicing the baguette first and stuffing neatly the jambon et fromage.

On my way there, I passed Les Invalides monuments and the area surrounding it, all relating to military history of France. The buildings all seem to be different than the rest of Paris hausmannian buildings, very English I thought, very random of me.

Then I walked passed a little garden with statues of supposedly important French people, and a group of students from a nearby Ecole was having a visit as well. The view from the garden to the Eiffel in the distance was really picturesque, I had to get a picture of this.

I seem to be going to the seventh a lot this week, not just because I live within walking distance as I am still practically on the sixth. Probably because my church, my favourite boulangeries and most of the nice food markets are all in that area. Ok I gotta do my French homeworks now. Enjoy your day!

A Little Hat

2009-03-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

After a rainy and wet Paris last week, the sun shines ever so cheerfully this week :) The little hat we found.

We found two hats today at Le Petit Pont, actually three but we left the last one since it was too worn out. Someone has apparently just left them there, I was sure that the owner must be someone leaving the city in a rush and wanted a good Samaritan to take his/her hat (judging by the content of the bag, it has to be a she) and the clearly visible location easily spotted by two very elegant young ladies like ourselves. Today we found two bags left on the street of Paris. One was filled with classic French novels, the kinds that you see on the banks of Paris Quays. The second was the hat and some strange smelling clothes in a bag, which we decided to leave at the Metro for the poor paysanne. C'est bizarre, we found two free stuff today, a french friend actually says it's c'est normal.

R.D.V (Rendez-vous) a 19.15 ce soir, we had crepes for dinner at a place called Crêperie Saint André des Arts, Latin Quartier, at the back of Metro Saint Michel. There two very popular and famous creperies there at Rue Saint Andres des Arts, one was closed so we easily picked the other one. Very cheap considering the area and the place, but as most crepes are, but indeed tres tres tres bon! Had the galette and the sweet crepe apres.

I introduced two of my friends, Berthillon glaces today, the best ice cream in Paris. After another serious study in the library, our minds were boggling for some sweet, actually it was me, they were just the victims of my unsatisfied hunger. Hahaha. Can't get enough of French food.

Le Pain Quotidien

2009-03-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

I have a new favourite spot now besides the always-crowded PAUL at Rue de Seine, off Rue de Buci.

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN at Rue de Varenne, basically an eight minute walk from where I live. Serene, homey, reminds me a lot of Casa in Jakarta but without the over-dizzying smell of cigarette smoke. Furnished inside with panels of wood and a communion table, the place is very country-feel, unlike most Parisian salon de the that feels intimidating for a newcomer like moi. Le Pain Quotidien was born out of the idea of having a simple natural back-to-the-old-days bread for sharing with the family and friends. Everything is made of organic ingredients and the brunch is very popular for its quality and value for money, a friend of mine in Paris actually recommends it!

Big communal table in every Le Pain Quotidien is the centrepiece.

The array of homemade confiture neatly staked on every wooden shelves.

My table is right at the window, enjoying the end of a Sunday afternoon.

That afternoon, after a weekend of doing ce cet cette ces un une de...all those articles of French grammars, I escaped to Le Pain Q. at about 6pm just two hours before it closes on a Sunday. I had of course...Chocolat Chaud et Le Granola Bio with milk.