Thinking about Paris

France, not Hilton.   I don't know why, but recently I had had recurring daydreams about two things:


France and cabana boys.  Maybe it means I need a vacation to French Riviera?



I have so many memories from my year in Paris, and want to share a few of my favorites.


Getting a cell phone from the North African stores in my neighborhood - I got the best deal of all my classmates!


Walking from the grocery store and seeing Sacre Couer lit up at night between two non-descript buildings.


Showing friends around my little quartier.  The wine bar with complementary shoulder massages.  The Algerian bakery smelling of almonds, honey and rose water.  The fried egg "brique" - a Tunisian hangover cure.  The frothy white of the wedding dress shops piled on top of each other.









Trips to Normandy, Champagne, Marseilles, Chartes, Giverny, Versailles, Lyon, and the amazing sight of Mont St Michel rising up from the sea.

Patisseries dressed in their holiday best: Christmas, Epiphany, Valentine's Day, Easter, Bastille Day.

Le Cordon Bleu on a crisp fall day, making it through a class with a 'pas mal' from any chef.


Happy Days!