A quick hello

Just wanted to say that I'm looking for a new camera so posting will be sparse until then. I have a few posts brewing from before, so I'll try to get those up in the meantime.

Visited Eglise St. Eustache last weekend.

Photo credit to my friend Mariana

Another Saturday...I like walking around, as you can probably tell.

If I could, I'd put in a word bubble: Here go some photos from today. It was cold. And somewhat sunny. Enjoy!

Near Rue St. Louis en l'Ile...near Notre Dame

From one of the bridges across the Seine.

Au Printemps - somewhere Boulevard Haussman...

Fashion...or decoration??

Fabric store.

Repetto, very near the Opéra Garnier.

From Pont Neuf. Again. I like that bridge!

Enjoy your weekend!

Rainy Saturday

Parisian coldness and wetness (and prettiness) --

Somewhere in the vicinity of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame.

Hm, Notre Dame and an Egyptian Pharaoh...

January fun.

A wee bit cold...but there was a cute 2-year-old riding it all by herself.

Stained glass inside Notre Dame.

"Flying buttresses..."

The search for a crêperie

So yesterday the Feline Bureau of Investigation c/o Les Mallet came by...

Hmmm.

I am quite comfy, and doing something important, thank you.

So.

Don't you look at me like that.

Ooh, soft and comfier still.

Once approved, I ventured out for a walk.

Pont Neuf.

Pont Neuf.

From the other side of Pont Neuf.

Louvre.

Louvre entrance.

Crêpe l'Alaska - up close and personal.

Fancy Restaurant.

Sunday evening.

How to find happiness:

1. Walk to boulangerie about 30 seconds away from house.

2. Buy baguette that is warm from the oven.

3. Walk another 30 seconds home with warm baguette in hand, and eat on the way.

4. Eat still warm baguette with soft cheese.

5. Be completely and totally happy (even after baguette and cheese are gone...sigh).

Entertaining discovery on the way to crêperie: blini with guacamole.

Crêpe-logue:

*L'Alaska: crêpe + pear + whipped cream (Chantilly - fun word!) + chocolate

*Citron sucre: crêpe + sugar + lemon juice (23/1/10)

L'Opéra Garnier

Took a 2-hour long tour of the Opera Garnier - beautiful! Interesting tour as well:

-Designed by Charles Garnier, who was only 35 at the time, and not particularly well known. One of the key points was that his design really made it into a magical place.

-Constructed in 13 years.

-60m tall!

-Acoustics are perfect everywhere, but there are blind spots. Opéra Bastille is the opposite (visibility from everywhere, sound not always great).

-Current ceiling was painted by Marc Chagall in about 4 years as a gift. It caused a scandal when first unveiled.

-Apparently, the Phantom of the Opera story has its origins in a legend invented by Gaston Leroux at the Opéra Garnier.

Napoleon III's Loge

Ceiling by Marc Chagall

Costumes from Shéhérazade

Stravinsky's score

Mini-set

Stage

View from one of the balconies

Place de l'Opéra

Some photos didn't turn out well, I will retake them later. Student tickets are quite manageable - 6-10 euros - so I'll definitely be going there as often as possible. A little surprised that it's not a repertoire company, as they run the same production for a number of weeks. In the next few months: La Dame aux Camélias, La Bayadère, Siddharta, Tribute to Jerome Robbins, Kaguyahime, and La Petite Danseuse de Degas.

Saw another interesting gentleman - in a business suit, complete with tie, jacket, shoes, and with a flimsy non-business-looking Eastpak backpack.

Language note - the dismayed English "oh no!" does not translate as "oh non, non!" in French. Judging from our host parents from explaining "no, really, yes, that's what happened" when they hear "oh non!" Speaking of which, that translation wouldn't work in Russian either.

Parisian Curiosities

Today's Notes:

--Yummy, albeit tiny, lunch for only 2 euros -- une brioche au sucre (pastry with pretty sugar on top) and 2 tiny coffee cups from a vending machine (got tired of looking for cafes, machines are in university). French coffee is good. Even from vending machines.

--Saw a gentleman wearing a formal outfit, complete with suit and tie, on a bike, going down a street. Only in Paris?

--Prices are expensive! Not unexpected, but...

--I have run into American tourists, been part of a tourist-y appearing group (I don't like being being shushed in a cafe...), and have heard Russian. So far.

--Saw two (or was it the same one?) red-furred cocker spaniel. My favorite!

--Having a dog with light fur in such a huge city in the winter can be a disaster unless you bathe the dog fairly often. It's funny when top half is all white and all 4 legs are brown :).

--Class cancelled (prof is sick), so here are some photos from wanderings down whatever street looks appealing.

--Room was toasty-warm for the past two days, to the point of my totally turning the heat down until it wouldn't turn anymore -- to no effect, or so I thought. But on the third day, heater finally decided to turn off, which is quite nice. It's now freezing...for another 3 days?

View from bedroom window.

Near home.

What might be in the background?? :)

Esplanade du Souvenir Français

Departing Metro train.

Somewhere near Montparnasse Metro Station -- lots and lots of people.

"Но если ты родился в Одессе..."