A PRETTY GREAT FRIDAY IN PARIS

Waking up at 6:30 this morning with six hours of class ahead of me things weren't looking so good.  But I had a new scarf and some still-pretty-new shoes, so I put those on and that put me in a new-clothes good mood.  Got through my morning classes, and met three friends for lunch at The Sunken Chip, for my first (and not last) fish and chips.  Now normally I don't really like fish or chips, but these were delicious.  I will be back.  Then we ate along the Canal Saint Martin, after which I headed back for an afternoon class.  Note: fish and chips best served with lots of lemon and vinegar squeezed on top. 

 As I came out of the metro, and was walking by Café de Flore, I walked right past Tilda Swinton!  Real life elbow rubbing.  The White Queen of Narnia/the child-services lady from Moonrise Kingdom right there a block down from my (second of the day) Development Economics lecture!

Got out of lecture, and enjoyed the Christmas lights while waiting for Clara...

 at which point we went to Deyrolle, the prettiest taxidermy/zoology/gardening store you ever did see.  Creepy in theory, but really really amazing!

Even got to see one of the guys getting a beetle all set up to go in a new case, and mounting a pretty blue butterfly to send home with one lucky lady.  Some of the teeny tiny blue ones were only 15 euros, so I'm thinking either unique souvenir for myself, or Christmas present for an unsuspecting family member.  Or both.

The first two photos aren't mine.  I was too busy eating, and playing it cool, respectively.
Sunken Chip photo
Tilda Swinton photo

PARIS BY BIKE

I'm sorry to report that Paris in November is mostly rain.  Then again, every once in a while, the rain's over by 10 in the morning, and you have a whole umbrella-less day!  I finally bought my Vélib pass this week, which means unlimited 45-minute bike rides!  So I took an hour and a half and braved the crazy Paris traffic this afternoon.  Well worth it.  

You can't quite see it, but Christmas window decorations are starting to pop up!

GEORGES BRAQUES

Last night, I went to the Georges Braques exhibit at the Grand Palais.  It was enormous!!  So so many paintings from all over the world.  The most amazing thing about the whole exhibit was that while I recognized a bunch of the pieces, I never put it together that they were all done by the same person.  This guy covered a lot of ground.  p.s. couldn't take photos of about the last third of the exhibit, so you'll just have to google him.

a fellow former-flute-player

FIN

Halloween Eve in Rouen

Finally had the chance to go out to Rouen to visit Rachel this week, and it was well worth the train ride (though I've officially decided train is my favorite way to travel, and would take advantage of almost any chance to take a train ride).  She's studying out there for the semester, and has found all the best places, one of which is the crêpe place where we had lunch with her friend Anastasia.  Even if you don't like trains, that alone is worth the ride. 

At least someone's getting in the Halloween spirit.  We skipped the pumpkin carving (too heavy to carry back from the Carrefour), but watched the Orphan.  Let me tell you: it doesn't end when you think it does.    

Galettes and café crêmes.  The best of the best.  Also, if you want asparagus on your galette: the word is "asperges" not "asperagus" pronounced with a french accent.  They will not know what you're talking about..

Rachel and I in front of the big clock

Where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake

Thank you thank you for a wonderful visit!!

Has to be one of the prettiest train stations.