Perfection 

I will try to explain how perfect and happy today was – but I will never do it justice, I think. 

Morning was lazy. (Mostly – I am trying to do 7 minutes of resistance every day to counteract the infinite calories of deliciousness I’m eating). (Also mostly in that I did a bunch of work emails for 45 minutes). 

By 12ish I got my stuff together and left to photograph and walk.  

1-5pm was walking:

  
Crappy snapchat sketch as that’s easiest. 

Blue is subway. 

Lunch was at a random place where I had the plat du jour which ended up being chicken and pasta but sublime and good, with a champagne and an espresso. 

I was horrified by American girls who in response to “bonjour” from the waiter said “yes hello”. ?

Along the way I went shopping:

  
Highlights:

– super excited about the stylish sandals and sunglasses

– micellsr water that I’ve heard so much about

– found a perfect store for more souvenirs – will go on Saturday just didn’t want to do it early in the day 
UMBRELLA and then it poured all the way home:

  
After coming home and getting ready I ended up having the best meal – I honestly almost cried from how good it was 

Foisgras ravioli with truffle oil sauce
Sounds rich but it wasn’t at all overwhelming. Where I feel fois gras in North America takes on this heavy role, here it was perfect put into tiny light pouches of ravioli and smothered in an airy light white sauce. It’s all so rich and yet perfect. 18eu. I’m going back before I leave not even kidding. 

  
Got to my vip-ish seating just in time – not complete Vip but enough so to have seats. 

I guess that makes me a total introvert but wow going to a concert alone is SO GOOD for me. Like wow. It was perfection. My pace; no concerns over making anyone feel comfortable; my decision whom to ask for what and when. I was honestly a bit nervous on the way in – huge crowds and I couldn’t figure out where my special entrance is – but that passed quickly. I asked for help 3 times at each stage of entry but people are super nice as long as you start with French. 

Even if it’s “excuse moi, parlez vous Francais” it’s all good. Just don’t say”yes hi”. Ugh. 
Anyway! I had a seat and am thought we all stood for theactual concert it was perfect cause my coat and scarf and even purse were safely buried away from people and I could dance my head off in a safely protected spot. The seat next to me ended up being empty and so I had a lot of room too. 

  When the band came out I realized that I, for the first time, actually had tears in my eyes from how overwhelmingly happy this makes me. 

They played an amazing concert. They came out to 3 bravo rounds – 2 more than I expected. (First was a give away because I knew they had to play the song – it’s one of most popular ones off that album)

When the concert finished a real French girl sled me on French I where I got my onesie/”combinezon” and indied from joy. I feel bad that it was Forever 21 and not a more dignified brand. 

I walked almost all the way home with no incidents following people from the concert. (One person tried to cat call and one tried to beg for money aggressively when I already was almost home at the big station here with a lot of people around – I’m taking t as a compliment that I actually look French?) 

When I got tired I ended up at ideal place to board subway for a direct ride home and so I did that. 

And now I had (two) night cap of wine and writing this while I feel this high. 

Paris streets: A, could be less rainy all day

Shopping: A+ not overwhelming and fun and not crazy €€€

Foods: A++++

Entertainment: A++++++ I must see them again

now… Sleep. 

   
   
(Tiny elevator of my building)

Tomorrow: Vivaldi in a church. Shopping of rain is again aggressive, im tired of that. (Not a single big camera photo today it was just disgusting). Probably cheesy but I think I’m ok with that?

Also on todo list of dreams:

  • Jog on street (I counted 3 joggers so far)
  • Sunrise near Eiffel?
  • Sunset on Montemarte (challenging both with the endless rain)
  • A few specific stores
  • Amazing shoes. 
  • Steak escargot and fois gras are checked off :)
  • More champagne!
  • More chair photos!

Paris is being perfect

With all the love for all the people on my life, I more and more come to believe that this city is best when it’s mine alone. 

  • 10am arrival
  • 11am search for SIM card part 1
  • 12 arrival to apartment
  • 1-3 work emails and shower and nap
  • 3-6 browsing local streets that are perfect. search for SIM card part 2 – 9 stores later!
  • 6-7- work call and picking dinner
  • 7-8 – amazing steak frites in a place that’s literally around the corner and is authentic and a top help rate
  • 8- tbd. Probably walking and a night cap of more amazing red wine. 

Tomorrow…. PAROV STELAR which makes this trip sublime and not just perfect. 
Kinda happy I didn’t try to fly in on day of concert. 

   
    
   

http://thehairpin.com/2013/01/eleven-days-alone-in-paris/

How perfect is it to read that while waiting for take off from Montreal to Paris. 
I can’t wait to eat all the bread and all the meat and all the cheese and listen to all the music and walk all the streets. 

   
   
View on take off from Toronto 

“The Power of Habit”. Each habit is a trigger, action, and reward. Once the habit is established firmly, you can reduce or even eliminate the reward and the habit will still happen – trigger, action, trigger, action. To change the habit, you have to catch the trigger and replace it with a different action that gets a reward. You can’t just eliminate the action. That doesn’t work. The brain doesn’t deal with “not” or nothingness very well.

 

via reddit of all places but i really liked that.