![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
What's today, Tuesday? September? Already? Thank god...
Quick recap: Sunday morning was spent sitting in the tiny but delightful green-park outside the Musee de Beaux Arts, reading a research book I've been prowling through all week, then H and I went to Ch. du Clos de Vougeot (home of the Confrerie des Chavaliers du Tastevin) were I got a hands-on personal tour of the chateau and surrounding area that was fabulous (photos tk via Flickr photodump), and then dinner at H's place (a flat in an 18th century building in the heart of Dijon), where I browsed her magnificent library and discussion of many topics was made over port and wine brought up from her actual cellar (we used a candle to go down to fetch the wine because the battery on her flashlight had died -- talk about atmosphere!) Made it home a little after 1 a.m, and had to catch an early morning train back to Paris. Ow.
Paris was as I left it -- overcast and drizzling this time instead of downpour. Still Paris. Wish I had more time there but since I still owe FF et J a trip to Lille I suspect I'll be back again before too long... (and hopefully the dollar will be stronger!)
Random personal (non-research-y) thoughts.
France really is a lot like the US, in ways good and bad. I feel invited and at home there, even with my merde language skills, while the UK, despite a mostly-shared language, always feels foreign and oddly closed-off (and I am convinced that Paris is soul-sister to NYC). Jefferson and Franklin may have been on to something...
I really, really want a moto-scooter now. Scooters are le coolth. Someone talk me out of it (or, if you're![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
otterdance, into it).
There is no such thing as too much wine. Just not enough bread and too little sleep.
An admiring second look from a Frenchman really can make you feel ten years younger and 100% prettier (also: alas, my taste in men seems consistent. Sorry, 20-something prettybois).
Every time I go abroad, I bring home something tucked inside that changes my life. Not sure what it will be this time, but I can feel it taking root and making room....
Scarfs may be a required fashion, but I don't like having something wrapped around my neck.
Not many Asians touristing in France. I guess they're all busy in North America.
Canadians really do apologize for everything. Stop it!
Cats are cats everywhere.
It's going to take me at least a week to stop saying d'accord. Like "va bene," it's been seared into my conversational reflex.
If you eat high-fat foods, and drink a lot of wine, and spend at least half the day on your feet, you will lose weight. My upper body is clamoring to get back to the gym, though.
The staff at CDG was surprisingly sweet. Do they not know they work at an airport?
Although it will take me a little while to adjust to the rhythm and sounds of the city, as always, je suis une New Yorker. It's good to be home.
And, on that note, I have stuff to unpack and put away, and deadlines to hammer into the wall....
Quick recap: Sunday morning was spent sitting in the tiny but delightful green-park outside the Musee de Beaux Arts, reading a research book I've been prowling through all week, then H and I went to Ch. du Clos de Vougeot (home of the Confrerie des Chavaliers du Tastevin) were I got a hands-on personal tour of the chateau and surrounding area that was fabulous (photos tk via Flickr photodump), and then dinner at H's place (a flat in an 18th century building in the heart of Dijon), where I browsed her magnificent library and discussion of many topics was made over port and wine brought up from her actual cellar (we used a candle to go down to fetch the wine because the battery on her flashlight had died -- talk about atmosphere!) Made it home a little after 1 a.m, and had to catch an early morning train back to Paris. Ow.
Paris was as I left it -- overcast and drizzling this time instead of downpour. Still Paris. Wish I had more time there but since I still owe FF et J a trip to Lille I suspect I'll be back again before too long... (and hopefully the dollar will be stronger!)
Random personal (non-research-y) thoughts.
France really is a lot like the US, in ways good and bad. I feel invited and at home there, even with my merde language skills, while the UK, despite a mostly-shared language, always feels foreign and oddly closed-off (and I am convinced that Paris is soul-sister to NYC). Jefferson and Franklin may have been on to something...
I really, really want a moto-scooter now. Scooters are le coolth. Someone talk me out of it (or, if you're
otterdance, into it).There is no such thing as too much wine. Just not enough bread and too little sleep.
An admiring second look from a Frenchman really can make you feel ten years younger and 100% prettier (also: alas, my taste in men seems consistent. Sorry, 20-something prettybois).
Every time I go abroad, I bring home something tucked inside that changes my life. Not sure what it will be this time, but I can feel it taking root and making room....
Scarfs may be a required fashion, but I don't like having something wrapped around my neck.
Not many Asians touristing in France. I guess they're all busy in North America.
Canadians really do apologize for everything. Stop it!
Cats are cats everywhere.
It's going to take me at least a week to stop saying d'accord. Like "va bene," it's been seared into my conversational reflex.
If you eat high-fat foods, and drink a lot of wine, and spend at least half the day on your feet, you will lose weight. My upper body is clamoring to get back to the gym, though.
The staff at CDG was surprisingly sweet. Do they not know they work at an airport?
Although it will take me a little while to adjust to the rhythm and sounds of the city, as always, je suis une New Yorker. It's good to be home.
And, on that note, I have stuff to unpack and put away, and deadlines to hammer into the wall....
