Black on White words

Quick update

I jumped on a plane from Paris to Barcelona on May 5th, it was only 121.98€ return and I used my fave airfare search website, kayak.com which led me to easyjet.com. Since I was working a lot I woke up on Saturday at 1pm with three hours to do my laundry, shower and pack. I want to say it's the first time I've had to run through a terminal to catch a flight but I think it might be my third. I got into the line to board with fifteen minutes to spare and just my regular small backpack as a carry-on. It saves sooo much time and money to only travel with a carry-on.

I met up with some friends from Toronto and as soon as I put down my bag and changed we were off for paella and a beach party. The next day I was convinced to go diving for the first time and although the water was cold it was a really cool experience that I'm eager to try again. If I end up somewhere tropical I'll get my licence for sure. It's really like entering a whole new world, photos and video to come. 

Then before I knew it we got on a 6€ flight to Ibiza. Party season doesn't start until the end of May but any complaints were soon forgotten with the distraction of beautiful beaches, sun and sangria. It's such a small Island we saw each of the 'big towns' and quite a few beaches. I'm starting the summer with a great tan and two new travel buddies. 

It was the best getaway I could have asked for. Airbnb.com was used for all accommodations around Spain, so we always had the nice comfort of being in a home with a kitchen. I got to show off my mojito making skills and cook a few well received meals. I got a much needed dose of Toronto and Spain in the same trip. 

I left for the weekend to make a short visit to the South of France which allowed me to pass by Figueres; The home of Dali's birthplace, first art show and current theatre museum. I've been wanting to stop here since I saw the first castle with eggs photo years ago. Post on just this museum to come. 

I'm sure I have a lot more to say about the past ten days but I just wanted to give a quick update on where I've been running around. Right now I'm on a beachside cafe in Barcelona drinking my last cafe's con leche and people watching. I have six hours until my flight back to Paris, so I'm going to soak up as much Spanish sun as possible. (Don't worry Babi, I am wearing suncream) 

Ps. My Spanish has gotten so good I've had three Spaniards confused as why I speak such good English or how I'm from Canada! Maybe my French has hope to get that good when I start consistently reading in French. 

Lots of love!

♪ Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble, if I stay it will be double ♬

I've been in Paris for three and a half months now. I've been tutoring and working at a really fun bar. I've been offered more hours at tutoring and a manager position at the bar as well as two other small jobs. I had to really think last week if I wanted to stay in Paris for a year. Really make this my city and commit to being here. If I stay in Paris I could visit other parts of France on my days off, other parts of Europe even.

If I took the manager position I could have stability while continuing to live in a city I've always wanted to explore. The thing is, I've been here for three and a half months and Paris is nice but it's not my city. I feel like it's a well built amusement park. The structure of everything is so precise and unchangeable. Everyone wants Paris to stay the same because it's a beautiful city, brimming with history and renaissance.  It's charming when you want to wander around and appreciate the details of the architecture. But even the parks are manicured and the trees like the buildings are forced to not reach too high. Talking to Parisians it doesn't feel like a place to grow or be motivated to improve yourself. It's been unchanging since it landed on the hottest travel destinations and the first black and white photo was taken.

As much as I appreciate it and find it romantic it's set in its ways but I'm not ready to be settled into anything just yet. I think its safe to say that Paris will always be Paris and I can come back another time when I'm not so restless. I'll be here until the first week of July and then I'll jump off to some other place. I started a note on Facebook 'In the Hat' where from now till June destination suggestions can be added for consideration.

Why July and not just leap frog now? Well that's when my friend Jenn finishes her contract and we've been talking about traveling together again since our trip to Finisterre which I just posted Photo's of here!

Also we met a turkey on our journey, here's how that went...

Paris Sports

Although athleticism is not revered in Paris this does not mean Parisians are void of sports altogether. All the sports are practiced at a young age and training starts at birth.  

The uniform is that balance between casual and formal, where you are ready for any occasion while never looking underdressed. Wear a scarf and at least three layers. For woman the hair is to be parted at the temple. Men I don't know how you do it. No running shoes, no cleavage, no sweatpants, no take-away coffee. You should feel put together before you leave the house. You are allowed to walk brusquely but never look frazzled.  

- In the metro everyone sits up straight so everyone can fit in the seats and have a good view of every passenger. When one enters the metro car, everyone participates in the people watching sport. You feel all the eyes looking you up and down. Extra points for not flinching or blushing from the blatant unabashed piercing stares. (Staring obviously while not smiling gains extra points.)

- If a Parisian orders anything to drink as a group, when they finish this sport declares they must tell their server that it was horrible and what is the server going to do about it? (Thankfully I learned this from going out with a group of young Parisians before I started at the bar.) Now at the bar I am able to look at the almost empty, ice-melted-watery glass, look at the Parisian and say, "You're Parisian? Yeah, I know what you're trying to do". My non participation in this sport is a sad blow for many Parisians

- The third sport is smoking, the amount of second hand smoke I get in this city makes up for all the years I avoided it in Toronto. Outdoor patios, walking down the street and anywhere else they might be able to get away with it. This includes but is not limited to: metro station platforms, bathrooms, bars, parks, in your face.  

Other popular activities that are in the running for 'Paris's next sport' are:
-Making cat calls to women (think of sounds you would make to actually call a cat)
-Looking at people funny when they smile
-Wanting to fight your friend physically by waving your arms or maybe throwing a slap
-Hopping over the metro turnstile(who can jump the highest)
-At the metro turnstile body-slam the stranger in front of you so you may ride together on their ticket
-If you work in customer service pretend every potential customer is wearing an invisibility cloak
-Interrupt and talk forcefully over whatever a foreigner may have to say

Tuesdays with Morrie

This book has been recommended to me by many people and was placed in my hands last week. I like to think books have a perfect timing of falling into your hands just when you need them. This 176 page story is a worthwhile investment of time. It took me less the three hours to read (my kobo keeps track of these things for me)

It has very sweet things to say with blatant truths that will help you in life. I was captivated from the first page and hope you give it a try next time you see it.
(Or message me and I'll send you the pdf)

My favourite quotes that cropped up in the book:

"Without love, we are birds with broken wings"- Morrie
"Love each other or perish" - Auden

And the best one of all:

"Love is the only rational act" - Levine.

How sweet our interactions would be if we could all live by that and show compassion in our actions.

                     ***

I am doing a book challenge this year, check out what I'll be reading along with a bunch of great nerdy book appreciation links here

This month I'm doing all book/reading quotes on my photo quotes blog:
"Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself; to multiply the ways in which he exists; to make his life full, significant, and interesting." 
--Aldous Huxley 

Happy Reading!

Smile

I thought these were really adorable, 

(maybe even too cheesy)

I hope you smile a little more this week 

xoxo

A table from Dave and a table named Dave

Tuesday I scoured the Paris Craigslist 'Garage Sale' and found a few jems that I ran around picking up yesterday. Everyone stares at everyone in Paris, part of the fun of living here is to see what everyone is wearing. I got particular stares though as I was wearing my baggy jeans, trail shoes, a woodstock t-shirt, and a hoodie while carrying a table under my arm. That's just not really done in Paris. Collecting peoples junk and making it my own is one of the things that makes me feel at home. So that's the black desk from a guy named Dave that cost me 10€. I also collected a laptop table named Dave for another 10€. The tea pot in the corner was 2€ I got some skirts 2€, a dress 5€ and a blender 8€. The guitar was given to me, it's been passed down a few times by people leaving Paris (to be reclaimed if they should return). The books were 1€ each and don't know it yet but are about to be cut up for stationary purposes.

The best thing about running around yesterday was discovering three new area's of Paris, in particular a ten minute walk from my house is a whole natural friendly area. I stopped at a place that looked like Live but food like Fresh so I felt at home and energized with a great meal (yay for good coffee, fresh juice and no white bread!) I had a great petit dejeuner for 5,50€ while I figured out the confusion of two appointments booked at 11, one for a white table named Dave and a black table from a guy named Dave. The blender was easier to pick up and gave me lots of fashionable people to check out. (thankfully I had changed for work by then) Some of the best things I saw yesterday were a lot of really cool colourful shoes and two practically shirtless really buff men walking tiny dogs. I will have to start carrying my camera around again to snap the summer trends.

I also learned this week how women with children and no car can go grocery shopping in heels: Delivery service. The Monoprix by my place has free delivery for purchases over 50€. My roommate and I loaded up the cart, brought it to the check out, then a few hour's later it was delivered right to our door. I live on the fourth floor with no elevator so lugging groceries is one exercise I don't mind erasing.