Preparation

My host family was leaving me alone, 

in their beautiful apartment,

for a week.

But there was a hitch 

(isn't there always? maybe that is how we know it is real!)

The hang-up?

I would not be able to use the stove or oven.

YEAH,

you know how I like to cook, bake and eat healthy.

my host mom did not understand that idea.

"I have friends that have host students, 

and when they leave, the students

just eat microwave meals"

0.O

this student does not do microwave meals!

so I figured out a way to make my healthy food

all in one go.

Christmas Cookies!

yummy cinnamon cookies from germany!

their famous punitions, in reindeer form!

St. Sulpice

poilâne makes the most delicious apple hand pies

a bit burnt but still delicious.
I could go for one of these right now...
couldn't you?

Eiffel Tower in the rain again

just some more pictures from a mid-morning stroll 

that I took, starting at trocadero and down the

champ de mars

Rainy Eiffel Tower

just some scenes from paris

La Pâtisserie des Rêves

this is their site:

delicious!

TCM, 2

the crazy vip blow-up igloo

Trocadero Christmas market

one night, I just felt like walking to the eiffel tower.
why not?
I live right next to it, and it is not like
I will live that close to it again.

Random/Graffiti

just some images from around paris,

playing with color and shapes

Melun

at the home in my friend
we met on the métro,
coming back from university

wow, delicious!
I will definitely be getting this again.
a bubbly muscat

Absinthe!

have you ever tried it?
I didn't see green fairies, but it was fun.
I would not order it again,
since I am not a licorice fan.
I am so glad that I tried it though! 

Dinner with Friends

Nation Métro

the first time that I saw this, I had a little,
very minor panic attack.
More like I just got stressed out.
Had I really been in Paris for all of these months
and I still couldn't read an ad?
But then I sounded it out...
AND I UNDERSTOOD IT!!
It says:
afraid of talking like this?

but in cold speak

;)



love,
Alex

the Twentieth at Twilight

the 20th arrondissement is one that is quite a bit

out of the way and sometimes neglected

but there are some gems to be found

Another Side of Paris

everyone always thinks of lights and glitter-y scenes.

For instance, this is what you get when you google image search

PARIS

trash cans get tipped over,
even if they are bolted to the ground

concrete barricades

not exactly the champs elysees 

not an art deco building, but I still think that Paris
is still wonderful

because there are always little glimpses into
another world

Mosaique, Encore

finally finished!!
I will definitely miss this peaceful
time to be creative and have some tea
while practicing french


*the newspaper is used to polish the end result*

La Comedie Française

A GIANT SPIDER IS DESCENDING FROM THE SKY!!!!

no, not quite.

Night and Day

CUPA Good-Bye Dinner

delish!
but it was hard to say goodbye to so many friends

Another Market

This was a special market of regional producers.

Unfortunately, not all of the farmer's markets 

in France are like this. 

Nowadays, the markets are a bit like 

outdoor grocery store produce sections,

with produce form africa, south america...

Musee Gustave Moreau

info on it 

here

and here

the most beautiful staircase in paris,
if not the world.
The  interiors and paintings are so dark,
but this is a wonderful staircase

Streets of Paris

the car sharing program

and the bike sharing program

Paris Brest

Officially Paris' best:

this magnificent friend is choux (like a cream puff),
with chocolate-hazelnut filling.
Light, creamy, flavorful
if you like nutella, you will
want to fly all the way over to paris to have one
more info here

100th Post!!!

To celebrate this monumental occasion, I would like to share some pictures of the most famous monument in Paris, the Eiffel Tower:

Métro

This here is an amalgamation of different métro shots I have taken over the past few months:

boulevard periphique, prostitute caravan
(on the bit next to the bois de boulogne)

one of the only two remaining stations remaining with the art deco aedicula
more info here

The Ballet

went to see
CENDRILLON

Rose Bakery

sometimes you just have a hankering for veggies.
also, excellent tart.
I am not usually a fan, but the crust was light
and flaky and warm, while the filling was the perfect counterpart.
mushrooms perfect umami taste!

I went to brunch with a friend at the famous 

ROSE BAKERY

Public Art

probably talking about...actually I have no clue.
You would think that it would be the art,
but wouldn't he be standing directly in front of it?

Musée Marmottan Monet

Have you ever heard of it?

You may not have. But it holds the largest collection

of Monet's work in the world, I believe.

And luckily enough, when I was living in the 16th,

I was within walking distance of it.

So you know what I did?

I walked to it 

:)

Out and About Finds

Alrighty, I was in the states from the 12th of january to the 31st. I have quite a few backlogged posts, so I will just keep chugging along until I catch up. You will be able to tell that I am back on track after you see some from Oregon.  On y va!

Berthillon Tea Room

pear, caramel (salted butter, bien sûr), and chocolate
if my memory serves me correctly

Holocaust Memorial

notre dame.
but just around the corner...