Contradictions.

(At Place Saint Paul on Rue Saint Antoine)

From the off-kilter vagabond with a cell phone, to Le Parisien aside a Starbucks.

|| Contradictions ||

Chez Julien

{{On Rue Saint Paul}}

Recognize it from when Gossip Girl (yessss, guilty pleasure show) was filming in Paris?

And We Have a Winner

Francois Hollande leads with 51.9% of votes in runoff with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

It has been incredibly interesting being in France during the country's presidential elections. I have been naturally curious to discover the allegiances and opinions of French citizens. A

fter discussing Hollande vs. Sarkozy with everyone from my University students and L'anglais pour Elles classes to random encounters around the city, I must say I could not have predicted the outcome of the vote today. While the older adults I spoke with seemed to align themselves with Hollande, many of the young people I spoke with adamantly favored Sarkozy

It was going to be close, that was for sure.

With a final 51.9% for Hollande and a searingly close 48.1% Sarkozy, the country is evidently split.

I inevitably think of the elections taking place this year in the United States. At home. Democrats versus Republicans. The tone of the election race makes me feel dismal even from across the ocean. The negativity, the dishonesty, the focus on trifling social issues instead of grave fiscal problems. In a nation that needs actions, the child-like obstinacy that exists in the two party system seems preposterous. 

{{Nous verrons ce qui se passe en novembre...}}

Jazz Brunch at La Bellevilloise

Hmm, Exceptional Brunch you say?

True to their words, Les Halles at La Bellevilloise is truly exceptional. 

[[[ All-you-can it Buffet (yes, in Paris), in a warehouse garden, while listening to live jazz music]]]

Come for the video, stay for the foodie shots! ------>

Beautiful Dreamer

photo courtesy - the talented yvette inufio

1.
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

2.
Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea,
Mermaids are chanting the wild lorelei;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Stephen Foster, 1862

Joni Mitchell - California

Sitting on a park in Paris

{{I'll even kiss a sunset pink}}

The Charm of Ile Saint Louis

Undoubtedly one of the best (and cheapest!) way to enjoy Paris:

{{Sit along the banks of the Seine with some bubbly}}

\\\\\\\\get serenaded////////

Fête du Travail Demonstration

  May 1st is Labor Day in France. 
With the (very nearly) impending presidential elections [I am getting completely different predictions from French citizens on Sunday's outcome every day], the day was politically charged this year. Biking home, I all of a sudden found myself being unable to move in a crowd of people. Initially ignorantly assuming it was first some tourist chaos, I grumbled as I slowly biked my way through the masses. Once I caught glimpse of the signs bobbing as they were being raised from the directional crowd, I realized I was in the midst of something. Curious, I asked strangers about the significance of the parade until an older woman explained to me that...

More, plus a quick video of the action-----> 

Tour Eiffel

Biking by the Eiffel Tower yesterday on my way home from a lesson with a bunch of wild little 5 year old creatures, I was in awe. 

Le Refuge des Fondus

Le Refuge des Fondus

This tiny place in Montmarte is full of character. Crowded with a mix of locals and tourists, it has a fun gimmick of fondue and oh, serving wine in baby bottles (something about sticking it to the man on a tax on wine glass). 

After Chloe and Bethany climbed over the table to sit, the appropiately gruff waiter didn't ask us what we wanted to order aside from -

"Viande ou fromage?"  

"Rouge ou Blanc?"