It's been 3 weeks already?

Today marks 3 weeks since I arrived in Paris. I can't believe how quickly it's flown by!

I went to Le Marais today (as I do every Sunday because it's hoppin!) and per Mari Jimenez's suggestion I went with Zu and Chandra who is visiting to this Falafel place. We got a number and had to wait for about 25 minutes before entering this very small place called L'as Du Fallafel.




It was complete mayhem outside. There was another falafel place right across the street (but in Le Marais the streets are so narrow that it's more like a sidewalk) but everyone was waiting to get where we were going.

By the time we sat down, I was low blood sugs like you couldn't imagine. I hadn't eaten all day and it was 3:45pm. I ordered a falafel sandwich, Zu ordered a shawerma sandwich and Chandra ordered the falafel plate. Also per Mari's suggestion I ordered an Israeli beer.

Our food came and we didn't speak until it was done. It was hands down the best falafel I'd every had. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!



I licked my plate clean...



and we walked around Le Marais for a little while before stopping in for une verre du vin at the neatest cafe I've been to yet. Reggae music was blaring, it was such a cool scene and the waiters were so happy and jovial. It makes SUCH a difference with the people inside the cafe or restaurant seem happy- it's much more welcoming than getting the ever-popular French stink eye. We had a great glass of wine and hopped on the metro home. I had to stop and buy some essentials over there because everything is closed in the 7th. ZuZu thought it was really funny that I bought toilet paper really far from my house...so she took a picture of me with it...



On the metro I met an interior designer from San Francisco- who's going to help put me in touch with people when I get back, lucky me!

After I finish ironing my uniform, I'm going with some kids from my class to watch the NFL games at the moose...should be fun!

I can't believe I've been here 3 weeks...here's to a great 9 more!

A Bientot

Les yeux, le nez et la bouche

Before I get into the meaning behind my post title, I want to share my day yesterday!

After sleeping until the pm- I went and met Anthony at Concorde metro station to do a little sightseeing. EVERYTHING is closed on Sundays in my neighborhood, so I suggested that we head to Le Marais (which is a primarily Jewish neighborhood) to have some lunch and just breeze around. First we went to Notre Dame, which was SO cool. I lit a candle for my sister Allison who was running a marathon in Florida yesterday. She finished it!!!! I bet it was because of my candle lighting (just joking Boo) Here are some pictures of Notre Dame







It was just so gorgeous- I'm really glad we went!

Then we walked across the Seine to Le Marais where we just got to know eachother better. Fun fact: Anthony's family owns an egg farm in Utah- they produced 28 MILLION dozens of eggs last year. It was really nice to get to know someone here- and he has such an interesting story!

After a croque monsieur and some onion gratinee, we walked to Hotel de Ville. It was really neat to see and there's an ice skating rink in front, so we watched people skate for a minute before heading to L'Arc de Triomphe.



I just knew it would be gorgeous at night, so we went around 5. You have to pay to walk underneath it (very lame) so we didn't. Then we took a stroll up the Champs Elysees to find a movie store. I bought a season of Entourage so I could watch it in bed when I go to sleep. It's great!

Today we had class at 3:30 so I woke up, ironed my uniform, unloaded the dishwasher and headed to the Saint Germaine with my friend Bruna. We ate at Les Deux Magots- I thought of you Mom the whole time, I even took a picture of it! Then we jumped on the metro to class.

It was wine pairing class today. A sommelier came in and taught us all about how to taste wine, what kind of wines go with what food, and while he did that a chef prepared a meal for us to taste with our wines. He taught us that we taste first with our eyes (les yeux) then our nose (le nez) and then with our mouth (la bouche). I liked learning HOW to taste, and what to look for with each sip. We had braised ox cheek with glazed baby onions and puree of potato and sweet potato. It was INCREDIBLE. It was so tender and delicious. I hadn't ever had ox cheek so it was a real treat. We had a yummy red wine with that and everyone was impressed that I could suck air in with my wine (thank you lots of trips up to Napa!) Then he made a mango gratin which was paired with a white dessert Bordeaux wine (which I didn't care for, so I gave it to Sara).

I just ate dinner and am off to my kitchen to practice chopping onions, I will get them perfect if it KILLS me! I just bought 12 onions so I could practice on those and carrots :)

A bientot!