Goodbye!

Bye Everyone!

I've moved on from Paris…to Sunny CA.  My time in Paris was lovely in so many ways, and I will always treasure my memories from those three glorious years.

Off to new adventures in Berkeley!

We'll always have Paris…

ParisReally

It WAS a Movie!

Sure enough, all those trailers and cones were for a movie.  There were huge lights set up just across the street from me at one of the hospitals that dot my street.  

I spoke with one of the security people (that kept all of us onlookers far away), and she said it was for a French movie that sounded something like "Fonzie."  (I certainly wasn't going to ask her to spell it!)  

And I was right about the catering truck.  They were carrying gorgeous salads out of the truck and serving them to the waiting hordes dining in tents set up on an empty lot.  There were lots of people milling about and I was feeling a little paparazzi-ish, so I just took a picture of the truck.  

Now I just have to look out for a French movie about Fonzie!  

Happy Saturday.

Movies in my 'Hood

Orange traffic cones showed up in force yesterday in my 'hood, blocking the access to at least 40-50 prime parking places.  It's actually quite impressive.  Why you ask?  Because everyone either just runs over the cones or moves them in order to park in the blocked off spaces.  France!  I love it!  

The reason for the cones showed up overnight with the arrival of this.  

 

From the Studio-Phil website I figured out that these are mobile film trailers for hire.  The one above seems to be costumes and hair and makeup.

As the day went on at least 8 more trucks of various sizes started showing up.  One has two dressing rooms labeled with the names "Diego" and "Elsa," and when a curious schoolgirl went up to the door a huge roadie jumped out of the cab and asked her what she was doing.  I couldn't really stop and stare at that point, so I didn't get to hear what she asked him.

By the smells coming out of this mobile catering truck everyone will be eating well tomorrow!  (Of course I managed to get the lady sweeping and not the two chefs cooking up a storm.)

One of the 4-5 trucks with gear and lights, and in the distance you can see a red cherry picker.  It had a couple of huge lights mounted on it.  

The no parking signs say the "event" will happen tomorrow from 8h00 to 20h00.  I'm excited to see what the event is!

Oh, and I'm secretly hoping that "Diego" is Jeremy Renner and "Elsa" is Rachel Weisz.  (I watched The Bourne Legacy last night.)

I'll keep you posted!  And if you haven't followed me on Twitter yet, now's the time!  @parisreally

Oysters for Breakfast

I love oysters.  Any and all oysters, and I'm in heaven in France as they have the most wonderful selection of these delicious bivalves.  I've eaten oysters from the West and East Coasts of the US, Canada, The Gulf of Mexico, the UK, France, Ireland, and they all have their unique attributes.  I love them all.  What I've never done?  Eaten oysters in an airport.  Until now.  Traveling through Charles de Gaulle airport the other day I stumbled upon an oyster bar setting up for the day.  Unfortunately they weren't serving yet.  Luckily for me when I arrived in Heathrow the same chain was stocking a nice selection of British oysters.  (I wish I would have been awake enough to write down what they were!)

A quick six and I was smitten.  They were a bit creamier than their French cousins, with a tangy mineral edge.  I wish I could have stayed for more, but my plane was boarding!  What a great option for the oyster loving traveller. 

Chipotle London - Baker St. and MORE!

When we first visited London we made a point to visit Chipotle as the Paris Location was not open yet.  See here.  Once our most beloved Damon opened the Paris location we were happy.  Very happy.  You can see my comprehensive post here.  Oh how I love Chipotle!

When we went back recently we made sure to visit the Baker St. location.  

No line since we never seem to eat at "regular" times.  Good for us!

I swapped the normal amount of carnitas for extra guac.  Mmmmmmm.

Everything was great as usual, and we thought we were all cooler than school since we've been to all three European Chipotle restaurants, but then we saw THIS!

Chipotle was hiring for three additional locations!  I just checked the website, and there are now FIVE locations listed for London!  Along with the Baker St. and Charing Cross Road locations, there are new Chipotle's in Soho on Wardour Street, St. Martins Lane in Covent Garden and Upper Street in Islington.  Time to book some Eurostar tickets for a long weekend!

Happy Chipotle Londoners!  

Ick

The city looks so small from afar.  The beauty of Paris is dampened only by the ugly smog that sits in a layer over the city.  (I suppose the fire in the foreground doesn't help.)  Looking back into Paris I'm reminded that it's probably a good idea to get out of the city to fresh clean air on occasion.  I'm afraid we don't do that enough.  Perhaps this weekend?

Magnet Monday!

I've been meaning to do this for a long time.  Over the last 20 years or so I've been collecting magnets.  It's a lot less bulky than let's say, garden gnomes, Elvis clocks, ceramic pigs or something of the sort.  Plus they are easy to move, and the kids love to hear about where and when we collected them.  And now that I've successfully infected them with the magnet bug, wherever we go we try to pick the perfect magnet to celebrate our visit.  Some day they will have quite a collection themselves.  Sadly some of my favorites have broken this past year, and before any more do, I want a lasting history of sorts of my life in magnets.

This is perhaps my favorite, and if you have children you can probably relate.  

My Mom is wicked smart, and darn it!  She WAS pretty much right about everything!  I hope The Girl thinks the same of me some day.  I can only try my best.

It may take me years to get through them all, but I promise that every one will have a story.

Happy Monday!