Paris sleeping...

Paris is still asleep and it's 15:10.....last night was pretty crazy. Parties everywhere, someone won a huge soccer match...flares and fireworks in the place de Hotel de Ville, cars honking, happy happy Frenchies.
We (our group from school) had a party last night. The theme, pimps and hos. Well, it was pretty fun. I looked superfly. There some naughty hos and some mean pimps floating around. We danced to all kinds of weird stuff, even some led zepplin at the end of the night (go figure). Lots of wine and I brought some Big Macs and fries for my hors d'oeuvres contribution. Believe me, they were gobbled up. Kind of funny that the little cordon bleu students are craving Micky Dee grub. Nostalgia I guess. The super sauce was pretty good if I don't say so myself. (don't tell any of my slow food friends) I ended up walking home from the Concorde metro stop (1 1/2 miles). It seemed like more, maybe because it was 1:30 in the morning and I had on some superfly boots. The metro pretty much is a party stopper, unless you're willing to take a taxi, have a car, or live nearby, as it stops running at 00:54. Actually, I think that saved me. I'm a little hung over today. If I would have stayed, ugh...I don't even want to think about it.

The weather is perfect for the day after a party. Drizzly. The streets are quiet, only a few rugged tourists in their rain ponchos. It's nice that most stores are closed on Sundays, even the giant BHV on the next block from me is closed.

So, today will be devoted to turning vegetables (I really need practice on mushrooms), and making a soup from them for dinner. It's a TV day...woohoo! haven't had one of those since I arrived. Tomorrow will be pretty much practicing piping with a pastry bag. Exciting eh? Can't believe we have our written exams May 9. There are only 3 weeks left in the basic level (which is okay with me). Can't wait for our 2 weeks off to go exploring.

ciao for now, Dominique

Ta dah! My first marzipan rose. This is a dacquoise cake, almond meringue with butter cream filling. I got 30 minutes free internet access for this one (I'm giving some of my stuff to the manager of my local internet cafe). 

This placque is in the Place de la Concorde. It basically says that this was where 1,373 people lost their heads, including the king and marie antoinette. I looked at the paving stones and wondered if some of them were there during that time. Couldn't see any blood. The next stop of my tour of gore will be La Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette, and many others, stayed while waiting to be executed. Hmmmm. 

Yes, I really am in Paris it seems. Took this picture on a day when I had nothing to do but bop around town. The Madeline is in the background, this is taken from La Place de la Concorde. 

Ahhh...Paris in the springtime. Unfortunately, Hercules has lost son appendage masculin. 

something pretty...jardins tuilleries 

Picnic day in Paris...warm weather with some friends from school. L to R, Nina, Tselani, mean and Tae.  

The super cool Abbess metro stop entrance. Underneath it is all drippy and crumbling though. You'd expect it to be a place where vampires hang out.  

Sacre Coeur church in the evening. The sun stays out till 9:00ish here these days. We had a picnic on the steeply sloping lawn in front of the church. Got grass stains on my jeans, but had fun.  

Palm Sunday at Notre Dame de Paris...notice that the two front doors are open. Pretty ceramonious ceramony...how do you spell that? Twas nice, grande, lots of incense and music. I'll try to post the video so you can hear the bells ringing. 

At Maxim's cafe after clothes shopping. Weirdo picture huh? We folded napkins and played with the waiter, who, strangely enough, seemed to take a liking to me after I sent back my veal for being overcooked. Go figure.  

This is me without a tan before I went clothes shopping in the Place Concorde. 4.1.06 

PARIS CONFIDENTIAL

Bonjour,
A quickie from the internet "cafe." The roof of my building is being worked on (for 2 months!). They went through my apt. yesterday, since I am actually living IN the roof. I feel like a mouse sometimes. The weather is almost turning to spring. Leaves on trees, the naked statues don't look so cold.
I got a few good photos on Monday in the Tuilleries, but I need to be on my computer to post them....so, another time to view Hercules' backside with tulips in the front.
Having an easy week in school this week. Only two or three classes a day. Our wine course started last week. I hope we have some better stuff this week. Some of us in school are thinking about a long weekend trip to Bordeaux for the May 1 holiday.
I wore open toed shoes the other day!!!! horrors. I'm over receiving fashion faux pas looks on the metro and on the street. I am my own fashion statement. The hair is really the crowning touch, although I got some beautiful shampoo and conditioner at the pharmacie. I'm afraid to have it cut, but I'm also somewhat afraid to be seen with it when it isn't tethered down.
Saw a crow the other day. He must have been lost. Many pigeons in my hood. The fountains are on in the Hotel de Ville place next door, nice. More later.
XOXOX Dominique

first night in paris, me and mom went for a walk...cold, cold, cold...but pretty 

Quiche, pissaladiere, and a tarte aux pommes.....that I made...need help eating all of this stuff, so come and visit! 

Cheese from the corner store...yummmmmm. 

Mom hemming my pants for school :) 

My view.... 

Dominique in Paris...this is the back of Notre Dame cathedral, which, ta dah, is only a few blocks from my pad. hee haw! 

PARIS !!!!

Guess where I am? Starbucks!? Can you believe it? Anyway, it's nice to be on my own computer again. School is good, lots of work, have a busy schedule and have made some buddies. We're good at drinking together and we're going salsa dancing tonight.
I'm worried that oneof these days I'll be on the metro and someone will lean over and tell me that I need to leave the country if I'm going to dress like this. So, the quandry is, shall I succomb to the fashion peer pressure, or go funky.......hmmm....of course, I'm going to get some shoes and go shopping today! will try to preserve my individuality though, as everyone here wears BLACK, all of the time. Beautiful black shoes and boots, coats, etc., but all black. It's like a uniform or something. Here are some pictures of the first few days.
...more to come.....sending you love, send me some too : ) Dominique