tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80209927536691524712023-11-15T23:09:55.810-08:00stop and smell the...the romantic musings and wanderings of a 20-something post-gradBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-57282359122933974402012-05-06T11:42:00.000-07:002012-05-06T11:42:34.582-07:00Slow-Cooked Carnitas for Cinco de Mayo<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yesterday Freddy and I decided we wanted to make carnitas to celebrate cinco de mayo. Since there was a big fight.. Mayweather vs. Cotto.. we bought it on ppv and called the homies to come eat, drink, be merry, and watch the fight with us. We got the carnitas in the slow cooker a little late so they weren't ready until 9pm when the fight had already started, but they were WORTH IT! dang... soo tasty... and easy! I can see myself making this again with spanish rice (also easy), refried beans and homemade salsa for another party.
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We based our carnitas recipe on this one from allrecipes.com: http://bit.ly/IQGjyZ but changed a few key things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <u>Ingredients</u>: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 teaspoons salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 teaspoons garlic powder </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 teaspoons ground cumin </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 teaspoon dried oregano </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 teaspoon ground coriander </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon cinnamon </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4 bay leaves </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 cup orange juice </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/3 cup chicken broth </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5 pounds bone-in pork shoulder roast (actually one had a bone, one didn't? is that normal? Also, it was 1.5 pork shoulders because we bought two but only 1.5 would fit in our slow cooker) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We followed the instructions on the recipe, trimming about half of the fat off the pork, substituting orange juice for some chicken broth, and cooking on high for about 6 hours instead of low for 10 hours.
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I shredded then fried up some of the meat just to make it a little crispier on the edges, but it was good without frying it too. Just depends on how you like carnitas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Not the best picture ever because this is actually the carnitas I ate this morning for breakfast, but you get the idea. Everyone loved the food... and I have to say that they were some of the best carnitas I have had... including el camino...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy Cinco de Mayo!</span></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-59067582237477687682010-12-08T14:47:00.000-08:002010-12-08T14:47:14.019-08:00i hope you're not hungry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is what my trip looked like in my belly </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO9YVQKsAi0rGGph_DhrkGkLbVABUFNBzFueaT5FU2xb7YH9DOl1Shu1Ft1jfzvAc5iGAJLJMKSj_jLW0Sdlm-UWIBqHMWOumgOwLU0k2YABHw70KFsa3OUfduVm__OKh9agBO-5DFMQ/s1600/IMG_8762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO9YVQKsAi0rGGph_DhrkGkLbVABUFNBzFueaT5FU2xb7YH9DOl1Shu1Ft1jfzvAc5iGAJLJMKSj_jLW0Sdlm-UWIBqHMWOumgOwLU0k2YABHw70KFsa3OUfduVm__OKh9agBO-5DFMQ/s640/IMG_8762.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> l'As du Falafel - best falafel ive ever had and probably in the top five meals you can get in Paris</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHhdCCGOIW9OtGaNuBE4diDfmw6OMRGQPpAmXyr6KuGI-DLUXc3ApasdMkqyQGCB9XkxU_6MZsvf3wn2PIVByzAeMbjTjE56gZgtGJu_FhhVtRgiGt0ozcYnHmDHywq0C7oIe9VED8yQ/s1600/IMG_8766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHhdCCGOIW9OtGaNuBE4diDfmw6OMRGQPpAmXyr6KuGI-DLUXc3ApasdMkqyQGCB9XkxU_6MZsvf3wn2PIVByzAeMbjTjE56gZgtGJu_FhhVtRgiGt0ozcYnHmDHywq0C7oIe9VED8yQ/s640/IMG_8766.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Finally got to go to Mariage Freres. Parisian tea-time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0KuSUJgnefs2nx0BR0FC-8iNMPFDtevw4My-ZJp4PzWbyjZypWd-68MnDPchppA9IqTeo60vWxvFwpfAq7xpQ0MkKuhyphenhyphenmOk-wbXFSL60ppHdZmV8jqAQODJXGsiYIgSJjdqVdR3NhnI/s1600/IMG_8852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0KuSUJgnefs2nx0BR0FC-8iNMPFDtevw4My-ZJp4PzWbyjZypWd-68MnDPchppA9IqTeo60vWxvFwpfAq7xpQ0MkKuhyphenhyphenmOk-wbXFSL60ppHdZmV8jqAQODJXGsiYIgSJjdqVdR3NhnI/s640/IMG_8852.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> l'africain at angelina. heaven (aka pure chocolate) in a cup</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1WRf2Sawn20X68LqykLEs12QReK5HLHe2P_oM8lMmzivsHxbLI6qx0x7I7ZkmY0MW4lcUi6guWDZvfxGWcS7J_HbMy47pjtF4aKtJW1t3qmdL6909K8hJdN0stRYn4xdb5DevEdRa4Y/s1600/IMG_8882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1WRf2Sawn20X68LqykLEs12QReK5HLHe2P_oM8lMmzivsHxbLI6qx0x7I7ZkmY0MW4lcUi6guWDZvfxGWcS7J_HbMy47pjtF4aKtJW1t3qmdL6909K8hJdN0stRYn4xdb5DevEdRa4Y/s640/IMG_8882.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Thanksgiving dinner in covent garden.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Interesting patty of stuffing, brussel sprouts and bacon-wrapped sausage.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amy's latte at the Modern Pantry </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alright now go get a snack- I know your mouth is watering.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-88939288113317722092010-12-01T20:24:00.000-08:002010-12-01T20:24:46.077-08:00photodiary of london and paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My ten days in London and Paris in photos:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz09q4oOIOdpbvPVrz-Iv9it5ZsFhZaUv3oRrGwMR838NVZrYGat8ZVIcXYxC7aT8ukT4pOCwUxhyphenhyphenQiiySXntr2azPV1_8_dVRV3OJD73N9x6ajejfdT_UulQHZHqQRaRqSHsf4unb9gg/s1600/IMG_8716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz09q4oOIOdpbvPVrz-Iv9it5ZsFhZaUv3oRrGwMR838NVZrYGat8ZVIcXYxC7aT8ukT4pOCwUxhyphenhyphenQiiySXntr2azPV1_8_dVRV3OJD73N9x6ajejfdT_UulQHZHqQRaRqSHsf4unb9gg/s640/IMG_8716.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">glimpse of sunshine near LSE, London</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW8kAAWFJgqfTcvWPriGr_abwQgFKjnC78LxSYgqJBh387wc-2rGbek65EgcMnkKHjdGgpLiBhV_WARW-u2krhlERHWUs1lZ0agFk_cJCsdTp9WjxbUOYzP8miNhrMVueedisrDQr9mo/s1600/IMG_8809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW8kAAWFJgqfTcvWPriGr_abwQgFKjnC78LxSYgqJBh387wc-2rGbek65EgcMnkKHjdGgpLiBhV_WARW-u2krhlERHWUs1lZ0agFk_cJCsdTp9WjxbUOYzP8miNhrMVueedisrDQr9mo/s640/IMG_8809.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">blustery day on the seine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfZWuZ7DrbK-XDewWZIZBi3st3vvO6ySBc7rfzOvOa3BvHOe_iYqY4lwkx7BvpwwDoK6f-_4G0dYmMKJgCeLmVbwxYK3WSB1qpF2iN2tOj3_yzpxYW6dKT98jFrlK_MNZNR3QOJ0-Wm0/s1600/IMG_8825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfZWuZ7DrbK-XDewWZIZBi3st3vvO6ySBc7rfzOvOa3BvHOe_iYqY4lwkx7BvpwwDoK6f-_4G0dYmMKJgCeLmVbwxYK3WSB1qpF2iN2tOj3_yzpxYW6dKT98jFrlK_MNZNR3QOJ0-Wm0/s640/IMG_8825.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">light-up Paris</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJa9X6pXRxc-5eoAM8Miy1vdaaT1Q-VriAdPCjdIj0UpGg5Lq5aI0CZiiwHYEtYEv69fVY7slB8Pz9Cshxk8l-uN9lHs48jb5f5TiearBcI3HZxsd0qJtP-Fz5n5hwkbr9zYLxcHypl0/s1600/IMG_8833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJa9X6pXRxc-5eoAM8Miy1vdaaT1Q-VriAdPCjdIj0UpGg5Lq5aI0CZiiwHYEtYEv69fVY7slB8Pz9Cshxk8l-uN9lHs48jb5f5TiearBcI3HZxsd0qJtP-Fz5n5hwkbr9zYLxcHypl0/s640/IMG_8833.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the musee d'orsay and tour eiffel at twilight</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqS3xtv9ZgP7-gMgOFp8NFmwzHIwz4aLh2LFovUt0J_IEvP3LS_4-81bW9gNdG14qz1EqLhasIr6jSeIGkD_h7j-WvticAGM0IvYyVb60pM7FeyuoUdLiLsMCRisVEp93U1RrsbGEEEc/s1600/IMG_8800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqS3xtv9ZgP7-gMgOFp8NFmwzHIwz4aLh2LFovUt0J_IEvP3LS_4-81bW9gNdG14qz1EqLhasIr6jSeIGkD_h7j-WvticAGM0IvYyVb60pM7FeyuoUdLiLsMCRisVEp93U1RrsbGEEEc/s640/IMG_8800.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">parisian lunch that reminded us not all parisians are friendly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtWtQi8DwsImZSf4jBiXNDgyFoB5UMMPZuuC8AMDo4S1nJV7xkrIM-ZudSroTLKJdHZST2qkXwdZr3-tt3jBe35Y28cNKEFIvolJy7FV5yMSahX_70EBiyMOhq4C45WL0E-Nbq7Yqo-E/s1600/IMG_8730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtWtQi8DwsImZSf4jBiXNDgyFoB5UMMPZuuC8AMDo4S1nJV7xkrIM-ZudSroTLKJdHZST2qkXwdZr3-tt3jBe35Y28cNKEFIvolJy7FV5yMSahX_70EBiyMOhq4C45WL0E-Nbq7Yqo-E/s640/IMG_8730.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">reflecting in trafalgar square</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzalEsJwMPYD4vfmS5zXVr0iJ94g7QEXoVRm9RUHKzTQFQlW4PQn-10myjDrA97aLVJdF4fD82bQ4bdlJ4Dj59st3kH6fxDtxc-VnOpUePjrF3Qre2eru6vnBRT_UWoj3srtKG0u3shDM/s1600/IMG_8738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzalEsJwMPYD4vfmS5zXVr0iJ94g7QEXoVRm9RUHKzTQFQlW4PQn-10myjDrA97aLVJdF4fD82bQ4bdlJ4Dj59st3kH6fxDtxc-VnOpUePjrF3Qre2eru6vnBRT_UWoj3srtKG0u3shDM/s640/IMG_8738.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">stumbled on a cute store opening in covent garden. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsxMR_S0fwXsGPY5ItsQHFtjJrYhXfGEmYIxOZFDG1m8O0fZ6hDuW3R6YLK4JCSDL_SPNU1E_RDvnw0hrrTDb_zd7mLflMDHknDXJdCeUJ5y5GcmF9gnIdjks-7lwkTfXex5i_0ayrx4/s1600/IMG_8745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsxMR_S0fwXsGPY5ItsQHFtjJrYhXfGEmYIxOZFDG1m8O0fZ6hDuW3R6YLK4JCSDL_SPNU1E_RDvnw0hrrTDb_zd7mLflMDHknDXJdCeUJ5y5GcmF9gnIdjks-7lwkTfXex5i_0ayrx4/s640/IMG_8745.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">marilyn monroe-esque french connection window</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDGSMjgYugN96Hc5hdB_PvyRnlpBOirm0Oggxd-tvVnF5u9X0wcdZsx8MCydkd3RkFPRyGu16d1KGFGzsWZo9BY7Ejbd-J8XmSrtLsCqk0Q2K1RXcq25D90ge8Xi-JMhqNHSt2W4UiV0/s1600/IMG_8747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDGSMjgYugN96Hc5hdB_PvyRnlpBOirm0Oggxd-tvVnF5u9X0wcdZsx8MCydkd3RkFPRyGu16d1KGFGzsWZo9BY7Ejbd-J8XmSrtLsCqk0Q2K1RXcq25D90ge8Xi-JMhqNHSt2W4UiV0/s640/IMG_8747.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">all saints store front in covent garden. looove the sewing machines.. I really need to learn how to sew. mom.. help..?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYIQe-5EyZr1xK3fkDwn-mcTsJ8gkp4NQQxfWz_ynbUvPbfungamRvcxg3MtUaDAjP7F8BitKQNeFwpR_nD0B5HvL5DXmBELUADfVknK98eP6q6Bm4IEwZQFv6K6-uMv0nWrxFTaWRIg/s1600/IMG_8774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYIQe-5EyZr1xK3fkDwn-mcTsJ8gkp4NQQxfWz_ynbUvPbfungamRvcxg3MtUaDAjP7F8BitKQNeFwpR_nD0B5HvL5DXmBELUADfVknK98eP6q6Bm4IEwZQFv6K6-uMv0nWrxFTaWRIg/s640/IMG_8774.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">beautiful <a href="http://notesandsojourns.blogspot.com/">amy</a> on the pont des arts. too cold for a pique-nique, but not too cold for a posed shot and some self-timer fun :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5A1Hu77pnDRM2VgIRaD6MCgwe7PNP8tZhI2HSOzw1sf2wg7xp7F33-Eg5fS3ZBfbj9zv5SIzdzblGvQDLD66lQtyZpIwxrJlpsTsZIDZdz2v_Z8biZePiFXXXpQMJLxMFQKHApsytCY/s1600/IMG_8781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5A1Hu77pnDRM2VgIRaD6MCgwe7PNP8tZhI2HSOzw1sf2wg7xp7F33-Eg5fS3ZBfbj9zv5SIzdzblGvQDLD66lQtyZpIwxrJlpsTsZIDZdz2v_Z8biZePiFXXXpQMJLxMFQKHApsytCY/s640/IMG_8781.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">see what i mean about the self-timer?</div><div style="text-align: center;">also, wouldn't you like to get the lighting tech who did the louvre to do your own house?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm16h1KLDf6kuvaPJ3sIxvNNU4mypS7bjh-G6ozEc-bZIkp3f-fII-b8uqTVY66ICL1RwFFgb-BpaaKT6_7UWvLRDNaZiUsUxhrhQIM3kfC5GSI8d3S6cvHxqw78ugmM89Uqum2xSKIY/s1600/IMG_8792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm16h1KLDf6kuvaPJ3sIxvNNU4mypS7bjh-G6ozEc-bZIkp3f-fII-b8uqTVY66ICL1RwFFgb-BpaaKT6_7UWvLRDNaZiUsUxhrhQIM3kfC5GSI8d3S6cvHxqw78ugmM89Uqum2xSKIY/s640/IMG_8792.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">one picture explanation of how french children are so adorable</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN56Vc7YiEzN9nO9jEYKIStag0LUeiTahXPZfNCWAbui4DbjOrj3SWFifswqBxGdLJSHimaxeEKIWzMLk8ZQht8uxJ-2iRRi1IRKG1cM2np0QoppEimusf8RnDqfGwH341CIme7xKbcRo/s1600/IMG_8797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN56Vc7YiEzN9nO9jEYKIStag0LUeiTahXPZfNCWAbui4DbjOrj3SWFifswqBxGdLJSHimaxeEKIWzMLk8ZQht8uxJ-2iRRi1IRKG1cM2np0QoppEimusf8RnDqfGwH341CIme7xKbcRo/s640/IMG_8797.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">amy's urban ballerina concept, in one outfit... taken very literally.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trip was, of course, amazing. I got to spend time with one of my best friends for ten days! and since I had seen pretty much all of the touristy stuff in both cities, we spent our time eating, drinking, being merry, and soaking in the romance and culture around us. Stay tuned for a pictorial tour that will explain why my pants are feeling a little too snug this week. </div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-51505329451277018272010-11-18T18:31:00.000-08:002010-12-01T01:10:23.306-08:00light-up LondonI thought I was impervious to jet-lag, but here I am, wide awake, alarm set to go off in 2 hrs so we can catch our 0525 train to Paris in the "morning". London is beautiful this time of year, especially at night when shop windows light up and the reflections of christmas lights on wet sidewalks twinkle.<br />
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The sun even came out today sometime before we browsed the National Portrait Gallery and ate lunch in the crypt of St. Martin-in-the-fields. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRTZVuUqTFYcD7YB-_ipbVJfdOUgMibyzQLeXxHvMhN2dGb1UROlL_JB2x_fsrIlDgYN1MLuApZjPO_tbgEzOJlNn25AXTz08gp63QLt24sYk1AQXv-YKLpc-TDzjk1HpsX9F2eVpItQ/s1600/IMG_8726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRTZVuUqTFYcD7YB-_ipbVJfdOUgMibyzQLeXxHvMhN2dGb1UROlL_JB2x_fsrIlDgYN1MLuApZjPO_tbgEzOJlNn25AXTz08gp63QLt24sYk1AQXv-YKLpc-TDzjk1HpsX9F2eVpItQ/s640/IMG_8726.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">trafalgar square in sunshine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqy6MBAuQyUq8-HlfI4rvCmfFjyYQUtfyctqz1q0mje4jA7FfLIJeR4HGYKu1RbRDmYUek1by4I2hNAVEAy8NGsOds16Hg_7hhVr2afM4GRi6K-ZC4BmsF_wYg3DaxQWWOBbgkA1Qgiw/s1600/DSC_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqy6MBAuQyUq8-HlfI4rvCmfFjyYQUtfyctqz1q0mje4jA7FfLIJeR4HGYKu1RbRDmYUek1by4I2hNAVEAy8NGsOds16Hg_7hhVr2afM4GRi6K-ZC4BmsF_wYg3DaxQWWOBbgkA1Qgiw/s640/DSC_0262.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am incredibly anxious to get back to Paris and hoping in the back of my mind that it is just as magical in November as it is in the spring and summer. will let you know how it turns out! goodnight</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-937874350194492452010-05-19T10:01:00.000-07:002010-05-19T10:01:17.393-07:00DAY1! char & eddie arrive<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">On their first full day of adventure, we did a lot of walking, lounging, and pique-niqueing. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC__KBztaPpsWU_SN6C8lZpbgeC-1ZRlo2VDiBlflCIEY46qTqvb04xvgqN8ILABNwAxJ9Ub8RwYUQOxD0HPuroFVQRPyruyqLQGhepW-Ld_BJwAPOSFfngEXKL3Gbw_j2JQCmXeoXSAw/s1600/IMG_2939.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC__KBztaPpsWU_SN6C8lZpbgeC-1ZRlo2VDiBlflCIEY46qTqvb04xvgqN8ILABNwAxJ9Ub8RwYUQOxD0HPuroFVQRPyruyqLQGhepW-Ld_BJwAPOSFfngEXKL3Gbw_j2JQCmXeoXSAw/s640/IMG_2939.jpg" width="427" /></a> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maris and me in the stairwell of my building. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLEDmnpJRC-liRrbZN5-8XvDTCp5khgL7sE83ehfAdjxMe5OAUGWgLgNzi_sRRb8dugm-aNsAZihx4lzEzDgReKmJaofVkGaUWWoesFAH1gA1z602U1l6cQE3MCkhRAcHpQwmP_CCrVk/s1600/IMG_2948.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLEDmnpJRC-liRrbZN5-8XvDTCp5khgL7sE83ehfAdjxMe5OAUGWgLgNzi_sRRb8dugm-aNsAZihx4lzEzDgReKmJaofVkGaUWWoesFAH1gA1z602U1l6cQE3MCkhRAcHpQwmP_CCrVk/s640/IMG_2948.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Exploring the city, soaking it in</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAIeghS1O-rPGUG34UP20EyNMJhscMTTr08ZzVHNpCb2u6Si86tk6OPKiAZYKbH1gTkhYmzMXcKrw5MZJ4tJB35DmcFNGbE0SmgpiKPiw349_y6wjIQSEGb-YRQ2E4tEp-l8aeKsbdv4/s1600/IMG_2953.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAIeghS1O-rPGUG34UP20EyNMJhscMTTr08ZzVHNpCb2u6Si86tk6OPKiAZYKbH1gTkhYmzMXcKrw5MZJ4tJB35DmcFNGbE0SmgpiKPiw349_y6wjIQSEGb-YRQ2E4tEp-l8aeKsbdv4/s640/IMG_2953.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">glamorous candid</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLqIzqSUYOXf5pog6e-3HYjPd_rUUseXDtGX7Kckz0C-g9A00H_2EjsBN0q120a03Ibld0rNFKZ6Swn_cJKylRmGFbc2UQFEDf8Q2miQtfY3G36kAYZNWQnvW-rrDb1dyFhB9vqhcT9w/s1600/IMG_2963.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLqIzqSUYOXf5pog6e-3HYjPd_rUUseXDtGX7Kckz0C-g9A00H_2EjsBN0q120a03Ibld0rNFKZ6Swn_cJKylRmGFbc2UQFEDf8Q2miQtfY3G36kAYZNWQnvW-rrDb1dyFhB9vqhcT9w/s640/IMG_2963.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
peeking out the window<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">We had lunch of sandwiches from the boulangerie and ate at a park on Ile St.-Louis. Napped in Place des Vosges, my favorite park in Paris, and met up with Charlotte and Eddie to walk though the 2ieme and 3ieme-- Notre Dame, louvre, tuileries, pont des arts, etc. Props to C & E for making it the same day they arrived from California. </div></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-88894837861862429032010-05-11T09:31:00.000-07:002010-05-11T15:34:11.211-07:00Filling in the gaps - Day 0<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">slowly but surely I plan to fill in the gaps of those glorious five months last year. Marianne kindly pointed out to me that in yesterday's post I wrote a total of two sentences on the last two weeks in Paris while rambling on about other stuff :) Sorry... I guess that's how my mind works.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'll be filling in the gaps little by little so stay tuned!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm calling today Day 0 since for some reason that's the way I have the pics organized on my external. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first thing we did after J & M got settled in my apt was go out to grab a bite to eat and just take in the city and the beautiful weather. We weaved through streets in the Marais until we arrived at l'As du fallafel-- best falafel in Paris and best falafel I've had ever. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJaIARBNLQls_GksJAysWsoYtUlzmdX_y22YgDEq9knO_0EcSaat2vDRpFQceYV6BUZyfsUVRGLQ1mMKxQymYnn3rEx3C05EeNe6T65d3dE1VAkPonmxOAUDs39erYf012WwYV2g2ZFU/s640/IMG_4189.JPG" width="640" /></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">our little 3some on the girls' first real venture of the two weeks out into the city. we're still on my street here-- you can see Chez Janou on the left with the green awning.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Instead of paying extra to eat in, we decided to take our falafel pitas to go and eat on the steps of a church around the corner.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWPMM6B4cv3yCQWMA-jZcztTjrdM9P_p1VjclS1ULhakewpuA56prEwMFr2sTAJgZd46-1M_RayYwhwkOnV40zZ_sXU8WbsK_2VktSUL6MJUbQ0744AxLXO_fGnvPLhDm23Q8s4kY2qQ/s1600/IMG_4196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWPMM6B4cv3yCQWMA-jZcztTjrdM9P_p1VjclS1ULhakewpuA56prEwMFr2sTAJgZd46-1M_RayYwhwkOnV40zZ_sXU8WbsK_2VktSUL6MJUbQ0744AxLXO_fGnvPLhDm23Q8s4kY2qQ/s640/IMG_4196.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here we are stuffing our faces... pretty good first meal in france.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We spent a few hours in the rest of the evening just walking-- possibly my favorite activity to do in Paris. There's so much to see and while I <3 the metro so much, it was June-- the weather was beautiful, the sun was about to set and you obviously can't enjoy these things as much when you're underground. We walked down toward the Louvre and Pont Neuf... </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8AG78sJJU1YHwajMCdflwyO8XfkOzg4iiOkvEzlUdxaw0yEAifZq_2URcF6QHg8mDbnE8TdrsjZT5nN3aazw4eY6BLbIOkMulHcxk473C61E4Lbm8xF8EavEejXH2GXsft-ux8zK6-U/s1600/IMG_4198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8AG78sJJU1YHwajMCdflwyO8XfkOzg4iiOkvEzlUdxaw0yEAifZq_2URcF6QHg8mDbnE8TdrsjZT5nN3aazw4eY6BLbIOkMulHcxk473C61E4Lbm8xF8EavEejXH2GXsft-ux8zK6-U/s320/IMG_4198.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">laughed at a silly re-titling of the Hangover for France</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9xzFYyNeFsj9avJT_eqXpJQj0EvGpYaNnvZq_rkuMo9_L-mH4dj6TmiO8oSDyzO3NFhN2SF0gKShloY3v5mQfe5DYz_1d7_toFM4YD1rlUDICBJr4QvmEaaow131jkB8vxB8qtA18UY/s1600/IMG_4201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9xzFYyNeFsj9avJT_eqXpJQj0EvGpYaNnvZq_rkuMo9_L-mH4dj6TmiO8oSDyzO3NFhN2SF0gKShloY3v5mQfe5DYz_1d7_toFM4YD1rlUDICBJr4QvmEaaow131jkB8vxB8qtA18UY/s640/IMG_4201.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">enjoyed good company, good walks, beautiful views</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwVEwfJ_cWXWo70LyDwkI6Jho-rH7ybv8aRsLB-s9JsEr1NdKXAZ9Hd2VwvRQpVnYZCC9tfYUqP3X0ce2z1jDWvmCmWbDqeIuyGJefyxG-CvjK8uojURHFxxSiwFGrhaG84fM66Ivm1A/s1600/IMG_4207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwVEwfJ_cWXWo70LyDwkI6Jho-rH7ybv8aRsLB-s9JsEr1NdKXAZ9Hd2VwvRQpVnYZCC9tfYUqP3X0ce2z1jDWvmCmWbDqeIuyGJefyxG-CvjK8uojURHFxxSiwFGrhaG84fM66Ivm1A/s640/IMG_4207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">acted shamelessly like tourists</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0oP_ETJ4Zojmq8PDNMmM8ubLiNvLKRv4Z62GqQdQYLs_Y436_vqtbGVOdBBI_XyBlX2_HdcP90aR4AZwMS86BNydTmtyWG7Ly_MD_8KBj28RqVQHb3fzuy3gqEnv-WRhiYkQBrKWm2I/s1600/IMG_4212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0oP_ETJ4Zojmq8PDNMmM8ubLiNvLKRv4Z62GqQdQYLs_Y436_vqtbGVOdBBI_XyBlX2_HdcP90aR4AZwMS86BNydTmtyWG7Ly_MD_8KBj28RqVQHb3fzuy3gqEnv-WRhiYkQBrKWm2I/s400/IMG_4212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and sipped beer on the walk home. We're going for a full cultural integration, right?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All in all, a joyous day that is making me miss my friends and last June while reliving it now.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally, a tribute to one of the best meals in Paris--</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1o9XX_xV2Oe3y-f2KdMo2xOoGwT8bqrnm0L9fJQ6nZWGBC0DHNVd-rMgUOg2TCkRMTR-8EFbMQ1z45Hm0y1pzxtFvU-yKGooAUGHTCx9OV9yGTWlij6LLPsfUPb4bbC3irz02f4sWbE/s1600/IMG_2385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1o9XX_xV2Oe3y-f2KdMo2xOoGwT8bqrnm0L9fJQ6nZWGBC0DHNVd-rMgUOg2TCkRMTR-8EFbMQ1z45Hm0y1pzxtFvU-yKGooAUGHTCx9OV9yGTWlij6LLPsfUPb4bbC3irz02f4sWbE/s400/IMG_2385.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">it's too bad the food is already demolished at this point. I will be looking for a better pic of the falafel to showcase. It will make your mouth water.</span></span></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-77359845986457125482010-05-10T12:11:00.000-07:002010-05-10T09:32:45.156-07:00Looking back...<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I never posted anything about the my last two weeks (and probably my FAVORITE two weeks) in Paris when Jessie and Marisa came and stayed with me. Charlotte and Eddie also came so we had quite a full house, but it was definitely the more the merrier, especially because it was my birthday week!</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm supposed to be working on a paper about the relationship of an artist to his art... the radical empathy of Shakespeare-- are his characters more than he is or are they perhaps negated forms of him?... does an artist/playwright have to annihilate herself to take on and create other poetic identities (Keats-negative capability) ... Nietzsche says the ar</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tist "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is, after all, only the precondition of his work, the womb, the soil, sometimes the dung and manure on which, out of which, it grows--and therefore in most cases something one must forget if one is to enjoy the work itself" ... are we supposed to remember that Astaire choreographed his routines and that he and Ginger did 100 takes of that last dance in Swingtime or should we stay strictly within the plot of the movie and think of them only as Lucky and Penny?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and I ramble.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flights lax -> CDG for the week of Thanksgiving are $819 on US Airways.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469671634966622674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0DG0ccCdA93Fo23iYjDKfozaHXpDV0sIsz6-sERchagIZjtA1IEHSTZGksMyVXKt8lAGLLvZEPVxQRmolIUWujU2vLaQEqr1CpzzbkViiPpbxLVlo5b3mrCXOUe4zU2Ie9tJ2OK2AQc/s400/JESSIE'Spictures%5Bparis%5D+952.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">We climbed the Eiffel Tower on my 21st birthday :) You're only allowed to go to the second level if you are not taking the elevator-- probably a good thing since I'm not sure we would have made it all the way to the top. This is our "after" picture. It's a pretty nice sum up of how much fun we had over those few days in Paris.</span></span></span></span></div><br />
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<div><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a1iWNENZ-jw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a1iWNENZ-jw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hilarious video of me and Charlotte skyping with my mom when for some reason her voice sounded like a chipmunk :) All in all one of my favorite birthdays.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Addendum:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzBzY3N8vUit3Za6mlutH9yDShUY10gDNZ-Cleb7RpaWdzh4q_XgBgyMeAzNwJnoqaLfIrtLiwrb6bQbUJdhyphenhyphenB2mw2D9kdZqJO0clVf6EWYa-XNIKuAEXHK8MisSzSwYaGZ0tJSwrk9c/s1600/downsized_0510001147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzBzY3N8vUit3Za6mlutH9yDShUY10gDNZ-Cleb7RpaWdzh4q_XgBgyMeAzNwJnoqaLfIrtLiwrb6bQbUJdhyphenhyphenB2mw2D9kdZqJO0clVf6EWYa-XNIKuAEXHK8MisSzSwYaGZ0tJSwrk9c/s400/downsized_0510001147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I forgot how much I love bangles. There's something about accessories that jingle that I think is charming. I used to wear a tiny bell pendant made out of copper that was gifted me when I went to Mexico on a "junior ambassador" program in 8th grade. It made a subtle clinking noise that I thought was cute as a freshman in high school... then a friend pointed out to me that it was something like a cowbell. I haven't worn it much since that comment. </span></span><br />
<div></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-52145344272886275772009-12-12T22:37:00.000-08:002009-12-12T22:52:09.256-08:00Une demi-annee apres...<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Six months after returning back to the states I find myself missing my favorite city more and more every day.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first month or two back it just felt good to be home and to see all the people I had missed for so long... For the past few months, though, I've found myself looking up flights to CDG at least twice a week. </div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCgKPLGemvV1pB789PqjZiZQPO0a6zoXH_I1xWokgGootwUFV2a_BP5D0R3aQY6ELbvcFesxHgkfC-LUSSWLJVlDZOvc4GkoSttRe0A0R8P7CvlsRaJNkIJHmhvDEzZzLoO_3j-L7-K4/s400/n1039260069_30144288_1249.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414609259336374146" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wish my French was better. </div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-87702296566667638012009-06-01T02:49:00.001-07:002009-06-01T02:55:03.413-07:00the importance of the weather forecast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6GAVh-PdAh4bJSzt7q6dO90zinJZIev9RHq6-RynoDrSj-o0NYJpy5kzd4tOanddHFz6PKXV6LfoSeaVPmFGej4MY3V5oZF08O7yeEk_dwk_Xym3Qfp4-MgqSuNlJFu1wiRVKKCir9o/s1600-h/IMG_4144.JPG"></a>I went out in this outfit today without checking the weather forecast - 20 mph winds. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6GAVh-PdAh4bJSzt7q6dO90zinJZIev9RHq6-RynoDrSj-o0NYJpy5kzd4tOanddHFz6PKXV6LfoSeaVPmFGej4MY3V5oZF08O7yeEk_dwk_Xym3Qfp4-MgqSuNlJFu1wiRVKKCir9o/s400/IMG_4144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342294501047658082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>Big mistake!!! The Marilyn Monroe look is much more glamorous in pictures than it is in real life.</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-47697034830551263282009-05-25T15:15:00.000-07:002009-05-25T16:00:15.954-07:00More Random Musings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOrCVoF7UHwQlncSrrzENwnhmqs8L2IXXgLfVDpdhTOaHGNXHKczh0Y41pAFpQLV1zdX5DG0KJ2LFdM5gNqqdx8s3ezkwjYiyIAETNCnWFpb5bwsAXHOHhPiOgtwuwMy6Kq8rf11eZBc/s1600-h/IMG_3998.JPG"></a>I've given up on trying to update this thing diary-style and in chronological order of events. Get ready for a very short and disjointed post to match my very short attention span and disjointed thoughts right now.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOrCVoF7UHwQlncSrrzENwnhmqs8L2IXXgLfVDpdhTOaHGNXHKczh0Y41pAFpQLV1zdX5DG0KJ2LFdM5gNqqdx8s3ezkwjYiyIAETNCnWFpb5bwsAXHOHhPiOgtwuwMy6Kq8rf11eZBc/s400/IMG_3998.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339889964011572802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I took this picture on the walk from Gare d'Austerlitz to the Grand Mosque de Paris where I had dinner with a bunch of other BC kids. I had the "tagine agneau" or lamb stew served in a "tagine" clay pot. soooooooo yummyyyyyy. There were a bunch of these signs posted on fences and walls that said things like this. "I could never forget you." "I love you." I wonder what the story is behind it...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm currently working on a paper about the ideology of the model minority. I think I'm going to argue that it requires assimiliation by the minority into the larger national culture which could lead to the disintegration of the minority ethnic culture and the formation of a monoculture... Sound good???</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, I pledge to always do my dishes after I cook at home from now on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-91609626599759698902009-05-19T09:23:00.000-07:002009-05-19T09:54:50.634-07:00Random Musings on Life in Paris<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqZzTZSceRLT6YN9mTBx5o-NnrW4eZ7bRNifO2A9WNLcVZHDFufMqbE-rPfCKqdn_aBaW47o9L4YKaYSR_YBmS1QyARWdeIDpjFz5VuqM50IS4BFLGGWH6ZWdzQfqbejC3Gab5cXz6C4/s1600-h/IMG_2634.jpg"></a>For whatever reason, potatoes and garlic seem to sprout here. I assume that means theyre overripe? but I really have no idea. Anyway, I know my dad would scold me for saying this, but I think sprouting potatoes are pretty gross. That's not to say that I wouldn't eat them. I just plucked/cut all of these sprouts off, made a big batch of yummy roasted potatoes and froze them. That being said, I wasn't at all annoyed when a new batch of my potatoes started sprouting two weeks later and one of my roommates threw them out without saying anything to me. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqZzTZSceRLT6YN9mTBx5o-NnrW4eZ7bRNifO2A9WNLcVZHDFufMqbE-rPfCKqdn_aBaW47o9L4YKaYSR_YBmS1QyARWdeIDpjFz5VuqM50IS4BFLGGWH6ZWdzQfqbejC3Gab5cXz6C4/s400/IMG_2634.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337579493776408194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-16145295020508817562009-05-17T03:49:00.000-07:002009-05-17T03:50:18.629-07:00<!-- Begin of mycountdown.org script --> <div align="center" style="margin:15px 0px 0px 0px"> <noscript> <div align="center" style="width:140px;border:1px solid #ccc; background: #FFFFFF; color: #8B2EA5;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;"> <a style="text-decoration: none; color: #8B2EA5;" href="http://mycountdown.org/My_Countdown/My_Countdown/">My Countdown Countdown</a></div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://mycountdown.org/countdown.php?cp3_Hex=35A313&cp2_Hex=FFFFFF&cp1_Hex=8B2EA5&ham=0&img=&hbg=0&hfg=0&sid=0&fwdt=200&text1=Jessie and Marisa are in Paris!!!&text2=Happy My Countdown&group=My Countdown&countdown=My Countdown&widget_number=3010&event_time=1245024000"></script> </div> <!-- End of mycountdown.org script -->Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-29671539019504499202009-04-27T03:40:00.000-07:002009-05-19T09:18:10.878-07:00bar tha lo na!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGuvOvvcSfxeEL6dzIglIITsucq8IohVWcE1peTqdwl_L-kvhLZGNZsd88Dmg_7Z8DGHxfVHvn5OG3ExAA3L1JXoV6QqKrEZk1iefHvex1Vz1Lp0vQKYkdv1mSoRTPPZaDg-lkVMLzug/s1600-h/IMG_3472.jpg"></a>We spent the second weekend of Freddy's spring break in Barcelona! We arrived on Thursday night along with my friend Mike and roommate Christine and found the apartment where we were staying without too much trouble. After some confusion about paying the 300 euro deposit in cash, we got settled and ventured into the Barrio Gotico to get some dinner. We ended up at a really nice and cute although somewhat touristy restaurant called Princesa 23 where we had paella, tapas, and really really yummy sangria. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHAbO66uVAqrgtAP5dOi3bVu-BjcIxRvx6ta2Ll127Dql4zc1o-ftgcf560OlT5keb57mGejGMU7roPiEtjvhBvNm4BD3IU6mLnUovaC0C_6ceLgvmKBD5UPiWfDchkQzmBcjw4yvo9A/s400/IMG_3072.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329332390984342898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;">Catalonian bread (idk what it's called) and patates braves-- yum!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The next day, we stopped to eat breakfast at a small cafe on the way to la Sagrada Familia. We each ate a breakfast sandwich and had a coffee for 3 euro. In Paris, a cafe au lait alone would have cost 4 euro. We paid ten euro to get into the cathedral but didn't even end up going to the top because there was an hour-long wait and an extra 3 euro charge to take the elevator (the only way up). The area where you can walk on the ground floor of the cathedral is actually pretty small-- you basically circumambulate the construction that's going on in the middle of the cathedral and can stare at the vast metal sea of scaffolding. Only a couple of the walls of windows had its stained glass installed, but they were absolutely beautiful:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8QGIq6vgNWa2cVPP6c5dxYzzzVC1caaA1bZC6Zm6_ixl7IYIbeOqlEWmB5-ulN0gtwpkGbBKiBo68p-NSYidgqQVDU8u_a2n3wuyxCujKJmTo6tVxJ3HWYH5DhoLuAiSUYV9v4t8oos/s400/IMG_3133.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329335565794245042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>A small exhibit at the exit from the cathedral showed how Gaudi used mathematics and nature together to create his very unique designs-- it was really interesting to see where he got some of his design motifs that are used not only at la Sagrada Familia, but at Parc Guell and la Pedrera too. </div><div><br /></div><div>Next, we strolled down the Passeig de Gracia and saw la Pedrera and Casa Batllo. I wish we had gone in and to the top of la Pedrera because I saw pictures of the top later, but unfortunately we didn't realize that we could and didn't look into it at the time. The sidewalk was somewhat crowded as we were walking down Passeig de Gracia, but I wasn't being too protective of my small shoulder-sling purse as we walked. Thank goodness I noticed, then, when I felt something lightly tug at my purse and I immediately whipped around to see what was happening. My purse had been completely unzipped and although she quickly stopped and removed her hand, I definitely saw the woman who opened it. I wanted to yell at her so badly but I was too in shock so I just grabbed Freddy and repeated over and over again, "She just opened my bag. She just opened my bag." Thankfully I noticed, because she didn't have the chance to take anything out of it. One wallet stolen per semester is enough for me, thank you.</div><div><br /></div><div>That night Fred and I went out to another suuuuuper romantic dinner at a tapas restaurant. The place was pretty empty when we sat down, but we had been looking for somewhere to eat, so decided to take a chance. Of course, it turned out that our 10pm arrival time was just too early for the Spaniards because the place was crowded when we left around midnight. We had a good time-- probably ate too few tapas and drank too much sangria, but hey, we were on vacation!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNOD-iUyhAQTR97_WlVQPXR_4SjO9NP6KtG83QZ7TkaNMvxl-yAqVJUtQp7fJb-1opswHCTUID2azBtWIBB_1vvDLJPcKS1rDPAujDR8-KtIwGv95ITortbIHw4DDyIL72O0C00hueZA/s400/IMG_3240.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337563279474377490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tortilla Espana, or Spanish Omelette - staple tapas dish that's basically a fluffy omelette with potatoes and onions. I tried to make a version myself when I got back to Paris-- didn't turn out this well, but pictures will come soon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The next day we trekked up to Parc Guell in spite of the dreary weather. It was SO WORTH it! even though it was raining and a tiny bit muddy and our view of the city was covered in clouds. The park itself is beautiful and the architecutre is amazing. The walkways and terraces all seem to fit perfectly with the nature around. The longest bench in the world is the curvy one on the top level of this park-- if you ever had the Paso a Paso textbook for Spanish in high school, you know which bench I'm talking about. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3l4OsUBxES97tdDB7Vr2czpjManV0FoQOzhJ_pCsfTc71VhYogXiVO1r-r81Y_F__yqCJPwIlhONcYwWyC7eN6yrMwKSr92ii023Mmwu0EQT-BGV9-90yxzMIwks3trH8diUvw-LqNts/s1600-h/IMG_3269.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3l4OsUBxES97tdDB7Vr2czpjManV0FoQOzhJ_pCsfTc71VhYogXiVO1r-r81Y_F__yqCJPwIlhONcYwWyC7eN6yrMwKSr92ii023Mmwu0EQT-BGV9-90yxzMIwks3trH8diUvw-LqNts/s400/IMG_3269.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337564487565426082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">in front of the gates of Parc Guell</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNOD-iUyhAQTR97_WlVQPXR_4SjO9NP6KtG83QZ7TkaNMvxl-yAqVJUtQp7fJb-1opswHCTUID2azBtWIBB_1vvDLJPcKS1rDPAujDR8-KtIwGv95ITortbIHw4DDyIL72O0C00hueZA/s1600-h/IMG_3240.jpg"></a><br /></div><div>On the way back to the metro, we stopped for cafes con leche and ran into the other BC kids who were also coming from Parc Guell. They told us to definitely go see the Hospital de Sant Pau so we headed there next. It was pretty amazing to see how beautiful the complex was-- supposedly it's the oldest hospital that's still functioning. The architecture was beautiful (partly designed by Gaudi, so I guess that's a given), but to be honest I found the experience a little bit creepy. It was a little too quiet in the main courtyard of the hospital and something about the design along with the eerie weather gave me the chills. All that combined with my deathly fear of doctor's offices and medical equipment made it an interesting and pretty but not-that-enjoyable-for-me-place.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVROVdVL1N8j-BZ3H83UgSo-Loavb1oWwTLOX_ZrTVDVqNM_Se1iP2k14oPbFlS5if-A-cqqQDaUWyxS9f_eSq1nGk2sb9zG-vr7OdxZYuG40fZ7O8BGKzS25JWIWghu5zm_UsRq0jzTI/s400/IMG_3432.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337565802190287426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Freddy thought the hospital was cooler than I did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After refueling and getting out of the drippy weather for a bit, we trudged back down to La Boqueria, a really cool and I think really old market right off La Rambla. Besides beautiful veggies, vibrant fruit, candy, cheese, juice, and seafood, you could also find pretty much any part of a sheep or cow that you might ever want to buy. We finished off the evening by making kind of a futile trip up to Montjuic by funicular (Montjuic is a huge park at the top of a mountain/hill where there is a castle and the Olympic stadium). We were trying to meet up with friends, but couldn't get ahold of them so we walked in the rain at the top of the mountain for two minutes and turned around to go back down and instead... eat chocolate cake! hah</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssmd3pkwA7tN_xkVG2oA_3NNvzXXmLSRGf_wGdArtrzki3gZDV2DxNgZ47XRyOJFM-2g6FqzSTnIzIwF17E8ZHlV5RlN2NAys1uI54_WKA184cS4xAMXstUv4FnjihSWf1R6Va2XvDV4/s400/IMG_3440.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337566848695866402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">fruits and veggies at La Boqueria - notice the color effect... no, Spanish lettuce is not grey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjEe-4s2RTjQK7h7ukjE4V7P2daeh6ocujG_Hl_bknpODakTnfWo1W1iA2twk-J7eCQgWOCTshiGpUEtiTTLZ4NJss5Zvvqj3OWoeI1NG7H0NA5uxE3sLnxq-TEWeHuju8T-tZFw1EZ8/s1600-h/IMG_3456.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjEe-4s2RTjQK7h7ukjE4V7P2daeh6ocujG_Hl_bknpODakTnfWo1W1iA2twk-J7eCQgWOCTshiGpUEtiTTLZ4NJss5Zvvqj3OWoeI1NG7H0NA5uxE3sLnxq-TEWeHuju8T-tZFw1EZ8/s400/IMG_3456.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337567124474253538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>Animal guts at La Boqueria.. yum</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGuvOvvcSfxeEL6dzIglIITsucq8IohVWcE1peTqdwl_L-kvhLZGNZsd88Dmg_7Z8DGHxfVHvn5OG3ExAA3L1JXoV6QqKrEZk1iefHvex1Vz1Lp0vQKYkdv1mSoRTPPZaDg-lkVMLzug/s1600-h/IMG_3472.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGuvOvvcSfxeEL6dzIglIITsucq8IohVWcE1peTqdwl_L-kvhLZGNZsd88Dmg_7Z8DGHxfVHvn5OG3ExAA3L1JXoV6QqKrEZk1iefHvex1Vz1Lp0vQKYkdv1mSoRTPPZaDg-lkVMLzug/s400/IMG_3472.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337567957624771970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a>Spaniards know how to do chocolate mousse cake-- but French mousse still tops it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next day, we didn't have much time before our flight, so we just explored the beach, walking from Mar Bella, where our hotel was, to Barceloneta, which is the main beach closest to the middle of the city. It was cloudy and dreary and we enjoyed each others' company but not the view. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All in all, one of my favorite weekends :) I learned that I really like travelling with Freddy. We do things at similar paces, are interested in spending time in similar ways, and we like being around each other. But I think that's pretty obvious. </div></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-82291405920296398802009-04-21T03:02:00.000-07:002009-04-27T03:40:07.694-07:00Catching Up: the BF in Paris<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10OTom1LC2hwWvUIc2jIpuW32_HUDeJb3ay1Ti_cEvMjwkO6n1zNZai5qALFlfOEw39kfyCef8sOdvVEmaHDJuxknOMYQx59AHEFWLF3jVYg_ptSCWhjNrqI88xNbYrClGc-RuZHHKZI/s1600-h/IMG_3043.jpg"></a>It has been a crazy month since my last post, so I am going to try to catch you up weekend by weekend, hopefully bringing you all on a virtual tour of my amazing months of March and April.<div><br /></div><div>.... starting with Freddy's visit to Paris and our weekend in Barcelona!</div><div><br /></div><div>As I may have mentioned, Freddy surprised me by sending me a pdf of his flight to Paris on the day my wallet was stolen, thus completely turning my day around. Since this day in February I had been counting down the days until his visit-- you can only imagine the force of my jumping on him in Charles De Gaulle as soon as he arrived. </div><div><br /></div><div>We spent his first weekend in Paris (his first weekend outside of North America!!) both recovering from jet lag and at Versailles. I had never been to Versailles before as I had heard it is touristy and not worth the trip out of Paris if you only have a few days here, but our trip was definitely "worth it". </div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived at the chateau in the afternoon and tried to take pictures in the one-minute intervals when the sun would peek out from behind the clouds. We made a leisurely afternoon out of our little day trip, gliding through the chateau and skipping through the gardens (almost literally, on my part anyway). True to my history major nerdiness, I tried to read about the history of the place while Freddy stood in awe of the gold-gilded doors and frescoed ceilings. We took quite a few pics, including this one:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIL-taufdm3NgQRxPhIcK9CJ_L9x8XgglVsQ4BXkxZ70BJN39Itd-PYoLZWBvN8WyorA1NW92gtiKhd1NpA33nIOdjVdCJ3TZ-Aj8YQ-sceQcZTinXAlYEx3zCVfFZC-PqglBm9rSTlk/s400/IMG_2841.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327283177680781602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Gotta get a mirror pic.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We spent the next couple of hours walking around admiring the gardens, munching on salami and dark chocolate (who says those two delicious things cannot make a great lunch?). Although it was still cold, the sun came out, shining low through the trees and making the statues gleam. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjVbDcCNmd0ZCsc4i2w35Aunxje7q2mGVL6jexINLxAHUITpqIK6PIqQgmvlf_i6uodd6Ly8hX8prHHvpIgR6XM9UBuyXP2CPN6WeLwNp3cQfIhtEqrepKpioDTm6A0Ldsmt8nJ0WEMM/s400/IMG_2873.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327502491743795554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNdEUEsbIz6lsppHAjkHgsjujs1Vh2Yete4OhG_xiHdVCKKXfV57S9xbnDHL1IVWpti8rNzjK4REdfnVFPGRN-3jt6Yr0Hd9NRIlUqR0c-xRqGfMhPO5SjkcVhTsVbVTXcEPMp29Loeo/s400/IMG_2865.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327503739245920754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6QO2To4rsOCPWAERNp2OVPckg1j8hP3eaX-pw2lCErUXsQzZEtFTSPdQilHlJiKC5UFk8XKuMqa3HotbE-Z7a86o8hyphenhyphenOYVvlYKgy9lgmLYsOOSOxIt6rH568jkdCsAsiHph1cAnV0K4/s400/IMG_2926.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327503131601477458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">The afternoon was really as peaceful as it looks in these pictures too. I would love to go back in the spring just to picnic in the gardens.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We actually didn't do any museums or even that much "touristy" stuff during the week in Paris because I had class everyday so there wasn't much free time. On Tuesday we celebrated our one year anniversary by going to a kosher Italian restaurant at Miromesnil called l'Inte Caffe, recommended by our mutual friend from high school, Grace, who has been studying in Paris since September. The pasta there was delicious! and we took the scenic route on the way to dinner, stopping by the Arc de Triomphe:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70jl5g2xCjAQtM0lfSHhIKq0bRNmkaWPMpVY8lWjfLegVgQegtGbYfqfgQXKpCqMK_f3QNM5BrOge8-zHGH4W4YJdRdhOepBrjGcZZ0_CHve0HjniwaEURc2VuN6BPT0HFnHWkjBIFOw/s400/IMG_2951.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327505248788517602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Wednesday we took our own walking tour of Paris, crossing over to the Left Bank to check out the Jardin du Luxembourg and Rue Mouffetard. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRH3p-MQg4gDleZgLMzqUf4Hz0MiIio4N2SrbkqwXIZT0q6yPlLW8KSTVR-ppMoqrYdPeTHeAYjYIEeZUMa0UsH_xiaN4X_U9oJCDXSfDvncGWqR6th5AuZch4GXjgnbgYgiVsk0RdBU/s1600-h/IMG_2999.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRH3p-MQg4gDleZgLMzqUf4Hz0MiIio4N2SrbkqwXIZT0q6yPlLW8KSTVR-ppMoqrYdPeTHeAYjYIEeZUMa0UsH_xiaN4X_U9oJCDXSfDvncGWqR6th5AuZch4GXjgnbgYgiVsk0RdBU/s400/IMG_2999.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327506156517792450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Glowing in one of the rare bursts of sunshine of the day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From there, we walked down Boulevard Saint-Michel where Fred and I both bought cheap fake leather jackets. (We both wore them in Barcelona... I guess we were "that couple" wearing matching jackets...) We then headed through the Latin Quarter and stopped at a few tourist shops to indulge in tacky but fun souvenirs :) and to eat kebab! Kebab, aka Sandwich Grec, is a pita sandwich filled with meat, a few veggies, and sometimes french fries. You can find kebab places in Paris and in other European cities, in different variations. It's your non-chain fast food that's cheap, filling, and yummy. It's usually sold at places that also will make crepes and stay open late. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pMBbMhUBht5z2SxBcMHMcG-J2lckWfJ3L-ybdMdxNZ5CXJJtEoRKA4c9BTZ0mBNYx-0dC9Wqn5OsrB1qqML6mU2vAB061BIOlQ-ypigWJxrgzHJ4VPGZQAZRdveyRSml_F2FYFY6GCk/s400/IMG_3018.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327508503707140722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Freddy with his fry-filled kebab</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We spent the end of the afternoon up in Montmartre, where we checked out Moulin Rouge (Freddy didn't seem as excited about that as most of the girls I know). We went in Sacre Coeur and just enjoyed the view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower from the top of the hill. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10OTom1LC2hwWvUIc2jIpuW32_HUDeJb3ay1Ti_cEvMjwkO6n1zNZai5qALFlfOEw39kfyCef8sOdvVEmaHDJuxknOMYQx59AHEFWLF3jVYg_ptSCWhjNrqI88xNbYrClGc-RuZHHKZI/s400/IMG_3043.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327509870266055570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div></span></div></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-1023277133256212392009-03-19T16:47:00.000-07:002009-03-19T17:51:21.101-07:00Vive la Greve (a D100 practice run)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GbS2lDYg_cHxbWvQ2XX81LsczJnBgN-ONX1or9ES0kcuvlhb1i3ZNMW3VUKmCGsvxOebYUysHfVSL-oYhrDGNtQanBSLyJD63xeh98DmCTxbC0jiST8u0fQnIkwklMshrBostNd8tY8/s1600-h/DSC_0095bw.JPG"></a>Today was Black Thursday in Paris-- the day of the strike! In Paris today, thousands of people marched the streets; they were either striking something, protesting something else, or joining in the rowdy fun. I had already experienced "la grève" (the strike) here in Paris when my roommates and I accidentally found ourselves marching along with University of Paris researchers and professors who were on strike. This was the first week of February. The same strike is still going on, and a handful of BC students here on a different program have had barely any classes in the past two months. Today's strike(s), though, were entirely different. <div><br /></div><div>This afternoon, I was actually about to take a nap when I convinced myself to take a peek at what was happening literally one block away from our apartment and enjoy the lovely Paris 60 degree springtime. After gawking for five minutes at the parade of countless different causes and groups, I ran back to my apartment to grab dad's camera. The following are some of the cool shots I got of la grève and of the city on my long walk. (I also had fun making some of them b&w-- artsy, I know.)</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNATtjtzuJr2epwZpC3B03zPimxQvIq9DdaD4ydcylJdjUyvEFLljlf_S5yCJIivVwC8j20CYzvy2D3DSidDr70s4M4TgqIT69l3hSPY4o85_Bg_KDRzGYJ54tZYctcpHq9OCsjhvYdc/s1600-h/DSC_0028.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4atUi_zIx1KuA3aYLGHcbY9_LNbT5AAPBjWzo-vyOmmjAs1qX3UmmDqNIec_WNZWDfv1fc_E0p1pK0TSMdd-Qqekjahtq3at8m3D0hy5Nm7Ctquq6Yo5l_6tjQoLuN-BGdTArfI0HTE/s1600-h/DSC_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4atUi_zIx1KuA3aYLGHcbY9_LNbT5AAPBjWzo-vyOmmjAs1qX3UmmDqNIec_WNZWDfv1fc_E0p1pK0TSMdd-Qqekjahtq3at8m3D0hy5Nm7Ctquq6Yo5l_6tjQoLuN-BGdTArfI0HTE/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315050364677377122" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Across the street from our apartment: Chez Janou, a very very yummy, cute, pricey bistro</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XbSKdTLjWf6_VZkGu49sn_M9yUwR8fvUMepLYZOIc4NAqKVNJOSI2K8LQRBghGDeHFzjVeqnlpY6D8grs10z2lSrhfvoz2JwK93RbYFyM7bdn0amPgxvruCUvMuPfEMTK5fgevaaQ2M/s400/DSC_0011s.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315050924796837874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;">S.O.S. Racism</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLGMeCUvYTY-0ENGRJF99gKTStBIshHf6Ptw6hN43AKVBXJPuM-lmuoXDIhHjC4DscA9m5ZVx0SSN1GuEnejUdpbK5djCUbzOYKIiTtcQZ4oh6N7Hjh4z8HTHv06mw6pK1SO7lyEmjOo/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315051320223982146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;">30,000 Deportations Each Year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXMq7nG74SnxkX557EnIPIOqKQhQKjXO2SfPFoxj900_EWm3pCbSYXIbmwmdgzioWZeUdSYVHHcla3PkTCncqFmFioLkAv0m1awiKS4-KDcn7WxZeDeFfF50vjafOyanXtdduGIsKXi0/s400/DSC_0016bw.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315052403396073202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span>"Civil disobedience is the enduring right of every citizen..." - Gandhi</div><div style="text-align: center;">"The school remains the only patrimony of the poor."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DBMai9IL-QRzJf_rpUlo4kVUANs6ePZR2p0HvnAoId9bFHp7XntEf4JuPR7TM48UvL047e6PoShFJJAQQoMBOPd2UQ54NbhOpEcrB3xj_aXnK0eFOGIW3k6XRe_PClA1OehnqGa7vTI/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315051958642484450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB06DpJ_bl529xVJr7Ako0b51C_KRIm6Dlnc4EliH3ipbuLjhjLijLXevu46nv1n02K_thabITScc9x_WIFZx9q5VzyNEEUolW1hOhfdpQ2N6mp-NEcVptZ72aMHQHwmeMAcndjO8rxe4/s400/DSC_0023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315052196650849826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Place de la Bastille (where the Bastille once stood), background - Bastille Opera</div><div style="text-align: center;">-there is a tall fence around the Bastille monument that those people all climbed to get up there... after all that effort, they looked more like they were sunbathing to me than protesting anything.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDY7rRA4P30VliysT2-WKJX7um-DstYtUlI7lJFRyxIp4LNa1Rh7YH9Mk5qP5gahSH8I05LNoAKy_RtRrmJTuzARXg59fVjTLkvLSRZXaBDU1xcfRWcw9iPg7QiREHOW1owgaOS8eZxc/s400/DSC_0058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315052959015293874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boulevard Henri IV</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnrrQ-JNNQjLk3pZ5pmmb_6VYP0Vwjk1uixXiyHACOJOct00-E7bPv9TfejLJaK_ymiywE6U-8zbf102aAH1BsaBLG5VQ_yI71kG-VBDVMvngm0LUngaxDugjvgpzaRi-2l4wFDNuxIg/s400/DSC_0079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315053218524314050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">View of Pont Marie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GbS2lDYg_cHxbWvQ2XX81LsczJnBgN-ONX1or9ES0kcuvlhb1i3ZNMW3VUKmCGsvxOebYUysHfVSL-oYhrDGNtQanBSLyJD63xeh98DmCTxbC0jiST8u0fQnIkwklMshrBostNd8tY8/s400/DSC_0095bw.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315062271163144546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not sure what this building is, but it's next to Notre Dame</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8B61051WtxvAdkOCtoD6ZCbiBAYaauM-OJ8YIqrmJysSiONgEScDhur2tZJxHJOElR9OY2uwztLh66AtK9QobvTPSiHHapHZSQlnl38mCfuV312DmARfKHcRe_nvfjLG03QVYJtTbdmc/s400/DSC_0098.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315054541888089906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">View of Hotel de Ville from Pont Notre Dame</div></div></div></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-14189357235097204162009-03-03T01:48:00.000-08:002009-03-12T19:44:47.951-07:00March-- thus far, and coming upI have been living in Paris now for exactly five weeks and one day. Now that I am really settled in the apartment and have settled schedules for exams and papers, I'm starting to plan and look forward to weekend trips!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>PRAGUE:</div><div><br /></div><div>This past weekend, I flew to Prague to spend the weekend with Mom and Dad. I had high expectations for the city since everyone I talked to had described Prague as "magical," "amazing," and "beautiful," and I'm glad to say that despite less-than-perfect weather, the trip lived up to these expectations. On arriving, we went on a walking tour of New Town, Old Town, and the Jewish quarter, ending on the famous Charles Bridge. That evening we had dinner with my friend from Sunny Hills, Natalie, whom I hadn't seen since after high school graduation. We ate at a Czech restaurant called U Flecku (sp?); most notable about the meal was the aperitif that Dad tried which apparently tasted "like Christmas," (lost on me), and the two-man tuba and accordion band in some sort of Czech military attire. </div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YdamCLnuh-KAFZ43bqVoySLJvSp1f9wq1jOT5kmBMseDqq4tSn65jpUOuoCT4ux3wjfcTZjQEjg0EZjhvXrPARJRb_zwGTzELFXAXWt_jQ2uWj3wJSuuGojHUQqTh9Hrb8htcNltMcs/s400/IMG_2549.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312441282989557506" /><br /><div>Natalie has been studying in Prague since the beginning of January. She claims to be enjoying herself there, although she describes the Czechs as "rude, sometimes awful people." Although I didn't have any stand-out bad experiences with Czechs, I did get the impression that Parisians are friendlier, and that is saying a lot. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXz8cGeAzCcxNEtg_vJEd3NB5u7_Aad8feg-7XFAF1wpc1gVDyjaAVocZMDgDP7i-YipDi714d0gN_lpdKxnAoeM4N1Mu4e5TAQy0WZW7GIc9w2sHVISxS0uNBeg3tj28uKueHURO9sw/s400/IMG_2557.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312441901394203074" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day we explored the castle, which literally sat one staircase above our apartment building. My poor Singaporean mother was freezing in the wind on the top of the hill, but we all enjoyed ourselves as we soaked in the architecture and tried to keep Czech history straight. That night was probably the highlight of the trip for me. We went to the opera and saw Verdi's La Traviata. We sat in a box close to the stage and thankfully there were subtitles (both Czech and English) so we could follow the story. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibetF2rpWJR2EftFk3v8OAmJQL9nWL3poeEDJ4qgNFaHtEw_k3xbNcWluTRDhYeyhhzDPdi5BArZkbpHwDTd069ZdqKpb3e2K7R1rvfl3yrdFcewDrhrw0a2M8sZvgjo4W6SZcH52v9AI/s400/IMG_2623.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312446895882792882" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A couple sidenotes on Prague: </div><div>1) If you are a Gehry fan, be sure to catch a glimpse of his building there, called Fred & Ginger because they are two buildings that look like they're dancing with each other. </div><div>2) The city is easily walkable-- I loved walking from place to place instead of taking the tram or the metro.</div><div>3) If you're not sure about sauerkraut, duck, or pork neck (and you're not vegetarian) go for the sausage!! It's served pretty much everywhere and is usually served with some good mustard and horseradish.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>PLANS FOR THE REST OF MARCH:</div><div><br /></div><div>March 13-15: My friend John is visiting Paris from Venice. We'll visit Les Deux Magots, the cafe where French philosophes once hung out, and I'll probably drag him to Sainte-Chappelle since I haven't gotten to see it yet. The weather is supposed to be good so maybe we'll try velib, the public bike system in Paris. There are stations at least every 300 meters within the city where you can take out a bike, ride it to your destination, and leave it at a new station (provided there are open spots at your destination). At 1 Euro for a day pass and 5 Euro for a week pass, velib is really cheap! I'm hoping that instead of buying a metro pass in April (since anyway, I will be out of Paris for ten days travelling during spring break), I will use velib as my main mode of transportation. </div><div><br /></div><div>March 21: Freddy arrives for his spring break! A couple weeks ago I was having a terrible day because I had my wallet stolen out of my bag at my school. I lost 100 Euros in cash, my atm and credit cards, my parents' credit card information, and pictures of friends and family that I had never scanned. That afternoon, as I was talking to Freddy on skype when he sent me a pdf and told me to read it. Thinking that I wasn't going to see him until this summer, I was so surprised and ecstatic when the pdf was flight information for his trip to Paris in March! He had been keeping it a secret since November but decided to tell me to cheer me up on a terrible day. It was a good idea since I wouldn't have been able to plan the following if I hadn't known he was visiting....</div><div><br /></div><div>March 26-29: Barcelona! Freddy and I are going to Barcelona for the last weekend of his trip along with some friends from my program here in Paris. I am so excited to see Barcelona as I have seen countless pictures from others who have studied/visited there and it looks beautiful and architecturally really interesting! I can't wait to shoot hundreds of pictures of all the Gaudi stuff. </div><div><br /></div><div>Next post will be coming soon -- photos I've taken in Paris while trying to learn how to use Dad's D100.</div><div><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020992753669152471.post-56942516802965723542009-02-19T04:40:00.000-08:002009-02-19T06:32:58.046-08:00Paris in February - Je suis arrivee!So it has been two weeks since I arrived in Paris and I am finally getting to sit down to write my first blog post! I already feel like I'm settled in here and that I've been living in Paris for months. My roommates Ali and Christine and I already have our regular boulangerie and can navigate the metro without looking at signs or maps.<br /><br />Some highlights of my first two weeks in Paris are...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">the apartment, the marais, place des vosges<br /></span><span><span><span>Our apartment is beautiful! and huge! We are on the third fl</span></span></span><span><span><span>oor of our building-- big kitchen, huge living room, and tall ceilings. A few interesting quirks about our apartment are the antique sedan chair (that we are not allowed to touch according to the rental agency) in the living room, the birdcage in the foyer full of rocks from different cities around the world, an open shower/tub with no bath curtain, and slanted floors (which cause my wheeled bed to roll two feet away from its place against the wall every night).</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO79OTJPu4x0MgsdieOs1ZC6tO9H4PVn0KvFevMLwdQl3crvUr0_JSXiunjUjQtnYbMoIjSABGJfKfLNFESSSwJ5KsO2m1iG3tPqXk4qDKKMMns3Lcmaa9ObqrhbqvJwzt_ZoGBL3CriE/s1600-h/IMG_2099.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO79OTJPu4x0MgsdieOs1ZC6tO9H4PVn0KvFevMLwdQl3crvUr0_JSXiunjUjQtnYbMoIjSABGJfKfLNFESSSwJ5KsO2m1iG3tPqXk4qDKKMMns3Lcmaa9ObqrhbqvJwzt_ZoGBL3CriE/s320/IMG_2099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304510001685893922" border="0" /></a>View of the kitchen-- yes that is a washing machine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN3vezZdSrn0YTBSmHvmGTmc3Kj0I6VbVOt9bt7RJKWCRwRb_YBe1o1EsFBM-chvsnmaszyBG_AJm9IKzXrOSb0bVVbUA2gHQ64cZQZ6JAcWducJqmXaAO3X3auwQhHPA5homqmewzOA/s1600-h/IMG_2097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN3vezZdSrn0YTBSmHvmGTmc3Kj0I6VbVOt9bt7RJKWCRwRb_YBe1o1EsFBM-chvsnmaszyBG_AJm9IKzXrOSb0bVVbUA2gHQ64cZQZ6JAcWducJqmXaAO3X3auwQhHPA5homqmewzOA/s320/IMG_2097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304510556065322930" border="0" /></a>My side of the room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v1eDljjJX8RJ1ZrirbBEZ7RRY8UFGBgKvgYJOHkBTPJaQhZgN84ioVFEE3HJMQW0iH1F9RV8Cr7yRlMJ_Szzm3Q9HWrU9YvJOUqkH_K7icIodT05cFiOLwB5l7ci4W_wcCA_v2B6D8Q/s1600-h/IMG_2100.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v1eDljjJX8RJ1ZrirbBEZ7RRY8UFGBgKvgYJOHkBTPJaQhZgN84ioVFEE3HJMQW0iH1F9RV8Cr7yRlMJ_Szzm3Q9HWrU9YvJOUqkH_K7icIodT05cFiOLwB5l7ci4W_wcCA_v2B6D8Q/s320/IMG_2100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304511045501541362" border="0" /></a><br />View of the living room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We live right next to Place des Vosges, a public square which is "considered among the most beautiful in the world by Parisians and visitors alike," according to my DK Paris book. There are at least five art galleries on every block right around us. I've stared through the windows but have yet to go in one. Place des Vosges is also one of the few places in Paris where it is acceptable to go running-- one of the others is along the Seine. I'm proud to say that I have run laps around the square a whopping one time! Really though, why would I exercise when I could be at home eating a baguette or pain au chocolat instead? Which leads me to my next highlight...<br /></div><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;">baguettes et pains au chocolat</span><br />Like I mentioned, we have our regular boulangerie (bakery) on the corner of our block where our boulangere already recognizes us. We have fallen into a somewhat regular routine of buying a fresh baguette on the way home in the evening and devouring the entire thing in olive oil and balsamic vinegar while cooking dinner instead of saving it to eat with dinner. We've already finished a large bottle of olive oil and balsamic. Besides our corner boulangerie, there is one in our regular metro station-- Bastille. The smell of espresso and fresh pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants) in the morning is usually too tempting to ignore. Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a sucker for chocolate... I'd better start running more often.<br /><br />The sun is starting to peek out after days of clouds, so I'm going to finish these highlights in a later post, but stay tuned folks! Now that I have internet there is much more to come, including:<br /><br />1. Planning weekend trips<br />2. Orientation at Sciences Po and registration<br />3. Overall frustration with bureaucracy in France<br />4. My stolen wallet :(<br />5. A photo outing in the Jardin des TuileriesBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18444122224425780542noreply@blogger.com0