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Some last pics...

Life after Paris...

Here I am in Sydney and all I can think is 'it's a long way from Paris'. Not just physically but everything about it is different... I have already been on a hunt for a good baguette with no luck, I couldn't even find fresh looking goats cheese, clearly I'll have to go straight back to Paris! There are no gorgeous Parisian buildings, no small dogs on cafe tables, no glossy Seine running through the city... I feel a bit lost in my home town but I guess that's what happens after coming back from a place like Paris!

My last days in the city of love were spent in cosy little places, benches in parks, cafes on grand avenues and the usual bars with the usual crew. Elin made us a typical Swedish dessert and we checked out a new bar, the Hideout, where aussie Stephen was strumming his guitar. Thursday day the tears had already started but that wasn't going to ruin the perfect last night! A huge pizza chez Sweden, last minute packing, champagne and Swedish chocolate balls. We began the night at the Moose, the place it all began... Endless free drinks cheers to Eric then it was to Cafe Oz via the Galway to pick up my aussie cohort of Finn and Beatrice. One last dance on the tables and I was ready to say goodbye to the crocodile decorated bar and move, for the last time in the cold early morning, to the Highlander. Goodbye to a crazy duncan, a wise Eric, a happy Yann then me and Elin headed home. We ate more pizza and spent a while trying to close my suitcase that was 4 kilos above the limit. It was a teary goodbye at the airport with the dearest Mooselin and a very teary wait in a 25 minute security line... They should really work on that! 24 hours later I landed in the humid weather of Sydney feeling a bit sad, a bit happy and a bit like I have just lost a huge part of my life! I mastered my French to a level I am more than happy with, learnt to ride a Velib in a dress, ate so much cheese and good food, met the best group of people, and overall found a nice little place for myself in French culture.

It is so good to be back with my loved ones but so hard to be away from the other loved ones on the other side of the world. I will never forget my Elin and Emilia or the entire Paris crew... Some of the bestest friends I have ever had! I will be back before you know it!

Over. And. Out!!

The last dance!

It's way too hard to prepare for something like moving away from Paris after some of the best months of your life. I have not fully adjusted to the idea that in a bit over 24 hours I will be on a plane heading to the land down under, all I can say is it better be beach weather when I arrive!!

My last week has been spent in good company doing good things! Saturday I said my last goodbye to the French family and watched the little girls go off to circus class for the last time! Then me and mum took a turn about the Pompidou, a coffee out of the freezing cold and then a downpour right onto our umbrellaless heads! Cold and wet I then headed home for a nice warm meal with the Swedes and then out again to a house party at Porte Doree where we got stuck without metro or bus and didn't get to bed until 6:30am!

Sunday afternoon was spent with an old family friend and his family walking by the canal and enjoying the afternoon sun. Dinner was had at the Great Canadian with mum, Finn and Bea and then a reasonably early night!

A relaxing Monday in a park, coffee on the Champs and sitting in the rare sunshine by a typical Parisian fountain. A slow walk by the Seine with Elin and a visit to the best biscuits in town. Wings night with the usual crew ended with some sad goodbyes at Galway. Following was a slow Tuesday with coffee at the fancy Renault Atelier on the Champs and a walk across the most beautiful bridge in Paris through Invalides and towards the Eiffel Tower. Then the oh so kind Mr Jones cooked me and the girls a delicious curry and let us play guitar hero (very badly on my part!!)

My second last day was spent by the gorgeous Seine in the unusually warm sun. A last shop at Blvd Haussman with Elin and my fellow aussies then a lie down in the Tuileries. Tonight we're heading out to see our friends play a gig at a new bar then who knows but I'm sure there won't be much sleep involved.

Joyeux Anniversaire Maman!!

It really is countdown time now. With less than a week in Paris I am shoving as much as possible in. On Monday a wonderful walk from Bastille all the way to Bois de Vincennes with Maman. There is an old elevated metro line running through the rooftops of Paris between these two points and it almost feels like you're walking through a forest as there are so many trees and flowers. A real must for a slightly different angle of Paris!! Of course the night was obligatorily ended with wings at TGC and a quick listen in at the Galway.

A quiet Tuesday day followed by a not so quiet night: shots at Temple bar with Emilia, Beatrice and Finn... Then some more... and more!! A round at the princess, bumped into a french friend, then went to the Highlander WAY too early! Note to self- if its Paris and before midnight: the nightlife hasn't even begun to get ready!!!

It was then finally time to move in with the girls and so I lugged five months of shopping on two metros, up stairs and into the tiny 1 person apartment where there are now four of us living... Yes I am looking forward to having my own room back!! The afternoon was spent drinking coffee near the Champs and checking out FNAC (french JB hi-fi).

Another beautiful day was spent with the mother on Thrusday. We tried to get into a tour at the Louvre but there wasn't enough space so we opted for the more relaxed activity: lying on perfectly cut grass in the Tuileries eating a baguette from PAUL and then checking out the modern 'art' installations around the gardens: a bird cage?, a tree?, some blocks randomly put together... ??? A night surrounded by aussies (Finn, Bebe and their entourage) at where else but Cafe Oz.

Finally birthday Friday during which me and Finn wished Maman a 'Bon An' at the rooftop restaurant of Printemps then a very expensive cup of tea at Mariage Freres (damn good tea if you're a tea lover and in Paris). Finally a VERY bad movie 'Eat, Pray, Love' and here I am home on a Friday night planning a nice long sleep...

Bonne Nuit a tout!!

So its been a while since I've had the time to blog and now I find myself wondering what my time has been filled with. I really haven't been doing anything that interesting just trying to get as much time in with friends and family before my time in Paris comes to an end in... less than two weeks :(!

So lately there was the departure of darling Carolina, the first to leave, followed by me then Emilia. It seems its the end of an era, or at least of a very good time! It seems weird to think that I'm just going to leave this life and everyone in it behind and that when I return it won't be here. Paris will never be the same as next time there will be new people, new bars, new things to explore.

So the last couple of weeks have consisted of: a walk and baguette in Buttes Chaumont; a new french friend; a great view from Printemps; the weather turned back to summer so we had a picnic by the seine and then another in Bois de Bologne where we got lost... at night! At least the swedes did meaning everyone else had to wait about 2 hours in pitch black in the one place you shouldn't be in Paris... at night!!! The next night in a slightly safer place we met swedish Richard and friend and were driven around in a pimped out car, given pizza and relaxed with a movie. Me and Elin checked out the new H&M on the Champs (a slight disappointment), then shopping with Emilia (new boots and a blazer). Then the all famous wing night, a crazy night with Emilia: the Frog and Princess; the Moose; highlander; a drunk bartender and a very expensive cab ride. Thursday a quick dance at Cafe Oz, a very cold Friday night so early to bed, a school uniform party at WOS on Sat and a visit to some aussie friends (Finn and Beatrix) on Sunday afternoon.

I am almost finished work with the French family meaning I'll be moving to chez Sweden meaning chaos will ensue :-P!!! Despite having an awful feeling about leaving I cannot wait to go home and see my loved ones, my Milli and my Turtle are waiting ever so patiently!!!

Vive L'Australie!!!

THE BIRTHDAY GIRLS

It was the week of never-ending birthdays and what fun we all had!! Wednesday was the start of celebrations with the 22nd birthday of Elin. I was treated to a great performance by my french family at Theatre Chaillot. A dance group doing contemporary/hip hop to Gershwin's music from Porgy and Bess. I then headed over to see the b'day girl and we began the night with delicious salad and wine at Chez Papa, went on for more wine at the girls' place and ended the night with many broken glasses at the highlander. Onto the next straight away, we wished Emilia a 'bon an' on Thursday. After a beautiful walk around Paris at night in good company me and the girls went to the moose, followed by the highlander (always!)

Friday I visited Giverny with mother and auntie Ruth and admired the beautiful gardens and house of Monet, unfortunately in the rain which is still plaguing Paris! That night was the all-crazy triple birthday party chez Swedes where we got more guests than expected. Much wine was drunk, multi-language conversations were a plenty and of course fun was had by all!

Saturday was birthday shopping with the mother at Galleries Lafayette and a discovery of my very own shoe shop (see pic). Then it was a quick hello to the Pompidou centre at night for La Nuit Blanche. This is when there are lots of galleries that stay open almost all night and have special events! I then had a quick drink near the Champs and went to bed already feeling older!

My Birthday was one of the best: lunch with my french family and my mum at an amazing restaurant at Musee Quai Branly with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Many calls and texts from loved ones at home. Sushi with the swedes around Etienne Marcel and the best birthday present one could wish for (if you like all things Swedish which I am beginning to!) I have been given Swedish meatballs, caviar, chocolate, lollies, porridge, chips and the best thing: a little Moose wearing a Swedish jumper!! We spent the rest of the night taking my favourite shots: tequila, at WOS bar, followed by darts at the Madmaker followed by... I really can't remember which means it was a VERY good night!!

Alas the birthday week is over but Paris isn't. I am staying here for the rest of the time and giving Morocco a miss, there is too much here, perhaps I shall just never leave and stay here illegally. Either that or Elin has agreed to marry me so I can stay :)))!