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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 :)))!

They say Paris is beautiful!

Yes, Paris is beautiful, no one in their right mind could deny it! As my last couple of weeks in this dream city come to an end I am at a loss for a way to part from the beauty without too many tears. So I have decided that my last days will be spent being a real Parisian and do the city justice in the simplest of ways!

Yesterday I donned my coat and boots (as the cold has really set in) and headed for an area I have not yet dared to approach: Rue Saint-Honore, Place Vendome and Opera. I felt it quite a shame to leave the place without a trip down the most expensive street, no matter how much pain it caused me! I began by ogling the delicious haute-couture at the world-famous concept store Colette. Of course I couldn't leave without a purchase and so I found the cheapest things- some topshop makeup and Swedish lip-balm (to make my Swedes happy). Continuing down the street I stopped at Manoush, admired the windows at Miu Miu and covered my eyes to avoid being blinded by the diamonds as big as apples sitting in the jewelry boutiques. I then talked myself out of a designer burrito and instead enjoyed a cheap baguette in the Tuileries only to be shocked that my water was just as much at 4.50 euros...????

To prevent extreme desire going to my head I wondered away from the crystal lined streets and towards Opera in search of a Trench Coat as a last bid to master the French 'look'. I conquered this mission at a low price and also picked up five French scarves for 5 euros at a little street stall. With sore feet and freezing hands I took my tired self to sip coffee and read a book on Boulevard Haussman. Here I admired Paris, its architecture, its people and a very proud Beagle in the basket of a bike who barked at every car and person he and his owner passed. If you want to see the real Paris the best way to do it is take a table at a cafe, any one, have a drink and simply watch! It is in these moments that you can really see the city and all it offers!!

The day ended with wings at the Great Canadian with a lovely bunch of chums, some live music at the Galway and a quick shot or two at the Highlander.

Amen to my day and thank-you to Paris!!

Paris, when it's cold!

After a crazy-ass night at VIP room on thursday I thought I wouldn't be able to go out ever again, alas that's what me and the Swedes spent the weekend doing. At VIP we actually got to shake hands with Reverend Run of Run DMC, I wasn't too excited but Emilia was over the moon. And so we danced a bit, got some free drinks from someone with a VIP seat, posed with the 'celebs' and finally I realised Emilia had disappeared and I was alone. So I cabbed it home and Friday found myself lost and stuck in a huge storm. Let me just say that when it rains in Paris, it really rains. My shelter was under a tiny awning which hardly gave protection from the endless downpour but I soon found myself talking french/spanish to a Colombian. I was very pleased to discover I can still understand spanish. The night was drinks and card games with the girls, a quick outing to the Highlander, sitting in the freezing cold waiting for the Moose to open for... AFL, that really wasn't my choice Elin just has a thing for Aussie accents, before I called it too cold to exist outside and home-time!!

A nice Saturday sleep in before heading to my home-away from home (chez the Swedes) for more wine and new Gossip Girl!!! Then a house-party in the fancy-pants district, a sleep at the highlander, a much needed Grec and back to Elin's for a good night's sleep.

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and it seems the cold of Sunday was the beginning of a not so great day. The sky has been grey for days now and the chill factor is damn right unbearable. After a morning at Elin's and a talk with a very cute turtle, we got the courage to go out in the afternoon for a stroll around the peaceful graves of Pere Lachaise. In the end this was only to have our hands frozen, our limbs stiffened and poor Elin got quite sick and we had to get a cab... At least we hoped to get one, did you know Paris is the hardest place to get a taxi! At least that's what it seems, one guide book declares it's easier to hail a pelican... hmm! When in doubt take the metro, it's always faster!

So it was that I went home early sunday afternoon in the freezing early days of autumn and saw Paris in a different light, literally as it was so dark from the stormy skies! Sundays always seem strange in Paris as everything closes, you can't even get bread! My weekend ended not at the usual place of WOS bar where me and Elin always occupy the same stools on a Sunday but instead rugged up in bed by 6pm and asleep by 7... The cold has that effect!!

Lazy days...

Post the crazy couple of days spent being real tourists there was desperate need for some down time! Thus Sunday arvo saw me and mum at Buttes Chaumont, yet another beautiful park in beautiful Paris where I slept all afternoon on a hill sleeping and following the best patches of warm sun. The night saw me again at WOS bar for a date with darling Elin as it had been way too long (two days). We saw some live music, had fun with empty cigarette packets and I secured a record in pole jumping... It's hard to explain!! A quick fix at the Madmaker and I called it an (fairly) early night.

Monday I hardly remember what happened, that's how lazy the week has been. From memory me and mum grabbed a crepe, discovered a tiny english bookshop, walked around St Germaine des Pres where I bought a 30euro pair of heels (down from 100=bargain!!) and by that time i had to pick up the kids.

The last couple of days have also been spent doing not much else: tuesday night a quick frolic at the Moose where the new bartender seemed to be living in another world and left our drinks sitting behind the bar for about 20 minutes, all day with the girls on wed and a very early night just so I am ready for tonight... VIP room!! A very fancy and exclusive club where all the celebs hang. We're hoping to get in to see Run DMC, thus its time to don the heels and party frocks as I've heard the people at the door can be somewhat brutal to us mere mortals!!

Time to tourist!!

The time to be a proper tourist arrived a few days ago with a short yet very sweet visit from dearest Michelle who had never been to Paris thus we had to get our tourist on!! After a feast by the Seine on Wed night with crazy Grech and his papa we hit cafe Oz for another night of mayhem (and a bit of hat stealing). It ended with saving a Swede from a hazardous taxi ride and a cold walk home.

I had promised myself to keep the touristing to a minimum as that would ruin my 'I'm trying to be French' facade but then again, you can't be in Paris for five months and not climb the ever-present Eiffel Tower!! So up up up it was on Thursday afternoon with Maman and Michelle, our bellies slightly too full to climb the stairs after gorging ourselves on a picnic of bread, cheese and market delicacies. However any amount of stitches is worth putting up with for the view from the top. Some people ask me 'why do you love Paris?' and I'm like, well... its Paris!! All you need to do is look around and you'll have a million answers, I get to walk out my front door into the most beautiful, interesting and fun city EVER! Post tower I picked up the littlies, fed them and then chanced upon a great restaurant with Mum and Michelle called Cafe L'Industrie, cheap and great ambiance!! Following was a quick drop in to a bad Erasmus party with Emilia and Carolina before, yup you guessed it, Cafe Oz where darling Elin joined us.

Friday was possibly the best day I've had so far. Me mum and Michelle wondered the cute little streets of Montmartre, enjoyed a cupcake, acquired an amazing headband and then had an early birthday celebration at... Buddha Bar!! If you are ever in Paris and have money to spare (or parents with wallets) go here! The food is to die for, cocktails delicious, desserts mouth-watering and the music creates an incredible, pumping ambiance! Me and Elin then walked into the Moose and saw it from a very different perspective after coming from the posh interior of the Buddha.

Today was spent exploring unknown territory in the 20th arrondissement where me and Mum walked from Pyrenees to Pere Lachaise via the beautiful Parc de Belleville where I took a nap on the sunny grass. Pere Laichaise was quite an experience. It is absolutely huge but full of big leafy trees, dappled sunlight and of course tourists! We wondered from Chopin to Moliere and La Fontaine, kissed Oscar Wilde, sang with Edith Piaf, philosophised with Proust and finally posed with Delacroix until the bell was ringing us out of the grounds before we got a chance to see Jim Morrison... It was a lovely relaxing afternoon, the dead sure know how to impress!

Tonight I am for the first Saturday in I don't know how long... At home, in bed by midnight! Could be because I am babysitting but I like to think it's because I am very tired and my responsible side is making me stay!!

A crazy hazy week

From metro strikes, to Ramadan concerts, to cafe oz and various bars, friends visiting, family visiting, multiplying Swedish girls, it has been a tiring yet fun-filled week.

Tuesday I discovered what a metro strike is like, 12 minutes waiting for a metro, that's all... That's the time you wait for a train or bus in Sydney... On a GOOD day. I also saw the French out in all their campaigning glory marching all day around Bastille to try and dissuade the government from making the retirement age higher. The night was filled with the chants of 'Revelation Day', a special concert for Ramadan. Wednesday was filled with looking after the girls on their day off and so it wasn't till Thursday that I saw my dear Swedish friends for an outing to Cafe Oz which as usual delivered a lot of fun. I also managed to run two laps around Luxembourg Gardens earlier in the day and for those who don't know it is a damn big park!!

Friday night the lovely Moose reopened its doors after renovations so of course we had to go and give our moosey opinions, then to the highlander, some more twister and suddenly it was Saturday. A nice stroll around St Germain, some shopping at Boulevard Haussman because it had been way too long, a nap, then... Drinks at an apartment on the Champs with an amazing view before hitting Club '67' with the Swedish crew who have now multiplied into three with the arrival of Carolina. I wish them luck living in an apartment for one!! 67 was an experience: loud, hot, crowded and of course it wouldn't have been a club in Paris without the sleazy men who were inescapable due to such close proximity.

Sunday was spent relaxing with the maman around the Seine until we met dear Elin for a meet the mother dinner. Having planned on going home to get at least 10 hours sleep I decided that would be too sensible so me and Elin headed to WOS bar to speak Swedish to the french bartender and see some live music which was unfortunately replaced by a basketball game. However we did meet the 'Black man' who provided some laughs!!

Wing night was an imperative on Monday and of course I had to introduce maman to this beautiful 'delicacy' as well as Marcel and Davy. Tuesday, while apparently bomb threats were being delivered to the Eiffel Tower, me and the swedes were partaking in the Rebel Bar quiz. Surprisingly I answered the question "what colour is the winning jersey in the Tour of Italy". Well thanks to my cyclist boyfriend Julian I knew it was pink, never knew that would be a useful piece of information but there you go!!

Tonight its picnic time by the Seine and then... Je ne sais quoi!!

A boat party beneath the Eiffel Tower, a glass of wine with the best view of Athens' Parthenon, C'est La Vie!!

Lately things have been, well, parfait! Friends and family are in Paris, I have made some great new friends and I have Europe to play with! Last thursday after school I spent the afternoon with mum and our friends strolling the beautiful gardens at the Musee Rodin admiring his skillful hands. Then it was off to pick up the girls and get ready for a night on... The Seine with the other girls, aka Elin and Emilia.

We finished off some bottles of wine at their apartment then headed very excitedly to a boat moored just beneath the Eiffel Tower in all its nighttime glory. It was the b'day party of a friend of the girls and boy was it packed, luckily being VIP we got to go into the less crowded room and danced and drank for free all night long. Returning home the metro was slow to come, I found myself in the middle of a Swedish fight and my feet were aching. I made it back for about 2 hours sleep before reluctantly dragging myself from a stupor to go to a nightmare session at school. However, I made it through with the prospect of a weekend in... Athens.

Me and mum didn't arrive till 2am in the dead-quiet streets around Syntagma Square but we could still feel that summer had not yet departed from Greece. Thank God I thought as Paris has well and truly said goodbye to summer days. Saturday we met the rest of the family of aunts, cousins, friends etc. Then to the almighty Parthenon. It truly is an amazing feat in the history of architecture and being in its presence is really something. Nearly as impressive is the Acropolis Museum at the bottom of the rock which is newly renovated and spectacular, even if you're not a fan of looking at 10,000 pots that don't seem any different to the last. Saturday night I just had to have a kebab because when in Greece... you eat kebabs!! It was so so so good! The food was almost the best part, cheap, fresh and not hard to find a good meal!

Sunday was begun with a show from the guards in Syntagma Square doing their funny walk in funny clog and pom pom shoes and... skirts! Then an epic walk to take the Teleferic up a hill to get a great view of Athens with all its white houses and Ancient Greek Ruins. Then an afternoon of wondering the tourist filled alleyways and of course, buying some leather sandals and bags, again when in Greece... you buy leather!

A drink at a rooftop bar with the best view in Athens then a last meal of delicious meatballs, tzaziki, vine leaves, olives and every other Greek delicacy you can think of before heading hotelwards to get some sleep before my early morning flight back to darling Paris. Oh Athens, you did me good even if it was just for two days! The rest of my family gets to go and live it up on a Greek island, I would like to complain but then again, I'm living in Paris so what's there to complain about.