galmc2Report

It’s the penultimate day of our 6-week stay here, and the culmination of the vision of seeing what it would be like to “live” in a foreign city for an extended period (ok, I may have started this post in Paris but it’s being finished poolside in Naxos Island in Greece).

We have reconnected with old favourites and explored new areas. We have shopped local, taken language lessons and had to, yes, actually clean our apartment (and unplug the tub drain).

I thought that, before we move onto the Gallilee family reunion in Greece, I’d try and capture a bit of what this experience has been like.

The Not The Greatest (aka things I won’t miss):

– the smoking. As I type dude right beside me has his going and is oblivious to the breeze taking the smoke right to me. Debates letting a sneeze rip but thought I’d try and be the better man.

– the daily symphony of sirens. Like really, how many police incidents requiring sirens can there be in a day?

– the tree pollen. The last week+ has been killer on my allergies. I’ve got a few “brother, I feel you” looks and comments from locals.

– IG models. So much posing. You’d think after seeing so many examples I’d have learned how to pose properly.

The Definitely the Greatest:

– staying in the Latin Quarter has been outstanding. Heather outdid herself in finding our apartment. Being so close to the Left and Right Banks of the Seine, as well as Notre Dame (good luck to the restoration team trying to finish by 2024) and the Jardin de Luxembourg gave us a lot of scenic, iconic places to visit in the ‘hood so that the excitement of being here was always right in front of us. Not to mention the local shops (the wine store, the Greek food place, the local market) with a special call-out to the boulangerie with its incredible butter croissants!

– the places we happened to find. Rue Mouffetard with its cheap crepes and cool square for happy hour wine. The Left Bank dance areas (no, we never got up the nerve. The locals knew what they were doing). The bars on the Right Bank. The ping pong tables where epic battles were had. The bar with the killer view in Bercy. The Tunnel des Tuileries. The list is long…

– the special events. Both the big (Springsteen, Roland-Garros) and the not so big (the Mama Shakers at Le Caveau de la Huchette, the home made dinner at Cathrine’s apartment, the cheese making workshop) gave our time here a special flair.

– experiencing the language. Our lessons with Reda were a very cool way for us to try and embrace being in a place where English is not the primary way to communicate. The dinner at Cathrine’s apartment was a language highlight, as I gave it a go trying to converse solely in French for the evening. I was pretty good using French at the boulangerie as well!

– visiting Juno Beach in Normandy

– Paris fashion. Tip of the cap to the men and women here. They do it well. Especially this lady.

– visiting Monet’s garden at Giverny

– getting around. We walked a ton, and when we didn’t, the metro was there and easily got us to where we wanted. Very glad though that we didn’t get the month pass.

– morning coffee. We quickly realized that coffee out every day would be a bit “cher.” We embraced the Nestle instant cappuccino mix, augmented by a healthy pour of Baileys!

– shopping. After a few months on the road both Heather and I were a wee bit sick of aspects of our wardrobe, so some retail therapy was definitely in order. Special shout out to the Kilo store!

– revisiting some old friends at Le Musee D’Orsay et Musee de l’Orangerie. Seeing the works of Monet and Van Gogh just feeds my soul. No offence to the famous lady at the Louvre, but give me the Water Lillies every day and twice on Sundays.

– one other cool aspect of our neighborhood was the preponderance of old cinemas. Our movie choices (a French version of The Three Musketeers and English with French subtitles Guardians of the Galaxy 3) during our stay took us to more mainstream cinemas, but coming across these as we wandered the neighborhood was very cool. A special shout out to La Filmotheque Quartier Latin, whose program was always interesting to see.

– everything associated with Chloe’s Paris visit!

And of course getting to celebrate a couple of special days with my beautiful wife!

Merci beaucoup Paris pour un moment magnifique! A bientot!