Random Ramblings about our trip to France
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Photos
Click Here To See a few Photos from Paris (there are many more to come).
7/8/03
Meanwhile we have been back in the states for nearly 5 days, and I still feel like I'm brimming with Tales of France that one one actually wants to hear. That leaves me no choice but to ramble them out here. Where to begin. I'll just go off the top of my head. I might as well start of with some raunch (note: Warning if you go by "Mom" or don't want to be offended, you may want to click the BACK button NOW before it's too late.) So... there were these large magazine ads all over the place in Paris, and there was one lovely magazine cover blown up to 4'x2' that continued to catch our eye. It displayed the hottest man on the planet, and darn near clothing-free. The French know what they're doing when it comes to nudity. So one day I decided to buy it, to bring it back as evidence of how raunchy this magazine was (it looked like the french version of "GQ") however I did not bother to attempt to read any of the words on the cover. I was quite content just to communicate well enough to make the purchase. Anyway when I was getting out my Euros, the two frenchies behind the counter were laughing their butts off at me. I figured they just thought "silly american can't read this". But no, there was a better reason: I was, apparently, buying french gay porn. woops. Here is the cover that led me to this humiliation. A week later I decided to balance myself out in the eyes of the french, and I purchased a copy of Men's Health-- since it was a familiar title I knew it was a safe purchase, and would in fact show how raunchy those french are, because the couple on the cover was... really something. But during this purchase, there was only one male salesperson. He laughed even harder than I thought possible, then he asked me what I was doing later, and I think he told me what time he was getting off work. (I can only guess though, I am far from fluent in french). Well by golly if Men's Health isn't soft porn when you're in france! Humiliations, galore!! Here is the cover that led me to this second humiliation.
These were posted while we were in Paris... in an internet cafe or in Jenny & Davy's house:
6/30/03
I wish I was home, I wish I was home last week. I imagine Courts does too, but we don't say it out loud. We are having worthwhile experiences though. At least I hope they are because it's costing me all the money I have.
Let me try to say something more Light. But there are somethings the French really do right. Museums. Romance. And By God: The Pastries. They go beyond description, one can only moan and close their eyes to relish the moment of first taste. My favorite thus far is the Macaron (chocolat).
6/25/03
We're heading to the Cote D'azur tomorrow, for a few days. I think we will relax and laugh. But we both wish we were back home right now. I wish it was not a huge deal and so many hours between us and family right now.
6/24/03
It is good, in so many ways, that courts and i are taking this vacation together. We have vacationed together many times in the past, with various friends and family. The last time just the two of us went away together was 20 years ago, when courts was about 7 and i was about 10 years old.
We stayed in delaware, i believe. We stayed with uncle Tom and aunt Dolores, at their summer house. There was no television in that house, and I remember thinking at the time that some day when i grew up and had my own house i would not have a television in it either. It seemed the lack of t.v. allowed us to enjoy ourselves in so many other ways... Tom & Dolores read to us at night from the Lion the witch & the wardrobe, and Voyage of the Dawntreader, and Prince caspian. We spent a lot of time playing cards, or playing with hermit crabs, or on the beach. I remember being amazed to eat cold pizza for breakfast... how sinful. Today we are going to the beaches of Normandy, to see and remember all that happened there, all that was lost, all that was gained. Uncle Tom loved history, seemingly especially WWII history, he seemed to know far more than anyone else I had ever met. He loved it. He loved history, he loved music, he loved people... both his family and strangers, he lived so richly. He enjoyed every day. He touched so many people. He will be with courtney and I today on the shore of Normandy, we remember so much.
The Kiss 6/23/03
Yesterday I think we were only awake for a few hours that I can remember. We went to the Rodin museum and garden. About 5 minutes after paying, the woman at the door to the museum building kept yeling "ferme! ferme!" at us. I was stuck trying to figure out how to say "shut up already" in french. Instead we roamed the garden posing to the sculptures.
Today we are going to rent a car and drive to Normandy & Versailles, perhaps a vineyard. If we get lost, we are in deep merde, I think. I imagine the further we venture from the city, the less likely people will be able to understand any english. I am already getting tired of french speaking, its so much bloody effort just to get a baguette!
Butts 6/22/03
Courts and I have both now had our asses grabbed by random drunked french teenagers. Yesterday there was a gigantic Fete de Musique all over Paris, and this means the entire city, in all directions, was crawling with drunken teenagers and live bands all over the streets. It was pretty cool and wild. But some kid reached un my skirt and grabbed my buttocks, I started screaming "FUCKHEAD!" but then realized anything else I said in english would be useless. Courts started cursing too, figure they could understand 4-letter words at least. We started following them, while Davy left the apartment (after I called on the cell) and he sprinted to beat them up, but alas it was to late, they were a block away by the time of Davy's arrival. Dang! It would have been nice to pummel them while Davy held them still. Court's butt was grabbed on the metro at about 5:30am. Between about 2am and 5:30am, courts and I spoke TONS of french to the nice frenchmen we met on the Bastille. The bulk of the conversation centered around "how old are you" and "where do you vacation" and "how many crepes does a person eat in a day", but still it was exciting. Today I feel like speaking no french whatsoever because that was EXHAUSTING.
Butter 6/20/03
There is butter on EVERYTHING.
I cannot believe we made it. The flight began as unbearable, I did not think I'd be able to avoid puking all over myself in that miniscule seat, but as Courts and I frantically searched for a puke bag, the distraction of the search caused me to momentarily forget why I wanted to puke. A few hours later I actually felt comfortable on the flight. Perhaps this means my fear of flying can be put behind me! Jesus I hope so. The weather could not be more perfect, especially compared to the shitty rainy grey hell that has been enveloping NYC for the past month. In Paris, it's sunny, bright, warm, and breezy. And by god, the city is breath-taking-- at every turn I am left with my mouth dropped open saying "oh my god, oh my god" like some kind of moronic tourist. We sat in Cafes about 6 times already, and we've only been here a day and a half. We sit, facing the sidewalk & street, and watch people go by. There are some fine chaps, but mostly the women are the ones we look at-- they display a fashion sense we've never seen before in our lives. This is one boring as blog. I've eaten crepes and cheese, espressos and baguettes. And escargot. MM MM MMMMMMM! And I can't get champs elise, the song, out of my head-- and I don't even know the words.
Nervous but Longing 6/17/03
In Unfaithful Diane Lane finds herself shaking from a combination of nervousness, fear, and extreme desire. This describes well how I feel right now.
Tomorrow night I am scheduled to board a flight for Paris. I am almost unable to think of anything I am more tentative about than getting on a plane. I swore off flying a while back. Meanwhile I am almost unable to think of anything I am more excited to experience than this trip through France with my sister, visiting the gorgeous brilliant Dr. Jenny Proft, driving through the countryside, lounging on the beaches of the mediterranean sea. Sipping un cafe in un cafe, our ears surrounded by the lovely sound of french. Je suis excitee! Perhaps I will update this blog from Paris. Why not.
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shannon@sleckey.com