High Culture… and Altitude

The great thing about being unemployed in a city like Paris, is that I get to design my own schedule. I wake up… whenever I feel like… but usually, early for some odd reason…and jump online. While I’m booting up, I make something to eat. Usually, bread-related. I have baguette, pate, ham, saucisson sec, cheese, [...]

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Heaven and Hell

After a very unproductive Saturday night, I woke on Sunday morning, ready for my tour of the Montmarte area of Paris. I didn’t really have an expectations, other than that I might walk past and take a few shots of the Basilque du Sacre Coeur. With my plan of action being nothing more than figure [...]

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The French Laundry

I’m discovering (the hard way) that “vanity” products in Paris are tres cher… and by vanity, I mean things that the U.S. would consider basic necessities, like… clean clothes. It’s no wonder that the French are stereotyped to be smelly. At these prices, I’m forced to question where it falls on my list of priorities, [...]

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I’ll Have One Of Everything

A few days ago, I took a tour of Le Cordon Bleu. You may have heard of it… arguably, the most elite cooking school in the world, made famous by Julia Child, despite being in existance nearly a century beforehand. In fact, I learned that the story of the origin of the school comes from [...]

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Miles And Miles

After a few days in Batignolles, I must admit… I’m very happy here. I’ve totally let go of my expectations and more importantly, I’ve let go of the expectations that friends in the U.S. had for my trip. Once I stopped stressing myself about where I should be living and what I should be doing [...]

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Batignolles

I arrived at the neighborhood of Batignolles on Friday, by way of a 35 euro taxi ride. This is where I was to spend the length of my stay. Despite my new comfort with taking le metro, there was no way in hell that I was going to struggle up the various stairs and down [...]

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The Rundown

I’m getting behind in my posts so I’m going to summarize the whole of last week before I forget the highlights: Vendredi My first night in Paris was pretty tranquil. Naturally, I was exhausted from the flight and so after crashing for a couple of hours, my hostess invited me over for les apéritifs and [...]

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Le Debut

I arrived in Paris around noon on Friday, both anxious to smoke and to begin whatever it is I am to do here. I know what I told friends and coworkers… but all of that is subject to change. As I wheeled my bags along the corridors of the Charles de Gaulle airport, something started [...]

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Away We Go

Like many, I absolutely hate to fly. I’m not afraid to fly – I just hate it. Paying nearly a thousand dollars to be strapped in a pleather seat and being forced to sit still and upright for hours on end without being permitted to smoke or take my pants off and being told when [...]

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I Don’t Know How Rosa Did It…

The first week of February has come and gone and I’m just now remembering that it’s Black History Month. Maybe because I’m the worst African-American in the world… or… maybe I’m part of the black american dream? hmmmm? My ancestors would be totally proud/disappointed that against all obstacles, I’ve become a shallow, aging, hipster who [...]

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