In Hiding

This week I found out my thesis is due sooner than I thought - like in less than two weeks. It's mainly exciting, just a little terrifying. This was my view yesterday when I was heading to the library. It appears La Tour Eiffel is going into a bit of hiding as well. Or else she was practicing her Photoshop eraser skills...

{Un}Glamorous Paris: Visitors

If you don't like being a hostess, you shouldn't move to Paris. More than anywhere in the world, I'd venture to guess that Paris is the #1 place people will go out of the way to visit you (or even those people you don't really remember - but who are suddenly your new best friends - will find a way).I've stopped counting how many visitors I've had pass through Paris in my various stints here.

The Paris Bookshelf

Visiting Paris and living in Paris are two different things. At one level, the tourist takes full advantage of their time here, but often forgetting to slow down or go off the beaten track. Meanwhile, the local gets so wrapped up in their daily life (which admittedly sometimes feels far outside their control), they take for granted what may be just around the corner. And top it off with another

Study Abroad

Whenever I meet young people, my piece of advice to them is to study abroad. I cannot imagine my life had I not ventured to a foreign land. I did double duty with a semester in Paris (where my love affair with this city began), followed by a 10 country voyage around the world during that spring semester. I would not be who I am today without these experiences, and I wouldn't have met my best

Paris Observed {galette des rois}

My formative years were spent in Kansas City, otherwise known as "Hallmark country" - the headquarters for the mega giant known for their greeting cards. I've always been convinced they've played a large role in the commercialization (for good or bad) of the holidays in the US. This is in part evidenced by the way that holiday good start showing up in stores earlier and earlier each year in a way

{Un}Glamorous Paris: La Piscine

If you want to see the French at their most unglamorous, all one needs to do is take a trip to the local piscine (swimming pool). Speedos and swim caps required - need I say more?The pool quickly becomes the most untraditional (and most affordable) fashion show in Paris showcasing unflattering speedos, some with tiger or plaid patterns, and other baggy ones that flow in the water like the plastic

Paris en Hiver {Winter}

One of my dear friends and favorite people when it comes to travel is coming my way this weekend. While there is never a lack of things to do in Paris, Paris in winter is a bit more challenging (especially with these unseasonably COLD temperatures we've been having lately). There will definitely be a lot of tea and vin chaud drinking in store, along side lights and window displays at Galleries

La Vie Parisienne

My Little Paris sort son livre from mylittleparisAfter the end of a gray, rainy and overall dreary week in Paris, I thought these two videos would be the perfect way to remind me to take full advantage of la vie parisienne and get out of the house. My Little Paris is a great site devoted to finding stylish gems around the city (a la DailyCandy in the US). And now, with the help of this

Disneyland Paris Photos

Disneyland Paris is a holiday and recreation resort in Marne-la-Vall�e, a new town in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. The complex is located 32 km (20 mi) from the centre of Paris and lies for the most part within the commune of Chessy, Seine-et-Marne.

On Holiday

The month of August in Paris is a peculiar one. It often feels like a ghost town rather the the bustling and vibrant city it usually is. Streets are dotted with signs like these announcing the closure of stores for the month. But there is no reason to get mad or frustrated by a "fermeture" because everyone does it. It's what the French do during the month of August - the go on holiday (and if you

La Plage {Paris}

Last weekend I passed through my beloved Paris for a day en route from Brittany to the south of France and as lovely as the countryside and beach are, I was reminded once again that first and foremost I�m an urban explorer. Ever summer for a month, the city of Paris transforms various areas around the city into urban beaches known as �Paris Plage� [plage = beach]. The program is in it�s 9th

Hunting for Treasure {20eme}

I'm good at getting my friends into crazy adventures, and Saturday's La Chasse aux Tresors [Paris treasure hunt set up by the Mairie de Paris] did just that. I signed up for the 20th arrondisement, wanting to explore a side of Paris I don't get to often (part of the goal of the event). I must admit the most challenging part - besides testing our treasure hunting skills en francais - was finding

Best of Both Worlds {Paris}

Wandering the streets of Paris last night during Fete de la Musique, a celebration of music around the city (and Europe now), I was reminded of one my favorite things about living here - the communal spirit that brings together people of all ages and backgrounds be it for sport or art (there's an appreciation for both!). Last night, on my way to meet friends for dinner, every corner I turned I

Open Your Eyes

JR expo Paris de Women are Heroes from La Boite Concept.Isn't it the worst when you realize you were around when something was happening, but completely missed it? I still can't get over the fact that I was in Paris this fall during this "Women Are Heros" exhibition, featuring 70 larger than life portraits of women from around the world. I must have been sleeping under a rock or something. . .