c'est une blague

it's a joke... this came from my French lesson today...

 

Comment appellez-vous une personne qui parle 3 langues?

What do you call a person who speaks 3 languages?

 

- Trilingue / trilingual

2 langues? - Bilingue / bilingual

1 langue? - AMERICAIN

 

C'est vrai! It's true!

parc poker

We took advantage of the free city bikes on Sunday and found ourselves at Parc Monceau. "Stay off the grass until April 15" clearly wasn't being enforced because this is what we came upon...

There was a lot of lounging, lunching, reading, playing... and napping.

And then Mark broke out the deck of cards and we played poker with almonds.

Mr. Poker Face. I won.
I guess I should thank the pollution for lifting a bit on Sunday and giving us free bikes to cruise on. Our winter here has been so mild this year (yes, all of you in the USA can hate right now) but it still feels like you get a little spring fever no matter what the winter brings. Sometimes you need a little VitD with your toes in the grass to kick those winter blues to the curb!

city of smog

Unfortunately, that is not dust or spring pollen... it's smog. The City of Lights has turned into the City of Smog and our pollution levels are being compared to those in Bejing. They've warned the elderly, pregnant and young children to limit their time outdoors. Since I don't fit into any of those categories, a few friends and I decided to share a picnic in the park last Friday - definitely the worst day of them all. It probably wasn't the smartest idea, but the weather has been too fantastic to sit inside! All public transportation has been free the past few days and they placed a car ban yesterday - those with odd numbered license plates can drive Monday, even numbered Tuesday and it continues until the levels are safe. Until then I suppose I will be limiting my time outside and keeping my windows shut. It better improve by Thursday though - we are supposed to hit 68 degrees!

luck o' the irish

I called this leprechaun my date on Saturday...

And then his beard turned into my hair...

Erin Go Braugh!

Ireland really did play France in the final match of 6 Nations (rugby tournament) on Saturday afternoon. And then we left the house in this garb. I'm surprised we didn't get mugged! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

bud of the bud

As trees bud, I can't help but think of this...

 

[i carry your heart] e.e. cummings

 

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

                                                     

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

 

 

seine sunset

I can't get enough of this weather. Obviously I didn't even proof-read the last post; I had sunshine on the brain! I spent an early evening by the river with some friends and caught a sunset last night.

I'm sure there will be many many more of the same coming allllll summer! It's no sea, but I can live with it!

spring, is that you?

It's going to be in the 66 this Sunday! You can find me outside in a park, munching on a baguette!

Bon-weekend!

les calanques

After a few days of rain, we decided no matter what we would hike Les Calanques on Thursday before our train left. We definitely saved the best for last...

The sun was shining but it was NOT warm! We found a spot out of the wind and took in the view for a while. On a nice day, it would be very easy to spend the whole day walking on the trails. They weren't that well marked so we aren't exactly sure which path we traveled. I think this was Belvedere.

marseille

France is on holiday so last week I took a train with two girls who teach English here south in search of some warmer temps. We didn't find much warmer temps, but we did find water, mountains and some good wine!

Our destination was Marseille and after we arrived we headed straight for the old port. I was hoping the weather day one would set precedent for the rest of the week, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Other than the surrounding mountains, this place reminded me a lot of Larmor-Plage; all the shops were shut down for the noon hour, the air felt fresh and smelled a bit like fish, and most of the sounds on the hidden streets were of water and seagulls.

The area is well known for it's soap; lavender specifically. I didn't buy any but we popped into a few shops to check it out. The shops smelled clean, that's for sure! Soap on a rope, bouquets, you name it... they had it all!

We were really wanting to travel outside the city and hike the Les Calanques, just a hilly area with coves and great views of the sea. On day two, we thought the rain would hold off so we bought tickets to for the metro to catch the bus and headed out. By the time we went two metro stops and got out of the underground to catch the bus, a cold front came through and it was raining so we decided to put it off for another day. Coastal weather, you can't predict it!

Instead we ate the sandwiches we made for the hike in a park and then walked to the highest hill in the city to see Basilica Notre-Dame of the Garde. Atop it all, you could see the city of Marseille and on a clear day, I'm sure even further.