It's been a while!

It's been quite some time since I have been on, it's a combination of far too many bottles of wine in one week and the distractions of the lights this city brings upon you. For a couple of weeks I was even struggling to get a page in my book done, I felt so guilty and lazy, but then a French friend of course disagreed with me one day by saying "but you are doing something, you are going to cafe's and meeting people, you are doing plenty" and I thought to myself is this the Christian guilt seeping in or the plain old American guilt? This Idea that one has to merit everything they do, and so I can not go out to the cafe at night If I have not completed a solid chapter in my book that afternoon. Then I spoke to my wonderful father whom even I find to be from another planet at times with his way of thinking, and he told me "listen you can always write a book where ever you go, you can write a book here in New York, but your only in Paris so many times in your life, so enjoy everything you can there; that you can't here". I woke up the next day after speaking to my father feeling more than inspired.

The truth is I make friends quite easily, this is a given but the type of people I am meeting here are so amazing. The other night I went to a bar that held live Afro-Jazz music, and I met these two beautiful British girls on vacation with their elderly but strong grandparents! I couldn't believe my eyes at the spirit these four people had, I almost felt I was meant to be at that bar for over five hours so that I could meet them. Mind you the live music scene here is booming with great artist. I was moving to those African drums like I came straight from The Ivory Coast, I also made friends with some cool Australians, and more English people. And thanks to face book, and modern day technology of I phones, we were instantly able to ensure our connection online and if ever in any of these countries; I have already been offered numerous places to stay. People, they really amaze me and I find it so hard to be a miserable person with so much beauty in the world. Beauty in these faces and in these souls and it gives me so much faith that we will get by another day or so.

I speak to my friends and family a lot though, even with the friends I have made here and the amazing nights out we spend with each other (our current new family) I miss the people who know me best, so much. My bestie Vicky, my loves Shadae and Frenchi and my Mother and Father, man I miss them so much. My best friend and Boyfriend Jonathan. I wish I could stay here longer and ship them all over, and If only I could.

My French is improving or so I think, the other night we spent the whole night picnicking and drinking bottles and bottles of wine under the Eiffel tower, we watched the sun go up and lights come on then the sun go down and the lights go down on the tower. We made friends with Brazilians and guitar players and me and my new gal pal Greta danced under the stars to these amazing sounds. And then spoke French with these talented people all night long, and so I am convinced at least one bottle of wine needs to be in place in order for my French to take form. Almost every other night I come home with the sun and finish the night with a steak; Mother worries I won't eat well but I ensure her I am full of energy and protein.

I have local cafe's I go to and friends I meet every other day, and I think this is what I will miss the most when I leave, really seeing people. Listening to their stories, ordering more and more wine and feeling alive. Sleeping when I need to and eating when I am hungry, and not following any schedule at all. The people here have taught me the beautiful art of living, this art is a strongly fair and difficult one to teach.

Must Write!

So aside from my odd sleep patterns, I have officially been running around Paris the last few days and have totally neglected my duties here to my writing. Of course try telling a Parisian that, I kid you not the only obvious answer to them is "Well that's fine,your on vacation!" Ha! But that's the thing, this is supposed to be much more than vacation, I'm supposed to be concentrating on a primary goal, and that is a book. I had some friends in town from NYC, go figure I wouldn't see people from my Meisner acting class for a year and a half, but we reach Paris and reunite again. It was so mind boggling as to why me and Illeana could never ever meat up back in our home city. Along with that, there have been a couple of meet up's with the expats in Paris group, dinner near the opera, and Woody Allen films. If I have to say anything about Midnight in Paris, is simply "Love Letter" and that is a love letter to Paris. Funny and quirky of course, but we can never expect anything other than from a Woody Allen film.

The weather has been pure bliss though; it's so hard to focus with clear, bright and sunny skies every day this past weekend. I look at it this way, it was 4th of July weekend in America, so I'll pretend I have celebrated in Paris.

A start of a new week how ever and that is what I shall begin, I woke up early for the first time in over a week, had breakfast and began writing first thing. I will start another thing I lost back in NYC and that is my Yoga routine along with my first meal. That is right, today I will begin cooking food. Now I have no clue what my first meal will be but I'm going to the market today and I will figure it out. My flat mate, makes it a lot easier to eat everyday however, since she includes a daily breakfast in the rent! One which is always prepared and out before I even wake up, she's a sweet French lady from the south with a much softer accent than I am used to here in Paris. She is so helpful with getting me to learn French which makes sense since she is a French teacher...breakfast and French help, talk about lucky.

Now my only difficult mission will actually be to stay in today and write...

Feeling as if I have just begun Living in Paris

I do love the lifestyle here in Paris, the last couple of days have been spent either eating everything in plain sight, or meeting people for wine while getting lost in the Bastille and Montmartre...The other day I literally covered all of the steep hills of Montmartre on foot until I found the nearest metro stop. It was beautiful because everything was closed and it was a Sunday, so it's peaceful tranquility was hard to find on any other day in Paris. I went back to my favorite cafe where I received some more slow service, but this time I was accompanied by a girl from Canada whom I met there! She was interning in London as an art gallery curator which I of course found extremely interesting, she was one of those sweet bubbly people whom you couldn't help stare at and wonder "whats life done to you, to make you be so happy?"

After that I took the metro down to the Bastile which I had no idea was located, but I figured once again, the day is young so I will walk until I find it. The day was warm and I had just finished a very much craved Big Mac, now before all the judgment begins all of my American friends must understand one thing.... I HATE McDonald's and do not show any support back in the states. But on this Sunny Sunday afternoon I had an unexplainable craving so I did what I thought I should do while in Paris, I satisfied my craving. And boy was it worth it! So at this point I had completed a Big Mac meal, espresso and Gelato in Montmartre and now I had the odd craving for Sushi!

I returned home that evening after completing a great day out and about, I was talking with my boyfriend when I received an invite by this group on face book I had joined to meet people like myself in Paris. I thought "no one ever just makes random plans back in New York, this is what I have been waiting for...Spontaneity in Paris!". So I jumped on the next metro and met three very interesting people for wine back in the Bastille. One gentlemen of Indian decent but born and raised in Greece, who then studied in London and now lived in Paris! Yes talk about a very confusing accent, then another gentlemen from India who was here on an internship and finally my favorite...a girl named Vilte. Vilte is here on similar a similar exhibition to myself, a writer from LA who was taking a break from life back home. She is Lithuania and just as bubbly and outgoing and most of my friends back home, We immediately hit things off!

Today I sit in my usual cafe in Nanterre and drink the last bit of my delicious cappuccino where I can still taste the bottom of the cups last bit of sugar. The couple in front of me in middle aged and still in love, I can't help but stare; they catch me and simply smile. Everything is different here people enjoy their lunch hour in outdoor cafe's with no rush back to the office; I wonder if they are on a paid hours lunch break. After this I will meet with another American artist here in Paris for my first Parisian photo shoot, she is very talented and so I am very excited.

I miss my family more and more each day but something tells me the fun is just begun...

Fois Gras!

So another day of utter relaxation, no really I managed to sleep 15 hours for the second day in a row and I can't seem to figure out why! I sit on my porch again reading what has become my best friend Eat Pray Love, It's as if the memoir was written to inspire other writers and an 8:30 bright sky couldn't be any more beautiful. I've decided after last nights dinner treat, I would stay in tonight with some microwavable pasta and just write. The room mates have gone out for dinner and I have the entire place to myself!

By the way what the french call Fois Gras et Sa Confiture is the most exotic treat I have had in a while! At dinner last night with Claire and her husband, two people I befriended while working in non other than Starbucks back in NYC. Well lets just say I will be recommending this dish to everyone I possibly know! It is Duck liver in a butter substance that you smear over toasted bread and top off with Sa Confiture which is a sort of onion jam. Similar to our strawberry preserves! Ugh an absolute heavenly sent meal...

One would think well how can I possibly top, lovely French conversation, wine and food, like that this evening? Well after my writing, I think I may snuggle up with a movie and what seems to be my specialty of... ice cream. As I've been managing to have almost every night before bed

A Breath of Fresh Air

It's unbelievable what an afternoon of what we Americans consider "junk" will do to you. I made my way back home after a satisfying day in Montmartre, I laid down with a cup of Haagan Daz Biscut and caramel creme. Next thing I knew I was falling asleep to the end of Under the Tuscan Sun (I know, ironic) but after that I continued to sleep from 10pm into the next day of 12pm and this was not including dinner. Needless to say the next day, I woke up with the worst case of hunger so I sat down with my fruits and yogurt and decided to take advantage of what I had left of the day to do some writing. Didn't think the cafe was necessary today as I had the whole house to myself and a sunny balcony; Oh and a lot of sleep on my end so coffee wasn't going to be an issue.

I find myself staring a lot though, just into the park, into the cloudy sunny skies. And inhaling the crisp air, it's a lot like spring in New York, only it isn't and it's July here. I'm a bit more used to my July's being fulled with breathless g air where you feel more content with the toxic air conditioned room then you do in a sunny central park. Still here I am and just content with this afternoon being the afternoon, another thing I don't recall ever doing in NYC. And don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore where I come from, but taking a step back to see what beauties lie other places...well it isn't bad either.

Till Next Time...

Un Après-midi Dans Montmartre

At the Top Montmartre

Words are never strong enough to describe how much I love this part of town. Picked up a Tutti Fruti at a small bakery down by the metro and the hiked my way up to the top of Sacre de Cour. Sat down and indulge on an amazing fruitful tart. I honestly don't remember the last time I enjoyed a desert this way, staring down at the crowds I then got lost in the group of teenage tourist pouncing at each other with white powder; I would assume this was a game. But life here is so different, powder blowing in the wind at other people and all you can hear is the laughter in every end as people around them watch in entertainment. Still this was not even close to the best part of the day, as I made my way down the steps and into Montmartre I found a small cafe playing salsa. And original PuertoRican sounds at that, even if the service was not speedy I couldn't help sit and write lost in what was going on around me. Young tourist flooding the cafe to break away from their school groups for a shot of what seemed to be their house liquor, The smell of yet another Parisian smoking and still I seemed less and less affected by this. Then my food finally arrived, or shall I say another treat and yes I was indulging yet again. This time with a cappuccino and creme brulee. Honestly, the people on the street were watching because I was eating as if I were alone and I had never felt so satisfied. Maybe it had to do with the ambiance or just my need to do what made me feel good. But I recall siting there for hours just working on my writing.

Journey away from the old and into the new

In the attempt to finally start my book, I made the bold decision to move from NYC to Paris, a dream always but now a reality. Shortly after my college graduation this past spring, I packed a few luggage's and made my way to the root of everything.

A year and a half ago I had the most amazing journey around Europe on a backpacking trip, leaving behind confusion, heartache and writers block; I began a trip that ironically would end in Paris. In this exact time I would be sitting in a cafe, writing in my journal and reading the book that would spark my idea.

It was picturesque if you could imagine, small coffee shop in the center of the Latin Quarter, crisp January air and my pen moving at a speed I hadn't seen in so long. I would kiss goodbye my blocked mind and say hello to the idea I had been waiting all along for, this trip. It was in front of me all along, my experiences in Dachau, my romances in Dublin and Barcelona, and a grudging but sweet best friend along the way.

Now college is over and I sit here in a similar but different picturesque setting in Nanterre at a cafe, writing my book...with nothing but the days ahead of me.