La ville est toujours chez moi

My first time back in Paris after four years and it felt like I'd been gone a few months rather than years. We rented an apartment in my old arrondissement. The covered market was snazzier. There were a few new stores and restaurants. But it still felt like home. 

This time the Brit and I experienced Paris (and travel) as parents. Cobbled streets took on a new feel when pushing a stroller. Dining out was no longer a leisurely, multi-course affair with an aperitif and a bottle of wine. Now it was taking turns eating while the other one tried to keep the little half-Brit entertained. But it still felt like home. 

Switching to speaking French was sometimes more of a conscious gear change rather than an automatic and fluid shift. But it still felt like home. 

I'll try not to stay away so long next time... Paris still feels like home.

Swarm of locusts

This morning the Brit popped around the corner to pick up croissants and pain au choc at our favorite neighborhood patisserie and it turned out the place had been cleaned out because of this article.

While I’m glad that Nohra has received some much deserved publicity, it’s annoying for us regular locals because nearly nothing was left. The Brit came back with a few madeleines. Hopefully the patisserie increases production to keep up with increased demand or demand gets back to a reasonable level.

In the news

Rest of world favours Obama

Seattle Times Reporters Protest GOP Endorsement

French jerk makes 70k euros

Wtf is going on in this city??

3 killed, 2 wounded in N. Seattle; gunman shot

Woman shot in head, killed outside Seattle's Town Hall

Father slain in Central District

Homeowner shot in North Seattle robbery

French Klingon

I was in a serious funk today for a combination of reasons so the Brit decided that we should go out for a yummy dinner. We went to Voila for some nom French food and it did cheer me up a bit. Somehow the evening ended up with me speaking to the Brit in Klingon (via an online translator). I guess the side trip to local Paris ended up in the Final Frontier.

All foreigners must stay away, unless related to the Pres.

In an attempt to appeal to France’s xenophobic right-wing voters, President Sarkozy has said that he wants to reduce the number of foreigners moving to France. Does anyone else find it odd that he would take this position considering his current wife was foreign (until after they married) and his father was also foreign?

Things aren’t looking too good for Sarko

Sarkozy hides in bar amid protest