Paris is lovely, but…

man I miss Beijing. It’s a sprawl of a city, Paris is much better for walking and exploring, but I was whomped by overwhelming nostalgia for the feeling of being in Beijing the other day, and that feeling hasn’t really gone away. Paris is so beautiful, but in Beijing I can feel at ease, a feeling that is very difficult for me to achieve. More comfortable than I feel when in the US. there’s a 亲切感 that I’ve felt nowhere else.

I went to a Chinese church today, in sketchy, shady, creepy 19th arr., near Belleville that made me miss Beijing even more. Heh, Viraj, it makes a difference being an Indian guy v. a Chinese girl 😛

Thank god that the people at the church are mainland Chinese. Shanghai, Beijing, etc. Felt nice. So maybe I’ll be simultaneously learning French and 练习 my 普通话 here. All I wanted to do yesterday was to watch a Chinese drama, like 新结婚时代 or 人间正道是沧桑。Instead, I walked around the 1er and 2eme arr. and practiced French and just listened to their 主题曲。I’m a little crazy, right.

With Beijing, I made the mistake of thinking that I would be back after two months. As result, I didn’t visit all the places I intended to visit, or eat all the things I wanted to eat, or say proper goodbyes to my friends. Not making the same mistake with Paris. I am going to see all that I can possibly see here, and learn all that I can learn. Because who knows, this might well be a once-a-lifetime opportunity.

Shakespeare success!

A few more pictures.

Quote of the day.

“‘When we have a bill,” she said, ”you can bake the pie, you can sell the pie. But you have to have a pie to sell.”

Nancy Pelosi, on passing health care legislation without Republicans.

Pig signage.

Un cochon, un porc, a porker.

Important: Before Sunset hunt.

OK so I will set out to find the exact locations of both Shakespeare and Co. and Le Pure Café tomorrow. I spent 2+ hours walking around St-Germain-des-Pres and Quatier Latin today, almost street by street for awhile, looking. Although I know that Shakespeare is in Quatier Latin, I am not certain of the exact spot. To be nice to my feet, I decided to do some planning before setting off again tomorrow. What clues do I have that will help me find said sites?

Shakespeare and Co/Le Pure Café

1) Outside of Shakespeare is very busy area. Céline stands in front of a little statue.

2) They walk past something that might be a cathédrale after exiting Shakespeare. Helpful things: gated area, no cars, cobblestones.

3) They go to a raised garden…key point: it exits right by the Seine.

Paris pictures, 1er semaine.