Day 3...still alive...barely...

I do not remember a time when my body hurt as much as it does today. I seem to have left my advil/aleve at home so I have no relief and every store we have walked into has not carried anything that may resemble acetaminophen. I think we've completed a full circle of walking around the city.

I love Paris! It's such an awesome place! We've shopped (window) at Le Bon Marche, Printemps, Monoprix, and various smaller boutiques along the way. We've seen the Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge (disappointing), and the Montparnasse Cemetery (beautiful!). It's been a bit on the rainy side and i've managed to leave my brain at the hotel, along with the passport necessary to buy a higher ticket item (my new purse) so we had to come back to pick both of these things up.

Katie had recommended Fish La Boisson but sadly, it's closed Sunday & Monday so we're off to try:

La Robe et Le Palais
13 r Lavandieres Ste Opportune
75001 Paris
01.45.08.07.41

This is probably our last post for awhile since we won't have easy internet access for the next several days...

Day 2...

has come and gone! we went to see the Luxemburg Gardens, many, many closed stores (made me cry...especially in the face of all the "soldes" signs), Arc du triomphe, Louvre (ok, the OUTSIDE of the museum), Notre Dame (i gave up the urge to walk around like quasimodo in an effort not to embarrass carrie), almost lost carrie as she attempted escape into the Seine (will post photo later). Lots and lots of walking. I was hobbling to dinner. We went up the montparnasse tower...amazing view of the city. I almost flew off the top of the building due to high winds.

today: SHOPPING!! :)

I forgot...

the best thing that happened to me yesterday (besides FINALLY meeting up with carrie, of course...)!!

I was on the RER to the city when an older french gentlemen starts asking me questions in French about the train route. The deer caught in headlights look worked well enough for him to move on to my seatmate, a young, cute james dean type of french guy.

Well, it turns out that the train i was on ended at Gare Nord (which is about 10 stops away from my desired destination). I felt better because we were all shocked by it [locals included!] because we thought it went on [i understood enough french to know that everyone's direction to the old french guy was that the train would continue on after Gare Nord].

I pulled off to the side to start unravelling my rail maps to figure out what trains I should jump on when the cute french james dean guy came up to me and asked me if I needed any help. I'm no dummy...i had a map and could figure it out on my own but hell, a CUTE FRENCH GUY WAS ASKING ME IF I NEEDED HELP. How often does that happen?? Ok, for me...NEVER. I almost snapped a photo of the guy just so that I could post it up here and prove that he was real.

So I stuffed my map back into the bag and said in my best helpless voice, "Yes...I'm lost...can you help me??" ok, so i didn't really say that but the intent was the same. Anyhow, being the social retard that I am, I thanked him after he walked me to a map and showed me which line to catch, and walked on realizing after he had left that I had no idea where the heck i was supposed to buy tickets from. Well, the best news is that the bull about the french being rude is completely untrue!! LOVE IT HERE!!!

finally here!

I missed my 3 hour connection in Cleveland. Carrie had to come out to France on her own. First time out of the country. My parents were wondering if she'd be ok. If it was anyone else, I'd be worried but carrie had smooth sailing in

Me...not so much. After being delayed in LA, we (the gate agents and I) were trying to figure out if it would be best for me to go straight to newark then to paris or if i should stay on and cross my fingers. Clearly, I lost.

the good news is that the flight attendants felt so sorry for me that she refilled my rum and coke (at 10:00am) twice. I was so miserable...by the time I got to the hotel, I was tired, hadn't bathed in over 24 hours, and sweaty from having to change trains mid-ride over.

On the flip side, we've already had the best cheese EVER, went on a backstage tour of the eiffel tower, and already had a great meal!! We walked from the eiffel tower to this restaurant...ok, it was more of a run but we made it in about 40 minutes. If i keep this up, I'm hoping to lose some weight.

Be sure to make your reservations early enough as this place gets very crowded during the 2nd seating (2 seatings per night). It's a set meal, seated and served family style, perfect for people like Carrie & myself who tend to be a bit...well, anti-social. It really forces us to at least try to speak to those around us.

One other tip is to buy a bottle of wine and share it with your table mates. This ensures that even if you don't speak French, everyone will speak the language of a toast...

La Cave De L'os a Moelle
181 Rue de Lourmel
75015 Paris
01.45.57.28.28
Metro: Lourmel

cooking class

I had the opportunity to take another one of Jaden Hair's (steamykitchen.com) cooking class last Thursday. Assisting her was Jeni (oishiieats.blogspot.com)! I had a fabulous time - i can't figure out if I liked making the summer rolls more or the lettuce cups! Both foods are light and healthy! I think I need to put them on my diets. Jeni - the cashew butter dipping sauce was FANTASTIC!!

Weekend wrap up

This cooking class was AMAZING!! Her cooking and recipes were beyond wonderful!! Now, why can't I cook like that at home by myself??? at one point i transposed the measurements for the ingredients and thought, "Crap!! i'm going to have throw it out and start over..." then i remembered that I wasn't baking. Phew...precision is not a priority when cooking.

Scallion pancakes...

i know i'm supposed to take photos of the stuff we make but it was SO good, i couldn't be bothered with that nonsense. Instead, please visit steamykitchen.com for her recipes. She just got a cookbook deal so we should see something in a couple of years. In the meantime, she's holding a recipe for this homemade hotsauce of hers for hostage. I promised her that i'd but the book if she'd spill the recipe. Instead, she just gave me the remaining jar. Oh well...better than nuthing.

thai curry with coconut milk. Anyone have curry leaves or kaffir limes in their backyards???

Sadly, i was on my way into church this morning and had a serious injury to my person. I was walking near the sanctuary up the left hand side. There's this crack in the sidewalk that I *ALWAYS* have problems with. I don't know why, but I think i'm the only one. I always tend to jump over it because i've lost my balance there before. Well...i finally ate it. And there was no one to call out to for help. I look up at first hoping that no one saw...then i realized that i couldn't breathe....or move. i thought to myself...breathe deeply, shake it off...just walk it off. no such luck. I sat on the ground for a few minutes before I had to courage to attempt to stand up. bad idea. major pain shooting through my ankle. Sat back down...i was exactly 1/2 way between my car and the door to the church service. if I went into the church service, I'd be walking in weeping with pain. i somehow hobbled back to the car, called erin, then fuyu...then just text messaged them both. Luckily, erin just happened to be walking by her cellphone when my text went through and she came to my rescue with a bandage and ice....and drove my fat @$$ back home with the help of Matt, one of my former junior high school kids...i'm so much trouble.

anyhow, i've been huddled up on my couch ever since praying the throbbing would stop. this sucks...i had so much to do and now I'm laid out. sucks. well, miles wanted a picture. just a little swollen - no bruising like Miles' monster. eew. i don't think he heard of ice. good thing I shaved my legs this morning or this photo wouldn't exist.

Steamy Kitchen...

so my first cooking class was great!!! i had a lot of fun....that's jaden hair from Steamy Kitchen!! Bee from Rasa Malaysia is in the back, right corner