Up early in the AM for meeting with Pierre. Looking forward to it anyway he is so nice and know I will be getting some good french breakfast! YUM! I am ready and out the door with 10 minutes to spare. I have on my most frenchy outfit I can find. Cute black sweater, long strand of blue and black beaded necklaces, black skort/shorts, blue lacey tights and black suede wedges. I feel utterly french! It is two metro stops so I even make it 2 minutes early. Pierre is charming as usual and invites me to his dining room table where the french breakfast is all displayed. Double yum. Coffee, juice, yogurt, and croissants as big as your head. We exchange pleasantries for 30 minutes and then we go over my resume. He has, of course, very good suggestions and I take two pages of notes. I ask some advice on manners, meetings etc and I am out the door by 10:30am. I walk back home feeling like I have accomplished something to try and get myself a job. Yeah. I get home and who is buzzing the door but the Fedex guy with my soon to be HSBC info from my bro. Good day! I decide to celebrate with a trip to the Musee Carnavalet in the 3rd. I received an insiders tip that there is a jewelry exhibit there of antique/vintage jewelry that is supposed to be great. If I can't afford the fancy stuff I might as well appreciate it. I jump on the Metro and arrive at the St. Paul stop. It is very pretty in this part of town very old and looks so different than the Latin Quarter. I go to the exhibit and am impressed. The jewelry is mainly from Tiffany's and Cartier and was worn to events by celebrities. Joan Crawford, Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly etc. It is fabulous. One of my favorite pieces was a fabulous string of graduated black opals. It was breathtaking. After reading the blurbs in French or trying to I can recognize some french names for diamonds, sapphires, pearls etc. Small french lesson. I decide to head upstairs to the rest of the museum (which is french historical paintings) I spend about an hour wandering around not being able to read about 80% of what the summaries say and look at french war paintings. Not my favorite but am expanding my horizons. I get bored of that and decide it is much more fun to walk the streets and people watch. I walk around aimlessly and end up in the Place de Vosages. Last time I was here I was walking around with ET. I know the art galleries here and window shop. I end up at the corner where ET and I had a long wonderful lunch. I pause a moment and watch the people inside and think what are they talking about and what are they having for lunch? I keep walking towards the Bastille and take the metro back to the apartment before I get too hungry. Lunch in Paris seems to vary today it was about 3pm. I make myself the usual (which is ripped up pieces of baguette, cheese, either ham or pate and water or coffee) I have a plum for dessert and voila! lunch is done. I hop on the information super highway for new ads for apartments. Two hours of combing all the sights there is nothing. I don't know what the plan is for dinner and think I need to get out of the apartment at 8pm. I head downstairs to the Greek restaurant next door. I walk out of my door and there is Dominic (the owner) he is always standing out front trying to heard people into his restaurant. All people do this in the latin quarter (I actually hate this). But, it is convienent and cheap so in I go. The waiter I also know (can't remember his name but he calls me Kate with Mr. Big)he is from Egypt and very nice. I tell him later that I am pleased he remembers Mr. Big but my name is Kendall. Trying to get someone who speaks french fluently to say Kendall is impossible! I think there should be some sort of compromise I can't speak with a french accent (due the fact I am American) and french people can't pronounce my name so let's try and help each other, eh? Egyptian guy gives me a "free Kir" , there's a reason why it's free. It tasted like robitusson! Gross. I can't wait for the food. I get the standard appetizer, entree and dessert for 10Euros. Mussels in white wine sauce (okay), lamb on a skewer with fries (lamb is tough as hell) fries are awesome and I have my handy tabasco sauce with me so just like home. I got hell from the Egyptian for that one. I don't care! And chocolate mousse for desert (pre-made jello brand I think). Oh yeah, wine was average too. Egyptian waiter comes up to my table and asks what is a person called that speaks two languages? I say bi-lingual? He says oh yeah that's right. Then he asks what is a person called that speaks three languages I say tri-lingual. Then he says what is a person called that speaks one language? I say... American? He laughs and I do too. It is a sad but true joke. He, of course, speaks 7 languages. After, the joke I decide my night is over and it is time to retire. Not a great experience but got me out of the apartment and in bed at a reasonable time.
I can't cut and paste so here is somemore background on what happened with banking information once I opened it. Timing is everything. I get my package of bank info from NY and run back upstairs to fill it out. As I go through the paperwork I discover it does not seem right. Merde! I cannot divulge the information as I could possibly be deported because of it. Anyway, send a quick email to mon frere and tell him my problem. We have to wait and see what his reponse will be later. We lose another day of possible french bank success. Are you catching on the pattern here? I am out the door again and apparently so is Mr. Big! He snuck out under my feet and he is running down the stairs like it is his last trip. I am chasing after him but am a bit slow with sore foot. Unfortunately the Chinese/thai restaurant downstairs has their backdoor open which is at the bottom of my staircase! Mr. Big runs right into their kitchen and I hear a scream. I get downstairs and run into their kitchen after him. All of the cooks are frightened and the waitress is screaming. (Why are they screaming don't they eat cats anyway?) Mr. big has no idea how lucky he is.
Sorry about the order but this internet connection sucks. I have lost this blog twice and don't have the patience to start it a third time. Another joy of France! Must take break will post more later...
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