NEW / YEAR

This year brings new changes. Whether they are good, well, we'll have to find that out for ourselves. But all the changes in my life until now have made me pretty damn happy.

A few ones: I will start at the Sorbonne. And I almost got a room in the African quarter (where stores have names like "Afrika Phone", "Afrika Hair" and they sell loads of bananas) . Plus I read a book in Dutch (which I should do more often because I never finish the French books I read).

AND, for those who didn't get the subliminal message: I'm looking for a room! So if you happen to have an aunt in Paris who wants a sweet, proper roommate -  on top of that sincerely modest and humble -  or even TWO roommates, let me know.

I'd like to share with you that I like birds.

I wish you all the best for this year. Live it from day to day, or not, you have to find that out for yourself. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I will.

LATE CHRISTMAS

This christmas, I wasn't in Paris. I spent a long week at the shore in La Baule, Bretagne, with my family, good food, weather and films. It was wonderful and gave me the boost I needed.

This weekend Sotuda is in Paris and since it's her first time here we are visiting  all the big monuments. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc of Triumph, you name it and we've been there.

On top of that there's work! More news about that soon ...

Christmas tree / Notre Dame

There was a robot. We don't know why. Lots of people took pictures of it.

A nice place to eat quiches and drink tea - they have loads of special infusions - just a few meters away from the Notre Dame. It is not even that touristic. That is to say, there are also Real French People that eat there. Good enough for me.

La Fourmi Ailée, 8 Rue Fouarre 75005 Paris, Frankrijk
 

BLINDSIDED

So many photos left!
Let's start with the weekend of 5-7 November. Ida came to visit me and we went to nearly every part of Paris on Rive Droite (the North side of Paris).

This is Ida, who has an awesome camera and style .

The wineyard of Monmartre

The photos on Photoquai are made by artists from all over the world, exposed in the open air right next to the Eiffel tower.

This expo in the House of Danmark (Champs Elysées, 8th) existed only of knitted items. There is often something interesting to see in the House of Danmark; even though it's on the most crowded street in Paris nobody seems to know it. Which is only better for the people who do.

And we found a 'hidden' garden. Which is pretty easy to find, but the sign on the gate announced that it was a secret hidden garden so we bought it.

HIVER

It's almost winter! Which means Sinterklaas, Noël and New Years Eve. But also cold, freezing cold.
 Luckily My Little Paris has a survival map to help me through my journeys in Paris...

BACK

So, I haven't been posting any blog for a long long while. Because I am lazy? Because I don't have anything to share? Or maybe because I gave up the blog thing to spend my time useful? No.

My laptop, the love of my life, stopped working. All of a sudden it refused to turn on. I stressed out and started running circles while outragiously flabbering my arms around, but sadly that had no positive effect whatsoever.

In the end it turned out to be a little button which switches off the laptops ability to charge. (Seriously, why would a computer need such a thing?!) But now it works again! Which means I have internet and I can continue my life as a normal 21th century human being!

I have done so many things last month and a half without being able to give an update. Here is a shortlist:

- Went to Holland (and back)

- Pitchfork festival : The Rosebuds, Kathleen Edwards, Stornoway, Jens Lekman, Lykke Li, Bon Iver.

- Explored the city with Ida.

- Decided to go to the Sorbonne (Moneywise: bad idea. Travelwise: too far. Timewise: no social life possible after the start of the classes. But still, I'm going to go to the Sorbonne)

- Went to Disneyland. And ran around like a four year old kid.

- Looked for an appartement in Paris with Tinka. We haven't succeeded yet, any recommendations?

I'll tell some stories more detailed, but the main message now is that I'm still alive and kicking. And so is my laptop

La Vilette (19th arr.) organises all kinds of parties / concerts / expos.

Ida at Photoquai ( she got photographed for streetstyle magazine Journal des Femmes that day)

A very kitschy Disney photo. More to come!