Quelle journée parfaite !

Happy to report that I made the time adjustment very well this time (unlike New Year’s Eve), so I was off and running this morning, getting to know mon quartier – the hood. I’m still in the 6eme arrondissement, but it’s a different section and I wanted to familiarize myself.

The sun was shining on this gorgeous spring day as I ventured out. This is a bustling area, and very much my speed. I chose a café nearby to begin the day with an early lunch/breakfast, and ordered Avocado Toast. This is not something I ever order at home, but here I’ll try anything. (Snails? Yes.) And omg, I swooned – not just at the presentation which is always gorgeous here – but the medley of flavors I can’t even name were other worldly. My serveur spoke English, and while I started out en anglais, I asked if we could switch to French so I could practice. He obliged. They always do. And we had a fun chat.

During le déjeuner, the hostess came out to give their iconic statue (La Diva) a sponge bath. This was amusing because I had chosen a seat sur la terrasse right next to “her,” so I had the best view, or a very interesting view. It was honestly hilarious to watch this unfold because their « Diva » is life-size, and quite curvy in all the right places. The hostess enjoyed me enjoying her and laughed as I photographed the whole thing. They then asked for a copy of one of my photos and of course I gave it to them!

From here, I headed to my local Metro, which is still Line 4, but I’m closer to Odéon this time around, located on the famous Boulevard Saint-Germain. I purchased some Metro tickets (until I find a station that sells the Navigo card), and headed to the old neighborhood (Saint-Placide) to pick up a few things. After errands and walking, my watch buzzed, indicating I’d completed my daily exercise goal, which caught me by surprise. (I wasn’t on the Peloton.) But I guess I’d been walking more than I’d realized. So I felt way less guilty popping into my favorite boulangerie Maison Thevenin on rue Notre Dame des Champs, and bought a 1/2 baguette and small tomato salad to go for later – which will pair nicely with the pesto hummus and red wine I bought yesterday. I couldn’t resist ordering un pain au chocolat and an espresso for the terrace as I checked out. HEAVEN. I decided to walk the long way home to burn off some of those calories, and stopped to buy myself flowers. (Cue Miley Cyrus! 🎵 )

Je peux m’acheter des fleurs! 🌺

Side note: I just found out that Maison Thevenin has another shop 2 minutes from my door. Dangereux!

I have so many memories of that boulangerie; it’s where I always bought my daily bread, and it’s where I stumbled with French trying to place an order or answer their questions. It was such a breeze today, reminding me how far I’ve come with the language.

Not that I’m fluent; I’m not. But I can express myself and feel way more comfortable trying, failing, and succeeding in all my interactions. I had no discomfort whatsoever these past two days, and that felt natural and pretty great.

As I continued my walk (still slower than any Parisian), I realized all the neighborhood maps from the three apartments I’ve stayed in started to knit together and become one in my mind. They’re all so close to one another, yet I remember how they seemed so distant from one to the next when I’d first arrived.

As I neared my street, rue de Seine, a man on the corner was serenading everyone on his sax with « The Shadow of Your Smile. » I hummed the old American tune as I walked down my block, and smiled when I realized I could hear those feint notes in my apartment.

Ah, Paris.