Le Marais

Me and Madeleine reluctantly dragged our arses up this morning at 10(!), quite an achievement seeing that we went to sleep at 5 and woke up about 9.21 (phone vibration felt like an earthquake!). We had delicious pancakes for breakfast, inaugurating our new pan from Ikea (purchased for a ridiculous amount of 3 euros)... Tired and worn out, nothing could stop us from spending the beautiful day in Paris! We decided to finally go to Le Marais to locate some good second-hand/vintage boutiques. We got off at Saint Paul (L1) and started walking, at first the result seemed gloomy but we managed to find rue de Rosiers and the parallel street where they were hiding many good little boutiques and also the Danish "Cos" which was surprisingly good! Nice clothes, seemed like good quality but pas cher! I found a cute little summer dress, blue and white patterned and a scarf (what a surprise...). I will definitely head back to Le Marais in march, when I can start spending again according to my budget (which I'm already about 150 euros over...). But! Already now the tourists are swarming the streets so if you want to be able to breathe in the stores be there in the morning!

Being tired and hungry, the tourists just made us even more irritated so we sat down at Le Petit Pont by Notre Dame and had a coffee.

Madeleine tried espresso, determined to start drinking coffee, but after half the espresso (with lots of sugar in it!) she gave up...

By this time the lack of sleep really started to affect us, Madeleine tripped and cursed everyone and everything in her way and I couldn't stop giggling... On the way to Helena's place we stopped at BodyShop and got the shower cream, 2 for 10 euros, bargain! And Madeleine tried to give herself a sugar kick with some Ben and Jerry's (didn't work though =P)

We were supposed to go to Enriques place for some predrinks and then to some party but no... no no no, home, bed, sleep! (still wondering why I'm not yet asleep..?)

In the big metro stations etc there are these military guards with massive machine guns which really freaked me out the first few weeks. Still do for that matter! I sure wouldn't want them after me... And I've wanted to take a picture of them but you are not allowed to so unfortunately we haven't been able to. Until now! Madeleine with her big smile managed to convince a group of them to sneak a picture so here we go! I'm so happy they agreed! Obviously so is Madeleine ;)

Sexy Latina!

How many people can we fit into Cary's apartment?! haha, apparently about 20... I'm sure we could have gotten even more people in, but I mean it was difficult enough to get around the place!

We started the night with a well-needed coffee at the Etienne café, a surprisingly 'cosy' café in the sex district of Châtelet, where Cary happens to live... Met up with the girls (and Kyle) before going up to the apartment. Did you know that you are not llowed to buy alcohol in the food stores after 21? I sure didn't. Not to worry though, we had a little storage up at Cary's so when the guys came they weren't completely drinkless... Compared to last friday this was a very nice and quiet preparty (one which I left this time!)

The four flatmates

We left the clean pre-game to get down and dirty at the salsa night at The réservoir...

(16 rue de la Forge-Royale)

A little restaurant/bar/club in the 11th, which had a special event on this night called "Sexy Latina". There was lots and lots and lots of dancing, I think I burned enough calories for a week! Well, considering the amount of pancakes me and Madeleine had for breakfast, maybe not... I either case it was a wicked night and I'm so happy so many people came! I think we took up about a third of the place and it really made for a memorable night! I'd definitely consider going back, especially since they didn't limit the music to salsa. There was reggaeton, bachata, merengue and the normal club scene music as well.

Thanks for a great night!

The best crêpes in Paris

The new Burberry store (on the corner of boulevard St Germain and rue du dragon) has opened next to Helenas place and the outside is fabulous! (I haven't yet worked up the courage to go inside... ridiculous I know) And I love the dress (495 euro) and the jacket!

(Notice the Burberry pattern on the wall of the edifice)

While you are in St Germain the Près, do not, I repeat. Do not miss to eat a crêpe at the little stand just next to the church. I kid you not, it is seriously the best in Paris! So fluffy, tastes like heaven..... I guarantee it AND we met some Americans next to us in line and they had purposely gone to this one because their friends told them it was the best in Paris. Then they wished us good luck with our cooking and they promised to visit our restaurant once it opened. Quoi?! All we said was that we studied french at the Sorbonne... Americans ;) Or, sorry Cary, New Jerseyans!

There has been a massive argument in the house between some room mates and the landlord. Luckily I missed the explosion of words, gestures and tears but I did get the stories and they aren't pretty! Apparently Mikas room mate went and told our landlord that her boyfriend is here and that she is very uncomfortable with having him in her room. However, Mika had asked her if it was ok for her two weeks in advance before her boyfriend booked the tickets... Unfortunately the landlord isn't on our side and freaked out about the fact that there is a boy in the girls room... Gosh. Do we live in the 19th century? I think he's very catholic and that is probably why he refused to believe that Mikas room mate has spent the last month in Fransiscos room... "But no they are like siblings"... If that is true there is some serious incest going on in the house.... The point is though that because of this we are no longer allowed to have visitors in the house unless we tell them in advance the length of their stay and they have to pay 15(!) euros per night. Ridiculous! But at least now you know what to expect if you want to come visit me.... Merde!

On to a nicer subject. Me and Cary did some studying today at Starbucks (je sais...) and prepared for our test tomorrow. It's on verbes... Anyway, we had a very nice lunch by the steps of Pantheon. It was difficult to believe that we were actually sitting by the tombs of Zola and Voltaire and other great men, eating lunch in Paris! It was so nice and the sun even said hello for a little while. Then the guards came and said that we're not allowed to eat on the steps, but outside is fine. To our (huge) surprise the two men were incredibly nice about it. Not french at all!

My wonderful multinational girls, before class =)

Oh, yesterday me and Madeleine went to the Marc by Marc Jacobs (34 Rue de Montpensier, 75001 Paris) store again! I love it! I bought a bracelet which says "Veritas Inlustrat" (truth enlightens), it's beautiful.

Apparently Angelina Jolie is strolling the streets of Paris with her family recording her new film "The Tourist". Maybe I'll run into her ;)

Dans le noir

Yesterday I experienced a very special restaurant visit. The restaurant is called Dans le noir (51 Rue Quincampoix, 75004 Paris) et it really is all in the dark. You can not see your own hand even if it hits you in your face.

A waiter will explain to you before you enter the darkness how it works. You get to choose if you want entree, main and/or dessert but you do not know what you get. Which is an amazing experience! After making your order, me and Vincent had a glass of champagne, Moet et Chandon (so cheap here!) before entering complete and utter darkness... We were assigned a waiter called Medo, all waiters are blind and if you need anything you have to call your waiter and he will come to you. Fascinating! The only negative aspect about the visit was the fact that I was sitting so close to another girl that our knees were touching. But it really didn't matter because the whole experience was just bizarre, I had basically no idea what I was eating! But it was good! Definitely worth doing.

The first thing Vincent did was to spill his glass of champagne! You constantly heard things being smashed or someone about to fall down but it was all part of the experience...

Coming back into the light was like waking up with the sun in your eyes, you really had to get used to the light again.

We continued our date with a walk in through the city and stopped at the bridge next to Saint-Michel to watch the Eiffel tower sparkle and enjoy a romantic moment.

It was a very memorable evening... And for all curious people I have a picture of l'homme francais now!

Back to my teens...

Friday night... Oh gosh! Midsummer at Lisa's, Australia, night with Micha at the tequila bar, none of them are comparable to the level of intoxication I experienced this night. I blame the Malibu. And the Americans. Damn you girls know how to party!
It was a great preparty at Cary's awesome place in the middle of Paris, her birthday to honour we made sure it was a crazy night. Looking at the evidence it seems like I spent half the night on the floor trying to convince myself that I'm still as flexible as I was when I did gymnastics... I'm just happy I didn't pull a muscle!

I chose a picture that doesn't need to be heavily censored

The other half of the night I "decided" to sleep. With my scarf carefully wrapped around my neck and my bag safely over my shoulder stuck between my back and the mattress... Meanwhile I'm happily asleep, Cary, the girls and Kyle move to club Social and Bea, oh Bea, finds a "nice" frenchman to walk her home just to discover after half the way that he's a psycho who's having conversations with his multiple invisible friends... I'm just glad she's alive!

Two girls stayed back with me at the apartment to continue the party, yells down to a french guy to join them. One of the girls goes down to get him and apparently the two hit it off quite well in the staircase... The other girl joins me in John Blund's land, resulting in someone being locked out of the apartment and has to sleep in the stairs until the rest of the gang comes home again. And they were quite perplexed by the used condom in the bottom of the stairs...
I tell you, my back hurt like someone hit me with a baseball bat and not to mention my head!Chernobyl explosion, hangover the size of Asia!

Ensemble of party people

Birthday girl

Still, I managed (after a little bit of convincing techniques from Björn) to go to Enriques dinner saturday night in his amazing apartment where we all got to meet Björns lovely girlfriend Anna. It was a very pleasant evening, good food, good company but bad bad hangover...

L'école et les hommes français

I've had school for almost one week now and I'm slowly getting back into it. Who knew it would be so difficult to get back into the habit of homework and class everyday?! I feel so lazy but I just want to have fun! Then again, once I sit down with it I realise that I've actually missed school!

My french is slowly improving. Very slowly... The hardest part is definitely to speak! Yesterday we were a group of people who sat down and did some home work at a (very expensive) café and it was really nice. Some Americans, a Brazilian, Madeleine and I. Later the two Madeleines went for crêpes since it was the day of the crêpes! Nutella and banana.. mmmm, très bon! We were supposed to go to jazz club with Helena but it had some event to which you needed tickets so we decided to go to Starbucks instead. Madeleines first time that's why! Feeling a little ill we just went home when they closed.

I just arrived home from my second date with l'homme français and I must admit I had a great time. Again. On sunday we are going out for a proper french dinner and I'm rather excited about it. I really didn't expect to meet a french guy because it seemed to be some cultural differences which I can't really describe but I guess I was wrong... I can't help falling for the french accent haha! It seems like he's playing everything by the books though, he does no wrongs, the drinks, the coffee, the conversations, the kissing (oh the kissing!), dinner and the possibility to you know what on the third date. Is this the french way or is he a player? With regard to my previous choices I would say he's a player. Then again, I'm only here for 4 months. Why not enter the game? ;)

Time for homework!

Phonetics test

I had my phonetics test today. Don't know if you can call it a test, I just spoke to a lady a bit and repeated some sentences and then I got put into a group. So every other week I will have phonetique between 1630-1730 and I will have "conference" every monday and friday between 12-14. So I have quite a good schedule. My class is alright also, some swedish people and lots of asians. Today a girl knocked on the door and Madame Lanard said "Oui"... knock knock... "Oui!"... knock knock. A big sigh and Mme Lanard opened the door. An asian girl stood there with her phonetics note with her and Mme Lanard tried to explain that this is not phonetics. The girl was like Oui, with a big smile. Mme Lanard looked confused and said again very slowly "this is not phonetics, why are you here?"... "Oui" with a big smile. Madame looked at the class list and her name was on it, but she literally did not understand a word and Mme just said "I don't understand why you are here, you are not understanding anything I say" haha it was very funny.

I just received my mail. Lots of shit from the bank and then a strange little envelope, first I was like YES! its my package that has arrived from mum with my insurance card and french books etc but when I open it it's this:


Very cute... I have a quite a good idea of who sent it even though there are no signs... Thank you so much charmer! ;)






I'll just finish off with some pics from yesterday...



Helena doesn't own wine opener (I forced her to buy one at the market!) So we pushed the cork down instead haha. Helena we are such bums =P

Marché à Bastille et Clignancourt

Saturday I went on my first date here in Paris. I have gotten a few numbers so far but I haven't had a good feeling about going out with them so I just didn't. This time it was different though. I met him at a café in Saint-Michel in front of Notre Dame. I was with Helena and we were having a great evening when I saw this guy. Our eyes met a few times and after while he came up to me and gave me his number. In that sense I like french guys because they take the chance to go up to girls, unlike many swedish guys. His name is Vincent and he's kind, charming and very cute. We spent almost three hours together just talking, although the language barrier made it a little difficult we still had a great time and the hours disappeared quickly. Walking to Helena's place five minutes away I felt so silly because I just couldn't stop smiling and in Paris people don't smile at each other on the street! I was going to a party but after me and Helena shared a bottle of wine and almost fell asleep at a bar we decided that sleep sounded so much better!

This morning Mika and Madeleine called me at 9.00 to go to Bastille market and I dragged Helena with me! Surprisingly awake we arrived at the market and found so many cheap rings, actually really nice things for almost nothing! I bought four rings, a key ring and a neckless for mum (which I will use until I see her=P). They had lots of fruits, vegetables and foods but I will have a look to see what is actually cheaper at the market and what's not. We met up with Madeleine and Mika and continued our beautiful day in Clignancourt market. You have to be careful because first there is a market, a tourist market which most people never get past because they think it is it BUT(!) walk past it! Don't even go in, it's just more expensive than even some of the tourist shops in Montmartre! Keep going under the bridge and you will find the real market. I spent 26 euros and for that I got three paris of shoes(!) and a ring. Not bad huh?! But more than that it is just amazing to walk through the antiques. Seriously, there are some aboslutely beautiful artifacts, chairs, mirrors, little tables etc etc. There are second hand shops filled with Chanel, Louis Vuitton and other brands and lots of old fur coats for not very much. There is simple something for everyone and even if you do not find anything to buy (yeah good luck with that) you will enjoy the pure walk through the old market quarter, there is something about it. But make sure to be there early because after 13-14 it is crowded with people!
Finally I just want to thank Helena, Madeleine, Mika and Alejandra for such a wonderful day! ♥

L A T E

Why me?! Seriously... Yesterday was my first day of school. We were going out that night so I was going to Björns house to leave some things as we were staying with him. We had a nice lunch and chat and I left the apartment well in time for class at 14.00. I thought... I was going to change metro once at Duroc and walk about 5 minutes to the school. I would be there at quarter to, perfect. Well it would have been if the damn line 10 would have showed up but no! About 13.38 I was starting to panic a bit, with no news of when the damn metro was going to come I ran up to the information desk and got of the late notes and asked for closest taxi station. Great there was one just outside the metro! I run up sortie 2 and see a taxi. The filthy driver just looks at me and says something about waiting for someone. Shit! Another one stops right in front of me and I run up to the fat man who just gives me the short and really french "non". Fuck!
So I run to a bus station, nothing, back into the metro and its about 13.47 (believe I was counting seconds!). The nice ldy at the desk shows me that I can take another way, but I needed to change 3 times, 2 metros and one RER. Fine I thought, I'm down with the Parisian metro system! So, again, I run towards the metro and just managed to squeeze myself in between the doors. Thinking that I might just make it and took a deep breathe of relief and realised I'm going the wrong direction... Haha, I just had to admit defeat and deal with the fact that I was going to be the girl who was late for the first class.
Luckily I wasn't the only one who got a bit lost, and I can tell you after today's lesson that I seem to at least made an impression on my teacher because my name is the first she remembers =) Score! (or something...)

The night out was wicked. Me, Mika and our assistant Madeleine made dinner, which apparently approved me for marriage according to the mexican Enrique, yay I guess haha! Wine, cheese, dinner, chocolate cake and rum and coke prepared us for a night at club mix in Montparnasse. Santé for a great night guys!

Paris and schedule

Yesterday Madeleine and I were going to the Marc Jacobs store and on our way we pass the area with lots of expensive stores. Suddenly Madeleine yells out PARIS HILTON!! Shocked as I was by the sudden exclamation I was a little confused until I saw a black little figure in sweats and big sunglasses on the opposite side of the glass. Madeleine, a little starstruck, it was our first celebrity in Paris (Paris in Paris hehe, yes I had to)wanted to go in and see if she could take a photo or speak to her. No one seemed to notice Hilton and as Madeleine was looking for her and her boyfriend Doug from the Hills(? no idea who this person is)I found the most gorgeous paris of Zanotti shoes! Seriously, I just wanted to put them in my bag and run and if it wouldn't have been my size I would have bloody squeezed my big feet into them and walked around proudly and painfully!



Today I received my schedule and I have class everyday from 14.00 to 16.00. That's great! I can go out and not be tired for my lesson, have time to do my home work, really I'm happy. Best thing though.... I don't have to fight for the shower in the morning! Hell yeah! Tomorrow is my first class so keep your fingers crossed that I have some cool people in my class!

Last thing, I booked my tickets for London, I'll be there 25-29 March, so if you are there give me a call! On my french number if you have it =) Hanna you should totally come to London! =D

À bientôt mes amis!

Housewife!

This day I have experienced what it is like to be a housewife. I think...
I started with going to two different food stores to find the cheapest prices of the shopping for the week. I came home, baked a quiche au feta cheese, sun dried tomatoes and chicken. Yummy! I have cleaned the entire floor, washed towels and bedlinens and cleaned the kitchen. After that I made lunch; chicken with rice and a mushroom sauce that I made from the foundation. I'm actually getting to like cooking...
To finish off my very housewifey day I fixed my nails. Reading this it really doesn't sound like me at all! I must have changed a bit since I last looked in the mirror...

La Vallée Village and IKEA

Shopping shopping shopping!


Me, Madeleine and Joseph, a guy from Madeleines school went to the outlet close to Disneyland called La Vallée Village to look for real bargains in some of the top brands' stores; Armani, Missoni, Versace, Burberry, Jimmy Choo etc. It was heaven. (Getting to "heaven" is really easy; grab RER A4 to Disneyland and get off the stop before called Val d'Europe. There is a free shuttle bus taking you to the outlet but it is seriously at a 5 min walking distance!) However, some of the prices were still far from heavenly... I was disappointed of the Jimmy Choo store, I was really hoping to land a pair of gorgeous heels to strut around Paris with but no... Not to despair though, Diane von Furstenberg came to a rescue! I found some gorgeous things that I actually "need"...




The belt is from Ralph Lauren, and the other beautiful garments are from DvF. I am still in denial of how much I have spent today....
After the outlet me and Madeleine wet to Ikea, we are pros at the Parisian public transport now! Some swedish food and a mirror later we were finally ready to go home... There were a lot of weird looks following us through our journey back to the house, walking around with lots of brand bags and a mirror, Madeleine was afraid of getting her things stolen so she squeezed all her purchases into a H&M bag and pressed it to the bottom of her bag! I took my chances and it all went well thankfully =)


Bed bed bed bed bed.............

The Perfect Day

Before telling you about my perfect day I would like to announce that my cooking skills are improving! I actully successfully baked my first salmon and spinage quiche. I am very proud!

Next good thing was meeting Helena, a girl form Stockholm whom will spend this semester at Sorbonne as well. We had a lovely time at Place de la Sorbonne, drinking a large cappuccino with the perfect amount of foam. Gotta love the french Café creme!

Now comes the tale of the tremendously lovely day and evening and night. The day began with me and Mika, our german flat mate, went into the city to visit Le Louvre (again I know). We got one of the tour-guide-in-a-box with hed phones and learned about the history of the Louvre and the Egyptian antiquities. That is all we managed in 3 hours... Hungry and satisfyingly exhausted we decided to call it a day and go for a coffee. Luckily our tour guide broke just before returning it so I will get one for free next time I visit any museum...

Since it was such a lovely spring day Mika and I felt like strolling around in the city. So we walked from Palais Royal to L'opera d'Odeon through the very expensive shopping streets and back to Musee du Louvre through the Tuileries garden. I found a really nice scarf, the store has so many beautiful scarfs! Mika found a tremendously gorgeous ring so when we thought that the day just can't get any better we walked by a Häagen dazs. Since we had walked so much (we have a deal about always taking the stairs as part of our daily exercise routine) and it was such good weather we felt we deserved just one little bole...

Returning to the Louvre it was time to head back home. We even walked the distance from La Défense to Bezons, 45 minutes! Pretty well done I'd say. Especially Mika in heels!

Back home we got ready to go out, quick change and some make-up and food and we are good to go! Just about an hour late to Björns place in the 17th arrondissement we arrive to lots of wine and cheese and crackers. It's a thumbs up for that!

Later I picked up Helena and Olivier came around with a friend of his and we had what can easily be called a wicked preparty!
With the energy pumping and good company we no longer could sit still so we went off to Madeleine and entered some night club which I can't remember the name of... As a group we had a great time dancing, some classics from Gothenburg and Farre came up and I was on fire on the dance floor! When the clock was closing in on 4 am and some guy tried to steal from my purse and the quality of the music was down to poor remixes of 80's and 90's hits the three swedes decided it was time for bed. Olivier, Mika and Clémence partied on though, good onya!

There is really no way this day could have been any better. Mika even taught me how to say Micha's name correctly with the schh sound and he was very happy to hear me say it right for the first time in almost 4 years... Now it is time to get some sleep though! Before the next party...

Les Quatre Temps et West Coast Swing

Yesterday me and Madeleines mother, Marina, walked all the way from Bezons where we live to La Défense where the new Arc de Triomphe is situated. It is also where Madeleines school is and from where we take the metro in to Paris. Once arriving 40 minutes later we spent the day in the big shopping centre; Les Quatre Temps. They have everything =D

A very modern arche of triumph

Visiting Madeleine at her school Leonardo da Vinci. A massive complex with security guards and gates which requires a student card to enter. If you forget your card you are not allowed to enter the school even if the guard and reception recognises you, meaning you will miss your class meaning that 25 % of half your grade will be removed. Miss two classes and 50 % is removed, miss three and it's all gone and you need to write 20/20 on the exam... And that my friends apparently never happens. Better not forget you card.... It's going to be interesting to see what crazy rules Sorbonne has to throw me...

My second buy in Paris. It will be great for le primtemps à Paris!

To finish off I just want to say that I went to a West Coast Swing course tonight and dancing is great because everybody (almost) speaks it! I will definitely continue going!