The three of us locked ourselves out of the apartment yesterday. After getting shot down by the landlady (who, by the way, actually did have an extra key but refused to help us because it was after 9pm), we did what anyone in similar circumstances would have done: salsa dancing with some new friends. Unfortunately for my partner, I am as awkward at salsa dancing as I am with French. I'm afraid he may wake up this morning with severely bruised knees. But we had a great time.
Ann and I wandered around the older areas of the city yesterday: the Louvre (which is apparently closed on Tuesdays), Le Palais Royale, Les Tuileries, Le Musee D'Orsay (I need to figure out how to type accents on this computer). I've never been to Paris in the Fall and the leaves in the Tuileries were lovely. I was surprised to discover that I actually have memories associated with these places - sketching outside the Louvre, watching Jake skate and a nine-year-old Anna run around humming and jumping off curbs. I can't believe that I'm back here again.
My French is coming along slowly, and to improve it further I've taken to striking up conversations with store owners. People are so interesting. You never know what kind of individual works behind the counter. How long has she lived in the city? What brought her to Paris? Why sell pottery and not something else? I have encountered very little of the "Parisian attitude" that people warned me against when I chose to come here. For the most part everyone is very forgiving of my sloppy French grammar and eager to learn what brings us here. To be honest, I'm eager to learn that as well.
1 comment:
I love the theme already emerging from your two posts since arriving in France. In the first post the plane ride became about the quirky couple a few seats away. In this one, you're thriving on the opportunity to meet people and inquire of their lives. It reminds me of a quote: "There is always one fact more in every man's case about which we know nothing" (Chambers). Thanks for the reminder. :)
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