I haven't made it to the gym in the past two weeks (last week we had La Gastro in the house and this week I've been doing the press junket for No Love Locks) but I've sure had my walking shoes on, running all over town to be interviewed on bridges, running letters to mayoral candidates and seeing friends. As usual, I have my trusty iPhone camera at the ready. Here's some of what I've seen on my walks.
In a park near the Canal Saint Martin, I entered the park grounds and the air was suddenly filled with the scent of hyacinth! I wish I could describe what a lift that gave me, that sudden sweet change in the air quality; to go frrom the usual gritty Parisian city air, to air that smelled like spring in my mother's back yard in rural New Jersey.
One of the locks in the Canal Saint Martin. That footbridge is one that does have some locks on it now, but that nice couple up there was only looking - not locking. She was taking a photo so I guess I was in her picture, too!
I went to the annual Paris Salon du Livre or book fair last week. No luck finding any books, agents or publishers in English (or if they were there, they weren't obvious and there weren't many -- I wonder why that was?) But I LOVED this one sign posted next to one of the booths (that was actually representing a publisher from a country other than France or any of the Anglophone countries).
This was a very delicious stew made from BISON! I've never eaten bison but have wanted to try it; there is even a bison farm not far from my home in New Jersey that raises bison and they sell the meat. I had heard it was quite good and healthier than beef. And it tasted great! It was a surprise to find it on the menu in this little restaurant near the Canal Saint Martin, but they also had dishes made with wild boar/sanglier and deer meat, as well as the more usual beef, chicken and lamb. A carnivore's paradise, I suppose.
On rue Bonaparte in the 6ème there are many art galleries and quirky shops, and this one sells everything from antique stick-pins and tiny perfume bottles to the REAL Laguiole knives (accept no imitations) and miniature books on chocolate!
I've been doing the job interview thing in recent weeks, as you know, and it now seems very likely that I will soon begin working a full-time job. I won't be able to say much about where I will be working or what I will be doing other than to say "reservations and customer service" and you can use your own imaginations as to what that involves. I think that's one part of my life where it's best to keep certain things to myself and avoid any potential problems that some employers have with their employees blogging about their jobs. Let's face it: it doesn't pay to bite the hand that feeds you, especially in a public forum like the internet. But what I will talk about from time to time is the general impact that working will have on my daily life in France. I will have a lot less free time, less time in which to get things done at home, less time to write, to exercise at the gym (or to worry about love locks); but I will also have more regular social interaction, which I really think I have been needing for some time, more structure to my days (also much needed) and the extra money will be helpful.
In any event, the amount and nature of my blogging will most likely have to shift a bit. I might have to do more short photo posts and then maybe one longer post on the weekends. We'll have to see what I can manage. Anyway if you could all have a good thought for me on the job front, that the job I end up with is the best one possible for me at this time, and that I have a smooth transition into the job as well as balancing everything else in my life.
