If you know how long it will take or how much it will cost, it's not really research....

[lagilman]

What's today, Tuesday? September? Already? Thank god...

Quick recap: Sunday morning was spent sitting in the tiny but delightful green-park outside the Musee de Beaux Arts, reading a research book I've been prowling through all week, then H and I went to Ch. du Clos de Vougeot (home of the Confrerie des Chavaliers du Tastevin) were I got a hands-on personal tour of the chateau and surrounding area that was fabulous (photos tk via Flickr photodump), and then dinner at H's place (a flat in an 18th century building in the heart of Dijon), where I browsed her magnificent library and discussion of many topics was made over port and wine brought up from her actual cellar (we used a candle to go down to fetch the wine because the battery on her flashlight had died -- talk about atmosphere!) Made it home a little after 1 a.m, and had to catch an early morning train back to Paris. Ow.

Paris was as I left it -- overcast and drizzling this time instead of downpour. Still Paris. Wish I had more time there but since I still owe FF et J a trip to Lille I suspect I'll be back again before too long... (and hopefully the dollar will be stronger!)

Random personal (non-research-y) thoughts.

France really is a lot like the US, in ways good and bad. I feel invited and at home there, even with my merde language skills, while the UK, despite a mostly-shared language, always feels foreign and oddly closed-off (and I am convinced that Paris is soul-sister to NYC). Jefferson and Franklin may have been on to something...

I really, really want a moto-scooter now. Scooters are le coolth. Someone talk me out of it (or, if you're otterdance, into it).

There is no such thing as too much wine. Just not enough bread and too little sleep.

An admiring second look from a Frenchman really can make you feel ten years younger and 100% prettier (also: alas, my taste in men seems consistent. Sorry, 20-something prettybois).

Every time I go abroad, I bring home something tucked inside that changes my life. Not sure what it will be this time, but I can feel it taking root and making room....

Scarfs may be a required fashion, but I don't like having something wrapped around my neck.

Not many Asians touristing in France. I guess they're all busy in North America.

Canadians really do apologize for everything. Stop it!

Cats are cats everywhere.

It's going to take me at least a week to stop saying d'accord. Like "va bene," it's been seared into my conversational reflex.

If you eat high-fat foods, and drink a lot of wine, and spend at least half the day on your feet, you will lose weight. My upper body is clamoring to get back to the gym, though.

The staff at CDG was surprisingly sweet. Do they not know they work at an airport?

Although it will take me a little while to adjust to the rhythm and sounds of the city, as always, je suis une New Yorker. It's good to be home.


And, on that note, I have stuff to unpack and put away, and deadlines to hammer into the wall....

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

FF here again. I'm still in Maine, though going to Mass on Thursday. You bet we are still expecting you in Lille. French men, especially in Paris, like women. Short, tall, thin , plump. And they let you know it. They also tend to expect you to accept coffee at a cafe. At least, 20 years ago when I lived in Paris they did. Hope you find your center. Say hello to the Duchess and Boomer.

[lagilman]

You bet we are still expecting you in Lille.

oui, c'est le plan! And hopefully by then my French will be advanced enough that J won't have to turn to you after every sentence and ask qu'est-ce que elle a dit?

(and yeah, I know my grammar sucks...)

[taikyoyo.livejournal.com]

autumn in new york, good time to sort the notes and let the flutter settle. Glad your data collection of the sensory sort was a success, all around. I miss Paris.

[autojim.livejournal.com]

Re: Scooter

Vespa+rider: Maybe 300 lbs on a bad day.

Average NYC Taxicab: 4200+ lbs.

You're probably quicker point-to-point on foot/subway than scooter unless you split lanes, which I don't know the legality of in NYC. Lane splitting ups the danger level considerably, legal or no.

Also, NYC's climate is such that a scooter will probably be parked 4-5 months out of the year in favor of more weather-resistant transportation. And they're hard to heft up the stairs @ 150-200 lbs without rider (and storing gasoline in your residence? Not a good plan).

That said, it's one of the things I've considered myself to save on commute costs, and the weather thing is what has dissuaded me so far. Instead, it looks like I'll just get a rental abode much closer to the office when I move out later this year.

[autojim.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Welcome Home! :D

[lagilman]

Ah, but I have A Garage!

I suspect a scooter would be used mainly to get to/from the places that are too far to walk and aren't on a point-to-point bus line (the larger supermarket, etc), and going out to Jersey and points local. But the weather consideration is a valid one.

(and, er -- "move out?")

[ferragus.livejournal.com]

Yay! You're home!
Goddess you won't believe how terrible it's been!
That Person fed us all wrong! It might even have been poison.
You're not paying enough attention to us. HEY over here!
Oh It was horrible! Don't ever leave again!
I'm going to take a nap now.
Yay! You're Home!


Oh Sorry I was channeling the cats!

Glad you're home, even when I'm not channeling cats.

[autojim.livejournal.com]

Ahh, you have that rarest of things in NYC, the Garage. :) Very good.

As for "move out", yep. Not unexpected. I haven't really gotten into much detail on LJ. Okay, ANY detail. But it will be happening soonish. No hate, no anger, no one thing that precipitated it, just two people's paths diverging. Unfortunate and sad, but looks to be the best option at this point. Still many details to nail down first.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

The UK? Closed off? I must show you the finer points of London someday.

I'm glad you had such an excellent trip.

[lagilman]

I must show you the finer points of London someday.

I've been there (and around the UK) a number of times, for work and pleasure, with friends and visiting locals. Not saying it isn't an interesting city/country, just my comparative experience versus France.

[lagilman]

*snerk* We went through all those iterations, yeah, although they were reasonably fond of/satisfied with their cat-sitter.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

My last French experiences are so old that I have no real basis for comparison anymore. But I am more comfortable where I can speak more of the language.