Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year!

To think I left the party early!! It is now 3 am and I have been drinking champagne and dancing for hours in an unventilated room full of people smoking and sweating. Vive la France! Starting the 2nd it will be against the law to smoke indoors and judging from tonight I find that to be a splendid idea.

I went to C. Cafe in the 11th arrondissement. My neice's boyfriend is opening this club in a month and this was the preview party. I met a lot of their friends that I had heard about, but never met and everyone was wonderful. I even got to dance an Arab dance (with a little guidance), hands in the air, hips swaying...which is a rare find in Santa Barbara. The group I was with included a Russian, a girl from Martinique, a German, a Lebanese guy born in NY, and a bunch of Frenchies. The city is still alive with sounds of happy Parisiens and I am off to get the stench of smoke out of my hair.

I wish you all a very happy new year full of champagne and fabulous company.














My nieces on either side of me and one of their friends. The club has yet to be renovated before its grand opening in a month, so it will look much different...no more graffiti all over the place.
Artistic photo of my bubbly:

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Bonjour Mes Amis!

I have arrived! My flight was a little bit late, but I got to change my seat to an exit row so I actually slept for the first time ever! The flight left at 9:30 PM and I was tired, so this helped out as well. My neices were at the airport to greet me and off to Paris we went.

At the apartment we shared a bottle of Bliard Champagne with my aunt and my friends Chris and Rachel who were staying in the apartment. Fantastic! Then off to dinner at the corner restaurant. I enjoyed a foie gras stuffed magret de canard accompanied by a gratin dauphinois and a few glasses of a Cote de Bourg wine.

I am now pleasantly full and off to get some rest! I can't believe I am here for 6 months!