This weekend is called "Les Journees du Patrimoine" or ..."Days of Patrimony." It is a time where all the historical sites, buildings, and museums are open to the public free of charge to celebrate French history! What a good first weekend to be in Paris! I am not aware of anything like this in America, but I think we should totally adopt this tradition.
My main focus today, however, was to visit my friend Delphine, her husband Pierre, and their new baby Yaël. I had to take the RER (train) then transfer to the Metro (subway) to get to their flat. While on the Metro, I met 4 other au pairs, all of which are going to be taking classes with me at La Clef (the French school in Saint Germain en Laye). We exchanged numbers and are getting together tomorrow to visit Versailles.
My visit with Delphine was fantastic. We laughed, drank wine, ate wonderful food that she prepared, and had the best cheese I have ever tasted! I know that they are going to be great parents to baby Yaël. I am very excited to see how she grows within this first year of her life. Unfortunately, because I was so enthused, I forgot to take pictures... but do not worry! There will be many more reunions between us.
After my visit, I toured the Opera Palais Garnier. It is absolutely beautiful. The Paris Opera has two opera houses. One is the Opera Bastille and the other the infamous Opera Palais Garnier. The Opera Garnier holds about 2,200 spectators and 450 peformers. It was the main home to the Paris Opera from 1875 until 1989, when the Opera Bastille was inagurated. Today, mostly ballets are performed at Garnier and operas at Bastille.
I left the opera house and headed back to Saint Germain-en-Laye. When I arrived, I explored my town a little more. There are some really nice boutiques here. If I am going to attempt to be Parisian, I must look like one! When I packed my clothes, I carefully chose which ones I would bring. I brought my slimmest jeans, lots of long cardigans, belts to assentuate the waist, and so on... I pretty much feel like my clothes have worked well. Besides the fact that the average pants size is probably a US 6, I fit in. There is one piece of clothing however, that I didn't have. A nice lightweight, trench. They are everywhere! If you wanna look French, go buy one now! So.. I bought one. :)
After shopping I walked to a local boulangerie (bakery) to grab dinner. I got what appeared to be tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil on a baguette. I put it in my bag, and walked to the chataeu in my town for a tour. Can I just say, I am so lucky. I live very close to this chateau and it is just breathtaking. This chateau was the home to the French monarch before the French Revolution, after which they moved to Versailles. Unfortunately, they have turned the inside into a museum of artifacts from the bronze, iron, and neolithic ages. I know... that should be cool too, but I wanted to see all the rooms as they were. Anyway, afterward I walked through the gardens and then headed home.
When I got home, I took my sandwich out of my bag and sat down to eat it. Yeah... I was wrong, very wrong. It was a tuna sandwich (the tuna was covered by the outside of the baguette) with tomatoes (got that part right), fresh spinach, and boiled egg (only the white part of the egg was visible). Nevertheless, it was very, very good. Pretty much all of the food I have had here has been wonderful. I will probably dedicate an entire blog to food soon.
Je suis desole (I am sorry), but my internet is so slow. It won't upload the photos I took of today. I will try again tomorrow. Until then...
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