I gotta fast car

This morning I woke up to a weird dream (like most of my dreams), I suddenly see in front of me La Bastille, but in the dream I couldn't remember the name, I convinced myself it was called Baymen, quelque chose comme ca! I look at my boyfriend while he was driving and told him with surprise that Paris is only a 6 hours drive from Lebanon, and continued that we should do this more often, we can go have dinner for two hours and come back to Lebanon, it's really worth it!

And as I was analyzing in my dream, if you go by land, you won't need a passport or a visa. I was very happy to know that. Then we went to La Seine, there was a ship, that was throwing fun rockets, but one of them did bump into the ceiling of a car. I thought that it's normal, it's their show, people accept it. And I woke up.

Paris je t'aime

*sigh*

I miss Paris.

Sleepless in Paris - Last night

Speechless in Paris is more like it, I had so much to say for the past two nights, but I had left my laptop at work (because it's also the laptop I work on), and it was a drain carrying it back and forth and especially when I go hang out after work, and am sure you know by now that there is a lot of walking around here.

The last 3 nights were just perfect, I did the last two things I wanted to do, it is go to Louvre and go on the bateau mouche, but also, I got to see another 2 of my friends and eat at the Paradis des fruits *coughs-overrated-coughs*

This is my last night in Paris, and my last night in the hotel. I might never come back here and I might come back to live, no one knows, but I did say goodbye to the metro, to the hotel, and tomorrow to Paris.

But the most important conclusion that I drew from all this is... how easy I felt integrated, and right in my place, not when the metro is too crowded, that I can never get used to.

Hasta la vista baby, so long suckers, and TADA to the next place I visit.

Sleepless in Paris - Day X+1

You know how people drive in Lebanon, when they don't let anyone else pass, they jump their cars in front of you because they want to go before you and faster than you? And they cross you over, and move in front of you, or cut your way so they can pass, even though it is clearly your road.

Well they do this in Paris, with walking!

Check this McDonalds's location, isn't it just beautiful? It's small, it's in the middle, it's old, and it's McDonald's



Dogs here are like ants (mitel el namel) in Lebanon, there are so many, just look at this one!

Sleepless in Paris - Day X

I donno which day it is anymore, maybe 8th? Anyway, I got a book with me today to the metro, you know, the cool me, blending in with the french dudes and dudettes, but to my surprise, and I guess it is because it is early Monday morning, it was packed, I couldn't breeze, I had 6 or 7 stations to go, and the last 2 stations I started sweating and felt like I was gonna faint, and kept telling myself, visualize the metro empty, you are alone, there is a lot of oxygen... No, it did not work!

After I got to work, hell broke loose, too many projects to work on, not so much time, need to finish everything for production soon, still I did not panic! Later on, J told me that there is once again a problem with the whole trying to get a house loan thing, and it was a big one, nevertheless I did not panic, I reflected: "Whether you panic or not, nothing will change!"
No no, am not that deep, I didn't panic, because if I did, things would get much worse, things WILL change.

Later on, I left work hoping to meet up with any of my friends, but they all ignored me, yes, YOU and YOU and YOU.... Okay okay they have busy lives, I understand, I would've done the same thing too. But right now, I am my own center of the universe, and I wanted to hang out, but I didn't I went straight to my hotel, luckily my cousin who happens to be in toulouse, called me and kept me company from the beginning of my LIGNE 3 journey to the hotel. I had to end the call because my battery is dying. Now, don't worry, she's on life support.

After a while, I got hungry, so I followed my heart hoping to find that shaped logo, and to my surprise I did find it, I ordered a meal "sur place", it wasn't good, but it was food.

Actually people who know me will be shocked to know I ate at McDonalds, cause I hate it in Lebanon, and now I hate it in France! I usually eat at Burger King, but the last time I ate at BK was 27 December 2007. Yes I remember the date, because it happens that I LOVE BK, but I hadn't eaten there since because I got food poisened. I should've known better and not take the OFFER they had, because it's usually old. Luckily I vomited all of it, the f*cking acid in my stomach was killing me, orelse I would've gone to the hospital for sure!

Bi khsous talking a lot, you have to forgive me, but talking French all day is so agonizing that I have to vent in English at the end of it.

Fa fichez moi la paix trou de derriere!

Sleepless in Paris - Day 5?

Tip of the day for when you are in Paris:
"Look down when you're walking, or you will be stepping in dog poop, and stay in denial for an hour saying, no no it's chocolate ice-cream"

Funny scene happened yesterday, you know at metro stations here they distribute free newspapers, those that have light articles and a lot of ads. Anyway, after I got into the metro, the doors were closing, then people ran fast towards the door (I used to wonder why they did that, now I do it too), so I think the driver saw them and opened them again, but they closed so fast, and this woman's newspaper got stuck while she was still outside, unlike the usual, they re-opened the door, but the newspaper fell down, so she bent down to pick it up, and another woman came in the metro running and the door closed again, and the first woman got stuck outside, for a free newspaper! Haram!

They sell fruits here on carriages on the corner of the streets, it reminded me so much of Lebanon: "2 Euros, 2 Euros les cerises, venez achetez de cerises, 2 Euros. Madame, vous voulez une Bakette (basket?) de cerises pour 2 Euros?"

Several times, I come to refer to the hotel I am staying in as home.

The below pictures were taken in Mont Martre, where Scare Coeur is.



An old house, so beautiful.

Sleepless in Paris - Day 4

Ah well! One thing in Paris for sure is that the bathrooms are always clean, because they're scarcely used! French people don't hate me, but am just doing some statistics here and comparison with my home land!

Sleepless in Paris - Night 3

De toute façon... My utter shock today was how expensive this restaurant I got invited to is, and I swear I wouldn't eat the things in it for free. You know, moule, escargot, faux filet, bli bla blou... And all the time I spent today were either at work (stayed till 19h30, like yesterday, and then went to meet my cousins, stayed in the resto till midnight, then metro, BLEH)

I slapped myself today when I noticed that I started thinking in french. My eyelids have been closing since morning today, I think I really should get more sleep...

In conclusion, Paris day 2, Night 3, was okay. I can do better tomorrow!

Oh and I bought a bag (SUKKUMEN = Sac à main) today, because mine is torn in some places! yey for me, it was cheap 27Euros, which is almost 42USD, which is 63000LL! AHH

Oh, okay fine I get it, people love reading here, but I didn't know that it went that far, today a girl was walking in the metro station holding a book and reading it, not a small newspaper article or something, no a whole book, while walking!!

And I saw several women wearing business skirts riding a bike. And several riding a motorbike! That I like!

Sleepless in Paris - Day 2

As much as I was amazed by Notre Dame, I have to tell you, Paris smells like Pee! Anyway, day 1 covered work, had some problems adjusting my working environment to here, but at the end of the day it worked out! When I was leaving, it was raining a little bit, so I bought an umbrella! Yey for me. Then met my friend, went on the bus and I saw the Louvre (from far).

The hotel reservation problem has been solved, so am staying in the same hotel. But I was kinda downgraded, I was moved from a bigger room to a smaller one. *cries*

Here are some pictures :D Turned out I have a memory card reader in the laptop, silly me, I didn't notice it yesterday!




I am thinking of calling in sick tomorrow to work :P Mih

Sleepless in Paris - Night 1

I really surprised myself! I actually was not afraid on the plane tonight (more like yesterday)! I was cool, read the newspaper, watched a coupla movies! All good.

Then I arrived to the Charles de Gaulle airport, went in a taxi to my hotel to find that my reservation was cancelled, but you know what? I didn't care, luckily I was able to reserve for the night, and we'll see about tomorrow! Then my friend came over and picked me up. We went to the Opera, place de vendome, champs elysees of course, had a drink and grabbed a quick chicken burger from QUICK! Finally, I went back to the hotel by myself, alone, in the metro, can't believe I just did that! It really is so simple!

Someone told me to grab every opportunity that hits me in the face, and I am trying to do that. Let's just hope I stay awake for all of them, coz am darn tired and sleepy!

No pictures yet, I brought the wrong cable for the cam with me from Beirut! Alileh rasseh?