Tales From the 10th: Short and Sweet

I don't have much time, but I wanted to give you all a little update about my crazy life lately. It has been exactly 31 consecutive days now that I have had visitors and/or house guests. Yesterday, my freedom arrived, and I took advantage by lounging in my pj's all day, painting my nails, and watching Band of Brothers. It was quite a nice reward after going going going for a month straight.

It started out with Kelsey's arrival on Valentine's Day, which you all read about in a previous blog. Then our big tour of Italy for 10 days. We arrived back in Paris on a Monday morning, and the following Wednesday she went back home to California. The next day, my college roommate Shannon and her boyfriend Erik arrived. Luckily there were 2 of them, so I felt less obliged to be their tour guide. I hung out with them a bit during the day, showing them around my favorite neighborhoods and taking walking tours of various parts of the city. We went out to my favorite restaurants a couple nights, and I had them over to my house a few times to cook for them. Each night they came over had a theme. The first night was French, so I made a warm goat cheese salad, foie gras, and quiche lorraine. The second night was Indian, so I made a yellow curry chicken and veggie dish, and for dessert caramelized pears with a lemon ricotta sauce, honey, and toasted almonds. For their last night in Paris, we went Italian with a caprese salad, pesto and sun dried tomato pasta, and cinnamon rice pudding. So yummy!! I had a great time with Shannon and Erik here and was sad to see them leave. Halfway through their stay, however, they took a 4 day mini-vacation to London via the Eurostar. The same morning they left, my good friend from home Ashley Whipple, and another friend Rachelle came to Paris. They were on a quick Eurotrip during spring break, and were previously in London for a few days before coming to stay with me in Paris for 3 nights. We had a great time sightseeing, eating good food, and hanging out with my Paris friends. Their stay was definitely too short, but they got much accomplished in the little time they had. It was nice for me because I did a couple things that I have yet to do in Paris. I climbed to the tip top of the Notre Dame, which has arguably a better view than the Eiffel Tower, and I went inside the Sainte Chapelle church, which has exquisite stained glass. I took them to my favorite fondue restaurant, and we had a wonderful night out with friends before they headed home.

Now that everyone is gone, you would think it's time for me to relax...wrong! That was yesterday. Today the adventure begins again, as I am off to Valencia, Spain today with the family to celebrate Las Fallas! I will tell you more about this festival in my next blog, so I have pictures to accompany it!

I begin my new job next Thursday, and as it turns out, for the first couple weeks at least, instead of working at the restaurant, I will be on location, catering the Beaubourg International Film Festival here in Paris. So stoked! Only downside is that during the film festival, I will likely be working every single day from 9-5pm. Oh well, more travel money!

I promised this would be short and sweet and, well, it's not. Sorry! But here are some pictures to make up for it :)