Quirks in Paris


I forgot to explain the title of the last letter: "We don't do that here". This seems to be a common expression when we Americans are doing something odd, like eating cheese with dinner. Brisa gets this a lot with her French boyfriend. Examples of things that are different: baguette gets both cheese and spread of butter (overdoing it a tad, don't you think). Dental flossing is seen as opening the gums up for infection (alright, saves me the guilt), cleaning up your own dog's poop is unnecessary, a separate knife for every spread (don't think of using it for butter and jam, or even for two different jams), and if you want to eat everything on your plate...don't or else you're a little piggy ( I don't follow this rule). There are lots more, maybe I'll send some more if they really tickle my fancy.


FOOD TALK:


When I thought of France, I definitely thought cheese and bread. I didn't however consider pizza, crepes, cous cous, and swarma (spelling? The Mediterranean meat thing that spins around on an upright spit). There are tons of falafel/swarma places, each with a funny little illuminated sign out front with a drawing of a nicely roasting swarma. Three are on here block. I haven't yet eaten any, but we did go to a super yummy cous cous place where I ordered a duck cous cous cooked in almonds, prunes, and caramelized onions. Whoa nelly. It was absolutely delicious. Now about those macaroons. Most folks probably think of the coconut cookie, however a French macaroon is two meringue cookies sandwiching a rich creamy spread in the middle. The cookie and the middle are flavored the same. We went to the famous place for macaroons, a mansion turned restaurant on the main strip, and ordered a whole box. They are ridiculously overpriced, but still quite a treat. Here are the flavors we had: Lime/basil, cappachino, chocolate, vanilla, raspberry, pistachio, cardamom, citron, caramel, and strawberry. My favorites were pistachio, citron, and vanilla.


I went out exploring solo yesterday and wound up in many great places, mostly by mistake. I watched a piece of the Tour de France as it went whizzing by. Didn't see Lance Armstrong, but he wouldn't of recognized me anyway, nor I him for that matter. I turned around from the race and was at a charming park which lies right in front of the Eiffel Tower. Even after all of the hype, I still thought it was pretty swell to look at. I think it would be marvelous at night. It just "towers" over everything and looks pretty magnificent in it's magnitude. I sat in the park and read for an hour or so then went off bumble along. Found myself at the Seine river again, and watched some boats go by. Then I stumbled down some more skinny streets with ol'timey shops and fellow gawking tourists. Bought a splendid ring with a big square blue stone cute into a flower design (not a good description, but it sure is purty). I discovered a wonderful garden at the Rodin Museum. It was perfectly manicured with lots of marble statues (carved by Rodin, duh) like the Thinker and the Gates of Hell. I ambled about in the coifed hedges, roses, and rodedenderans, then sat and read some more. (current read is WICKED, a story about the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz).


Today we are leaving on train to Poietter, in the Provinces. Got to go get an almond crossiant for the train trip.

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