November 25, 2004, Jardins du Luxembourg.

November 25, 2004, Jardins du Luxembourg.

November 25, 2004: The Luxembourg Gardens. In the background, you can see the Saint-Sulpice church, which was nextdoor to where I lived when I first moved to Paris. I took the dreamy location for granted.

November 25, 2004, Paris, France: Thanksgiving day was chilly, yet the sun was out all day. I took advantage of the weather, considering most days here tend to be gray and rainy. Here is a photo I took in the Gardens of Luxembourg.

November 25, 2004, Paris, France: Something was happening on the streets of Paris today. Here's a 9 a.m. view of the street right outside of my college (La Sorbonne Nouvelle). If you look hard enough you will be able to see the herd of gendarmeries on horses trotting around the corner.

I watched the airing of 'Le Vrai Journal' pass on Canal+ television today! Côte d'Ivoire's raggae singer Ticken Jah Fakoly also had a live interview on the show. His music is insightful and political; certainly worth checking out. I have had truly wonderful experiences with Cote d'Ivoiriennes in both New York City and Paris, and I am crossing my fingers that the current situation in the country will improve.

Today, a media agent invited us to participate in the airing of a liberal, well-known television show here: 'Le Vrai Journal'. Today's guest star, José Bové, the apparent Michael Moore of France, is known for having dismantled a McDonalds with his tractor.

ENTRY: le metro hystérique

So Matthieu and I step on the metro at my stop Argentine and find seats near a group of middle-aged German women, all four laughing so hysterically that their faces are bright red. I begin picking at the viennoise baguette in my bag, responding to questions Matthieu is asking about my day.

The red-faced ladies continue laughing like madwomen, slapping their knees, gasping for breath as nearby passangers attempt focusing on other subjects. Before I know it, the pregnant blonde woman sitting ahead of me begins to giggle. As if on cue, the graying businessman next to her cracks a smile before beginning to hold back laughter.

Miraculously, the fit of laughter immediately spread to everyone in every direction of the metro car. At least fifty people were sitting ahead of me, commuting alone to their apartments after long hard days at work. All of them were laughing hysterically at this point.

I was in a state of disbelief, yet Matthieu and I both began giggling to one another. Minutes later, as I gasped for breath and continued wiping away tears of laughter, I reasoned that if this madness wasn't some reality TV stint, someone must have certainly planted laughing gas in our car. I had no answers for those who had just gotten on the metro at the Champs-Elysées, commuters curious to know why the entire metro was roaring with laughter.

The passangers began to calm themselves down, and I realized that it was neither a joke nor a science experiment. The four German women continued to laugh, yet the others on the metro grew distant and emotionless once again, staring straight ahead past their neighbors busy reading the financial section of le Figaro.

Early October, Paris, France: Here I am in the park of the Musée Rodin. Back in January, my sister was devastated that the museum was closed the day we went to visit, but I definitely plan to return with her in December.

A random photo taken from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. I live in one of the buildings in the bottom left corner, and work at my pâtisserie somewhere in the mass on the bottom right. I live right where the 8th, 16th, and 17th arrondissements meet. The sole skyscraper in this photo, la Concorde, is seen from my window (it's so modern, and makes me feel like I'm still in Manhattan).

October 29, 2004, Paris, France: The view from my window is quite an extreme drop. This is the inside patio of my 18th-century building, unusually ritzy and très Avenue Foch.

October 29, 2004, Paris, France: Here is the window view from my new apartment. Pigeons like loitering on the chimney tops so they can catch a glimpse into my apartment. It's basically the standard French rooftop, nothing extraordinary, not like my last apartment at least. But the nosy pigeons make up for it.

June 2004: Ugie cut her hair! And she finally sent me the pictures of our week together back in June. Here we are all dressed up, ready to explore Washington D.C. I enjoyed D.C., in fact I loved every moment of it. Why? Because Ugie was there, simple enough. I have grown to learn that it is not a city that a person falls in love with, but the friends they have who make the moments there so worthwhile.

This, my friends, is the luxurious Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. 

September 18th, outside of Paris, France: Emily and I went to the breathtaking Château de Vaux-le-Vicompte, where French royalty once lived out their dangerous liaisons. My photos don't do the place justice. It was pitch black out, yet the chateau has no electricity whatsoever, so all those lights you see are actually thousands candles which extend a good kilometer into the gardens. Can you imagine the atmosphere? I've never been so awestruck in my life, and if you only saw the moat and the gardens!

September 7th, 2004, Paris, France: I feel a thousand times better after being ill, so the perfect day seems so much more lovely. In an hour I'm moving out of the studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, although I'd stay here forever if I had the choice. I'll be living two blocks from the Arc de Triomphe, a very nice area as well. It's off the Champs-Elysées, which historically defines majestic, yet every twist and turn lies a Sephora, Virgin Megastore and 6.000 € cufflink boutique. I won't have the internet for quite some time. If it were up to me, I'd get it installed immediately, but we're talking slow-moving bureaucracy here. Oh well--being alive and well is good enough.

Tonight, I bought this massive poster for my new apartment. In any case, my cousin Ashley is going to paint me a work of art as my centerpiece, how kind of her!

Here is a recent photo of the view from my balcony. A block away lies the Church of Saint-Sulpice (it's partially in construction, but captivating nevertheless). I just began the book The Da Vinci Code. My jaw dropped when within 5 minutes I was reading about the all-powerful "secret keystone" hidden at the Church of Saint-Sulpice, apparently unlocking the greatest secret of human history! Although fact and fiction, here I am, in love with the book already--it perfectly compliments the adventure of my life in Paris, and I've been learning such interesting information on Paris' history. The story revolves around my neighborhood, which makes it all the more chilling. Living five minutes from the Louvre, I'll make sure to take my first visit the day I finish this book.

Here is the Place de la Bastille, and this is how crowded it was yesterday!

Today is a huge day! Mike's older brother's first album comes out in stores worldwide! I give it a matter of days to go platinum, as it will hit the top of all the charts throughout France, Switzerland, Belgium, etc...the brothers recently starred in the music video for his second single '1977'. Definitely take a look at Mike on the drums in the biggest music video in France (this was the music video I mentioned them doing earlier this month, when we were at the hotel near Hard Rock Café)! Here Steeve is in duo with Sting, as well.

Paris, France, August 23, 2004: A typical view on a bridge overtop the Seine, all close to my new apartment. Typical Parisian weather, as well...overcast white skies illuminating a magical city.

August 23, 2004, Paris, France: Vive la libération! Wednesday marks the 60th anniversary of Paris' liberation from the Nazis, and views like this have been commemorating the victorious allies throughout the city. I want to share this photo, taken on the Champs Elysées, to honor all the World War II veterans I know back home. Everywhere I look in today's France, the Americans do get credit for having freed the French.

August 21, 2004, Paris, France: I spent a good amount of time on one of Paris' bridges admiring the River Seine, the distant Eiffle Tower ahead and behind me the Notre Dame.

August 21, 2004, Paris, France: On my first afternoon without guests, I took a stroll to the Louvre to picnic on tabouli. Without a job or classes yet, without knowing a soul in Paris, what options do I have on a sunny day off?

August 17, 2004, Paris, France: I found myself in the same gardens I visited with my sister in January. I can't say I recall which royal family lived in this château, but it certainly takes you back to another time and place.

Paris, France, August 12, 2004: The view out our hotel room window. This, my friends, is the Boulevard Montmartre...is it me or are there no bad views of Paris?

Paris, France, August 7, 2004: Montmartre is such a dreamy place. It's at the very top of Paris, where the Sacré Coeur is located, and its peaks overlook the entire city. Here you'll find adorable cobblestone streets, shops, and restaurants, and although packed with tourists, Montmartre has succeeded in preserving a quaint charm over the years. There is even an area of Montmartre where Paris' most talented artists are designated by the city to portray their works, as well as paint and sell portraits of visitors.

Paris, France, August 7th, 2004: I took this photo of the Sacré Coeur without giving it much thought, but I like the perspective.

Paris, France, August 6, 2004: This is a familiar sight to those who watch the news on a regular basis. Much of French political affairs take place behind these gates.

August 2, 2004, Perouge, France: On a steaming hot summer day, Kelsey and I found temporary relief in the shadow of a tree, located in the very center of our favorite midieval French town.

July 23rd, 2004, Morestel, France: Before snacking on yummy Middle Eastern food in a nearby town, I couldn't help but get some pictures of the breathtaking surroundings.

Montalieu-Vercieu, France, July 23rd, 2004: Me and a goofy French cow I encountered next to Mike's neighborhood. Growing up in New Jersey, I lived across from a bunch of cows as well. I think this picture is worth a thousand words.

July 20, 2004, Somewhere, France: This photo turned out wonderfully. You can see the view of Grenoble in the valley of the smokey Alps in the background, the cliffs we climbed in Kelsey's adorable Twingo, and a cyclist pumping his way up to see the Tour de France. Most likely, he got there well before we did.

July 20, 2004, Villard-de-Lans, France: Kelsey and I waving a flag some Frenchmen gave us for our picture, minutes after arriving at the day's Tour de France finishing point. Victory was a major part of our excitment, as we succeeded to get there with no map or directions whatsoever.

July 20, 2004, Villard-de-Lans, France: We searched for a spot a couple of hours before the race, but I stopped for a moment to get a picture in front of a pretty hill and an American flag.

July 20, 2004, Villard-de-Lans, France: What do proud Basque spectators, a Frenchman dressed as a pig, and a professional cyclist all have in common? They've all made the Tour de France what it is today!

July 20, 2004, Villard-de-Lans, France: Proof that I was there...you can see me spectating behind some of the lightning-fast cyclists.

July 20, 2004, Villard-de-Lans, France: What can I say? It was a fantastic day and the photos turned out great!

July 20, 2004, Villard-de-Lans, France: And for the grand finale...Lance Armstrong! He is pictured here (third) in his US Postal jersey, but he's about to exchange it for the yellow jersey.

ENTRY: livestrong

After such an unforgettable weekend, we spent Monday recovering (and bungey jumping on the banks of the Rhone River!) and on Tuesday, Kelsey and I drove up to Villard-de-Lans. In this gorgeous town in the mountains overtop of Grenoble, we dined at a fine French restaurant and saw the Tour de France.

On that particular day, the entire French charm in Villard-de-Lans was only in terms of its aesthetics, for people from all over the world drove/cycled/motorcycled/took a bus/flew to the town to witness the Tour de France. I quickly felt as if I were in Disney World, in the Epcot Center perhaps, as the town was swamped with fellow Americans. We almost never come across any English-speakers in this area of France, so Kelsey and I quickly lost our secret language.

Yesterday I saw Lance Armstrong with my own eyes. I knew it was him the moment I spotted him, and my eyes followed at lightning speed as I yelled "LLLLAAAAAAAAAYNNNNNNCCCCCCEEEEE!!!!!"

He was gone as quickly as he came and all around me, I overheard people in several languages recounting their own stories of their Lance Armstrong siting to those around them.

As a New Yorker I've found myself face to face with several famous people, from Richard Gere to Benjiman Bratt (whom I waited on). Seeing a list of famous actors, musicians and models was never much of a big deal for me. The thing about Lance is that he is a hero to many, a cancer survivor who continues to rock the Tour de France year after year, yellow jersey after yellow jersey. And yes, we were sure it was Sheryl Crow peeking out that window. And no, I didn’t see Robin Williams.

When it was all over, the masses began to pack into one tiny square to wait for free buses to take us back to our parking spots. The rumors are true: the French really don't know how to form lines. I felt reduced to a gerbil, tossed around as cutters scraped their way (or sprinted) to the entrance of the first, second, then third bus. Finally I grabbed Kelsey and refused to be pushed further backwards, I braved the crazed mobs and shoved my way onto the bus.

Two minutes into the ride, the bus stopped and turned around in the middle of a traffic jam and the driver kicked everyone off. I've never witnessed such chaos in my life. We ended up walking several kilometers to Kelsey's Renault Twingo with masses of other people, many of whom were unfit for walking. We were all dodging the Tour de France entourage driving to their next venue, grumbling as hundreds of Gendarmeries and hardcore cyclists left us in their dust. Soon enough, mountain after mountain, café after café, catcall after catcall, we stumbled to the car.

From there, we drove home listening to David Bowie and admiring the breathtaking views of the Alps and Grenoble. I stuck my upper-body out the window and discoursed with cyclists while taking several pictures, as I made a case of doing all day long, so I'll be sure to post yesterday's pictures as soon as possible.

As an amateur cyclist with her own Peugeot, who has spent every day of past summers waking up at dawn to road bike deep into the New Jersey Pine Barrens, It has been one of my dreams to be present at the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong was once my idol, and to have seen him with my very own eyes seconds before winning his yellow jersey is profoundly inspiring. And now, I will replace these goals I once had with yet another: to spend a summer cycling through the French countryside!

July 18th, 2004, Montfalcon, France: This picture captures the ambiance which made the day so unforgettable, and the children are adorable. Mike is pictured with his grandmother helping his new goddaughter unwrap her first Bible.

July 17th, 2004, La Vallée Bleue, Montalieu-Vercieu, France: I took this picture off of the balcony an hour or two before the Vallée Bleue fireworks. On the weekend of Bastille Day, a carnival is set up each year with bumper cars, various games, bungey jumping, and tons of great food. 

July 17th, 2004, La Vallée Bleue, Montalieu-Vercieu, France: As the fireworks were blasting, so were the Star Wars theme song and Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You."

July 17th, 2004, La Vallée Bleue, Montalieu-Vercieu, France: Life is good. The Bastille Day fireworks are exploding directly over the Rhone River, with the backdrop of the foot of the Alps. Last year we watched them from the balcony, but this year we decided to admire them from the banks of the river.

July 17, 2004, Les Cascades qui se trouve prés de Seillonaze: We were going to go to the nearby waterfall to swim, but once we felt the ice-cold water, no one felt like getting hyperthermia. Instead, we had a small picnic, and I found myself eating delicious French yogurt.

July 15, 2004, Somewhere, France: Here I am sipping Perrier at the Barathym, a mysterious-looking restaurant isolated on the side of a road heading to Bourgoin-Jallieu. Yesterday, Mike and I ate here exactly two years after we met in Nice. I'd been pushing to eat at Barathym for over a year, and my dream came true yesterday over a plate of poulet and Perrier!

July 10, 2004, Saint Martin le Vinoux, France: Kelsey and I sipping Martinis and enjoying Pep6's concert.

July 10, 2004, Saint Martin le Vinoux: A journalist took this photo of the concert. Cliff is in purple and yellow, singing in the center. Friend and bassist Marc is covering Mike, who is drumming in the background.

2004, France: Impressive, accurate, humbling. One of the various fan doodles I've stumbled upon on this computer. A fan put great effort into drawing the brothers as aged rock and rollers. The image is quite imaginative since Mike, on the far left, would never be seen in such a horrendous coat.

July 10, 2004, Saint Martin le Vinoux, France: Mike and I are in the bar now, sitting together right before he goes up on stage.

July 10, 2004, Saint Martin le Vinoux, France: Here, Kelsey and I are waiting for Mike and Cliff's concert Pep6. We are in a ghost-like town right next to Grenoble, and the rocks jutting up behind us soar thousands of feet high. 

April 2003, Switzerland: Kelsey and I sandwiched between chocolateries and cuckoo clock shops in Geneva.