Purple. That is the color to watch for this season. I was out shopping for clothes over the weekend and started to notice the "Nouvelle Collections." Today, two days later, walking down the street I saw dozens of people wearing purple. It's as if people bought new purple clothes over the weekend, washed them on Sunday, and today was the official day to start wearing purple.
Speaking of shopping for clothes, the big sales in France are regulated. Yep, that's right. There are two big sales a year, one in February and the other which starts at the end of June and continues through July. I can actually find clothes here that fit, and was pretty excited this past weekend to find four shirts - polo's and fancy t-shirts - which I got for a mere 22 euros. (Okay, so it's about $35, but it was still a bargain. Then, I did what I rarely ever do: impulse shopping. I found a t-shirt, yes a t-shirt for which I paid 20 euros ($32.) Nothing special really, except that it was part of a series based on San Francisco. There was one for Union Square, another for the Lower Haight where I first lived when I moved to SF. But, I had to buy the "Richmond District. San Francisco. Since 1975. Haight-Ashbury vs Richmond. Thirty Five." It makes no sense to me, but it is quite amusing to me and will probably be the only Richmond District t-shirt I will ever buy (or find for that matter.) French fashion meets San Francisco suburbs. (Okay, technically I live in Laurel Heights, which is adjacent to the Inner Richmond which is adjacent to the Richmond District. But close enough.)
It was hot hot hot this past week. That is part of the reason I did nothing except hide out in my apartment with the curtains closed and the windows shut. Okay, I did go out, but that doesn't sound very dramatic. One afternoon I passed a thermometer-clock and I swear it indicated that it was 40 degrees CELCIUS. If it was accurate that would be 104 degrees. I think it was a bit off. That being said, one night after returing from a walk along "Paris Plage" aka Paris Beach, I returned to my apartment and the temperature inside was 86 degrees. And this was after midnight. I'm a wimp from San Francisco and not able to tolerate hot weather, so I did not sleep well last week.
Otherwise the week was filled with dinner with Fabrizio and his "flying partners"; studying French and watching television; a few trips to the swimming pool, several walks including one in a park on the outskirts of Paris (hoping for cooler weather in the shade); and dinner at a Columbian-Mexican restaurant with Ariel and Renaud who had just returned from their vacation.
Oh, and did I forget to mention that despite just getting over a cold, I hauled my ass down to the Champs Elysee to watch the finale of the Tour de France? Not the best view, but more fun than watching it on television.
I also made a trip to the Louvre on Sunday, along with a million other people. The first Sunday of each month is free at many museums, and an economical way to spend the day, especially for a family with a dozen children.
Louvre - Napoleon's Apartment. A bit over the top.
A tapestry, not a painting. Look closely at those trees. They seem almost life-like.
A walk through the Jardin de Tuileries in front of the Louvre. Rides, games, food, a ferris wheel and lots of fun for families who can't escape the Paris heat and who can't tolerate the crowds at the Louvre.
So, to quote Monty Python's Holy Grail... "I'm not dead... yet." I've just been lazy and not blogging. And yes Mel, I will try to be a little better at posting more blog entries. Actually, Leo arrives on Saturday so I'm sure to have more adventures soon.
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