Month: January 2018

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Ooh la la! Galeries Lafayette!

The Galeries Lafayette is an amazing sensory experience spread over three buildings in Paris, right next to the Paris Opera House in the 9th arrondissement. Some say it’s touristy, but not me.  It’s glorious.

View of the Paris Opera House across the street from the Galeries Lafayette

Don’t get me wrong – I can shop at TJ Maxx with the best of them.  But if you just want to LOOK and SEE and EXPERIENCE the magic of an incredibly beautiful Art Nouveau building dripping with original glamour, this is the queen of them all.  

The remarkable dome isn’t even the crowning glory — go to the top floor for a panoramic view of Paris that is spectacular.  (And free!)         Continue reading “Ooh la la! Galeries Lafayette!”

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Needing a 5K walk right about now….

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD.

We have been wined and dined this weekend by a French family and an American expat family.  I can’t eat another bite.  And I’m totally intimidated after experiencing dîner à la française!

The French dinner or Sunday afternoon meal is a long and elaborate affair — beginning with the Champagne or Kir as the aperitif.  Following is the entree [what we Americans call the appetizer], a lovely soup or small flaky pastry with scallops.  Then the plat [what we call the entree] – entrecote [which you know as steak] or Strasbourg sausage, pork loin, and saur kraut.  Full yet?  Wait – we aren’t done!  Next, les fromages….cheeses (yes, plural) and baguettes…and then the dessert….and then the digestif , and then the coffee…..and then a pillow and blanket, because you are face down in a serious food coma!  It was all excellent!   

WAIT!  OH NO!  ARG!  What the heck am I going to cook to reciprocate?  No pressure.  Think, think, think….  
What did we have for dessert, did you say?  France is a predominantly Catholic country and in January, they celebrate Epiphany with a galette des rois.  ‘The Kings’ Cake’ celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem.  Composed of a puff pastry cake, with a small charm, the fève, hidden inside, it is usually filled with frangipane, a cream made from sweet almonds, butter, eggs and sugar.  Not too sweet, flaky, and absolutely WONDERFUL.  Whoever finds the fève gets to wear the Burger King crown!

Ok, gotta go.  Mon mari is asking ‘what’s for dinner…..’

REALLY????????

Love, Mindy

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

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THE [GASP!] PREFECTURE

Nothing else strikes as much dismay into even a Frenchman’s heart as a required trip to the Prefecture.  (Think DMV, Social Services, and Immigration all rolled into one big ugly pot of pea soup stirred by the MOST INSANE slowest bureaucracy in the world.)  If we hadn’t seen it with our own eyes, and been personally shoved, we wouldn’t have completely believed the stories!

All the comments about French people not respecting lines is 100% true at the Prefecture.  Oh, and by the way….we DIDN’T get what we came for, which is the 927th piece of official paperwork required by the French Government to purchase a car.  WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?  What number?  YOUR FRENCH-REGISTRATION-SOCIAL-SECURITY-GOVERNMENT-HEALTH-CARD-NUMBER-AND-PASSWORD?  We don’t have one.  We’re Americans, working for Michelin. GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE!

I may not have to worry at all about not being able to drive a manual transmission, if we never get the “Carte Gris!”  Maybe we should sell the car (which we CAN’T, without the Carte Gris, which we cannot GET –*%!&!), and just invest in Uber!

And to think we get to do it all again soon, IF our Residence Permit comes through…..if it doesn’t, our visas expire January 23 (yes, in 3 weeks) and we won’t be able to leave France – because if we do, we won’t be able to get back IN!  If you could see the mountains of paper required, including your height, weight, number of freckles, your son’s first birthday picture verified by your banker and second cousin on your father’s side, you just wouldn’t believe it.

The most insane day at the DMV doesn’t even hold a candle to this.

I know I’ve been MIA!  SO.MUCH.TO.TELL.  I have a bunch of all-things-French to talk about, so expect more frequent posts now that réveillon de Noël is over!

HAPPY 2018!  Je vous souhaite à tous de bonnes fêtes de fin d’année et vous présente mes vœux pour la nouvelle année!  (Yes, I copied that from Google translate….not that good yet!)

(But I DID take that picture.)  And Happy Birthday, Tanner!!!!

Check back soon…..I have a lot to tell!  Miss you bunches and bunches,

Mindy

In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  1 Thessalonians 5:17-18