I do work on it in the evening when the gramophone is playing late Beethoven sonatas. (The windows fidget at their fastenings as if we were at sea.)
- Virginia Woolf
Il y a 8 ans
samedi 28 mai 2011
vendredi 27 mai 2011
Closing in
A sweet close to the end; the bottle of Sofia is well worth the wait. Strangely enough finishing this academic year does not feel euphoric, jubilant - I feel happy but thoroughly exhausted. But this year out of medicine has allowed me to learn a lot of more than I ever have (studying philosophy, learning french, volunteering, blogging), and I am truly grateful of everything and everyone (yes, every of you too who is here now on the blogosphere!) that I have met.
We celebrated the end of exams by dining at the Wright Brothers. Hun, congratulations on finishing your Bachelor of Arts degree again (and secretly congratulating myself for having gone half way) - and of course: Mardi prochain, nous allons voyager à Paris!
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dimanche 22 mai 2011
Shop Little Lime
(Can anyone tell me where this image is from?)
It is the annual clear out time on ebay again - a time to be out with the old and in with the new. Do take a look! If you fancy anything leave me a message here and I would give you a discount ;)
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samedi 21 mai 2011
Serendipity
onze.
i.
Les chaussures bleues. Have never been so bold before but I am loving the colour, an electrifying blue.
ii.
Watched La danse - Le ballet de l'Opéra de Paris which was very long but nonetheless exquisite. With no narration or interviews, I found those long shots of dancers rehearsing and performing mesmerising and strangely comforting. To be able to glimpse and gaze at the creative process behind the magnificent performances at Opera Garnier and Bastille is such a rare treat - I wouldn't agree with the Guardian who said that this film is a merely an elegant CCTV footage!
jeudi 19 mai 2011
West Village
I remember the last day of New York well; after days of blissful sunshine it finally drizzled. I got out of Houston Street subway station, had a fry-up with french toast at a cafe on Carmine Street while reading the New York Times. Then I wandered around the West Village and walked along W 4 St heading towards the East Village side, quietly savouring the lingering winter air.
mercredi 18 mai 2011
Serendipity
dix.
Happiness is...
A bouquet of Sweet Williams ('tis the summer season, theoretically) and a free Penguin mug courtesy of London Review Cake Shop (the best tea place in Bloomsbury with rose and pistachio cake) on my bedside table;
Learning all sorts of big words and ideas from medical anthropology: hegemony, liminality, subjunctivising elements, 'what is the meaning of meaning?' - and the very fact that however potent it is, biomedicine is nonetheless a dominant culture that can be oppressive and manipulated by the rich and powerful;
Remembering this quote:
Medicine always claims the experience is the test of its operations. Plato therefore was right in saying that to become a true doctor, a man must have experienced all the illnesses he hopes to cure and all the accidents and circumstances he is to diagnose... Such a man I would trust. For the rest guide us like the person who paints seas, rocks and harbours while sitting at his table and sails his model of a ship in perfect safety. Throw him into the real thing, and he does not know where to begin.
- Montaigne, Essays 3.13
lundi 16 mai 2011
The Food of Love
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.
- Virginia Woolf
Above is the wholesome 365/food project by minato. Really, nothing beats a good, steaming hot homemade soup served with a wooden spoon!
mardi 10 mai 2011
Shoe Zoo
Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain.
- Billie Holiday
Having walked/cycled so much lately (amidst the sheer volume of things I have to read before exams!) that all my flats are starting to fall apart! Eyeing on a certain pair of Russell & Bromley loafers and also navy blue Repetto ballerinas to replace the old faithful ones.
What are your favourite pair of shoes, ever?
mercredi 4 mai 2011
Serendipity
neuf.
All university works are handed in; now revision can finally start! Will be finishing exams on the 26th - and we are going to pop open that bottle of Sofia Blanc de Blancs, then head for a short trip.
Recently,
The carefully planned Woolf collection (I am very picky about book covers)//Lunch with sandwich and Pimm's lemonade//Regent Street prior to the Wedding//English strawberries//what is in my bag
I am going to use the ruled le petit prince moleskine as a weekly planner, like this.
So adieu readers old and new, see you soonish - hopefully later this month!
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lundi 2 mai 2011
*Paris Guide
Oh why am I taking on this formidable task of writing a Paris guide? Maybe just as someone has said, you do not need yet another guidebook to tell you to go to the Eiffel Tower. I aim to note down places that I have adored in the past, and places that I would love to visit later this month - this is a guidebook for the goldfish-minded.
This guide is greatly inspired by the GuideParis published annually by ofrsystem (blogged by me last year here, and you can purchase a copy here - it's well worth it!), Sofia's Guide to Paris in NY Times, and most important of all, Lo-fi Paris by Tommy. Her latest post on Paris - Paris, I miss you - is incredible.
Also, make sure you check out the Paris posts at Katie's thank you, ok and Danica's oh, hello there as well!
*will be updated in June again.
PLACES THAT I HAVE BEEN/ENJOYED
*LOUVRE AND ÉLYSÉES
1eme et 8eme arrondissement
Métro: Les Halles, Étienne Marcel, Louvre Rivoli, Palais Royal Musée du Louvre, Tuileries, Concorde
Place des Pyramides
75001
A huge showcase of the most beautiful artwork. Also contains a cafe/bar to sit outdoor for a glorious mojito, watching the sunset.
Place de la Concorde
Jardin Des Tuileries
75001
For Les Nymphéas by Monet, and other amazing works of beaux arts.
A Short Walk by the Seine
along Port de la Concorde; from Pont de la Concorde to Pont des Arts
For lounging in the sun, people-watching.
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*OPÉRA
9eme arrondissement
Métro: Madeleine, Opéra, Chaussée d’Antin, Havre Caumartin
Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris
Just because it is magnificent inside and outside. Need to get tickets early online if you would like to see an opera/ballet!
64 Boulevard Haussmann
75009
The preferred department store (rather than Lafayette).
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*LE MARAIS
3eme et 4eme arrondissement
Métro: Rambuteau, Hôtel de Ville, St Paul, Pont Marie, Sully Morland, Bastille, Chemin Vert, Saint Sébastien Froissart, Filles du Calvaire, Arts et Métiers
My favourite quarter of Paris.
111 boulevard Beaumarchais
75003
A bit like the Liberty in London, a bit smaller but a lot more playful and quirky! Katie of thank you, ok just wrote a post about what Merci has to offer.
Along Rue Saint-Paul
75004
A tiny, almost provincial vintage in the middle of Paris, with curated galleries, antique shops and lovely cafes. They filmed the opening scenes in Before Sunset around here.
Au Petit Bonheur La Chance
13 rue Saint-Paul
75004
Filled with vintage treasures, bric-a-brac and the most charming café au lait bowls. For more pictures see here!
39 Rue de Bretagne
75003
The oldest food market in Paris - perfect for a good nom-nom (Japanese bento, fresh food, fruits de mers) in the sunshine. Opens daily (except Mondays).
Place Georges Pompidou
75004
the museum of modern arts - and you can get a good panoramic view of Paris on the top floor.
112 rue Vieille du Temple
75003
With the best decor and ambience of all.
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*MONTMARTRE AND PIGALLE
18eme arrondissement
Métro: Abbesses, Pigalle
24 rue Lamarck
75018
A hotel right right next to Sacré-Coeur - with the best breakfast crossiants and a beautiful view.
6 Rue Francoeur
75018
A film school in the middle of Montmartre - marked by an intriguing entrance and courtyard.
Rose Bakery
46 rue des Martyrs
75009
Making English food taste so good. For fresh, organic tarts, cakes and soups.
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*SAINT-GERMAIN
5eme et 6eme arrondissement
Métro: Odéon, Mabillon, St Germain des Prés, St Sulpice, Sèvres Babylone, Rennes, St Placide
Café de Flore
112 Boulevard Saint-Germain
75006
For the feel of the literary Paris, past and present (with un café and A Moveable Feast at hand)
46 rue du Bac
75007
The most curious 'taxidermy boutique' - a gallery of naturalist history and strange animals. They even had a collaboration with Opening Ceremony lately!
Ladurée
21 rue Bonaparte
75006
My particular favourite branch - with an interesting oriental decor inside the tea room.
8 rue du Cherche-Midi
75006
I love the flans there, and bread of course.
51 rue du Four
75006
The red shoes, ballet shoes, dancing shoes.
La Criée de Babylone
45 rue Babylone
75006
A charming restaurant for a carafe of white wine, a huge seafood platter and crème brûlée to finish. Mmmmmm.
57 rue de Babylone
75007
A independent cinema converted from an old Japanese style pagoda. Beautiful interior inside the pagoda, and a sad story behind the building of the pagoda as well.
24 Rue Sèvres
75007
A very chic, magical department store.
Sadaharu Aoki
35 rue de Vaugirard
75006
A Japanese x Parisien collaboration - nobody does a green éclair better!
Jardin du Luxembourg
15 rue de Vaugirard
75291
La Piscine de Pontoise
19 rue de Pontoise
75005
For a quick swim - also where they filmed Krzysztof Kieslowski's Bleu.
Diptyque
34 Boulevard Saint Germain
75005
The original Diptyque store - perfect for a little souvenir for self :)
An English bookshop which remains influential in the literary world. The 2nd floor library is filled with first editions of great books, a old bed (for writers who could not afford lounging) and a piano.
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*ILE ST-LOUIS
Our favourite picnic spot, overlooking Notre-Dame while drinking wine and nibbling for hours. Until the sun starts to go down.
PLACES THAT I HAVE YET TO VISIT
For the mean time, please visit our google map for Paris (Red for food, green for museums and blue for miscellaneous)
FINAL TIPS
1. Walk lots - Paris is lovely to walk in, and it gives you better bearing around the city.
2. Explore - don't be afraid to go into intriguing places, small streets. The best reward of exploring is often finding a farmer's market, or a beautiful shop round the corner.
3. Eat on the go - for all those patisseries and boulangeries on the way (plus, you save on tips!)
(all other pictures by me from past trips)
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