american-english

Our map of Paris was provided oh-so-generously by Galleries Lafayette with a giant red arrow pointing to it so we decided to take a quick look. The most visited department store in the city (just in front of Printemps I believe) just a couple weeks before Christmas is probably the worst idea ever. In any case, being shoulder to shoulder with the rest of humanity and fingering Pucci scarves isn't really my cup of tea. Plus I'm up to my neck in Balenciaga bags so, you know, I don't really need another one. It was a beautiful building though and it's amazingly lit up. 

I was feeling a bit scruffy amid all the ridiculously effortless elegance of Parisian women so I decided to hit up Franck Provost and get me a haircut. I never realized how bad my French was until I tried to explain "razored layers" to a non-English speaking hairdresser. After a few hundred comme les escaliers and chopping motions with my fingers I let go and let the hairgods handle it. Finally, while I was covered in suds and trying to explain how I'd like quelque chose facile pour le matin I noticed the video loop on the wall flash Franck Provost style buzzwords and, as I imagine it was for Newton when the apple may or may not have fallen on his head, I shrieked definiments! into the towel that was being wrapped around my head. She smiled at me like one might smile at a child who announced she was finally potty trained. The haircut was nice and she did say my "french very good, yes." 

We planned on going to the Christmas markets on the Champs Elysee but it started pouring rain so we made our way to the Centre Pompidou. It was when we were stepping out of the metro when I realized that it was a weekend. Hence the ridiculous crowds at Galleries Lafayette. Hence the 10 mile line at the Pompidou. So we bought a Paris Match at the newsstand and headed back to the hostel to get dinner and dry clothes. 

The great thing about Paris is that they love their cafeteria-style dining. So, incidentally, do I. It's a country girls' dream to walk up, pick out a frozen meal, salad, drink, and baguette, throw it in a basket, hand it to a guy behind the counter for him to heat up, and put on a plate (real! not plastic!) with silverware.