Friday, July 17, 2009

Paris Round-up and Knitting? *crickets*

Sock at Metro Station Emile Zola

We are back from our trip and let me tell you it was a week full of WIN. I've discovered the key to traveling with the Curmudgeon involves both of us being separated for the majority of the day (me: at a work-related workshop that was fulfilling in every way, him: free to wander the streets and do his lonely boy routine) so that we can be reunited at the end of the afternoon for a lovely walk, a visit to a museum or two, Parisian prandial delights and much conversation about our respective days. Photographic evidence submitted below:

Near the Eiffel Tower
1.) Can you really ever get enough of this miraculous structure? To stand beneath it is to marvel at human ingenuity and capability. The joy of catching glimpses of it, each time from an unexpected, different angle, cannot be overestimated.

The view from our window
2.) We rented a studio apartment in the 15th arrondissment. The price was quite reasonable and having that little frigo proved invaluable: we stocked it with yogurt and beer, both necessary to our respective happiness.

Musée du quai Branly
3.) This museum will one day be call the Musée Chirac, but in the mean time it's had a variety of awkward names and now is referred to by the quai that it's located on. We saw the Tarzan exhibit which was a thrill because a. graphic novel / cartoon culture is such a huge part of French culture and b. my grandfather was a cartoonist who worked in the same tradition.

Martin Parr @ the Jeu de Paume
4.) Personal museum high that will last me a very long time: seeing the Martin Parr exhibit at the Jeu de Paume. I have loved this photographer for such a long time and strongly recommend that you check out his British cities series as well as other collections like Boring Postcards. He is hilarious without being mean and tends to go after the right people (read: ostentatiously wealthy shitbags).

Une galette
5.) Have no fear--we made the most of our mealtimes. Even though one of us is counting points (down 32!), we still made sure to not deprive ourselves of the culinary bounty to be had. Plus, we were walking like mofos so we earned it. Above you see a galette (savory crêpe) that was particularly delish.

Restaurant Lola, the site of the best meal in the history of our relationship.
6.) Lola, the café pictured above, was the site of the best meal we've ever had together. It was our last night, and it was magical.

H & G in Moroccan restaurant
7.) Oh hai it's us. I put this lil bonus photo at the end for those who persevered through the home movie portion of the blog. This is the last picture of me taken before I did away with the highlights-that-weren't-doing-me-any-favors (my stylist's words--Umm, thanks! So why'dya keep doing 'em then?) look and embraced the way of the curl. I'm in a new cult now, and I'm loving it! Pictures will be coming at some point.

We had a stupendous time, but you might be noticing a lack of impressive knitting content. There's a good reason for that: THERE WASN'T ANY. I only just put my Featherweight sleeves on waste yarn and made scoff-worthy progress on my sock. But that's ok, because it seems that sometimes no knitting is good news in that it means you actually got off your duff and did something else for a change.

There was however one special occasion for knitting at the very end of our trip. This moment will heretofor be known as The Happiest Moment of my Life
® , as it represents that split-second when I learned that my Silver Elite Status® on Northwest was somehow valid on Air France and "earned" (Curmudgeon's quotes, not mine) us an upgrade to first class (!).

Air France
[Please to notice the leg room. And real glass of champagne that didn't suck.]

Yes--that place from which you hear dishes and real glassware clinking together and making those delightful little sounds! That place where your seat folds down into an actual bed, and a table cloth is put down for each meal! I know these comments put me into the realm of the truly shallow...but I'll happily accept this moniker if it means I can go back to that special place once more in my lifetime.

Even though the knitting content is scant, I have some major blockbuster projects coming up that are going to redeem me in your eyes...for now I remain shallowly yours,
The A.D.D. Knitter

28 comments:

Beverly said...

I once flew first class from NJ to NM after a coach flight from Rome. I thought I'd gone to heaven. There is nothing shallow about the joys of elegance on an airplane!

I sighed my way through your pictures. Tomorrow I'm going to make a cherry clafoutis (not clapotis) and pretend I am in Paris. Lucky you!!

Melanie said...

Love the photos!!! Greetings from Berlin, another fabulous European capital city.

Kate said...

Galettes! Martin Parr! What a lovely time. I feel quite emotional and send grosses bises across the atlantic to you and the curmudgeon.

Re: first class -- I am right with you. I was upgraded on a flight from Edinburgh to Philly after I boarded suffering from a bout of food poisoning of dangerous (and frankly degrading) proportions. So what I was so ill that I was *hospitalised* when I arrived in Philadelphia?! I crossed the atlantic in a chair that turned into a fookin bed!

Angela said...

I bounce back and forth between embracing the curl and cursing it. (I was a girl with straight, straight hair for a long time, then one day I had curly hair. Well, some days it's curly and some days it's just damn big.) The pics are lovely! I want to go now...

Rose said...

Wow, your trip sounded lovely. Thanks for sharing some great photos. And your husband looks tres French in his striped shirt!

Elizabeth said...

Beautiful photos! Quelles couleurs! Ah...Paris in the Summertime. Much better than Pennsyltucky in July. As a Central PA native, I think I'm qualified to make that statement. Like the curls, too. I am making the same transition. Welcome back!

knithound brooklyn said...

Yay for a wonderful trip to Paris! You both look relaxed, happy and content!
On another note, I am a Deva-curl girl and have been going to that salon for around 4 years now. It's a good cult to be in, so welcome!

earthchick said...

Sounds like such a fab time!! Loved reading about it and seeing the pics. And yay for not getting as much knitting done as you'd hoped - that's a true sign of what a great time you had! :)

mooncalf said...

Beautiful pictures - you've really captured what looks like a lovely holiday. Welcome back!

Caffeine Girl said...

What a wonderful trip. I'm all for alone time during travel with dh.

gale (she shoots sheep shots) said...

Fab travelogue. Seeing a Martin Parr exhibit in Paris sounds like my idea of a great (working) vacation.Not so shallow at all.
yrs in devachan cult solitude,
gale

Jodi said...

Sounds (and looks) marvelous, you lucky dog! When I was doing WW, I found counting points on trips to be very challenging, so I'm really impressed by your devotion!

Lynn said...

We got bumped up to 1st class before and I swear it's the only way to fly!!!! Most of the time I'm stuck in steerage with some wacko next to me.

Kirsten said...

Given the inhumane conditions in coach on transatlantic flights, I don't find your joy at being upgraded shallow at all.

It sounds like a wonderful trip. The photo of you and the Curmudgeon is charming. His striped shirt makes him look tres French.

Congrats on being down 32!! You inspire me to get my butt to WW.

Yarnhog said...

Can you feel the oozing envy from here? Just kidding; actually, I'm thrilled for you. I love Paris. The picture of that crepe made my mouth water. And as for the first class thing, good for you! (We always find a way to go first class for longer flights. I can't even sit straight in coach because my legs are too long and press against the seat in front of me. And I'm so long-suffering (ha!) that you can imagine well I react to that.)

sophanne said...

I swear I had the words "oozing envy" in my comment in my head even before I read Yarnhog's comment!

Second to the leg room on the plane I'm most envious of Mr. ADD's ability to keep himself entertained whilst you do the same. If only I could convince Mr. Sophanne that we'd both be happier that way.

Knittymuggins said...

Sounds like a truly fantastic trip! I love your gorgeous photos and (as always) witty and enlightening commentary :)

knittymuggins

tiennie said...

I love this posts on your travels and the photos - especially the one of you two! Also, fantastic job on the weight loss!!!

Laura said...

Paris, crepes, memorable restaurant meals, being in a romantic city with your sweetheart, weight loss, first class airline travel, and that looks like Malabrigo ... this post is also full of WIN.

Anonymous said...

I really like your first picture. Makes me want to knit in bright colours.

Sonya said...

I'm seriously thinking I should have stayed in academia. Librarians have conferences in off-season cities. Chicago in winter, Phoenix in summer. Looks like a fabulous trip!

Congrats on the down 32! Counting the points works for me too. I have to trick myself into thinking it's a game. Looking forward to seeing the new hair.

Unknown said...

Looks like you had a great time! I LOVE the yellow! Nice job with the upgrade!

kim said...

The hair is fabulous! But that crepe - mmmmmmmmmmmm....

Anonymous said...

My son-in-law loved those trips where it was a working trip for his wife (our daughter) but a fun vacation for him. He called it going along as "the fluff."

Three children later, his fluffdom is no more. She's a stay-at-home mom now.

Alison said...

Love the Paris pics- I wish it weren't across an ocean... sigh...

And someone turned me onto the book "Curly Girl" a couple years ago, and it has, quite literally, changed my life- and especially the lives of my curly little girls! I have 2 whose hair will be in dreads, and not nice or cool in any way dreads, in 24 hrs without proper care... and my own hair has gotten much more pleasant to live with, enough said.

Enough about hair, happy knitting!
ali

nicole said...

Flying first class is my most cherished (and shallow) wish. But flying first class on Air France? Now that's living.

I'm so happy you had a fab trip. But how could you not? It is Paris after all!

And thanks for that SUPER CUTE photo of you guys. Vous êtes mignons.

Cynthia said...

Love that photo of you two. The husband looks so very French in those stripes!

Elizabeth said...

I'm pretty much just stuck on the crepe. Delish!