Today was such a beautiful day,
didn't wake up to the most amazing sunrise but to a sun hidden by the fog,
though that didn't stop me from feeling really optimistic about the
day and was proven right when the sky cleared up shortly after. I (OF COURSE)
managed to keep my little ritual of not being able to sleep well but
this time not because I was afraid to be late for work but because I wanted to
fully enjoy my first official Friday off.
I ran all the errands on my todo
list then headed out to "Fêtes des vendanges" which is basically the
wine festival located at Montmartre (near the Sacré Coeur). On my way to Place
du Tertre (where all cheese, wine, macaroons, art booths were to be set
up), a fairly old lady stopped me and told me the grape harvest was open for
visits, free admission = even BETTER.
We got to the see the vineyard,
listen to an oenologist speak about his work, which was pretty awesome since
Paris usually doesn't harvest. Before leaving, I asked him about wine books and
exchanged information with him since he happens to be teaching wine classes at
some university and said he'd send me some information on that. The old lady
from the entrance told me to take some vine because they were so rare (which
was really nice since she'd been so strict about people touching the harvest on
the way in) not only that but she called me "jeune fille" (which
basically means young lady.) twice! I don't even know how many times
I've been called Madame ... (which is like: Mrs.)… yuck (so that REALLY made my
day and feel young…HAH)
I then went towards a little art
expo across from a man selling hot wine (normally served during winter and cold
weather), and decided that since today was my day off, I should allow myself to
a glass...I finished it and continued walking…and to my surprise saw the
oenologist again couple booths down who suggested I try that particular wine
booth… so I did…(this wine was definitely NOT hot). I kept going and came
across so many other wine booths, such a wonderful sight! It was fun comparing
wines, smelling them, and actually putting into practice the little tricks I
had learned from the wine class I had attended with my friend (last month was
it?)
It was great seeing all these people
trying to sell their produce, speaking French with their
countryside accents, being handed cheese and wine here and there. I really
just loved comparing products and getting to ask questions....talking
in French for once!
There was an absinthe booth, which I
tried out regardless of the fact that I'd already had a good amount of wine in
my system. The way I saw it was I was still able to drink as long as I was
still standing, socializing, and able to help out sellers-buyers communicating
with each other… (I just thought it'd be nice/fun translating back and forth to
help out the language barrier)
My "Fêtes des vendanges"
visit ended with the Sangria booth (where the guy was so friendly, just kept
talkin' and pourin'!), bought some cheese, and made my way home.
The hardest part was going up the
escalators at my métro station (which hasn't been working for a good 1-2 weeks
now) and needing to pee like crazy...but I toughed it out and put all my focus
into holding it till I got home. I even went a little further to another block
to get bread then finally got home, made a badass sandwich with the cheese, and
took a 2 hour nap without waking up once.
Wonderful day indeed and now off to
bed! Teaching two groups of 10-15 little 3-5 year olds
some English tomorrow…WOooooooooooooo!
Linka
Paris, Oct
8, 2010
