Day 4 and 5

Woke up to beautiful sunshine yesterday, the first we've seen yet. My first attempt to run in the city can be considered very much a failure. I can see now why most people belong to gyms, my lungs felt like they were coated in tar. That said, I became much better acquainted with my neighborhood! Apparently I live right around the corner from Le cimetière du Père-Lachaise where Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf and Oscar Wilde among many others are buried. The thick wall of the cemetery provides a perfect focal point for navigating my way around the neighborhood because it is easily spotted and i can follow the perimeter if I get lost. On this, run I also discovered a large organic market around the corner. Compared to this culinary menagerie, Whole Foods is an embarrassment and a complete rip off. Everything from organic nutella to 50 cent whole grain baguettes, to pull apart baby fresh ravioli. I got a large jar of fresh pesto for 2.5 euros...a steal!!

After this adventure, Sunni and I met up and explored the lavish St. Germain des Pres. Possibly the greatest thing about this city is not the tourist attractions or historic monuments, but getting lost and discovering true Paris. We spent two hours walking around gushing about the beauty or charm of this or that. Finally realizing we were starved, we stumbled into a cafe. I had a fabulously fresh salad of lettuce, tomatoes, blanched haricot-verts, cubes of swiss cheese, chicken very lightly drizzled with mustard vinaigrette and a crusty baguette. Nothing could have been better.

This being our first Saturday in Paris, a group of us decided to explore the night life a bit. Going off a recommendation from a friend previously in Paris, we sought out le crocodile. A whole in the wall bar with blurry windows and loud music that could be heard from down the block. Timidly entering, we were soon engulfed in a tiny, crowded bar full of local young adults. With 13 pages of cocktails, there was so much to choose from and so much french eavesdrop on. All drinks come with a tiny gummy crocodile as a garnish, certainly making them memorable. The music was good and the people were friendly. We were actually complemented on our french! A rarity in Paris to be sure.

Had a lovely and leisurely Sunday with Sonia (my housemate) today. It was wonderfully sunny yet again. We did some grocery shopping and explored the neighborhood a bit more.