a bientot, paris.

i miss paris. even when i'm there. like an indescribable longing for something that i already have.
i've made it back stateside. i'm sprinkled across thousands of miles and i don't know where i live anymore. but i will always find it comforting to know that paris has become a familiar face, a favorite sibling, my first love. i never feel like a tourist. ny is my long distance sister that i never tire seeing and must hug every season (except for those disgusting summer months. eww.). san diego is where the smiles i adore, smile at me. i am lucky. and i know it.
in between my studies and sandy morning walks in the pacific, i will find time to freeze san diego. my san diego.
until then, the last several weeks are here: photos

days dwindle whilst spring flourishes

i have a mighty grip on my last days (for a while) in france. with a plethora of friends passing through to inhale the french air and sip the petite cups of espresso on afternoons created for the gods, my level of joy is ineffable. the camera has been put to sleep for fear of risking the taste of moments for my obsession with freezing them. ni, one of this grand earth's greatest, arrives on friday for a dash of the french open and printemps in the city.

treasured treats.
the forest's morning scent. all things navy. white on white. the sunny side of the street (for very short periods of time, bien sur). markets spilling over with the fashionable's search for local. frozen grapes and grapefruit. attempting to work a french keyboard (oopala!). manu's apartment. toile de jouy. iced lemon water. picnics on the seine. deep sleep. french poetry. alex's obsession with befriending insects and creating tupperware homes for them. paris. paris. paris. paris. paris. caramel salt macarons from laduree. pandora's ability to start dance parties at any moment. love. paris. paris. open windows. natural light. frozen yogurt. badoit water. extended new york lay-overs. dreams of returning.
lost photo album.

splendid smiles.

While the winds may have been a few degrees less than ideal, the love of friendship was warm. like vin chaud on a winter evening. and so i was treated with the smiles of soy and m&m. in paris. with me. aching feet and fresh crepes. familiarity. and a touristy tour guide turned friend named manu.
photos.

lots of...stuff. french stuff.

the sun is like a large bienvenue sign in paris. the streets fill up with legs. a venti coffee cup. i wonder where they’ve been hiding all winter. clogging their flats with smoke, perhaps. millions of pursed lips around cigarettes. a terrible vice, a worse scent, but still they look so darn chic. and so now that the cold is making its exit, the frenchies (and tourists alike) make their entrance. and with my camera, I follow.

in three months i won’t be able to hop the ELBA to the city at my discretion. a terribly depressing thought. but until then, the state of bliss continues... as does the photo taker machine thing.

a week of photos:

part I

part II

irresistible.

pointy flats. versailles. fromage frais. time. the silence of the rodin garden --- like a hideaway in the center of chaos. small bookstores overflowing with pages. jay z’s empire state of mind. movie marathons. improbable love stories. men in hats. eating obscene amounts of broccoli. window shopping. having conversations with myself (in my head). watching people react to intense wind gusts. chloe/zac posen/derek lam. theory’s spring collection. mail (the real kind). the war against old age. comprehension. rekindled everything. the distinct scent of paris. refilling water bottles. daily bbm-ing with db1. telling gypsies to bugger off. jackets of moss around every forest tree. back up ipods. languages. swings. hot towels. subway musicians. the marais and the latin quarter.

paris post hibernation.

heart day plans = fabulous company + happy hour + bake off. thanks, anderson!

foggy forests and fresh air make monday mornings worth waking up extra early for.

On my search for a red door for ca, i found people. album here: photos.

adoring:

saturday mornings. fiona apple's why try to change me now. damon's quotable life philosophies. venting with sara over coffee before class. specialty boutiques that bring to life what i imagine old new york and paris to be. red umbrellas. adding minutes of light to the day. alex counting to 10 in english. baby estelle's proud "voila!" which sounds like wala. making ugly postcards (but with love). writing the word french. the kind gentleman at the post office. taking my camera out of hiding. 

defrosting. (re)frosting. hopping the atlantic.

three weeks stateside, fancy new tea, and two longchamps bags later, i’m back to all things french... and paris never looked so lovely: effortlessly elegant, quaint yet grandeur, kind but cold, poetically cliché in the most wonderful way. and. there is snow neatly sitting on branches and snuggling the forest floor in jouy. merci, la france. 

mid-january & christmas remains in paris. the chestnuts are still roasting, twinkle lights line trees, and windows are dressed up in holiday cheer. the kids enjoyed their presents and the quotidian snowball fights are a treasure. yes, please.

winter - i’ve only fallen down a few icy stairs (it’s slippery! i’m from california, leave me alone.) and had roughly 148.2 close calls (loafers are not for snow. lesson one.). this will be a darling winter if i can keep my bones intact and the bruising to a minimum (not likely. it's way too fun.).

pictures of a white france soon, but for now, some shots from new york during my attempt at frostbite evasion. photos.

bonne année et bisou.

   

a bientôt, la france.

sunday morning. after another saturday of paris delight, christmas markets, and general merriment…heaven fell. with the tea kettle whistling and breakfast sizzling on the stove, whilst in mid morning-play-list-on-high-dance-about-my-flat-in-my-pajamas turn, i glanced outside…and there it was.

s n o w.

and i lived happily ever after. the end.

album: a bientot, la france. 
last weekend in france...for a few weeks.

Noël à Paris. and then some.

christmas in paris: at the request of LL.
ca, i love because...
vin chaud. mountains of chocolate. twinkle lights. seasonal macaroons. markets (ambiance over product quality). happy? french people. visible december delight. carols singing me sweet. handsome men in scarves (no, wait, that’s year ‘round). persimmons. holiday candles. wool socks. a skip in my step. 

photos: Noel a Paris photos. round 1.

saved the best markets for last. the best being saint sulpice and la defense, and last being this weekend. and to frost my state of bliss, the ice rink at hotel de ville will welcome slipping and sliding by week’s end. blessed parisian december, you border perfection. round 2 photos to soon follow.

and here...just a sprinkle more of paris (without the festive flair). because i can never get enough.

photos: baaah, oui. 

       

after dark. season's start. markets. color stripping.

photo album ici.

                          

j'adore...

my ireland hanky purchase. roasted chestnuts. finding my lens cap. paris streets live band gatherings. sunday market dancing. accordions. overdosing on perfected tea. my new fur hat (mm, and fur vest…mm, and fur scarf hehe). walking into my warm flat from the cold. seeing chimneys paint winter. enormous fallen leaves on my walk to the bernards. new company. the scent of paris.

When my morning dose of apple cider vinegar tasted funny, i knew it was coming. it tried. but i battled that almost cold with tea and will and by golly, we won! 

Children playing in leaf piles near place de Madeleine is tres charming. no camera allowed. it would’ve ruined their moment. i wouldn't dare.

I watch people. this makes me smile. and often look a little nuts. i'm ok with that. 

Noel a paris. markets in montmartre? window displays surrounding opera garnier? ice skating in hotel de ville? avenue montaigne dressed up in lights? santa’s village on saint germain des pres? festival d’art sacre de la ville de paris? be still, my heart, BE STILL. i’ve made a list. checked it 645 times. all will be seen. all will be loved. 

Americans for a day. stuffing and all. we are having thanksgiving dinner at sara’s apartment. good times to be had. 

The thought of leaving france hurts my heart. the thought of coming back gives me butterflies. like being in love. the fact that I live here right now… well, there are no words.

irish days

day one, hour err, maybe two: ducked out of the rain and into a pub for some irish sounds and liquids. befriended a lovely lad, dubs…7 hours of chatter and many an empty glass later, I followed the cobblestone road to my bed.

dear ireland, 

you could not have made a better first impression.

thank you, kindly.

love, 

raymonda
dublin is like most european cities but smaller and with a lot of brick and more cobblestone than most (don't dare stiletto this place. seriously. you'll snap your ankle.).

photos that the rain permitted - here.  
ireland side note - never made it out of dublin. castle, trinity college, museums, cathedrals, the basics? check. the great green grounds? next round. 

highlights

live music everyday, all day (well, almost all day)

extremely friendly people (refreshing change from france, no offense frenchies)

and great whiskey (naturally)

thoughts

hot cider with brandy and a fresh crepe from the temple bar market is perfection on a chilly saturday. 

never leave home without an umbrella. the sneaky clouds roll in from nowhere for a quick shower. 

men say lovely, delightful, and brilliant a lot. they also drink tea. and cider. and it doesn't affect their confidence levels. take note, americans.

window shopping with leigh is a seriously good time. vintage to couture. and conversation.

traditional foods (full irish breakfast, shepard's pie, etc. and, well, guinness) are heavy and cooked for extra artery clogging.

i'm fairly certain they drug the grass in ireland. those brilliant shades of green are unnatural. 

gaelic football is not football nor is it football (soccer). i still need to youtube it.

sniffing snuff is like smelling vix vapor rub. 

favorite eats: avoca (top floor), queen of tarts, cornucopia, gourmet burger, the joy of coffee.