"Julie and Julia" in Paris

One of the rainy days in Paris, we went and saw the movie “Julie and Julie” and I loved it. It was so much fun to see some of the same areas we were seeing in Paris that Julia Childs apparently frequented for many years while she lived in Paris. I was also very touched emotionally by the movie. A few weeks ago I had read my friend Jean’s blog (www.lostinthebubble.blogspot.com) that she wrote after seeing the movie and she had expected a light hearted “chick flick” and was balling throughout the movie as it touched some places deep inside her. I felt very similarly; that is made me very emotional….as well as making me laugh….about my life. It was about two women who where searching for a purpose and passion in their life and when they looked at what they really loved to do and they pursed it to the fullest, life become joyous, full and meaningful. Isn’t that what we all truly want but let’s face it so many of us fail to find that meaning and passion.

So, here I am traveling the world. Is that my passion? No,yes...maybe, and in my journey I am finding joy, adventure, new friends as well as the challenges the come along with this sort of journey. In the process, I trust that perhaps some of the passions that are already there or ready to come out, will indeed do so. So, now I have to add cooking school onto my “bucket list”. As many of you know, I love to cook and believe I am quite good at it but I would love to inspire to be even better. Just for the pure joy of it but unlike Amy Peterson in the movie, if I were to cook and eat myself through Julie child’s cookbook, I’m sure I would gain multiple pounds. Would anyone care to fund my culinary passion by sending me off to cooking school….say in Italy? I would gladly practice by cooking for you.

Oh yes, Paris! I was in Paris once, with my Uncle and my friend, Lisa, right after high school. It is a fantastic city and I have to say that looking at Paris through eyes 30 years later is quite different with much more of an appreciation for the city and what it has to offer.

My friend Dave, from Colorado, met me here and we rented a cute little flat in the Montmartre area which is famous for the cathedral Sacre-Couer and the plaza for portrait artists. There is also a steep set up steps going up to the Cathedra(which was where our apartment was)l that Dave and I set out to run 10 times; approximately 150 steps and 100 vertical feel. We worked up to it over the 11 days and we did it and I calculated that in the three days that we ran steps, we did it 19 times total…. So we did approximately 2,850 steps….and that’s just the up part….the down was a cool down. I know, perhaps that doesn’t sound like much fun for most of you but when you are indulging in wine, cheese, bread and decadent deserts, you have to do something to burn off some of the calories. Plus we walked a lot

Unfortunately, I had a tough time physically; meaning that I had an "accident prone" period while in Paris. I first caught my ring on the fence taking a photo of the backside of the Norte Dame and luckily my ring came apart before tearing up my finger instead of tearing OFF my finger. Then three days later I fell down the metro steps…no, I was not drinking…and sprained two of my fingers on the same hand and bruised the rest of my body fairly well. Not the highlight of my time in Paris. They are still sore but will heal in time.

So, I won’t go over all the sights, museums, areas we visited but instead will let you check out the photos and see for yourself. It was a great time in Paris and even though I thought it was still quite crowded, it was a great time of year to be in Paris and only two days of rain in 11 days………..we were very lucky!
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