PINAY FRANCOPHILE

Cross posted on pinaynewyorker.blog.com

I came across the term “clapotis” in a knitter’s weblog, and just googling the word gave me a hundred and one web posts and websites dedicated to this very delicate yet versatile scarf/shawl that is reportedly a French phenomenon.

Hmmm… so as soon as I finish my initial knitting project, I will embark on an ambitious project to work on one.  I read in knitty.com that this is something French inspired.  Hmmmm again.. I am so excited I am thinking of doing this in tandem with my initial project which is crawling at a snail’s pace.  *sigh*

I will finish that one first and then do this!

There’s something about photographing moving objects without the benefit of a flash to aid in capturing the moment which makes me stare in wonder when I see the end product.  There is this feeling of movement, as if a wet brush swept through a wet canvas and blurred the lines but envigorated the color in the picture.  I keep experimenting, and these are some vivid memories of Paris which I keep going back to.

The photographs here were taken with a digital camera without a flash for the express purpose of producing this effect.  The images have been digitally altered and slightly skewed for effect for posting on this weblog.

There is something awe-inspiring in the beauty of Paris which is framed so aptly by well maintained and well preserved architecture from olden times.  Looking up without seeing the modern vehicles and the establishments lining the streets, I could actually imagine myself walking the streets of Paris of decades ago.  The cobbled streets and the ornate grillwork and the many fascinating doorways that made me stop and look are the little things that made me fall in love with this great city.  It makes me want to come back sooner than our planned August trip. 

These are challenging times.  Work is hectic, the 15 year old is being his old rebellious self.  Luckily, the apple of my eye continues to be a source of strength and inspiration.. and of course, I always have Alan’s hand to hold.  It’s just that sometimes I find myself so helpless in the face of things that are just beyond my control.

Sometimes I ask myself if it is true that they are beyond my control.. so on days like this, I think happy thoughts.. I think of the memories of Paris.. the crepes, the expresso, the beautiful buildings.. the grill work, the exquisite artwork on things as mundane as their doors.  (Next time, I will make a project of this and literally keep a notebook of doorways.)  I think of the things I want to do.. I even dream of one day bringing Angel to visit Paris in the far future when he can enjoy the sights.. and Alan and I can just rest and take a break.

Happy thoughts indeed.

We discovered this little corner of Paris downtown a few months ago and have been going there for quiet dinners every few weeks or so.  It was my first time to go there again after my trip to Paris. 

Cafe Charbon.. I went to the google translator and I found out that “Charbon” meant charcoal.  This place is a rather spacious restaurant with a tapas bar on one side, and a French bistro on another.  Outside, you will see what looks like several French retail establishments in a row.. an epicerie (grocery), cremerie (dairy shop), tabac (tobacco or smoke shop), and then the cafe.  On the outside it looks like you suddenly see a chunk of Paris downtown, when in truth, inside there are only two distinctive outlets which are actually one.

The main dining hall is inside the epicerie and cremerie, and the walls are lined with authentic French grocery goods.  The food is definitely French cuisine and offers something novel to the discriminating palate.

Of course we talked about Paris again – a favorite topic between Alan and I.  Perhaps next time I read their menu, I’d have a better chance of understanding the French terms there, and I might even get to order in the language if I feel brave enough to.

Cross posted on pinaynewyorker.blog.com

Why the cross posting?  Topics relevant to the two blogs I actively maintain, I believe, should appear on both to give random readers of either blog the benefit of reading the post on either one.  Also, that’s my prerogative as a blogger.

I’ve been seeing people in the office wear thin blouses (not sweaters) to work and I thought since we’ve been having days in the 40s, it wouldn’t hurt to wear one of my thinner silk sweaters with a deep neck.  My neck hasn’t seen the light of day for ages, and I thought today was as good a day as any.  For some reason, it’s been chilly at work, and to help conquer the cold so to speak, I whipped out my scarf (yes, one of the 3 I bought for 3 for Euro 5.00 in Paris) and put it on my shoulder.  Everyone from the boss to the other assistants around me have been commenting on how lovely it is.  One of my boss’s direct reports (a well-travelled Vice President, no less) even asked me if I had it bought it from some other place.  Merci, Paris!

My almost Euro 2.00 scarf (or roughly $3.00 buy) has more than paid for itself with all the compliments I’ve been getting.  It makes me feel great about the choice to purchase it.  I only wish I had bought more.  (Buyer’s remorse in reverse?)  Next time, I tell myself, I know where to get them on the Rue St. Honore (I saw stalls nearer the Louvre selling similar scarves for 5 for Euro 20.00. 

It always pay to have an eye out for the bargains.  And one thing I’ve learned from shopping around the streets of Manhattan with its hundreds of itinerant vendors is that when you see a good find, it pays to haggle it to as low as you can get and grab it! 

Cross posted on pinaynewyorker.blog.com

Alan teases me about my “tiangge” (flea market) purchases from Paris.  I have to admit that despite the power of my American Express,  I held back on shopping, reminding myself I didin’t go to Paris to shop til I drop.  So despite visiting Galleries Lafayette and the Printemps branch next door in the Opera area, the most I did was purchase a few goodies to take home from the Galleries Lafayette food court.

There were a few good buys that I simply couldn’t resist.  I purchased 3 scarves/shawls I found on a sidewalk booth in the middle of a freezing winter night in the area of Place St. Augustine where Boulevard Malesherbes and Boulevard Hausmann meet, going for 3 for Euro 5.00 or Euro 2.00 each.  (Of course I got three!)  I purchased two different shades of the same weave and a third in a different design.  It was one of those itinerant vendors who set up shop and would be gone after a few hours.  Alan and I were walking to dinner in the neighborhood and he patiently waited for me to take my pick amongst the mountain of scarves all strewn about on a huge area.

The next day, I browsed the stalls on the periphery of the Galleries Lafayette and I actually found a stall selling thin cotton knit turtleneck sweaters for just Euro 5.00 each.  (It seems to be the magic number!)

On the Rue de Berri where our hotel was located, I found a bargain store just beside the Cascades Cafe on the corner of Champs-Elysees called Cote a Cote and I got a mock turtleneck sweater for Euro 5.00 again.  I could’ve shopped for more and would have loved to go from store to store at Mont Martre, but I was quickly reminded about my lack of space in the limited luggage I had and the prospect of having to carry whatever I bought for the rest of the day was enough incentive not to go and wade through the bargains.  (Next time, I will go to Montmartre specifically to shop and I will bring my shopping tote.)

So while I didn’t leave Paris with a Louis Vuitton bag, I did take home my share of Paris goods.  Next time, though, I know what I will get and I know I will be going there using a bigger suitcase. 

The biggest hurdle to shopping of course remains to be the weak dollar against the very strong Euro.  At the end of the day, you stop calculating and just try to charge it all to having a good time in the City of Lights.  I promised myself I would try to confine my expenses to $200 (roughly Euro 150), and I ended up spending twice as much if not more — but still, I wouldn’t give anything for the smile I saw on my mom’s face when I handed her the rosary from the Sacre Couer in a lovely green, her favorite color.  I know my siblings back in Manila enjoyed the Ferrero DUPLO I sent them (which I didn’t even get to taste but which I knew would be a big hit with my niece, Audrey), and I am happy with my scarves and my sweater blouses. 

I didn’t come home with the usual keychains and other souvenirs (only because Alan had already bought a small Eiffel tower model on his first trip and the required magnet for his magnet collection), but I left Paris with a bagful of memories and more.  But what I plan to get the next time around is another post altogether.

I am carrying a dozen small flashcards with the first batch of French phrases/words I can start memorizing.  I am committed to adding at least 5 at a time to increase my practice vocabulary.  I know how to say “Hello” and “Goodbye” and introduce myself now. 

I remember how we learned elementary Spanish in my senior year in High School at St. Paul College of Quezon City, and then for four semesters in college at the College of Arts & Sciences in UP Manila.  It is as if I am doing the same thing again, with the only difference being that this one, I am doing out of choice and not as part of an academic requirement.

Alan heard me saying phrases which, according to him, he hasn’t heard the French use.  I had to explain to him that I am not merely studying conversational French but am actually studying the language.  Conversational Usage will come later when I have my words, tenses and sentences right.  To do that, I have to take into account the nuances and not just what is commonly used in the French language.

I guess he is adapting a different approach to learning the language.  He is doing it, after all, as a business necessity.  I am doing it as a personal pursuit.  I am also trying to go about it in a more academic fashion — much as I would tackle it as part of formal class.

In any case, I feel like I’m off to a good start.  When all else fails, there is the Google translator to help me along.