It is the month of photography here in Paris.  Photographers from all over are having expositions here this week.  I am going to the main expo this weekend.  I cant believe my timing.  I had no idea that this was going on.  I’ve already met soo many talented photographers. So crazy!
I photographed an engagement session this week as some business head shots/PR photos.  I have another similar session next week.  I came here not knowing anyone and no itinerary. Paris has just welcomed me with arms wide open!  I even have a possible job offer for the end of next year. PSHH. Ridiculous. Hahaha…

My roomies rented the other room out to an Italian artist/photographer from Amsterdam for the weekend.  She is a whirlwind of energy.  I went to drinks with her last night for Beaujolais Nouveau and found out we have similar personal stories.  I will visit her when I go to Amsterdam in a few weeks.  She has invited me to join her at the photos expos today.

It is already 2pm. I’m still in my pjs and have been editing photos and emailing clients all morning.  Parisians party hard.  Not so much as “party” as stay out late drinking wine and chatting.  I am going to be so fat!! haha…

I am overdue for a post.

The last few days have been a whirl wind.  I’ll start with today since it is most fresh on my mind.

I woke up late. Finally a solid 8 hours of sleep.  I clambered out of bed and threw my clothes on and ran out the door to meet my new photog friend Jerroid at the Pompiduo to see a photo exposition they were having.  So amazing.  I saw original pieces by Henri Cartier Bresson, Man Ray, just to name a few.  I am always blown away at the quality of their imagery.. for being in the forefront of the photography world in the 30’s.

We grabbed lunch and then I met up with my new friend Annie (the aupeir) for a bikram session.  If you never done bikram, you are in for a treat. especially if the whole class is in french. haha.hahah…..

I love the late night culture here.  Most places stay open until 2-3 in the morning.  I met up with more friends at 11pm and we ordered three bottles of wine and a fromage and charcuterie platter.  After the 3rd bottle is when all sorts of interesting topics of conversation start to come up.  I think I agreed to have my ass cast on Friday. haha..   nothing like preserving your best assets.

I have shoot tomorrow.  My roomies need headshots for the business.  Should be a fun challenge seeing as I brought no gear with me.

Yesterday I did an engagement session through the city with en engaged American couple I met over the weekend.  The whole time I was cursing my 50mm and myself for thinking that would be sufficient for this trip.   It was a great way to experience the city walking and shooting.  I am starting to get my barings and now know the different neighborhoods and main streets.

I have eaten soooo much food and drank so much wine while I’ve been here.  It will be amazing if I dont gain any weight.  I ordered tea last night instead of wine and I felt like a party pooper.   Geez!

My sleeping schedule here is terrible.  I havent been able to sleep longer than 5 hours straight.  It doesnt help that I take little naps here and there.   Must stop that nonsense immediately.

My weekend trip to Burgogne was so great.  I met some amazing people.  I already have hangout buddies for all sorts of fun future activities.

At this very moment I am sitting in La Goncourt Cafe waiting for my Madame Crouquet.  I like coming here because it is quite and doesnt feel awkward to be a party of one.  Plus they have free wifi.  I prefer their window seat and it always happens to be available when I come.  I drink my Cafe Creme and watch the people that walk by.

I managed to meet interesting people once again.  I love creatives.  Tonight I am hanging out with the english teacher, the chef, the photographer and the poet.  We are headed to an open mic “spoken word” poetry reading.  Never been.  I am looking forward to it.

A year ago today my life as I knew it shattered to pieces.  Today I rode a bike through wine country of Burgogne, France.

Worth every penny.. ( a pretty penny too).  Riding through quaint sleepy villages in the Pommard and Beaune countryside.  Perfect fall weather, vines turning red with the changing of the season. Beautiful  clouds and delightful company.  All things new, fresh and beautiful.  There is so much more of life to live.

I am continued to be blown away at my luck.  I missed my bus this morning to go to Burgogne and ended up having to take a train instead.  I was not the only person who missed it and it turns out this person is also a photographer.  Jerriod just moved here from Chicago to become a photojournalist…  he story is amazing.  Why am I here…  so many great people doing great things and yet I am willing to settle in Sacramento with an apartment and that be my world.  The world is so much bigger and broader and I cannot believe that I am here and meeting these people and seeing this places and things and eating food.  I want to jump and scream and cry and wonder why I am experiencing these things.  To experience them makes me want more.  I can settle for no less now.  Why why why…!   Am I meant for these things?  Or am I to be tortured with their memories forever.

I love people.  I want to be like these people I meet.  So warm and generous.  I feel like a selfish bumbling fool most of the time.  I have to remind myself to not experience my world inwardly, but outwardly.  So people know that I appreciate them instead of me assuming that they know I do.    Be genuine. Be kind. Be yourself.  Do not live out of fear.  Fear was ingrained in me at such a young age.  I have to fight it with every breath I take.  It makes me sad to think of those who still live in it and don’t know they do.

Just now as I type this the man on the train next to me had a tiny spider crawl across his paper.  My instant reaction was to smash it.  He let it crawl on his hand and he reached up and placed it on the curtain.  Again.. fear reacted for me.  But not him. GAH.

Last nights show was fantastic.  I am always blown away by ones ability to perform on stage in front of people and also have the talent to make it worth everyones time.  Elle was perfect and just as I expected.  The heavy blew my mind. So soo amazing. After the show was over I was able to meet Elle and she invited me to hang out with them backstage.  It was GREAT.  I drank wine, jager, beer, smoked hash and tabocco. I quite literally partied like a rock star.  I laugh when I think of the ability to make a small decision that effects the course of everything else.  Oui, c’est la vie.  When I got home my flat mates were having a party.  I met their French friends and proceeded to drink more.  Ugh. I’m feeling it now on this long bumpy train ride. Haha…

Its almost noon and I was supposed to catch the bus to Burgandy at 9am.  I am definitely hung over from last nights shenanigans.  I have to pay $50 euros to take the train to meet up with my group. :sigh:  but it was sooo worth it. haha….

I worked all day from home and then went to the concert.  IT WAS GREAT!!  I managed to meet Elle and ended up hanging out with both bands most of the night.  When I finally got home my french roomies were having a party…..  haha..  so I partied with them as well. OMG. too much fun.  I’ll write more later..  I need to shower and catch my train.

I ended up sleeping in until 1pm.  It felt great but I knew I had hurt myself when it came to adjusting to the time here.  I decided I was going to take a trek and look up a coffee house I had heard was up to my standards of “good coffee”.  Three hours and $50 euros later my cappuccino didn’t disappoint.  Painful lesson of the day: You must keep your metro ticket until you exit the metro station. Ugh.  Stupid Americaine…

My flat mates took me to a photo gallery show.  Anise, Edwards girlfriend works at the Louvre and has connections up the wazoo on the art scene here.  I am continually blown away at how I manage to bump into the right people. The gallery show was fantastic and afterwards we wandered the streets of La Marais as they pointed out various places I must go to eat or drink during my time here.  Laughably we ended up at McDonalds (which also serves macarons btw) and ate back at our flat.

Tomorrow is a big day.  Lots of work to do for my lovely clients back home.

Bonsoir.

I woke up early to all my flat mates leaving for work. By the sounds of it they wear great shoes that “click click click” down the hallway.  haha.

I googled cafes with wifi and found great reviews for one within a couple blocks of me.  I was hoping for some real breakfast..  eggs bacon etc.,..  but no avail.  That is very much an anglais thing to do.  I did order my petite dejeuner..  which was a shot of espresso, half a baguette with butter and jam and a glass of orange juice for 8 euros.  All were delicious.  I worked there on my laptop for a couple hours.  I popped back by and ditched my laptop and grabbed my camera and strolled through the city for the next two hours.  It was overcast today and they expect rain the rest of the week.  I found myself standing in front of “Longchamp”..  which when later I was showing my purchased goodie to my roomies  I was corrected with my pronunciation of “lo-cha”.

I met Edwards girlfriend tonight.  We shared a bottle of wine and laughter. They both speak english very well.  They are taking me to a gallerie show tomorrow as well as dinner and drinks afterwards.  They insist on being my french friends and I will gladly oblige them.

Just got an email back from the manager of the concert I wanted to see that was sold out.  I’m now on the guest list and will be photographing the show as well.  All thanks to a friend in NYC.  :D

My first full day in Paris is complete.

My flight here was one of the best flights I’ve experienced yet in all my traveling.  I wasnt anxious or tired or stressed.  Everything went smoothly and I slept well.  I even sat next to a nice old man who was a camera buff back in the 70’s.  We had loads to talk about.

After getting situated on my room I went for a little walk and grabbed some lunch at Le Goncourt Bistro just around the corner from my flat.  After a few funny language barrier moments with the waitress I ordered Beef Bourguignon and a cafe creme.  Both made me a happy happy gal.

I definitely feel lost without my phone here.  I have to make sure I know where I am headed and have a good map before I head out.  I went on a long walk to a concert venue to purchase a ticket to a show on Friday..  I went the long way by accident.  Turned out to be a lovely walk along the Pere Lechaise. The venue was closed and the tickets are sold out anyway.  BUMMER.

After all that I was ready for a nap.  I woke up when one of my flat mates came home.  Edward made me tea and gave me chocolate and proceeded to be adorable and charming. Although he didn’t have to do much. I would have thought that anyway. haha…

I’m actually here.  I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face all day.

I really really wish I knew the language better.  I feel like the only word I’m capable of is “merci”.

But I have to remind myself, i’ve only been here a whole 12 hours now.