Luckily, many museums are free on the 1st of every month, so of course we took the advantage of going to the Louvre. 
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| Yay Japan |
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| Mona Lisa madness |
Monday, March 9, 2015
Paris (Jan/Feb 2015) VI - Day 5/6 Louvre
One of the reasons Paris is such a great place for many young people is that for many museums and anything with art there is a discount or even free if you're a student and/or under 25 years old. Since R is under 25, he can practically get into any museum in the city free any time. As a student, I should be entitled to this too...except I encountered the problem that 1) Switzerland is not an EU country, hence my student card is invalid 2) I'm over 25 y/o hence, I disqualify :T
Paris (Jan/Feb 2015) V - Day 5 Brunch
He made me brunch :) Need I say more?
昨晩の晩御飯はあたしが作ったので（とはいえ、冷凍餃子をフライパンで炒めてサラダを作った程度だけど ；＾＾）、朝ごはんはR担当。担当というよりはどちらかがメインを作ってもう一人がおかずを作るという流れ。パリというと朝はカフェでクロワッサンとコーヒーを食べて、夜はエッフェル塔が見えるレストランで食事・・・というイメージとは程遠いなんとも地味な毎日 笑笑。でも予算もないし、アパートでの自炊だったけど一緒にご飯を作るのは楽しかったので逆に大切な会話の時間。
本日のブランチのメニューはブルターニュ地方郷土料理のそば粉を使ったクレープ（ガレット）、りんご、にんじんのサラダ。ところでこのクレープの皮はRが作ったのではなくスーパーで買ったもの。なんでもフランスの家庭ではクレープの皮はうちで作るより買うんだとか。普通の小麦粉のクレープはパン屋さんで売っているそう。たしかに家庭で作るよりはプロのパン屋さんが作るもの方がおいしいし、コスト的にも安いもんね（ちなみにガレットは郷土料理なのでパリのパン屋さんではあまり見かけられないけどスーパーではどこでも売っている）。これは驚きだったけど納得。
ガレット・コンプレットは一番一般的な食べ方だそうで、なかにチーズ・ハム・卵を入れて焼くもの。
ブルターニュ育ちのR、この一品にはこだわりがあるようでスーパーでいろいろ使う素材で悩んでいるところを発見 笑
ちなみに彼曰く、味の決め手は有塩バター。フランスは無塩バターが一般的だけど北の方では有塩が一般的。有塩のほうがバターが長持ちするし、料理でも少し塩味が効いて隠し味になるんだとか。実際にあたしもパンに塗ってみたけど、格段にうまい！でもフランスのバターってアメリカや日本に比べると値段も安い上にどれをとっても本当においしい。
フランス人が一般的にバター好きなのがわかる！
昨晩の晩御飯はあたしが作ったので（とはいえ、冷凍餃子をフライパンで炒めてサラダを作った程度だけど ；＾＾）、朝ごはんはR担当。担当というよりはどちらかがメインを作ってもう一人がおかずを作るという流れ。パリというと朝はカフェでクロワッサンとコーヒーを食べて、夜はエッフェル塔が見えるレストランで食事・・・というイメージとは程遠いなんとも地味な毎日 笑笑。でも予算もないし、アパートでの自炊だったけど一緒にご飯を作るのは楽しかったので逆に大切な会話の時間。
本日のブランチのメニューはブルターニュ地方郷土料理のそば粉を使ったクレープ（ガレット）、りんご、にんじんのサラダ。ところでこのクレープの皮はRが作ったのではなくスーパーで買ったもの。なんでもフランスの家庭ではクレープの皮はうちで作るより買うんだとか。普通の小麦粉のクレープはパン屋さんで売っているそう。たしかに家庭で作るよりはプロのパン屋さんが作るもの方がおいしいし、コスト的にも安いもんね（ちなみにガレットは郷土料理なのでパリのパン屋さんではあまり見かけられないけどスーパーではどこでも売っている）。これは驚きだったけど納得。
ガレット・コンプレットは一番一般的な食べ方だそうで、なかにチーズ・ハム・卵を入れて焼くもの。
ブルターニュ育ちのR、この一品にはこだわりがあるようでスーパーでいろいろ使う素材で悩んでいるところを発見 笑
ちなみに彼曰く、味の決め手は有塩バター。フランスは無塩バターが一般的だけど北の方では有塩が一般的。有塩のほうがバターが長持ちするし、料理でも少し塩味が効いて隠し味になるんだとか。実際にあたしもパンに塗ってみたけど、格段にうまい！でもフランスのバターってアメリカや日本に比べると値段も安い上にどれをとっても本当においしい。
フランス人が一般的にバター好きなのがわかる！
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Paris (Jan/Feb 2015) IV - Day 3
Another great thing about Paris is that it has one of the biggest Chinatown (or more like Chinese/Vietnamese/Cambodian town). Only in Paris will you see an open market of vegetables, illegal DVDs, and homemade wrapped rice cakes and thousand-year eggs.
The real reason why we came to Chinatown is because I wanted to stock up on Asian food - tofu, fish sauce, chili sauce, etc. Of course Asian markets do exist in Geneva but they are all horrendously expensive. Here, I was amazed to find that it was similarly priced to the Asian markets in San Francisco.
The real reason why we came to Chinatown is because I wanted to stock up on Asian food - tofu, fish sauce, chili sauce, etc. Of course Asian markets do exist in Geneva but they are all horrendously expensive. Here, I was amazed to find that it was similarly priced to the Asian markets in San Francisco.
Dinner tonight: potstickers, kimchi, salad, beer. Surprisingly these were R's choices not mine!
Friday, March 6, 2015
Paris III (Jan/Feb 2015) - Day 2 Night time
Paris is beautiful in day time, but more so at night. It shows a new side with night life bustling and beautiful light-up of buildings. It's such a change from Geneva since it's dead quiet at night and nightlife is non-existent. R lived here for about 3-4 years and he was a hot blooded youngster (he still is a youngster) so it was quite funny to hear his accounts of his party days. Quite a change from now when we got tired at 9pm and we grabbed some groceries and wine for dinner. But that's not bad at all. After being apart from some time, sometimes the best moments are food, wine, cozy room, and some TV.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Paris II (Jan/Feb 2015) - Day 2
I don't think much more words are needed... hope you enjoy the beautiful stroll we took around the city!
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Saturday, February 28, 2015
Paris I (Jan/Feb 2015) - Day 1
Paris is the first European city I went to back in 2006. It's been about 9 years since then plus last time I was only there for 24 hours (it was a speedy trip across Europe after my college graduation!) so I really never got a chance to appreciate the city and go to the museums.
So this time, that's exactly what I did. Even better R was there at the same time so we rented a cute Paris apartment to spend a few days together.
What's crazy is that Paris is only a 45 minute plane ride from Geneva. Even a bit more odd is that Geneva airport is actually situated right on the border between France and Switzerland. So being a flight to France, my boarding gate was in the French zone of the airport. Hence, on paper it was an international EasyJet flight but geographically it was a domestic flight. Weird huh? I guess that's why my one way ticket only cost my about $60!
I must also add that my trip started out great by almost missing the plane by going to the wrong gate (thought my seat number was the gate number..I knew drinking at the lounge was a bad idea!) and Paris was in a huge traffic chaos because of the strikes. But the important thing is I got there in one piece and met up with R, finally!
As usual we never really plan out our trip so after dropping our things off at the apartment, we had coffee at a traditional cafe while discussing our itinerary for the next few days (sounds Frenchie already right? ;) )
After R lectured me on not going to any museums during my previous stay, we then of course headed to the Orsay. The museum was huge but very beautiful and I must say it's one of my favorites. I can just stay there the whole day. Too bad I wasn't allowed to take any pictures but I'm sure all of you will go there when you're in Paris as well since it's a must-see. I had initially thought going to a museum together after meeting up for the first time in 10months is a bit weird but turns out it was a perfect place to catch up on stories while commenting and discussing about art. Ha, fit in quite well with our nerdy nature.
Strangely my AP European History class I learned came back to me as I was walking through the galleries and quite helpful to understand the historical contexts. So, if you're planning to do some historical sight seeing or art viewing, I highly recommend you familiarize (or refresh your memory) of European history. Trust me, it'll come in handy and you'll sound a bit smart as well.
Before we got and grabbed groceries for dinner, we took a quick stroll around some of the key places in Paris. It was cold in Paris but not as must as in Geneva which was quite a relief for me and it was indeed a perfect night for a walk.
約８年ぶりのパリ。前回は24時間しかいられなかったので（パリ→スイス→ミラノの4日間の強行旅だったので 笑）今回は美術館巡りをしたいな～と思ってた所Rもパリにいたのでネットで見つけたアパートに数日間滞在してきました。もっぱらついた初日からオルセー美術館へ。写真禁止なのが残念だったけど、多分今回行った数々の美術館で一番好きかも。もう美術の教科書に掲載されてた絵画の本物が目の前にあること自体がかなり感動。たとえ美術に興味がなくてもかなりテンション↑↑ Rとは10ヶ月ぶりの再会。どうなるかな～、しかも会ってすぐ美術館もどうかなと少し不安ながらも絵についていろいろ話が弾んだのでとりあえず一安心。
それにしてもパリはジュネーブと違ってやはり国際都市。夜8時過ぎてもまだまだ街が活気にあふれてる。東京に慣れているのであたしとして正直ぱりの方が肌に合うのかも ；＾＾ せっかくなので二人で夜のパリ名所巡り。昼とは違って夜のライトアップされたパリの風景もすごく絵になります。
So this time, that's exactly what I did. Even better R was there at the same time so we rented a cute Paris apartment to spend a few days together.
What's crazy is that Paris is only a 45 minute plane ride from Geneva. Even a bit more odd is that Geneva airport is actually situated right on the border between France and Switzerland. So being a flight to France, my boarding gate was in the French zone of the airport. Hence, on paper it was an international EasyJet flight but geographically it was a domestic flight. Weird huh? I guess that's why my one way ticket only cost my about $60!
I must also add that my trip started out great by almost missing the plane by going to the wrong gate (thought my seat number was the gate number..I knew drinking at the lounge was a bad idea!) and Paris was in a huge traffic chaos because of the strikes. But the important thing is I got there in one piece and met up with R, finally!
As usual we never really plan out our trip so after dropping our things off at the apartment, we had coffee at a traditional cafe while discussing our itinerary for the next few days (sounds Frenchie already right? ;) )
After R lectured me on not going to any museums during my previous stay, we then of course headed to the Orsay. The museum was huge but very beautiful and I must say it's one of my favorites. I can just stay there the whole day. Too bad I wasn't allowed to take any pictures but I'm sure all of you will go there when you're in Paris as well since it's a must-see. I had initially thought going to a museum together after meeting up for the first time in 10months is a bit weird but turns out it was a perfect place to catch up on stories while commenting and discussing about art. Ha, fit in quite well with our nerdy nature.
Strangely my AP European History class I learned came back to me as I was walking through the galleries and quite helpful to understand the historical contexts. So, if you're planning to do some historical sight seeing or art viewing, I highly recommend you familiarize (or refresh your memory) of European history. Trust me, it'll come in handy and you'll sound a bit smart as well.
Before we got and grabbed groceries for dinner, we took a quick stroll around some of the key places in Paris. It was cold in Paris but not as must as in Geneva which was quite a relief for me and it was indeed a perfect night for a walk.
約８年ぶりのパリ。前回は24時間しかいられなかったので（パリ→スイス→ミラノの4日間の強行旅だったので 笑）今回は美術館巡りをしたいな～と思ってた所Rもパリにいたのでネットで見つけたアパートに数日間滞在してきました。もっぱらついた初日からオルセー美術館へ。写真禁止なのが残念だったけど、多分今回行った数々の美術館で一番好きかも。もう美術の教科書に掲載されてた絵画の本物が目の前にあること自体がかなり感動。たとえ美術に興味がなくてもかなりテンション↑↑ Rとは10ヶ月ぶりの再会。どうなるかな～、しかも会ってすぐ美術館もどうかなと少し不安ながらも絵についていろいろ話が弾んだのでとりあえず一安心。
それにしてもパリはジュネーブと違ってやはり国際都市。夜8時過ぎてもまだまだ街が活気にあふれてる。東京に慣れているのであたしとして正直ぱりの方が肌に合うのかも ；＾＾ せっかくなので二人で夜のパリ名所巡り。昼とは違って夜のライトアップされたパリの風景もすごく絵になります。
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Few more pictures from home
I'm well back in Geneva and enjoying the real break now that finals are over. I just came back from Paris and have been sick in bed and I'll update those pictures soon. For now I'm feeling a bit homesick so I'm posting a few more of my favorite pics from back home!
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