Posts From: Paris/London 2008
Jan
10
Three Incidents
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Yesterday, while having a lunch snack in St. Paul’s Cathedral crypt (yup), I looked over at a lady and had a moment of familiarity. But of course I dismissed this, because how would I recognize someone in London? I kept looking at her. Again and again and again. She had to be the English twin of Karen Wilson, theater prof at St. Olaf. And then I saw some student-aged kids …continue reading
Jan
10
Food
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Allow me to comment on the differences between France and England on these two subjects as how I have experienced them. French breakfast: Usually experienced at a cafe/restaurant that serves a fixed breakfast of choice coffee/tea/hot chocolate, baguette piece, croissant, and orange juice. Very simple. English breakfast: As I said in a previous post, sausage, bacon, egg, toast, beans, tomato, and tea/coffee. Very substantial. French lunch: I tended to eat …continue reading
Jan
8
London = Rain
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The curtains in our hotel room are closed, but I can hear the fierce wind and spattering rain outside. Rain was present for much of this morning, though not to the degree that it is now. I unfortunately left my umbrella at a restaurant in Paris and was thus without mobile shelter while walking around London. My shoes got wet and eventually soaked through to my socks, and the hems …continue reading
Jan
7
Au Revoir, Paris…
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Noelle and I just got to our hotel in London after a 1.5-hr Eurostar ride, which included 15 minutes of blackness under the English Channel. Although it’s nice to be in a country that speaks my language, I do miss saying “Bonjour” and speaking French formalities. C’est la vie (c’est la guerre…). Yesterday, I started off with a trip to Trocadero Square for a first close-up view of the grand …continue reading
Jan
7
Perceptions of London/ers
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I’ve been thinking about my preconceived notions of Parisians and realized that I didn’t have many. I wondered if that’s because it’s harder to imagine a foreign country that is as Westernized as America vs. a completely foreign country like China or India. Paris and the French way of living surprised me in many ways, but I had no idea they would. As for England, I’ve tried to think of …continue reading
