Europe Day 59: Shakespeare and Company

Having finally finished my homework and turned it all in, I finally had some free time again! As soon as class was over I took full advantage of it. 

Jeanie, Melissa and I decided to eat a nice French lunch.  We went to a restaurant in the Latin Quarter that Jeanie had been wanting to try.  Moments after sitting down we were given an "amuses bouche," which translates into "amusement for the mouth."  It was some sort of green puree-possibly asparagus, topped with a few dark, crips croutons and three round spots of something. Jeanie claims it was chocolate, but I thought it tasted more like vinegar.  I had to avert my attention from the slime-green color, but otherwise enjoyed it.

I ordered off the set-price menu and had fish, vegetables, and a pastery for dessert. The presentation alone was utterly fantastic!  My entree and side dish were set together on the plate with a crepe wrapped in a cone shape, overflowing with herbs on top.  Green and orange stripes criss-crossed my plate, with black circles added to the patter. I have no idea what any of the colors were, but it looked cool.

I LOVE French pasteries!  We were told to pick one from the case in the chocolate shop attached to the restaurant.  There were so many delightful options, I made myself choose quickly before I started drooling.  I ended up with a white chocolate mousse covered in a red gel, with raspberries on top and inside and a shortbread crust on bottom. It tasted fantastic! I slowly savoured every single bite, letting the mouse, gel, and chocolate melt in my mouth.  It was ten minutes of heaven!

When we had finished lunch, we visisted the chocolate shop, then an olive oil and vinegar shop.  Afterwards, we hunted down Shakespeare and Company.  This is an English bookstore that has been around for a very long time.  Initially, it seems to be a poorly shelved jumble of books with no sense of order, but a closer look shows method in the madness.  In the chaos of books stacked on books, facing all directions, everything was neatly ordered by author and divided by genre.  Book shelves were absolutely everywhere.  Even the slanted side of the stair case had books on it! Up the stairs was a section of reference books that could be read but not purchased.  Wingbacked chairs, a rocking chair, and even two beds were available to sit and spend the afternoon reading.  I sorely wished I had found that out sooner so I could have spent an afternoon reading while surrounded by old books.  Everyone was very quiet, only muttering "excuse me" and "sorry" under their breath as they squeezed through the tightly packed shelves of books.  Even the employees spoke English!  I did not have to guess at what they were saying as they sorted a pile of books on the floor.  It was comforting to have some time in a place where I knew exactly what was going on.

Upon returning to my room at the FIAP I was dissapointed to catch the scent of men's body spray drifting through my bedroom window.  That means that another group of middle or high school students had arrived from somewhere.  You know, the kind who are at the age where they realize they might smell, but don't like to shower.  I do not like them.  They scream and yell and run up and down the halls banging on doors at 7 in the morning, and push all of the buttons in the elevator, racing it to the top of the building and down again.  I'm sure I would appreciate the FIAP much more if those little monsters weren't here!

Dinner in the cafeteria was followed by a trip to the Seine for crepes with Kayla and Josh.  The crepe man recognizes me since I have been so often.  I like the feeling of being a "regular" somewhere in Paris.  Not many people, who don't live here, can lay claim to such a thing.  I relish the spark of recognition in his eyes when I appear outside his window.  I am a little surprised he hasn't just started making my crepe before I order it, since I get the same thing everytime, but maybe tomorrow night he will.

We sat next to the river in the wind until I got too cold to stay any longer.  The weather was not the best today, but the rest of the week should be in the 70s and 80s.  I think it will be a nice way to send us back home.  Part of me suddenly panicked when I realized how few days we had left, because I'm still short a few souveniers for people, but another part of me thinks I should hop on a plane tomorrow and just give everyone hugs instead of stuff.  But, the sensible part of me knows I can't afford another ticket, I'll just have to wait until Saturday.