Life in Paris: April 2013

My monthly wrap-ups are for me to share more of my daily goings-on; the little things that make up my life in Paris. For previous months, see here.

Flying over Paris by Expat Edna

Flying into Paris, Eiffel Tower ahoy

How would I describe April in three words?

Spring. Russia. Picnics.

It was a laid-back month, just as wonderful as each one that has preceded it so far this year, except with added hours of sunlight and degrees of warmth. Just when I think I can’t feel any more settled in my Paris life, another month passes and I’m proven wrong yet again.

It’s a shame I’ll be leaving soon. But more on that later. For now, a happy look back at another charming month in Paris:

April 2013

Breakfast at the Pompidou

Breakfast at the Pompidou by Expat Edna Breakfast at the Pompidou - roses in Georges by Expat Edna Breakfast at the Pompidou - view from the top by Expat Edna

I had a special opportunity to dine atop the Pompidou for breakfast then tour the Eileen Gray exhibit thanks to an invitation from a former Gaelic football teammate. I’ll be posting more about this soon, but it was definitely a highlight of my time in Paris so far — not many people can say they’ve eaten, or even seen, inside the Pompidou at such an early hour. Totally worth the seven am wake-up call.

Sochi, Russia

I’ve mentioned already that Russia was just a work trip, so I didn’t have time to experience much of the country itself. But I wanted to share just a couple more photos from my week there:

Sochi volunteers by Edna Zhou

I’ve met a few Russians in my time, but few were as friendly as the ones I met in Sochi. They were so excited to host us, so warm and welcoming; the volunteers in the photo above kept yelling, “Welcome to Sochi!!” and waving with giant smiles on their faces at anyone who passed them with a camera.

Russian Standard bartender by Expat Edna

After I snapped this shot of my new friend Boris here at our closing dinner event, I showed him the photo — he then looked up at me and slowly said just one word: “Facebook?” He then proceeded to feed me mojitos all night, even though they were ‘out of limes’ — he stock-piled a few behind the bar just for me.

Russian Standard by Expat Edna

On that note, at our hotel in Sochi, vodka was served chilled like a fine wine, and went down just as smoothly. I don’t want to assume and extrapolate that this is done in all of Russia, but it should be — one sip of Russian Standard and I thought, ahhh. I get it now.

Edna in Sochi - copyright Edna Zhou

But of course, the highlights of my trip were being able to tour the Olympic venues, meeting seasoned sports journalists from all over the world (over one hundred countries were represented at our congress), and — best of all — finally seeing my name in print on the magazine I’ve been helping edit for the last few months.

Tarantino Party

Tarantino party accessories by Expat Edna Diane and Edna - photo by Diane, A BroadTarantino party details by Expat Edna

Girls’ nights have become more frequent thanks to a certain group of friends I’ve become very close with in the past couple months. One of them hosted a Tarantino-themed party recently, and I was impressed with how some people really threw themselves into their costumes. I was never big into make-believe and dress-up (every Halloween I just phone it in, if I bother to participate at all) so I took the easy route with a look from Reservoir Dogs. It worked surprisingly well. (middle photo courtesy Diane)

We also finally discovered a good club in Paris — one that plays hip-hop music, not more of the same techno/electro/Euro-music-I-don’t-understand repertoire. It’s called Le Magnifique near Palais Royale, and it doesn’t start hopping until 1:30 am (and you have to be dressed nicely), but it beats the oontz-oontz-oontz you’ll find in every other club in Paris.

Picnic Season

Paris bloggers birthday picnic by Expat Edna

The joys of having a spring birthday are plentiful, including the ability to hold late-night picnics along the Seine. For C‘s special day, Diane made a frittata and we all brought the classic picnic accoutrements and had ourselves a beautiful evening against the changing colors of a glowing sunset against a perfectly blue sky.

(P.S. guys, I’m totally expecting the same deal for my birthday next month.)

Pont de la Tournelle by Expat Edna Sunset along the Seine by Expat Edna Seine at dusk by Expat Edna Blue hour on the pont by Expat Edna

I was also slightly obsessed that night with watching the moon rise over the Pont de la Tournelle, especially with this couple so perfectly lined up underneath the full moon. I even happened to look up just in time to see the guy lean forward to kiss the girl, then squealed like a middle-schooler (on the inside of course) as she grabbed his collar and kissed him back. Just the city of romance, doing it’s thing.

Paris moonlight romance by Expat Edna

And finally, one last piece of good news: Today I picked up my carte de sejour! I now have French residency (until September, anyway).

It’s a huge milestone for me. In China and my first year in Paris I was on a student visa; in Singapore, I had a working holiday pass. This is the first time I’ve had a real residency permit — I’m now a (proper) resident of the European Union!

Expat Edna instagram

Home. For real.

Other posts related to April:

Pelouse en Fête: Celebrating Spring in Paris
Instagrammed: One week in Sochi, Russia

Happy Spring, wherever you are!

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9 Comments

  • Reply
    kristen @thekaleproject
    April 30, 2013 at 02:54

    What a month!!! Russia sounded very interesting – I can’t wait to hear more. And I’ve yet to picnic on the Seine but I know there were a few great days to do it so far – glad you were able to finally partake. As for the Tarentino party, in my book there is nothing better than dressing up. Fact. Happy spring ! x

  • Reply
    Erica
    April 30, 2013 at 04:26

    WOW. another action packed month :)
    Looks like you’re really living it up over there!!

  • Reply
    Jay
    April 30, 2013 at 11:10

    Congratulations on the carte de sejour!

    I have been loving your photos Edna – Sochi & Paris included. That city of romance doing it’s thing melts my heart!

    Hope your May is just as good :)

  • Reply
    Milsters @ Little Pieces of Light
    April 30, 2013 at 13:11

    Chicklet – that kiss photo series is AMAZING!! I loved it! And so so so happy you had a good time at my Tarantino party! I’m so sorry about the water spillage and you feeling cold after (Mel told me about it the next day). Your costume was bang on!

    x Milsters

    (http://www.littlepiecesoflight.com/)

  • Reply
    Erika
    April 30, 2013 at 21:29

    Love your photos and it sounds like April was fantastic for you! That breakfast at the Pompidou sounds so special and beautiful — can’t wait to read that post! And those photos of the moonlit kiss are AMAZING! :)

  • Reply
    Katherina
    May 6, 2013 at 09:18

    So jealous for your trip to Sochi (even though it was only for work!). I had a russian-polish-german dinner a few weeks ago that was topped with russian vodka and swore to myself never to drink Absolut again! It went down so easily!

  • Reply
    Lauren @ roamingtheworld
    May 11, 2013 at 17:50

    Love these wrap-ups!
    You make me want to hop on a plane and visit you in Paris…

  • Reply
    Daisy de Plume
    May 15, 2013 at 09:52

    That black and white photo of you at the Tarantino party is great. As for your residency permit – too funny that it arrives when you know you’re off! No loss, you’ll have a blast – and another residency permit to add to your collection!

  • Reply
    Ceri
    June 11, 2013 at 11:28

    The photos in this roundup remind me of old pictures of Paris I see from the 50s and 60s. The sights, the parties, the food, the sounds. :) Gorgeous.

    Also, I LOVE the idea of a Tarantino themed party. OMG. Why have I never thought of that before?

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