Photography Friend

Just a few days after my crazy Italian adventure, I had a good friend from my New York days visit me in Paris. Back when I was young and ridiculous, she and I would run around the boroughs in search of "eye candy", talk of our crappy jobs to support our creative goals, and drink lots of cocktails. We spent her 10 days visiting in Paris running around the arrondissements in search of "eye candy" and drinking lots of wine... Clearly nothing has changed... Except that now I live in Europe and she currently lives in Bangkok with her fiancé. She decided to come and crash in my tiny little studio so that she could visit with me of course, explore a different city, and utilize her professional photography skills on a brand new metropolis.

One of the things people kept asking when I said I was having a friend stay in my servant's quarters hovel for over a week, was how my friend and I would avoid killing each other? But since this dear artistic friend of mine is the most freewheeling, easygoing gal I have ever met, it really didn't cause me to raise even an eyebrow. When I went off to work, she wandered the town, and I was brought back to the age of pre-smartphone, when people picked a time, chose a location, and you had to just trust that both people had the brain power and mutual respect to follow through with the plan. Surprisingly, it worked every time and I felt a bit nostalgic for those olden days of yore. Amidst all of our making plans and arriving on time, we made sure to engage in a variety of Parisian activities throughout the week.

I brought her down to the Latin Quarter where we wandered through the streets of education and had a classic French dinner on Rue Mouffetard. I brought her through my favorite areas in Montmartre and sent her off on her own to see things like the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, and whatever museums she wanted to discover. I invited her to meet some of mes amis, attend a pub quiz, make friends at a local bar, and rediscover a restaurant with the best dumplings in the history of mankind. I was also lucky enough to help her choose her wedding dress, which she found at an adorable boutique in the Marais. In addition to tons of wine, cheese, and other goodies, we also hydrated like it was our job, went running several times, and spent a few nights at home just cooking, relaxing and girl gabbing.

Most importantly, I got to see Paris through the eyes of a brilliant photographer who doesn't just gloss over her surroundings with tunnel vision, but takes note of facial expressions, lighting on a face, the shape of an arm, the silhouette of a skyline. I was even treated to the amazing luxury of having boudoir pictures taken of myself, sexy and elegant snapshots I can narcissistically admire in the moment or look back on years from now to remember my youthful beauty. (Not that I ever expect to be old or in any way not beautiful.) When it was finally time to say au revoir to my friend, I felt the normal wistful sadness at saying goodbye to someone who I adore and who knew me pre-Paris, but I was also left with a refreshing reminder of all that this stunning city has to offer.

A Sea Goddess and A Sporty Gal

Saying goodbye to any city is never a pleasant experience, but when you can do it with gusto and a gondola, it really isn't so bad. Our Italian boating lesson was postponed because of the wind, so we woke up bright and early for our rescheduled time slot. Thank goodness the wind had tamed itself, so we were able to meet our guide and begin our adventure through the canals. From what I learned, the real skill lies in the hands of the person steering the boat in the back. This requires balance and focus, so as not to fall over into the murky water or ram into another boat channeling through the waterways. My cousin and I were therefore instructed how to row from the mid-boat position, hampered with much less responsibility or prestige. Either way, I had my boat hat on, the sun was shining, and I had no problem taking my turn at the helm. Once we got to the open lagoon, we were allowed to try rowing from the star spot, when I realized just how hard it would have been amidst the canals. Even with all of the open sea around us, when any speed boats floated by in the distance, the waves made it infinitely more difficult not to go splashing overboard. While balancing my little legs with a view of Venice on the horizon, I felt like a true goddess of the seas.

Our afternoon plan was to take a water taxi over to Lido, where we would rent some bicycles and traverse around this small little island. We of course first sat down for some pizza and a Spritz, fully fortified before we took our afternoon jaunt. In contrast to the horrifying hills (or rather what seemed physically horrifying on a bicycle) around Florence, Lido is incredibly flat, so we were able to soar and glide on our bikes beside the beach all the way around the island. When it was finally time to head back to Venice proper, I felt that our day of boating and biking made me a truly sporty gal for the afternoon.

Unfortunately, after our eventful day, it was time to bid my dear cousin adieu, as she was heading back home before me. I would have a solo night in Venice before going back to Paris the following morning. After I said bon voyage to Hot Blonde Cousin, my first stop was to Harry's Bar, a famous spot visited in past by the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Charlie Chaplin. They are renowned for their €15 bellinis, which may be pricey but are certainly delicious. After slowly sipping on my one glamorous cocktail, I went off to buy a few last minute souvenirs and head off to my selected dinner spot. I still have no idea how, but it took me about 30 minutes to find the place, even though I passed it about 10 times, just not realizing it was the location I was looking for. I may have the worst sense of direction in the history of the planet, but even for me this was extra special. At long last, I sat down to my independent dinner and ordered a glass one wine with my lamb chops and apricots. I had one more cocktail on my way back to the hotel and actually walked by the pizza place I had visited two nights before, where one of the servers recognized me and suggested I come back in an hour to have a drink with him and another coworker. Sadly, I had to pack and wake up at 4am for my flight, so no partying for me, but I enjoyed the fact that by the end of my brief stay I already felt like a local.