friends and reminiscing

when D and i went to France in 2003 we stayed at a nice hotel we booked from whatif.com. it was our splurge hotel stay. not that the B&B's we stayed in earlier during our trip were backpacker hovels or anything. they were all gorgeous. in Rome we stayed at The Beehive (on recommendation from my sister) and in Florence we stayed at Il Porcellino Tourist House which was around the corner from the Uffizi Gallery , the home of my favourite painting.
anyway, I am digressing. in Paris we would go out all day and come back to the hotel around 10 or 11 at night. a guy was working on the night desk. he was supposed to have finished his job the week before as he as going back to study at university. he had told his boss he would fill in for an extra week. we all think it was meant to be, as he has become a firm friend. we would return from a days outing and sit in the quiet hotel foyer with him, having coffee on the house and chatting about our daily adventures. he is married with a little girl. they are the sweetest family, and we email all the time. he sends us little clips of his daughter, like her first day at kindergarten and we generally share in each others life experiences. he has called us a couple of times, like when A was born, and recently for D's birthday. i like that kind of serendipitous friend - the one you make unexpectedly, and although we may never see each other again, you know will probably be there for life.
like most people, i like things French - Paris was amazing. we were only there for one week, but you can imagine what it was like just sitting at a cafe and watching people - everything in Paris is neat, ordered an clean. it was like being in a movie. and it is true - the women looked elegant and sophisticated in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt!
my favourite Audrey Hepburn movies is called Funny Face.

it's a great musical that shows everything beautiful about Paris. and Fred Astaire is in it too.
this week i have been reading a humorous book about unlocking the French woman within. together with "French Women Don't get Fat" i may learn to pull it off! ;-)
maybe not, 'cause when i read "French Women..." a couple of years ago they said to begin with a cleansing soup of leek broth. for 24 hours. i made it, tasted it, and i think i lasted 2 hours.
on other girl things, my sister and i went for a quick shop today (as much shopping as you can do with two babies and a toddler tearing down the isles) and i bought A a new dress and cardigan. so the dress won't fit until next winter, but it was half price and is adorable. i've decided it is probably a good thing i go back to work. having a girl is dangerous - there are too many cute things out there. poor N - the boys clothes seem to be only tough looking t-shirts and jeans. i'll have to look harder.
to indulge my French reminiscing, here are a couple of pictures from Paris.

maybe one day will we go back.