Last day in Paris

Okay, I should start with yesterday. It's been really crazy lately but I'm happy with my labmates around. Yesterday the postdoc and I were waiting for a UK visitor. We had a really interesting talk and after that, around 8pm, I noticed I was starving. I had some leftover lunch and went to the kitchen. Pretty much everyone who wasn't on vacation was still there, minus the assistant professor. It was really nice. We sat around the table with out random food and just relaxed and chatted for an hour or so. I think it was the perfect way to wrap up my stay.

Today was my last day! It was kind of hectic but everything got done! 4 months doesn't sound so long to me anymore, I feel like I've been here much longer. I liked the environment a lot and the pace. Everyone gets in around 9:30-10 with the exception of two earlier birds. Around lunch time, everyone tries to coordinate what time we should eat and lunch is pretty laid back. Afterwards, at least a few people will be sitting around with a post-lunch coffee chatting and sipping. Then work continues til 6 or 7. It's a nice pace I think, especially when there are plenty of other people around working too!

I'm really looking forward to getting back to Joe and lilyface but I'll really miss it here.

Catacombes (preview)

Frog legs!

I think this only sort of counts because I ate it at a Chinese restaurant. But there you go, frog legs, CHECK!

There was more than one. Actually there was probably two frogs' worth. Maybe four if they only use the hind legs. To be honest, it didn't taste like much and it was really tough. Seemed overcooked, the postdoc at my lab was saying that while the taste is pretty mild, the meat should be sort of like chicken but fattier.

I also splurged (after a long day at lab...) and got a spring roll. Damn mint though. They keep putting mint in these. I found out through eating at the cantine that I apparently don't like mint. Toothpaste, yes. Minty candies, yes. Savory foods and fruit, no. A the cantine, they usually will put a sprig of mint on a bowl of fruit. I always pick off the mint but the flavor always had permeated the top layer of fruit already.

les schtroumpfs

I was amused, and then wikipedia told me the word schtroumpfs actually predates the word smurfs.

I have never actually seen the show...

Last weekend in Paris!

For my last weekend in Paris, I hung out --okay well, I was in lab finishing up somethings but I also got the chance to go to Musee d'Orsay with two of my labmates!

We walked from lab to the museum and along the way, I checked out a chocolate shop that was on my list. And then we awkwardly left after realizing it was most definitely out of our price range. Oh well. The brief visit with A/C was nice.

We spent about an hour at the museum. I completely lost track of time and ended up spending the entire time wandering through the impressionist gallery. It was really nice but I could have done without the thick crowds.

Afterwards, my Portuguese labmate suggested we get drinks and that she knew a place nearby. I was surprised to find us here, at an American 50s diner.

Oh familiar food! The nacho cheese was not great though.

I also got a deluxe milkshake with vanilla and speculoos. It was authentic enough of a place that they actually brought us glasses of water without having to be asked!

Paris plages

There's a fake beach set up along the Seine!

Picnics everywhere all the time!

Another picnic! We went to the grocery store to pick up some food and then picked out a spot along the Canal Saint-Martin. It was a really nice evening, perfect weather.

There were ducks! Supposedly there are fish. We kept throwing bread but didn't see any fish.

Two guys jumped in the canal from the bridge! We hypothesized that they lost a bet. The water is not the cleanest.

Also, I received some clarification on the European kissing greeting and then some more practice. Apparently the Portuguese actually kiss, the French and the Spanish touch cheeks and just make the sounds, and the Germans awkwardly hug. I'm a pro now!