aaaand we're back

Day 14
Saturday, May 28

So shleepy today. Diana and I (well really just Diana) figured out how to use the washing machine in our apartment. It gets tricky when all the buttons are in french--FYI Google Translate is hilarious, but not so helpful. She put her clothes in, but we had to hang out here at the apartment until it finished so she could switch over the load...three hours later we start to get a little curious as to why the thing is still full of soapy water... apparently you can set the machine to run for NINE hours. Why anyone would want to wash their clothes for 9 hours is beyond me, but the French are silly.

Se la vie at the Botanical Gardens

While we waited, we went downstairs to the boulangerie to get baguette, but we ended up stopping at the little boutique by our metro stop. I made Diana buy a black dress. Then she made me buy one. Touche, friend. French sales ladies will tell you if you look fat in something, and this one seemed to approve, so hopefully we did okay ;) Then we found the BEST vintage store right by our place as we were walking home. Something new every day, I know. Its full of 70's and 80's gems and its all very chic and very punk at the same time. I want all the purses in there.

The chirpiest lil frog ever!

Having survived the laundry, we hopped on the train to Gare d'Austerlitz to go to the Botanical Gardens. It was beautiful, my favorite park thus far. Flowers, and frogs, and a labyrinth, and benches, and shade! We got a little writing done, then headed to the mairie to go to Le Marche de Poesie, something equivalent to the Festival of Books in LA, but just for poets. Our professor wasn't there yet though, so we explored for awhile, oriented ourselves (turns out we were right by Jardin du Luxembourg), got some food, then wandered back over to the festival. Cecelia was there with a few of her poet friends, and we poked around, but all the books were in French. Alas, I still do not speak this language. Oh well.

La Marche de Poesie

Afterwards, Diana and I took our friend (who is named Diana as well) back to our place for some wine, and then we made an appearance at L'Embuscade. The bartenders were, of course, happy to see us, and they filled our glasses very full. Talk, talk, talk at L'Embuscade, then Diana-as-well went home on the last train, and Diana and I went upstairs to sleep.

Sunset that greeted us as we got off the metro. 

Voila, (mellow) Day 14