After Ass Bleed, colonoscopies, horrid work situations (that aren't improving in the slightest), general apathy and depression, the loss of our beautiful home and amorphous Christmas plans, we decided we needed to go away for a weekend. Catch up on sleep, shag a lot, and just try to get away from life for a few days. So Angus had arranged for us to go away for a weekend, and it was as we were about to go that I learned we were going to the land of Le Fromage du Stinky, the City of Lights, and home to the world's largest Sephora.

He had booked us Eurostar tickets and a hotel room in Paris for the weekend.

And I'm just a girl who can't say no.

We bought picnic foods and wine in Waterloo and got on board the train-the train is very easy, from the center of London to the center of Paris in two and a half hours. Apart from Immigration, it was painless-I had one of those guys. One who looked at my visa and looked at me.

"What do you do?" He barked at me.

"I work in telecom." I replied.

"Typical," he sneers. "Dream Job laid off so many people and yet they have the nerve to bring in new people."

This actually isn't true, but the biggest rule is never mess with Immigration. At that moment, at that gate, they have all the power. It's totally possible to meet one of them on a dance floor and throw a drink in their face some other time, but never, never fuck with Immigration.

He angrily stamped my passport and handed it to me.

Angus piped up. "I work for Dream Job."

I looked at the angry Immigration Man as we started walking away. "And so do I."

People make me tired.

We ride the train into France, and into Paris.

Once in Paris it's chilly and a bit rainy. It's the November 11 Rememberance Celebrations, so all along the Champs-Elysees French flags dot the road, and all around are hundreds of gendarmes watching protectively over l'Arc du Triomphe as a Veteran's celebration is taking place.

It was beautiful, and we stood under the largest flag either of us had ever seen under the Arc. Ironically, of all the times I've been to Paris, this was the first time I'd ever seen the Arc without being covered in scaffolding for renovation. It's a truly impressive landmark, humbling and inspiring at the same time.

The Stila counter at the Sephora on the Champs-Elysees was pretty beautiful, too.

We went back to the hotel room, shagged like bunnies, and then slept for nearly 12 hours.

The next morning we woke, had a nice breakfast and another shag, then walked our way to the flea markets in the northern Paris suburbs. It was a long walk but relaxing as we talked our way to St. Ouen. And once we got there, I was amazed.

French antiques of every size and shape were there. It was incredible. And they were so inexpensive! The French are, apparently, not that big on vintage furniture. It showed, as 18th century chairs sat exposed to the rain. 200 year old armoires were stuffed in the back of a warehouse, dusty and forlorn. Art deco vanities sat there, their mirrors longing for someone to look in them. It was absolutely incredible-huge massive wooden staircases lined up against walls, easily a few hundred years old. Coat racks with such detailed inlaid woodwork that I couldn't even being to guess at how old they were.

We were also riding a train back to England, so none of it could come home with us, but we've sworn if we ever do manage to get a house we'll come back with a van and buy French antique furniture, to love and cherish forver. We bought a vintage French enamel street sign, though, which is now hanging in our kitchen, close to my Swedish and American street signs.

Angus hadn't been to Paris in over 20 years, so we agreed to take a look at the Eiffel Tower. We made our way there, and beheld the Tower in the afternoon's drizzly glory. The surrounding courtyard is amazing as well, something Ursula Andress would throw over Rome for.

We hiked back to our hotel, passing the Louvre, took a shower, had a glass of wine and another shag, and then took the metro to meet some folks for dinner (who I haven't asked permission to post about yet, so will wait!).

Where we had a lot of nice French wine.

Sunday morning we nipped into a local grocery shop and loaded up on le Fromage du Stinky. We are big fans of stinky French cheese and, hey, my colon was still empty, so why not add a mucus factor? We bought a baguette, some French wine, and had a picnic on the train back.

Even though Angus hadn't been to Paris in many years, he says he thoroughly enjoyed it. I too love Paris, for the same reasons I love New York-big cities with endless possibilities, cities I love to visit for a long weekend but always feel that, while it's great to be there, it's great to be able to check out of there as well. Paris and New York have a way of making a person feel so invisible, so tiny. I think living there would make me so small I could crawl underneath the door to get into the room, and even then someone could easily step on me.

And as we sped into the English countryside, I put my book on my lap and enjoyed the feeling of coming home.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 09:03 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
Post contains 956 words, total size 6 kb.

1 I've been a lurker for ages but have to comment finally.... checking your blog daily has turned into habit and you do pop into my mind randomly! (hello Lush shop I pass on the way to work!) I just wanted to say I am sorry you are having such a rough time, I empathise and hope things start looking up for you and Angus. Glad you had a fun weekend away, I always find taking more "me" time is the best way back to mental health.... yoga, bath, good book and cheese!

Posted by: Miss Misc at November 15, 2005 10:43 AM (AZAPT)

2 delurking here too... so glad you had such a lovely weekend - you deserve it.

Posted by: anna at November 15, 2005 01:48 PM (HBypz)

3 Sounds amazing, Helen. Thank you for the photos...

Posted by: Dana at November 15, 2005 03:55 PM (b7OKi)

4 So glad to hear you had a great weekend. You and Angus always look so good together in your pictures! So who is the mystery couple?

Posted by: justme at November 15, 2005 04:08 PM (GvbUn)

5 god you're adorable! and such a cute couple. i'm glad you got away for a bit. xoxoox

Posted by: kat at November 15, 2005 04:50 PM (xB7GF)

6 I'm glad you had a great weekend. I didn't have the best experience of my life when I went to Paris. I got chased down the street by a street artist - but that's a story for another day. I didn't realize until I read your post how much I would like to go back. And as usual, I am picking up on the absolute LEAST important part of this post - YOU WEAR YOUR WATCH ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR WRIST! (That is a watch, in that last photo, right? Because otherwise I sound like an idiot right now) I do that too (when I actually wear a watch). I just love finding others that do that. I know. I pick up on the stupidest stuff.

Posted by: amy t. at November 15, 2005 04:52 PM (zPssd)

7 Oh, for a weekend in Paris! You look so good together; one would never know you are having a rough patch at work and physically. To hear that the French antiques were out in the rain made me sad. Too bad they don't have more care for their history. I'd go with a van too, if I were you!

Posted by: kenju at November 15, 2005 05:29 PM (+AT7Y)

8 Of course, I'm not a lurker... You look so lovely together. If we didn't know all that was going on with you, we'd say you actually look happy! Maybe for a minute there you were??? We can only hope. You bring these places alive for me... here in my midwest Iowa place. You deserved the break. Now we'll all take a deep breath an plunge into the next thing you have to take on. Hoping it won't be too bad and things will start looking up for you. It's GOT to. SOON. {{{hugs}}}

Posted by: sue at November 15, 2005 05:59 PM (WbfZD)

9 lovely! Looks like just what you needed from that photo of the two of you.

Posted by: caltechgirl at November 16, 2005 04:55 AM (faUVP)

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