Love at First...BITE!

If you know me, you know that I am a French Fries connoisseur. So it's only natural that being in Paris means that I'm pretty much in hog heaven.

Ok, hold that thought.

So I arrive at my hotel, Hotel de la Paix, which is located on a narrow cobblestone street in the 7th arrondissement (ward or neighborhood). I'm warmly greeted by Victoria who checks me in and shows me to the world's tiniest lift (elevator). I spooned with my bag me as the lift whisked us up to the 4th floor.  I walked into the tiniest and most perfect room ever! There was a twin bed, a separate W.C. (water closet which is short for the toilet) and a shower so small that I'm pretty sure my whole body would not all fit in at once. It's perfect because it's just enough and it's feels like I'm in France!

After I get settled in, I pass out for a couple hours. When I awake it's dark out but no longer raining. So I strike out to explore the neighborhood and find water and snacks for my room. So I wandered around until I found the Rue Cler with tons of little shops, stores and restaurants. 

Paris is the type of place that you can easily fall into the groove of things (kinda like NYC). Before I knew it, I was full on grocery shopping, using the little French I remembered very fluently, reading signs and catching every third word, checking out menus, etc.

I happened upon a little place called the Bedford Diner and it was like I had stepped into a little spot in Brooklyn. As soon as I walked in, I heard Future blaring from the speakers. Heyyyyyyy!

So I sit down, order a cheeseburger avec frites (with fries) and bob my head to the hip hop. As my waitress Veronique brought my food, Chris Brown's "These Hoes Ain't Loyal" came through the speakers. I was so tickled as I ate my perfectly cooked, perfectly portioned medium-well burger with fries in the middle of Paris and scanned the room to find not one disloyal hoe in sight! HA! Paris, you're my boo!

As I finished up, I spied a poster of Spike Lee a la "Do The Right Thing" near the bar. So I snapped a shot, gathered my groceries, paid the check and tried to tell Veronique how "magnifique" everything was as I bid her "bonsoir." She seemed so charmed by my insistence on speaking to her in broken French that she invited me to come back before I leave.

Overall, great first day in Paris! Looking forward to many more!

My little hotel 

The street where my hotel is located Rue du Gros Caillou

My little room at the Hotel de la Paix

Showering is going to be an adventure!

Even the Frenchies know that Fajitas and guacamole rule! Fun times at the market.

My little piece of Brooklyn in Paris

My first meal in Paris

Look who I ran into in Paris!