Summertime in Paris

Ohlala, il fait chaud! Summer has most definitely arrived in Paris: sales began last week, there are hoards of tourists EVERYWHERE, and the heat is on! It's been a string of days where the mercury has hovered around 30 degrees celsius, combined with a healthy dose of humidity and pollution. Honestly, the conditions aren't so different from summertime in Toronto, but the difference lies in the fact that since practically every single building here falls under some sort of heritage protection code, there are very few places where there is air conditioning, which makes the heat just a little less bearable. I've been working at a coffee shop on the Champs Elysee for the last few months, and for the last week, we've literally been melting...it's going to be a long summer on the champs, and I'm just waiting for one of my fellow baristas to succomb to heat stroke.

After spending the last ten months talking about wanting to take some time to travel at the end of my Parisian sojourn, it's a little crazy to think that the end is rapidly approaching. I still haven't booked a new flight home, but I know that I should probably get on that soon. I'm under no strict deadline, but I figure that I should make it back by early November in order to participate in the November round of convocation. I have, however, managed to get my act together and book the first leg of my trip, and will officially be leaving Paris forever (well, that might be a bit dramatic...I'm leaving and giving up my status as a resident of Paris, but I'm sure I'll be back again) on August 17th on a train bound for Cologne, Germany. From there, the road will lead to Berlin and Munich, and then...who knows where? Ultimately, I'm heading eastwards towards Greece and Turkey, but I'm undecided as to whether I want to go through Hungary and Romania or if I should go the southern route through the Balkans. I backpacked through part of Croatia and Slovenia when I was 18, and absolutely LOVED it, so I wouldn't mind going back again, but at the same time I've always always always wanted to go to Romania (why? I'm honestly not sure, but Romania has always been on my list of places to visit). Tough decisions, eh? ;)

And a couple of random thoughts:

1. My favourite local boulangerie, Boris Portolan (avenue Secretan in the 19e) will soon be closing for a month for their summer holiday. I am DEVASTATED! The lady who works the front counter is super nice, and almost as importantly, their bread is absolutely amazing! This is especially unfortunate since I've recently taken to consuming a baguette a day, so the fact that they'll be closed for a month is going to kill me! Sure there are other boulangeries in the neighbourhood, but none of them can compare to BP. Luckily, they'll be reopening just in time for my birthday, so I'm planning on feasting on their various baked goods once the big day rolls around.

2. Michael Jackson! Oh MJ....quel dommage! He's the first major musical act that I remember recognizing as a child. I have distinct memories from when I was about 7-years-old of listening to the album "Dangerous" (on cassette no less!) while playing in my room. The song 'Black or White' left a serious impression on me. I also remember watching a special prime time interview he did with Oprah back in '93, and him demonstrating the moonwalk for her, in response to which she exclaimed something to the effect of "I've seen it, there are no strings attached!". Regardless of some of the stranger stuff that he was (sometimes allegedly) involved in, I'd like to remember at his best. Sigh....RIP MJ.