Two Week Whirlwind of Paris, Amsterdam, Cassis, Paris (again) and WEDDING!

Mike and I got back from our visit to Paris (actually, visit to Vijay would be more accurate). But before he arrived, I went a week earlier so I could go to Amsterdam with Dan. To start off, I was in a completely exasperated mood when I landed at CDG 3 hours later than scheduled. Air France made it quite clear as we sat on the runway for 3 hrs at JFK that this was, "Zee problem with zee JFK, not zee Air Fraaahhhnce. You complain to zee JFK, not to Air Fraaaahhhhnce. Merci!" At least Vijay and Dan were there to greet me .

Paris was great, but the novelty of Paris itself wasn't there for me- I guess because this was my second time there...but AMSTERDAM! I loved it. I loved the bikes, the canals, the museums (seriously, I could spend ALL day at the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh) and the compactness of the city. Dan and I took a 6hr bike tour out to the wetlands and it was so amazing that a 20min bike ride out of the city and there you were, surrounded by sheep and cows. It was beautiful. We also took a tour of a clog/cheese making farm which was....interesting. Amsterdam is at the top on my "cities" list.

Once Mike arrived and showered, we hustled to the train station to catch a train to Cassis. Our plan was to swim and hike the 5hr or so hike to the Calanques. After purchasing sausage, chorizo, cheese and bread, we loaded up on water and sauce (otherwise known as suncreen in the spray bottle form) and headed off...in the wrong direction. Eventually we found the "well labeled" path and hiked the seriously exposed, beautiful and extremely rocky path for about 2 hours to a fantastic hidden beach. There we were informed by the ranger-esque guy that the rest of the hike would take us several hours and then an hour hike to the bus station that would take us back to Cassis. Forget that. I don't reallllly need to see all of the Calanques. Instead we made sausage sandwhiches, swam and relaxed. I got seriously tanked that night and woke up at 4am feeling very ashamed. Oh well.

The next day we went to Sanary sur mer. It was ok. I didn't enjoy it as much as Cassis and the beaches definitely weren't as nice. Cassis is suppose to be dinkier than Sanary, but I like Cassis better. There Dan, Vijay and Mike had the same special for lunch while I got the tuna. Good call on my part because I never had fish as gross as the one the guys got. It was like a salted sponge. I swear Mike's eyes were rolling to the back of his head, preventing regurgitation, as he tried his best to swallow his food. And forget eating the bland steamed conch- only Vijay ventured those. It was so funny, but only because I didn't have to eat it.

Once back in Paris, Mike and I went around doing all the tourist stuff since this was his first time in Paris. Being in Paris with Vijay was awesome because he's a francophile now and while that isn't necessarily a good thing (in my most humble East Coast [let's face it, there is only ONE East Coast] opinion eating all that cheese, alcohol and very short [or no] work hours seems so...wrong), it was great for us because he speaks French very well and lives in a palace next to a Dolce & Gabbana shop. But Mike and I were getting citi-ed out-I think living in a major city takes its toll on you when you visit a major city. Nonetheless, we had a great time and ate awesome steak frites (get the cote de boeuf) at a place reviewed by Mark Bittman called Sèvero. The meat was rare, bloody, fatty- Delicious. We left France after several issues with CDG airport. Let me tell you, that airport is the worst place I have ever been. Apparently they don't believe in signs or information booths-perhaps they were on strike. I don't know, but it was like a guessing game with figuring out which terminal your flight was.

From here we went on to Montreal (after a layover in JFK [here we felt exhilarated to be back in NYC]) for Josh and Yilin's wedding. This was a beautiful wedding and an awesome party. It is an amazing thing to see your close friends get married. The reception was fantastic and we all danced the night away. I also got to finally meet several blog readers (yes! I have blog readers and you know who you are!). The wedding and our time in Montreal was the best way to relax and enjoy the tail end of our vacation. To be honest, it made the vacation. The wedding of such wonderful friends, the poutine, the Burger King, the poutine at Burger King, and the runs in Parc du Mont-Royal (an work by Olmsted!) were all so perfect.

Highlights:

And being back in NYC has never been better- that's how you know you've made a place your home.

Pics.

Away we go!

Since my last post, I walked in the commencement ceremony (wearing a ridiculously large and ornate gown with a hat, sorry, tam resembling a baker's hat), deposited my thesis, went to LA for a conference, and turned 28.

Today I leave for Paris for a vacation with Dan and Vijay. We plan on going to Amsterdam and the south of France for some beach/hiking action. Then we are off to Montreal for Josh and Yilin's wedding. Exciting!

Bon voyage for two weeks!