Nonnina's Birthday

Mid-afternoon today, Charlotte and I decided to head on into Saint-Germain-en-Laye for a little bite to eat. We ended up at a very nice little restaurant overlooking the Château of the Sun King (Louis XIV) before he moved into his tiny little Château over at Versailles (yeah, okay...). I had me today, my first tasting of French onion soup (in France) and i must say it is very much like what you can find in the States. Charlotte had a Croque Monsieur, which was delicious, and they served it open faced instead of two pieces of white bread on top of each other. Together with some pommes frites, a 1664, water, and an espresso. As we were finishing up, our American comrades, Dylan and Alexis, stumbled upon us at the Cafe and joined us for a drink. Afterwards, we headed over to the French version of a Super Target, Monoprix, for a carafe of wine and some chocolates for the Beaumelou's. Dylan and Alexis also treated themselves to a carafe each, a baguette, and some chocolates.

With our carafes in hand, we headed over to the Jardins de Saint-Germain-en-Laye for a nice afternoon in the park. Laying out in the grass with other Parisians around playing futbol, talking in groups on the grass, people walking their dogs, French boy scouts (scoutisme) getting set up a camping adventure, was a beautiful and relaxing day.. and a bit intoxicating. It was getting a bit close to dinner time after finishing the carafes, and looking over Paris by the edge of the garden walls, that Charlotte and I decided to part ways with the other Orlandans. Unfortunately, with no buses running the Fourqueux, we had to rough it out most of the way until Francesca could pick us up minutes away from their house. However, this was not before we made it over to another grocery store, the Atac, for more booze and a fanta (do you wanna?). We purchased a bottle of Champagne, for it was Charlotte's grandmother's birthday, No Nina she goes by, also some Kroenbourg's and Boddington's for the men (Mr. Beaumelou and myself being the only two).

When we arrived back at the house, Caroline had bought me a book on Jerusalem from her lycée fair, which was perched up on the staircase waiting for me. Also, we had Charlotte's aunt Violaine, join us for a wonderful dinner in honor of Nonnina. Served was white asparagus accompanied with a light dressing that resembled the color of hollandaise sauce or mayo, lamb and potatoes with a mint sauce on the side. Desert was a delicious cake (the ones that you just keep wanting more), with a light cream filling, mild flavors of Grand Marnier or Amaretto (even though there was no alcohol in there I still felt like I could taste it), and little bits of chocolate.

And now, I am here writing this blog, restless and sleepless at 3.00 AM annoying Charlotte because of my jet-lag I suppose. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a free hours of sleep in because tomorrow is a busy one for me. I'll be taking the TGV (high-speed train) over to Metz, to get settled in before my study abroad begins on Monday.

Bonne Nuit.