Cheers to New Friends

Yesterday was my birthday. (Did you send a present?)

I expected to spend it alone in Paris, which would not be the worst thing in the world, and a reasonable price to pay for a spring trip to Europe.

As fortune would have it, though - I met a new local friend on Wednesday, and after dinner and drinks on the Champs Elysees, she was kind enough to offer to take me out again for my b'day - this time to a relatively newly built up part of the 12th arrondissement (what's an arrondissement you ask? Click.), and a little 'plaza' called Bercy Village.

Coming from the Marais, and central Paris - it was strange to see this area, but also kind of comforting to see a part of the city that looks like any other city. The 'interior' of Bercy Village is still unique, but not that far removed from the feeling of a Carmel or Santa Barbara. Outside its boundaries, it's freeways, apartments and office buildings. There's also a Starbucks, which is apparently still a recent addition to Paris life.

Had a great asparagus risotto (mine is better, but a fair runner-up) at a wine bar/restaurant called Chai 33, and then drinks at a bar called, yes, The Frog. My new friend ran into someone she knew, and invited him over - hilarious guy, who entertained us with stories about visiting America (for example, a Texan who talked to him on a plane for 20 mins before asking him about his accent. Upon learning he was french - he immediately turned and went silent the rest of the trip) and explained french women to me.

It all seemed kind of surreal as I walked back through the now quiet, dimly lit streets of the Marais - but all in all, nice way to spend a birthday.