Today is my third day in Paris, and other than being overwhelmed the number of people at the Musee D'Orsay and cursing some mild lower back pain, life is pretty good. Really, life is very good - made better by a working ability to speak in French without pissing off the natives. I sat next to the Uber driver on the way to the gallery this morning. We prattled on for the 40-minute drive, in French, talking about everything from differences in football codes to the French love of a strike to what it's like to see a crocodile in the wild in Darwin.
All in French.
This makes me very happy.
We then had lunch at one of Paris's oldest restaurants, Le Procope. After the madness of the Musee D'Orsay, it was nice to sit and have a lovely, civilised French lunch. I had French Onion soup, steak tartare (yes, raw steak - it's wonderful) and creme brulee. About the most French love you could want for. After this, a spot of shopping, a visit to a church and a rest.
Then it was a dirty burger dinner with some friends. In all, a very successful day.
Anyway, now I have to get on with today's questions, brought to you, as always, by Sunday Stealing.
1. The phone rings. Who do you want it to be?
Easy. The lottery people, calling to tell me that I've won 50 million dollars.
2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
Do I return the shopping trolley once I've dropped my groceries off at the car? If I don't send it back to the trolley bay, I will put it near the car park doors where the collectors have to go through to drop them back at the supermarket. I like to make sure I keep them out of the way of cars - not like some. That's a pet peeve.
3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
I can be both, but depending on the situation, I tend to listen more. I'm finding it hard to get a word in edgewise on this trip, but that's what happens when you're with 15 other strong personalities.
4. Do you take compliments well?
I'm getting better at it.
5. Do you play Sudoku or Wordle?
I play both. I do the Wordle daily - and I was on 48-day streak until I was bested by the word LEFTY.
I love Sudoku. There is always one in the Qantas magazine. When I'm on a plane, I like to see if I can get the easy one out by the time we take off.
6. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?
Not in the American sense. Sending your kids away for a few weeks over summer is very much an American thing. We used to have school camps when I was at primary school, where we went bush for a few days in tents. I remember hating it.
7. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?
Yes, and I have. As an agnostic spiritualist, as long as nobody forces their views on me, I'm fine. I've dated Jews, Muslims, Christians and one Buddhist with no issue.
However, once you start waving your religion in my face, we have a problem.
8. Would you rather pursue or be pursued?
I would love to know what it is like to do either. I'd love to know the feeling of being pursued. I really have no idea.
9. Have you ever fired a gun?
Yes. I grew up with a gun in the house. However, in Australia, we have very tight gun laws. Growing up on a farm, the rifle was used for dealing with sick/injured animals or dispatching vermin like feral cats and foxes.
And that's it. You can't have much more than a rifle, or guns used at gun clubs without a very good reason and very serious police checks, lock ups and the like.
And yes, I feel very lucky to live in such a country.
10. Would you rather dine at Olive Garden or Panera?
Um, these are American places - I have no idea what these places are like.
At the moment, I'm frequenting Modern French places in the Marais. It is quite wonderful.
2 comments:
my wife is a southpaw, which is probably why I got LEFTY in 3.
Your French restaurants would outdo either Panera or Olive Garden!
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