Sunday, July 17, 2011

Dudes, I'm going to PARIS!

After blabbing incessantly about it for two years, I finally hit the Purchase button and got myself a ticket to Paris for my birthday in October.

Cheese! Chocolate! Croissants! Start your diets! Get out the elastic waist pants! I'M GOING TO PARIS!

I went to Paris once before, in high school, clearly at the height of my fashion awesomeness. (I'm on the far left.)

Nothing screams Parisian like baggy jort-overalls.

But this trip will be different. Not only has my style savvy evolved over the last 15 years, I'm also a super mature adult.


I'm a slight francophile. That's what happens when you start French lessons at age 7. I have an unusual enthusiasm for pastries, and like Monica Geller, I could live in a house of cheese. My middle name is even French. Of course, since neither of my parents speak one word of French, I actually have a French boy's middle name, minus the cool accent. But whatever. So what better way to celebrate a milestone like my 32nd birthday than a trip to the (imaginary) motherland?

Although the only thing I've done so far is bought a plane ticket, I've already pretty much planned the entire trip in my head. And of course, I have compiled a list of movies for inspiration.

View from the Top - This is like the worst movie. Ever. Seriously terrible. But it's about flight attendants, and I used to be a flight attendant. And Gwynnie looks pretty cute in her yellow outfit strolling around Paris by herself. I figure that will be me. Looking gorgeous, strolling around the city in lipstick and heels, sitting on benches, staring wistfully out into the distance. Yeah, that's about right.

Amélie - This is the quintessential Parisian flick. If my visit is like this, I'm not coming back.


Midnight in Paris - While a lot of this movie takes place in the 1920s, it is beautiful nonetheless. I don't plan to do any time traveling while I'm there. If I do, it will be with my sports almanac so I can make a fortune betting, like Biff Tannen.


Something's Gotta Give - Diane Keaton always plays rich chicks. Basically I just want to go to Paris with her so she can buy me stuff.

Hotel Chevalier - This prologue to The Darjeeling Limited takes place in a Paris hotel room. It combines Paris, room service, Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman, all of which I am in love with. My long-term plan is to live a life of luxury in a beautiful Parisian hotel. This will be a location scouting trip for that.

4 comments:

Sara Louise said...

Congrats on pushing that purchase button!!! And have fun planning (I love the planning part!)

Grant said...

My most lasting memory of Paris involves Parisians rushing home from work on le Metro with baguettes stuffed under their sweaty armpits.

Anonymous said...

First, I believe you left out a few musts on your movie list. The Aristocats. 'Nuff said. And the scene in G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra where they unleash the nanites on the Eiffel Tower. Classic.

Second, I was in Paris back in 2008, first and only trip. Had the pleasure of staying at the U.S. Ambassador's residence right off of the Champs-Elysees...amazing. I was there for a short period of time, but I got to see all the musts, things I'm sure you already have planned. One recommendation: I had a fresh crepe with chocolate sauce and whipped cream from a stand by the Eiffel Tower just of Pont d'lena. Best thing I ever ate.

Allison said...

Sara - Thanks! I can't wait!

Grant - How else does one keep one's bread warm?

Anon - I could never decide if I wanted to be Lady Jaye or Scarlett back in the 80s. So I was usually She-Ra instead.