La Vie Française

Last week we celebrated Bastille Day  in Paris and it was one of the best times I’ve had here so far. There was an air show in the afternoon and concerts all over Paris in the evening, culminating in the-most-incredible-fireworks display ever. In front of the Eiffel Tower and in the colours of the French flag, the display even included love heart fireworks!

Actually they looked a lot better than this...!

Simply called quatorze juillet in France, the national holiday is in honour of the storming of the Bastille on 14th July in 1789 which was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation and the beginning of the French revolution. (Little history lesson for you there!)

So whilst living in France hasn’t made me want to storm Trafalgar Square shouting liberté, égalité, fraternité and attempt to dethrone the Queen (actually I’m a big fan of Queenie and co, especially Kate), there are a lot of habits I have picked up from la vie française:

- Learning about wine (blanc, rouge, sparkly or champagne) and realizing that it actually tastes better not slugged down in one
- Partying until 6am as everywhere stays open so much later than in the UK
- Eating cheese, in all its glorious forms
- Wearing the marinere top, a lot
- Being a little less polite!
- Reading 1950’s American Literature by the canal, in coffee shops, by the river and in parks (Giovanni’s Room is simply great, if a little depressing)
- Wearing high heels to work and weirdly, converse?
- Shamelessly people watching
- Eating deserts with every meal, without batting an eyelid
- Generally musing wishing I was a) French b) A writer c) in the 1920’s
- Smoking (not actually me but surrounded by so many smokers that it may as well be!)
- Finally,as the french say, ‘profiter’. Living for the moment.

Café Bonnie, my favourite bar. The strawberry cocktail is particularly delish.

Partying in the flat. No your eyes haven't failed you, those are christmas decorations, in July.

Thanks to my expat homies for some brilliant suggestions, any more for any more? Leave them below!!