29.5.14

Pinterest in Paris

When people hear my mom isn't an American citizen, they typically assume she's Canadian. Actually, she was born in Italy. My sisters and I grew up listening to another language, communicating with grandparents who speak broken English, and getting visitors from Europe. It's part of who we are in a bigger way than most folks imagine. Of course, there is no comparison between the European Italian culture and the American-Italian subculture. (meatballs and heavy read sauces and pizza slathered in cheese. . .are Sicilian.) But I won't go there for fear of offending. :P All that to say, sometimes, when I'm going about my day-to-day life, it hits me; I have extensive family in Italy and France. We aren't French, but awesomely enough, my Nonno's (grandfather) brother moved to France as a young man, married a French woman, and yep. We have gobs of French cousins. So, with that in mind, and in honor of a good friend who is visiting France the moment I type this out (#sojealousitsinsane) here is Pinterest to the rescue: that wonderful, time-wasting, picture happy place that has taken me on many an adventure. :) Oh yes, and I'm crazy-excited to meet and share America with a cousin coming SOON from France. He'll be here a whole year, so not only we'll we get to show him around, but he's staying in NYC. . .and I am desperately hoping to visit. And see a Broadway show. Or two. Or ten.  . .

(all images courtesy of Pinterest. :) )

"France, and the whole of Europe have a great culture and an amazing history. Most important thing though is that people there know how to live! In America they've forgotten all about it. I'm afraid that the American culture is a disaster." ~Johnny Depp
 "In France, cooking is a serious art from and a national sport."  ~Julia Child
 "What an immense impression Paris made upon me. It is the most extraordinary place in the world!" ~ Charles Dickens
"A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life." ~Thomas Jefferson
"The last time I saw Paris, her heart was warm and gay, I heard the laughter of her heart in every street café." ~Oscar Hammerstein 11
"Sitting there, alone in a foreign country, far from my job and everyone I know, a feeling came over me. It was like remembering something I’d never known before or had always been waiting for, but I didn’t know what. Maybe it was something I’d forgotten or something I’ve been missing all my life. All I can say is that I felt, at the same time, joy and sadness. But not too much sadness, because I felt alive. Yes, alive. That was the moment I fell in love with Paris. And I felt Paris fall in love with me." 
the final vignette of Paris Je T’Aime
"Paris is always a good idea." ~Audrey Hepburn

Now, if you can't imagine yourself sitting at a Parisian cafe, or ambling through cobblestoned alleyways. . .eating a pastry, sitting under the gaze of the Eiffel Tower, or watching a sunset along the Seine. . .you need to comment and explain WHY. ;) Hope you enjoyed my little tour through wanderlust. Au revoir!

15 comments:

  1. Awwww.....Michaela! You made me miss London and Dublin! Okay, not Paris....but still Europe. I just might have to post about London. :-)

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  2. ...or imagining yourself sitting in a Parisian cafe, listening to the Ratatouille soundtrack, haha!
    Michaela, your mom was born in Italy?!?!! Gosh, so neat! Do you and your sisters speak Italian then?
    I loved this virtual tour through Paris, this city is definitely on my wish-to-see list!

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    1. Lol. That would be. . .unique. ;) Why don't we give it a try?

      Yep, my mom was born in Italy. Actually, her only family in the States are her brother, parents, and a few cousins. We have EXTENSIVE family in Europe. It's pretty neat. Unfortunately my sisters and I do not speak Italian, though I can understand quite a bit. :)

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  3. oh my golly goodness, PARIS<3
    I think we should all pack up and go, right now!

    xx Riley

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  4. I'd love to spend a year in Europe, immersing myself in the culture, eating insanely good food, taking hundreds of pictures and wandering the countryside. Oh yes, and while I'm there I'd love to live in one of those lovely little apartments with a window box full of flowers on a narrow street. And I'd learn French so I could talk to the people. =)

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  5. Can I just go to the real Paris now? ^_^

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  6. Such wanderlust! :) I hope to go to places like London and Scotland, and after reading this post, Paris may be on the list. I just hope the language barrier wouldn't be that big of a problem. ;)

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    1. So glad you enjoyed it! Actually, their wouldn't be much of a language barrier, especially among the younger generation. English is Europe's second language, so most students learn it in school, much like American's learn Spanish. :)

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  7. I want to go to France sooo bad!

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  8. Let's go. Please. I would like to live there for a few months. I want to learn the language and breathe in the culture. And just live it all.

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  9. I want to visit Ireland and the British Isles and Germany and Switzerland. As far as I know those are my only roots (excepting Ireland, I don't know, but I am sure we do). I have never been drawn to the Mediterranean cultures of Europe, maybe because it is not in my blood (although I know that many people are drawn to cultures not in their blood). France might be enjoyable, but oh, how I want to go to the British Isles and Ireland! I want to study their history further and learn to speak (or at least read) Irish Gaelic.

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    1. Ok, so I obviously can't relate to this (since my roots are mostly in Mediterranean Europe, discounting my 25% Polish, ;) ) but I totally understand the Irish obsession. I do not have an ounce of Celtic in my blood, but I am completely fascinated by the Irish culture/people/music, etc. One of my favorite music groups is The High Kings. Have you heard of them??

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  10. Aw! I love these pictures!!! I have been to Paris and it is every bit as wonderful as it looks in these pictures.

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  11. It's so awesome how you have such diversity in your family. Lovely post! It makes me miss Europe myself. :)

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