Monday: A City of Muse

Conversation the night before with marianita, zho is getting her phd in Anthropology, got me so inspired to take pictures the next day. She lives near the Montmarte area, zhich is wear Sacre-Couer is. So I made my way around Montmarte to take pictures zhich was so awesome;

americans think that the french are unfriendly, not true at all! i have had a zonderful experience! people zill walk up and talk to me about what iù, taking pictures of, ill get into an interesting conversation and take their portrait. yes, most of them are trying to make money off of tourists but they end up having real conversation zith me. my cameras have gotten a lot of love and attention... and work!

after spending entirely too much time in montmarte, i quickly hurried to the picasso museum, zhich blew my mind away! holy cow! so talented i cant get over it. his range of ability is like nothing ive seen before and zell well zorth the trip.

then i relaxed in a neqr by park and took pictures of all the interesting people that walkded by this old fountain.

headed back to the apartment to get a different key for night time and was going to take marianitas portrait but she was racing around to get ready for her mother arriving. so i ended up having a very long and interesting conversation zith frederica and taking beautiful pictures of her. both of these wo,en are so intelligent, beautiful, warm people. it mzkes me very excited to be in italy for a month. then i headed out to meet my old high school friend, lawrence, who is studying french here.

it was so nice to, one catch up zith him, and tzo, to have conversation zith someone you knew, rather than get to know you conversation, or even general conversation, even if it is interesting. sometimes you need just good conversation about what that person is really experiencing. personalization.

his host is extremely kind as zell and fed me zine and cheese. then lawrence and i headed out for more drinks and deep conversation. it was awesome and just what i needed to cap a wonderful day: qlthough, getting home was not the most fun. the metro closes at one and it was one when we left the bar. ruh-roh. so i walked 3miles home in unfamiliqr territory, no mqp, handwritten directions, and pepper spray in my back pocket. it started off fine, but i missed a street and ended up taking a longer route...in flip flops none the less. then a stupid guy stqrted following me, got up in my face, i was cold as a french woman, kept saying non, and stuck my hand in his face and walked away. this aside from thinking a british dj was going to pummel me was the only confrontation with danger. but i was fine and no pepper spray had to be used.

i returned safely and ready for the couch at 3am.

it is now 12 on tuesday, and i wanted to go to more museums, but they are closed today, so tomorrow.

au revoir!