Speechless

I haven't blog in a while. Just been trying to settle in and figure things out... Anywhoooooo I have lots to tell! First of all, I am in love with Paris, vraiment. This move has admittedly not been as easy as I had expected, and the transition hasn't been as natural as I assumed it would be. Even so, I feel like I "fit" here in Paris, and I am so excited to be here.
In some ways, Paris is just as I expected - crisp, noir, somber, serious, big - and I'm beginning to pick up on other aspects. The urban fabric is unravelling... café culture, whimsical design details, a reallly noir palette, and moody skies.
And the fashion, of course. French style is makin' me crazy with jealousy! I'm trying to break it down and figure it out. A few key things that I'm picking up on are: monochromatic palettes with pops of colour, unexpected shapes (in pants, jackets, tops, EVERYTHING), minimal accessorizing, and oversized bags. They're crazy about fur vests right now, as well as low-crotched pants and booties.
Blah blah, some pics:





p.s. Just to make everyone jealous, I met a French actor today (eek!) - the doctor in 2 Days in Paris, and I saw one of the actresses from the film on the street yesterday! 2 Days in Paris is seriously one of my favorite films, so I'm kind of on Cloud 9 at the moment.

Settling

I spent the day looking for random things for the apartment, a winter coat, boots... I found nothing, of course, and ended up wandering around, taking in the city. I didn't really take any pictures. I feel like I want to just walk through Paris and absorb it without analyzing it or pausing to capture a piece of it. So, that means I don't have many pictures to share.
Here is one of the cats that I live with. I have no idea how to spell her name - it's Russian. She's crazy, though, and is fond of pouncing on my stomach while I try to sleep, smelling my food, playing with my feet, and rifling through my clothes. She's really entertaining!


I'll post more about Paris soon. I'm sort of tired and still taking it all in.

A few pics of my last sunset in Barcelona:

Je Suis Arrivée

I can't believe it. I'm in a slight state of shock/an alternate reality... i.e. I'm laying in my bed in Paris listening to my roommate's classical music, smelling cigarettes and stew from the neighbors, and looking at the clear blue sky peaking through my window. I AM HERE.
My night train was interesting, to say the least. I envisioned some romantic trip through the dark of night - the train speeding through small towns, cold French air blowing through open windows, interesting conversations with random Parisians... NO. No, I was in a crammed room with no windows, stale air, and 3 old ladies (one of which had some major snoring issues and BAD BREATH).
It was all worth it, though, because I was welcomed to this (all photos taken by my roomie):



My new French home, complete with the fattest cat I've ever seen in my life (he's also the sweetest that I've ever encountered). My roommate calls him "le chien", aka "the dog". When he comes out of hiding, I'll post a pic.
Now I'm off to explore and settle!

Chueca. Love it.

I had to take a quick trip to Madrid to get my visa stamp. I was revisited by this hand:

at my hostel. It's like I'm being pointed to Paris! Anyway, I stayed in Chueca, which is a fab neighborhood. Lots of amazing restaurants, local shops, cute gay boys...
I loved this bust, hangin' out on someone's balcony. Probably a local designer:

PIcked these up at a goth shop. I figured I could do some Adams Family - inspired outfits with them:

It's official

Fall in Barcelona has set in. It's breezy, crisp, and raining! The streets are littered with big, burnt orange leaves glistening with rain drops... I love it! It's making me feel a bit sentimental about leaving, though. Fall in Barcelona really is magical. The city has a dark, almost sinister air about it. I find it enchanting.



Love the colors in this pharmacy near my flat. I'll miss walking by it:


My first fall outfit (the lighting for pics is bad today, sry!):

I wear a BCBG headband, vintage top, cuffs from a local Indian store, black Diesel jeans, and Vialis boots.
Close-up of the boots. I am IN LOVE... I plan on wearing them with black and electric blue.


Now I'm off to spend an afternoon breaking in my new journal and browsing through my inspiration binder...

Srsly

I'm currently listening to the disgusting sound of buildup draining out of my sink pipes. Let's just say that plumbing in Europe is, well, awful. I'm totally grossed out at the moment and am trying to distract myself, hence a blog post.
I move in a week, and I'm excited/nervous/exhausted/overwhelmed....
I've been waking up in the middle of the night, mind racing, trying to wrap my mind around this move. Bought my train ticket today. I leave on Thursday night at 9, and arrive in Paris on Friday morning at 9. Fall asleep in Barcelona, wake up in the City of Lights.
I'm a little sentimental about Barcelona, but I am mostly excited to get back to Paris - my city, mecca, whimsical, inspiring, somber, magical, painted doors...


But I'll miss side-splitting encounters at Museum,

Monopatistas at Plaza Universitat and the MACBA,

Nights out with nerd glasses,

My never-made bed,


The Raval, beach parties on Marbella, café con leche at Teteria Malea, Catalan Euro-mullets (sort of)...

Hey Lisbon!

Some pretty pics from the city:






The beach at Cascais:

This little staircase led to a small beach packed with little skater boys. Notice the "Fascista" sign. Ha!


Outfits!