Nuit Blanche

Day 40 in Paris

Still no word about the student loan disbursement other than its somewhere between the U.S. and France. In the meantime, I spent a total of 5 euros on groceries this week: a kilo of rice, a loaf of bread, eggs, sausages, and a liter of milk. Does France have foodstamps? Cause I think I need them. 

But anyway, Nuit Blanche was last night. Paris' all-night art exhibition festival. Following tradition I packed a flask of whiskey in my jacket and hit the streets with some friends. This year had a lot of light installations and musical performances. 

Also: Bubbles at the National Archives to an indie soundtrack. I'm pretty sure I heard a Sufjan Stevens song.

Needless to say it was an enjoyable night, but at the end--well, when I was too tired to go on--I decided it'd be easier to bike home than to wait for the night bus. So I took out a Velib, Paris' rent-a-bike system and made my way home, unsteadily (thank you, flask of whiskey). Also, what I didn't realize was exactly how steep the incline is up to my apartment. I live in the 19th, next to the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, buttes having the same meaning in English as in French. It's one of the many hills in Paris and while the view is nice, biking is apparently as I learned, a challenge. Can't say I'd do it again, but we'll see.