ready to go

As aforementioned in the last entry, today was my errands/chores day. Clean the room. Check. Clean the bathroom. Check. Clean the kitchen. Check. Do my laundry. Check. Research some sights for Italy. Check. Start packing for Paris/Italy. Check. Take out the trash. Check. Get out of the apartment and take advantage of the gorgeous weather. Uh....woops. I let time slip away from me today. I was planning on going out for a few hours to walk around the city since the weather was so nice, but I stayed cooped up inside the apartment trying to get all my little things done. At least I was somewhat productive today. I still have a whole morning tomorrow before my train departs for Paris, so maybe I'll try to go out again. I have a little package waiting to be sent home to my family, but...I have a confession. I hate going to the post office alone. It intimidates me. Boulangeries and grocery stores, I can do. But post offices...I don't know. Something about them intimidates me. Maybe it's because I'm still unfamiliar with the vocabulary. Or maybe it's because every time I go, I end up with the same old man who never smiles. Either way, I need to get myself going before the package comes home with me in my suitcase two months from now. I bought my mom some silk from the silk shop Roxanne (our French culture professor) told us about. It's on Rue Auguste Comte and it's called Tousoie. I was talking to the lady who rang me up and she told me that their manufacturer makes fabrics for their store, but the other half of the fabric goes towards haute couture. Silk is one of the main commodities that Lyon has to offer and it is actually known as the "silk capital of the world." It plays a significant role in the textile industry, especially for fashion. I have yet to spot a public fashion show, but I'm hoping to stumble upon at least one while I'm here.

I love Picard. It's a grocery store that only sells frozen foods. But...it sells everything imaginable - fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, desserts, cakes, pizzas, international foods, dough, etc. And the quality is stellar. I feel like I eat a gourmet meal every time I "cook" something. This afternoon, I made salmon on the stovetop and sauteed some green beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and garlic. I also had these sauce cubes where I just pop it into a little pot and when it melts, it's ready to be served on top of the fish. And the best part about it is the price. It's highly affordable. I am keeping an idea in the back of my head to start one of these type of businesses in the states, especially in an area like Boston where frozen foods are tempting and attractive for college students.

Well, I need to go finish packing. BUT OH! Did you notice? I started adding pictures to all of my old entries. I had to get used to the new html, but my blog is slowly piecing itself together. Now you have a visual with the context. :)

Tune in next week for my travel updates from Paris + Italy.
Bisous!