Brian K. Bailey

All my luggage has finally come home (and visiting the Latin Quarter)

Well, after two days all my luggage has now arrived. I’ve not been able to venture out much since I’ve had to wait for my luggage to be delivered. Now that all my clothes are here, I realized I don’t have much warm clothes. Oh well, guess I’ll be doing some shopping to update my wardrobe for the fall/winter in Paris. Thankfully, it doesn’t get much below freezing here in Paris during the winter.

I went to the Latin Quarter last night to get some good food: an omelette and a savory crepe. I love walking around the area since it’s right next to Notre Dame Cathedral and a lively night spot. This is where Caveau de la Huchette is located. Caveau de la Huchette has jazz bands from around the world and swing dancing in basement. It has a speakeasy feel with crowded rooms, tight hallways, and a small dance floor. Since they are open, I’ll be going back when a swing band is playing.

A view of Notre Dame where only the front part of the church is visible

The Latin Quarter is where a number of universities are located, hence the name due Latin language studies. It’s filled with restaurants and shops that cater mostly to tourists. However, the prices aren’t bad and there is a variety of food (French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Kurdish, Thai, and American, for example). I stopped at La Petite Bouclarie which specializes in omelettes and crepes. My dinner was a ham/cheese omelette and a ham/cheese/mushroom savory crepe. While I do enjoy sweet crepes, I actually prefer savory ones. Dinner was good accompanied with my usual peach iced tea and a bottle of water.

Getting used to timezone change is taking a few days. I am getting around eight hours of sleep a day but with a few blocks during the day. It takes me about a week to fully acclimate to a new timezone.

Tonight I’m starting to go swing dancing! Lindy Hop Paris (https://www.facebook.com/groups/LindyHopParis) and Quais de Seine danse (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191669634330805) list most of the dance events in Paris on Facebook. And there’s a calendar here: http://swingout.free.fr/.

Well, now off to find some warmer clothes.

Until we meet in Paris…

Arrived in Paris today

Paris is always a good idea.
Audrey Hepburn

Bonjour from Paris! I arrived this morning from Newark, New Jersey. The flight was mostly empty which allowed pretty much everyone to have an entire row to themselves. It’s been many years since I’ve been on a plane so empty. Because of all the mix-ups with the flights to Newark and Paris, two of my bags did not make it to Paris this morning. The United luggage representative was friendly and helpful in finding these bags were still in Newark and delivering them on the next flight to Paris this evening. They will deliver the bags to my flat. It’s a good thing I packed my essentials in my carry-on.

I decided to take a taxi from Charles de Gaulle Airport rather than Uber/Lyft since the taxi was actually a little cheaper (53 Euros versus 55 Euros) and more convenient to find at the airport. The taxi driver was German who spoke a little French and English. My French is still limited, so we used a mixture of French and English to communicate. It was fun. Since it was after rush hour, the trip to the hotel only took about an hour.

I’m staying in an AirBnB flat for the next month until I find a more permanent place to live. The AirBnB is a quaint flat in a quaint building with a quaint courtyard. I really like the place. There are grocery stores and multiple metro stops within a five minute walking distance from the flat.

And the first place I visited was my literal and figurative happy place: Place du Tertre. My first visit was in eighth grade on a school history trip of Western Europe. I fell in love with the plaza and have visited it almost every time I’ve been to Paris. It’s a great place to sit-down, eat some good food, and watch people pass by. Most of the cafes around the plaza have been there since my first trip to the plaza (a long time ago – decades!?!?). Time seems to stand still for me here. It feels as much like the 1920s as the 2020s. The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is right next door to the plaza. Both spots are on top of the hill, Montmartre, which overlooks Paris.

Place du Tertre

As I travel around Paris, I am amazed how familiar Paris feels. It doesn’t feel foreign at all to me. Yes, I’ve visited Paris about 25 times over my life, but the sights, sounds, and even smells feel like home. We’ll see how my feelings change over time as I experience more and more of the city.

What a wonderful first day in Paris. I am looking forward to my adventures of finding a permanent place to live, start french classes in the next few weeks, decide on which church to attend, and get involved in the swing dance scene. Wish me “bonne chance” (“good luck”)!

Until we meet in Paris…

Adventures to Newark, New Jersey

Hello all, I’m in Newark, New Jersey, waiting for my flight to Paris this afternoon. I got to spend a night in Newark thanks to multiple planes having maintenance issues. United finally got me to Newark last night, but I missed the flight to Paris.

Thankfully, United did put me up in a hotel for free and put me on the next flight to Paris this evening.

Two different planes had maintenance issues to Newark from Ft. Lauderdale yesterday which caused a lot of delays for everyone getting to Newark. Even though I was delayed a day leaving for Paris, I took it as a good opportunity to practice patience since there weren’t any immediate plans in Paris. Now into Paris this evening.

Until we meet in Paris…

I’ve been reduced to this?

Just two days until I leave for Paris. The anticipation is building. Almost everything is done that needs to happen before leaving. My material possessions have shrunk to a few suitcases worth of clothes and other necessities.

My life reduced down to just a few suitcases worth of belongings.

Paris has different styles of clothes and anything else that I’ll need which provides an amazing opportunity to get rid of almost all my earthy possessions. While at times difficult and therapeutic to simplify my life to this point, the freedom is growing on me.

Furnished apartments call me in Paris for the time being. Once France grants me a multi-year Visa, I’ll consider buying a place and furniture to fill it. I have so much to learn about living in Paris that leaving my decor style behind frees me to experience new emotions, new joys, and new revelations. I’ll post photos of the apartment once moved in.

Getting ready to leave on that jet plane with what I’ve always wanted to have: a one-way ticket to Paris!

Until we meet in Paris…

“Let it go!”

(Originally posted September 30, 2021)

Wow, the movers have come and gone. The apartment is empty. Visiting the family in Florida with just 9 days to go until I fly to Paris. Almost all the checklist items before leaving are checked off. Final day at work is tomorrow after seven great years at SAIC (formerly known as TASC and Engility).

I feel excited and apprehensive. Excited for a new chapter in my life. Apprehensive in the challenges of building that life but looking forward to making lots of new friends and becoming fluent in another language (French, that is, if you’re wondering).

Also, since many people have described how Paris life is very different than in Northern Virginia, I am starting to learn to calm down a bit, embrace the flow of things more, and not feel like it all has to happen the way I imagine it should go. Internalizing the “C’est la vie” perspective (“That’s life.”), acknowledging that most of life is uncontrollable and should be enjoyed in the midst of the here and now. Where beauty exists in the moment as well as the journey and the destination.

Many of you have asked what is the first thing I will do in Paris once I arrive. After checking into the AirBnB, Place du Tertre calls me. Place du Tertre, my literal and figurative happy place, is located on Montmartre near the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Relax in a cafe, enjoy some chocolat, watch the people pass by, and slowly breath the Parisian air in and out – releasing prior priorities and allow the sights, sounds, and smells of my new city to inspire and enlighten me to the calling in Paris.

Until we meet in Paris…

(Originally posted September 30, 2021)

Thank you for the send offs!

Thank you to everyone for wishing me off to Paris whether by phone, text, post, or attending one of the many going away events you all have organized. I feel very loved and appreciated. I will miss you all. It’s not really goodbye, but “until we meet in Paris.”

As I get ready to move to Paris, France, next month, I’m starting the process to set-up my life in Paris. My initial tasks are to find a permanent place, sign-up for 5-days a week french lessons, get involved in the swing dance scene, and find a church to attend. For the apartment, what a bit of a daunting challenge in such a large city! Do I research online? Do I get a real estate agent? Do I wait until being able to see the place in person?

However, there are so many tasks to complete before I move to France. Pack for movers to move the furniture that my family wants in Florida. Sell my Highlander. Update all the mailing addresses for my accounts. And the list goes on-and-on (over 20 checklist items).

Things are moving quickly and I am really looking forward to landing in Paris on October 10th to begin the next stage of my journey.

Until we meet in Paris…

(originally published September 27, 2021)