"So Happy I Could Die"

This has got to be the longest weekend ever, in a totally good way. I think mainly because I have literally gotten next to no sleep (6:00-6:00, underestimated). Something that will stay with me forever is seeing the sunrise over Paris, and how busy the city continues to be at all hours. Highlight: glowing car lights along the Champs-Élysées, the opposing streets converging to the lit Arc de Triomphe in the distance.

Today Jen and I were on a mission for specialized French stores, limited to:

1. Maje - In Bayeaux, I relished upon and tore out an ad of this brand from a magazine in our hotel. The power of advertising has never charmed greater as we battled continuous Metro stops until we reached the textured shop of lacea minimalist-designed shop of twisted design, texture and a soft palette.

2. Calligrane - paper chase with gift-minded intent. The entirety of the tiny street nuzzled next to the Notre Dame was lined with paper-related stores. This shop has three adjoining stores carrying calligraphy and all kinds of paper products. One shop only specializes in Fabriano, an Italian paper once used by Goya and Michelangelo; the second sells up-market office essentials; the third stocks textured paper from India, Brazil, Japan, China and Mexico.

Purchases from Calligrane. If you look carefully enough at the white paper (click on photo and zoom in creepily close, thanks to my camera) you can see a graceful flowered design with an elegant sheen.

For some reason our avidly detailed day plans never work out. Still not giving up, though, tomorrow's agenda is to get up early for the open-air market, make a good meal with the freshly-bought market things and go to a cafe and work all day.