Day 16: The Pringle of Scotland

All I can say is that I did not wake up as late as yesterday despite going to sleep at almost the same ungodly hour in the morning. That is what I would call progress.

Cup after cup of coffee yet still got absolutely no work done in the morning. "Host mom," Anna, and I sat at the table talking for a solid hour or so about things as mundane as the weather to topics as pertinent as abortion. You know, just the normal breakfast chat to start the day.

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Today, though, needed to be a work day and a work day it was.

At Harvard, I religiously plop myself down at a table and work for hours on end like a mongrel. I realize that is not respectable behavior for a relaxed café in the middle of Paris. Actually, I get the impression that it would be quite sacrilegious to bring out my computer in a space that is meant to be used for people-watching, not screen-watching. For that reason, there are these spaces around Paris that are called "coworking" where, essentially, people pay for the time they sit and use the space. Drinks and small snacks are unlimited in the time that the space is used. Guess how many lattes I had today ladies and gentlemen! The place we chose today is called Hubsy. Still a slightly strange concept for me, it was a productive few hours, munching on Oreos while writing my French redaction and doing research for my summer project.

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Over four hours later, we felt it was time to go. Well, really, we just had a dinner reservation, but we still just needed a break. Sad to leave the free-ish coffee behind me, I did have crêpes at Breizh Café to look forward to. On the short walk to the popular spot, we passed by a massive white sign that read: "Pringles of Scotland." Nothing else. Completely bare except for those words written in a serif font hung on a wall. Anna turned to me and said that those were some well-traveled Pringles. Cultured even, if we dared to go that far. I thought that was worth mentioning purely for the absurdity of the poster that someone, somewhere, had to have made. Very specifically made, might I add.

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Arriving at the café, I only started to transpire more. The heat was stagnant inside. While the heat was undoubtedly suffocating, the crêpe (or more accurately galette) made it all better. I ordered the "Bretonne" which consisted of sautéd mushrooms, bacon, a scrambled egg, comté cheese, crème fraîche, and spices. I genuinely think it was the first time I have ever had a savory crêpe. Let me tell you, I am impressed.

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Ice cream was the next stop which realistically should come as no surprise. Trying something new, we hit up this place called Glace Bachir, 100% Lebanese and 100% bio. I had strawberry and pistachio in a cone with homemade whip cream on top. Absolutely refreshing on a hot summer day. My stomach was beyond content. Walking home, licking ice cream, chatting incessantly, and feeling a cool breeze set in after the hot day, I could not wish for anything better. Well, maybe just some more whip cream...