Some things

Some things I saw today
I saw water bubbling out of a drain and gushing down the street. This seems to happen every day. Every day a different drain.

I saw a regular customer of my cafe-bar pass by on the other side of the street wave to Daniel, the cafe-bar owner, and he waved back.

I saw a young man in a suit come into Le Gyozabar by himself and try to sit at the counter, but the ladies in charge of the restaurant said he couldn't because there were two open places and they wanted to keep them open for two customers together. I watched the young man say, "Okay," and go stand by the door and read his book for a while. I saw him come back after 5-10 minutes and ask again, and they still said no. I saw the young man argue a little with them. I saw them apologize but hold firm to their policy. I saw him shake his head and not leave. I saw him stand just outside the door reading his book. When I got up to leave 10 minutes later, no one had been seated in the two seats next to me, and the young man was ordering takeout with another young man.

I saw this:

And this:

Some things I've eaten in Paris

Some things I like about traveling
I like that people are quick to excuse my culturally inappropriate behavior because I'm a foreigner. I wish I could get away with this in the States too.

I like that everything is unfamiliar and therefore new and interesting. It's like being a kid again, with both the wonder/joy of discovery and the overwhelm of over-stimulation. On the one hand it prompts me to really look at my surroundings in a way I don't often do when at home. On the other, all the newness - and the process of figuring things out - can be tiring.

Some things I miss most
This:

And him:

And her:

And in general all my friends and family. My community. People who know and love me. Sometimes travel is lonely.