My coach Maguy dropped me off at Orly airport
today and, after climbing the smelly
metro stairs and weaving through the streets of Paris, wet with recent rainfall, I found my hostel tucked in a touristy corner of town. What this hostel lacked in ambiance and free wifi, it made up for in cleanliness, safety, and location, location, location. (It's a stone’s throw away from the Pompidou, the Louvre, Notre Dame, and – this is the best part – a short walk to the local Bikram yoga studio!).
It didn’t take me long to
get settled in and then I was out the door to sniff out my
second home for the week: the yoga studio! Besides the obvious signs, like museums and Starbucks, one way I could tell I was in a touristy area is by counting the bagel and burger joints. I found the studio without too much trouble and signed up immediately for a 10-day introductory class pass that included a mat and
a shower (only 35 euros - what a deal - right?!).
Ahhhh! After all the delicious French food I've been eating, I'll admit my yoga costume didn't fit exactly like it used to... Ha! Nevertheless, it felt so great to push my hips and lock my knee for an hour and a half in the 40 degree heat and humidity. The
most difficult asanas were the back bends, which require the absence of fear, but I
have faith that I will overcome that later this week. After class, I grabbed a most delicious toasted whole wheat bagel with cream cheese (five months deep into France I figured a bagel was going to do me some good) and then stood in a long line at a Mediterranean deli next door to
get fresh dolmas and hummus.
It’s so great to be back
in Paris. I love everything about this city... the sights, the sounds, and even the stinky smells.
That's all for now. More later!
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