I know it’s been a couple days, so I would like to start by talking about something very, very important: in case it wasn’t abundantly clear, I am nerdy.

So, did I get a ~little~ teary eyed walking through cramped alcoves lined from floor to ceiling with books at Shakespeare & Co. today? Yes. Yes, I did.

Am I going back, probably tomorrow? Yup.

I really love books. I love reading, I love poetry, I love quotes in places where quotes shouldn’t be. I love antique books (and antiques in general), I love shops that are more like tiny mazes, I think cats are really cute, I love it when a wall is littered with with framed photos, and I love old pianos. And I love coffee.

Shakespeare & Co has all of those things. So naturally, it felt a little bit like heaven to me. It felt even more like a nod from the universe that I had found the perfect little spot in Paris when “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by CCR began playing over the speakers—a song that me and my newfound band (stage name TBD) had mastered just before I left the country.

I thought that of all the things that would bring me to tears in Paris, it would be a beautiful church, a painting at the Louvre, seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, or leaving my lover when the month was over (kidding). But no, it was a bookstore.

I was in there for an hour, and I walked out with three books: an English translation of A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos (originally written in French!), A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur. Again, yes I am still going to be returning to this bookstore. Yes it will be very, very soon.

While I was there I also so a print copy of Sarah J Maas’ House of Sky and Breath, which I had read in April on my iPad— holy God, I had no idea how HUGE that book was.

But anyways, after I made my purchases I walked next door to the Shakespeare & Co cafe and had an iced latte as I jumped into A Court of Thorns, devouring the first three chapters. It started getting a little cramped so it was time to move on.

I spent the next hour walking along the Seine and window-shopping through street vendors collections of old vogue covers and novels, beautiful water colors of famous Parisian landmarks, and shadow-box magnets. I would cross one bridge, walk the riverside, and then cross the next bridge. I zig-zagged like that for maybe an hour enjoying my music (and the music of live performers) before I made my way back home for lunch.

Oh and also, I caught a glimpse of Notre Dame. AH.

I wasn’t feeling fancy so I just enjoyed some hummus and buckwheat chips (more of a snack than a lunch, I know) before I felt a little restless again and made my way to Place de Vosges. I found a nice bench in the shade overlooking the park and its fountains, so I sat and ate up three more chapters of my book.

I’m not quite sure what possessed me to do this, but I then got out a pencil and started sketching a picture of the park. I started with the fountain directly in front of me and then fuddled my way through the background. Many strangers came and went, sitting down by me on my double sided bench as I drew. First a family from out of town touring Paris, all of them quizzing their tour guide about what it’s like to live in the city. The second was a group of three girls enjoying some pastries and a cigarette. The last was two Italian women, also vacationing.

When I finished my sketch I gave up my bench and just started walking again. Inevitably I found my way back to the river, and begin zig zagging les ponts de Paris. More than once, I found large groups of people dancing to music in the many many parks all along the Seine.

I’ve been noticing lots of little nods from the universe ever since Calli flew home. The first was yesterday when I was shopping for dinner supplies at Monoprix; “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac came on (for those who don’t know, Stevie Nicks is my girl.) Immediately following it was “Il est cinq heures, Paris s’éveille” by Jacques Dutronc; a song I had discovered from a super-cute Paris guide book that my friend Dana gave me.

Naturally, it’s a little different being in this country by myself. I was really grateful to spend a day in Tours and Chinon, visiting my friend Christian, who lives there full-time and is interning at the winery Pierre & Bertrand Couly.

He showed me around Tours where we had lunch and strolled through two centuries old cathedrals, then we visited Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. I will never, ever get over how amazing it is walking through historic, ancient places. We simply don’t have history like that in the US. and

Then, we trekked over to Chinon where he gave me a tour of his winery, and a tasting. I will also never get over how fun it is to drink wine. No, I’m sorry, not drink—taste. Christian and I had a full conversation about how fascinating the creation of wine is, and how there’s an endless world of things to discover with it. Your pallet is always changing, after all. GAH.

Yes, I’m flying solo now and that can be daunting at times, but if the last two days are any indication— this is going to be an amazing trip, start to finish.

Well, I should probably quit writing and get back to my growing stack of books…

Jusqu’à la prochaine tasse de café!

-Ken