2 Cultural Highlights
1.French Food Favorites:
Happy 4th of July from France! Before we get into the main course, please enjoy a few relevant fun facts about France as an appetizer:
- After playing a critical part of the American Revolution, the French gifted the Statue of Liberty to the USA.
- The Eiffel Tower was initially meant to be a temporary structure for an exhibition, but its charm proved to be timeless.
Now, let me turn your attention to what may be considered THE foundational French phenom food.
Baguettes and croissants, flaky and divine, will transport your taste buds to cloud nine.
They are absolutely worth the hype.
Golden-brown baguettes, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside and flaky croissants that melt in your mouth. Ah, c’est magnifique!
This may be a stretch, but imagine combining your hamburgers and hot dogs with baguettes and croissants. You can still add your condiments of choice.
Would it hurt to try an upgrade to the American buns? Are they not the most underwhelming part of our American bbq tradition?
Perhaps this idea sounds “Un-American,” but we think this French twist has potential.
There’s some food for thought. Happy Independence Day & Bon appétit!
2.
European Heat!
Picture this: You’re in Paris, France. And July has graced you with its fiery breath.
It’s HOT and sweaty, like a sauna – but it’s missing the welcoming eucalyptus, steam, or relaxing ambience. Okay, never mind. It’s not like a sauna. It’s just uncomfortably hot.
To make matters worse, you have no access to swimming areas! This is a problem, right?
You can only take off so many articles of clothing before running the risk of getting arrested.
Now, as Arizonans, we are accustomed to the luxury of air conditioning. Well, in Paris, and many other European cities, air conditioning is as elusive as a sneaky pigeon eyeing your fresh baguette.
At night, in our little third floor Parisian apartment, we were forced to swiftly learn the art of adaptation. We embraced our open windows like newfound friends, flinging them wide open in a desperate bid for breezes that could tame the scorching beast of summer.
Our evenings in the apartment became a comedy of survival techniques. The mosquitoes won some battles, but they lost the war.
If you find yourself in this hypothetical situation, just grin and bear it. You’re bound to make some interesting memories if you can laugh at the situation.
As a practical note, you may also consider freezing water bottles, towels, and stocking up on cold beverages!
Until then, enjoy your air conditioning!
Cheers,
The Sweating Duy
2 Quotes
- “A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.” – Helen Keller
- “Life is like a box of chocolates, but in France, it’s more like a box of croissants, deliciously unpredictable and flaky!” – Imaginary French Baker
2 Brief Stories
1.
Farah To The Rescue:
We’ve all been there, contorting our arms to capture ourselves and a blurry background that barely hints at our exciting surroundings. In a world where selfies reign supreme and awkward angles dominate our photo albums, there exists a rare gem named Farah, my incredible wife.
She has committed to spreading joy and capturing memorable moments for complete strangers. Whether it’s a solo traveler, a couple lost in selfie struggles, or an entire family attempting to squeeze into a frame, Farah is ready to jump in to lend a helping hand.
Take, for example, our recent encounter yesterday with a young father on a picturesque bridge. He was attempting to capture a precious moment of his wife and two small children. Something was missing—the man himself! As Farah and I exchanged glances, it became clear we shared the same thought: “This man should be part of the picture!” With a mischievous smile, Farah approached them and offered her assistance.
These small acts of kindness have been a very fun part of our travels. Those we have helped always respond with excitement and appreciation. As a bonus, the favor often comes with an unexpected twist—suddenly, we find ourselves in front of the lens. People helping people. Let’s do more of that.
2.
A Piece of Home In Paris:
What would this world be without great friends? Right?
This week, two of our friends from Arizona added an extra sparkle to our globetrotting adventures. Meet Carmella, a talented photographer, and Jacob, a skilled videographer—they are visual wizards we are lucky to call friends.
There’s something about familiar faces, laughter, shared stories, and genuine support that makes the world feel a little smaller, and cozier.
In essence, they brought a sense of home to our travels.
Together, we explored the streets of Paris. We marveled at the art and architecture. We felt the magic of the Eiffel Tower glittering at night. We enjoyed the best ramen I’ve ever tasted at Kodawari Ramen, which boasts a well-deserved Michelin stamp of approval!
The street cafes and cobblestone impressed, but our favorite moments surfaced in fun conversations.
We also loved watching Carmella and Jacob “capture” Paris with trained photography perspectives. It added to the huge respect we already had for skilled photographers and videographers.
In the big picture of this travel year, Farah and I knew we would encounter awe-inspiring sights. But there was one thing we hadn’t considered—the difficulty of capturing those experiences by ourselves. Carmella and Jacob stepped in, their cameras at the ready and their creative eyes naturally seeking out the perfect shots.
Thank you, Carmella and Jacob! Our time together was short, but we LOVED every minute of it.
Thanks for tuning in to 2-2-2 Tuesday!
If you have any feedback, comments, or suggestions, we’d love to hear from you. Have a wonderful week.
– Zack and Farah
