Nothing seems as pretty as the pastel

It's grey and dirty outside but I'm in one of my spring moods so I wear my marshmallow-coloured sweater, buy flowers for my mom, read Remarque and wait for the sun. And I really need to go to the theatre soon.

My April playlist:

The Dixie Cups - Chapel of Love

Simon & Garfunkel - April Come She Will

The Doors - Waiting For The Sun

Deep Purple - April

Nirvana - All Apologies

At night we swim the laughing sea

(Memories of my French summer 2013 again. Sorry for being so nostalgic, this is the last one, I promise)

Still I'm convinced that nothing's more exciting than traveling alone. You are free as a bird, don't depend on anyone and you can do whatever you want. If you want you ride a bicycle and drink cognac out of the melon with local people or you go to a festival in Paris and you feel like the whole world is at your feet now. I wouldn't mind to spend my whole life like that.

It was so nice to wake up in the morning to the sound of bells in an old tower, have croissants for breakfast and then go to work. After it I went to the shower noticing that my suntan was quite far from perfect because I was wearing shorts and t-shirt and socks too. "Who cares!" I thought, "Life is beautiful anyway".

Also, it was nice to befriend new and interesting people every day, trying to comprehend French, wander around the castles, work with real masons, eat cheese which melts in your mouth, get lost in labyrinths of French gardens and see everything in my own way.

And every day was full of surprises! When you are about to have dinner and you are asked why not go to the seaside in the neighbour city and you're like "yeah why not". Then you eat the most delicious quiche lorraine and home-made ice-cream ever and then leave! Your driver drank cognac with you but it doesn't matter. You go to a new city where nobody's sleeping. Crowds of people are walking along the embankment, thousands of lights are reflecting in the ocean and strangers smile at you and you smile back and you have that nice stranger smiling moment.

Cemetry gates

(some more memories of my French summer 2013)

I think it was one of the happiest months in my life. I realise this when I hear Jim singing: "When summer's gone, where will we be..?" I remember how Julien and I listened to this song in his little Parisian appartement and he told me not to be so pessimistic but.. Where are we now really?

I remember that dreaded sunny day when I met you at the cemetry gates. I decided to visit Jim. I had a sheer blouse on and was holding a bottle of orange juice but still it was too hot. So we went inside and we gravely read the stones when one old gentleman asked: "Cherchez Jim Morrison?" I nodded my head and he pointed to the tree, "Derrière cet arbre" he said. And I already was thinking I won't find you. So there I stood staring at his grave and listening to The End in my earphones. People come and go, some of them are crying and everyone whispers "goodbye Jim" when leaving. I was literally trembling inside because that moment was so important.

Se rappelle de la France

(more memories of my French summer 2013)

And in Saint-Genis-de-Saintonge everything was completely different! My sleeping place was a real mess and when I wanted to shower, I needed plenty of time to find all my stuff. Still, I'm remembering that place with so much love. In our dorm there was always something going on - pillow battles, night gatherings with flashlights in our hands or gossiping in our pajamas. The walls were decorated with reproductions of well-known painters. I remember I had 'Cottages' by Van Gogh right above my sleeping bag.

From the dormitory you could walk out on the terrace where we placed a table and a couple of chairs for us to read magazines, drink coffee, play cards or make parties. Also, there were a lot of bicycles which locals kindly gave us. I liked to take one of them (usually bright pink), put my camera in a basket and go take pictures of sunset above the sunflower fields, narrow streets of cobblestone, somebody's door with flowers on it.. It was uncredibly beautiful there, just go and catch.

T'as voulu voir Paris et on a vu Paris

(memories of my French summer 2013)

The appartement in which I stayed while I was in Paris was really tiny but so French. It consisted of one light room with a big window overlooking the courtyard with leaves fallen already in August and neighbours' scooters. I liked to stand beside that window thinking of how to spend the day. And in the evenings Julien and I have been sitting on the sofa, placing on the table numerous plates with different kinds of cheese, ham and baguette, pouring red wine into glasses, turning on some good music and talking and talking..

In my room

I love my room. I spend a lot of time here and I think it even looks like me. It's quite a spacious bedroom with pale pink wallpapers and cream curtains, there's a big bookcase with my favourite books and most people  pay attention to them. Sometimes they borrow something or just ask whether this or that book is good and so they get to know me a little better. It's like a test - if one doesn't take an interest, I don't think we'll have a lot in common.

All in all, a lot of people have been to my room and well they were all different. People who I hardly know, popular people, some unwashed hipsters who don't even take their vans off.. A motley company, in general. And sometimes there are weeks and even months when in my room there's nobody but me. Only my mom drops in and asks if everything's alright or dad sticks his head in the doorway to say goodnight.

In the far corner there's my bed with white cover on it though now it is unmade because in winter I love to stay home all day cuddled up in my lovely bed, drink tea, read books and watch films. Perfect for a cold day like this.

My February playlist:

The Rolling Stones - Winter

Bruce Springsteen - Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

Beck - Youthless

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Hey Oh)

The Raconteurs - Consoler of the Lonely

Scarlet were the clothes she wore

Every weekend is a reason for adventure. I had a short break and my friends from Saint-Petersburg came to see me so we had a lot of fun. In general, we went to the cinema, drank gin in teacups, made angels in the snow, smoked hookah, played Monopoly, went to hockey and laughed hard. I enjoyed my holiday but tomorrow I'll have to get back to work and studies again.. Anyway, life is good.