My 27th birthday in Paris

Well I didn't get the warm fuzzy feeling that it was my birthday on October 12, 2010- not that I get that feeling every year. For example, I didn't get that feeling the year that my Mom, Dad, brother, and sister all forgot my birthday until my boyfriend at the time snuck away from my presence at 10:30pm and called them to remind them after hearing me complain about it for the prior 22.5 hours (Yes you all know I will never forget the famous October 12, 2006).

But my birthday in France was just... different.

I am very very very fortunate to have such lovely and loving friends here though. Of course my weekend in Lisbon was fabulous- where I had a bite of my first cake on Sunday October 10th-
My actual birthday fell on the Tuesday. It was the Tuesday after having the Monday off (The Embassy was closed for Thanksgiving- a Canadian Holiday of course :) ). Also the Tuesday that the massive nation wide social movement began in France- a strike that is still going until this day- October 23rd. I was the staff member who was to take "Emergency cases" - now generally after a long weekend, the first day back is known to be brutally busy. I guess one of my birthday presents was that I only had 1 or 2 clients- definitely bearable! My very kind boss surprised me putting money in for a chocolate cake and drinks for all in celebration of my birthday. It was a pleasant surprise and I am forever grateful for the cake, the drink, and the time spent around the table! My "work family" in Paris made it a special day.

That evening I was to just go home and spend a quiet evening by myself. I didn't really feel like doing that- so I asked Luc if he didn't mind meeting me for a sushi dinner. He had an audition until 8pm so in the interim I went shopping :) hehe... only got a few things- but a girl has to treat herself! The sushi was fabulous and I was on my way home. I got in the door and saw a pink envelope on the mail table. I looked closer and saw my name written on it!!!! What a sweet heart- one of my bestests sent me a birthday card with such sweet words in it. It was the cherry on my birthday cake. Thank you so much Nicole!!!! Great timing!!!! That night I read all my lovely emails/facebook messages and spoke with the two people in the world I really wanted to speak to... My Mommy and Daddy. And that was my Oct 12, 2010.

A few weeks prior a friend told me my evening of October 13, 2010 is already booked- but I was uninformed as to why this was. Okay- a secret is a secret.

The day came around and we ended up killing time until about 8pm- and I wasn't sure why... We were walking along... and then all of a sudden, here we were in front of the BelCanto restaurant!!!!!
Reservations were booked through Luc who also happens to be a singer for the BelCanto restaurant groups- an Opera Dinner experience!
For those with an appreciation of Southern French cooking with a touch of Italian and a love of opera music, Bel Canto brings you the unusal dining concept of enjoying your meal while listening to the music of such classical composers as Verdi, Rossini, Mozart, and Puccini, perfomed by the talented young opera singers from the conservatory of the Paris Opera. Food is served to you by the same performers who will delight you with operatic interludes every 15 minutes, accompanied by a pianist who plays througout the course of your meal.

http://www.lebelcanto.com/Paris.php

How lucky am I?! I know... they treated me to this fabulous experience with 4 fabulous singers and a pianist- including Luc and Sophie!!!



Yay for surprises!!!!
Sophie!!!

Luc!!!!
Isabelle's foie gras appetizer...
My crab and avocado mixture and salad appetizer....
The artists...


My lamb and potatoes deliciousness...

Videos of my Opera Dinner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7uO4GvgjsI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqr2uaAtMfs

And two final things to top the night off:
1- My 3rd birthday cake...


2- A fabulous number performed by Luc and dedicated to me :) Thank yoU!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH79iqkPsto

Thank you soooooooooooo much to all of you for a memorable Parisian birthday experience!!!!!!

Looking back... you know what, I did have a fabulous birthday!!! It was different than any others, but the people in France who mean so much to me really came through and made me feel super super special!!!

Thank you to all my colleagues, friends, and family who either spent part of the day with me or wished me a Happy Birthday from abroad! Your love is so much appreciated!