The intrepid traveler and author of this blog.
Hello, and thank you for visiting my blog. My name is Elsa L. Fridl. I grew up in and still live in the Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area. Growing up, I spent a lot of time visiting my paternal grandparents, who lived on Massachusetts Avenue in northwest Washington, D.C. Since they spoke Czech around me and often talked about “the old country” they emigrated from (Germany/Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic), as a small child I knew the world was a much bigger place than just my neighborhood, and that people in different countries lived differently from me. I wanted to see more of the world they spoke of. A would-be traveler was born.
My paternal grandmother was Czech, and my paternal grandfather was German, Czech and French. I remember them being very regal and proper people. I attribute my partial French heritage to why I have always loved France so much, and in particular, Paris. I have visited many other countries, but none speak to me the way France does. I love the people, the food, the architecture, French style, and their emphasis on relationships and enjoying the moment. I feel at home in Paris. I feel I belong there.
This blog is meant to be a celebration of Paris and French things*. I hope it will be a cultural bridge between the U.S. and France: To help Americans get there, understand the French culture better, and perhaps to help French people to understand the U.S. culture a little better. My ultimate goal is to go back to Paris to live and teach English. While I admit my writing is a bit rusty as I begin, we’ll see where this blog takes me.