In Search of (Art/Advocacy Cuisine and Travels)

Chapter 2 Walking to the Studio Iliana stepped out lightly from the patio to the streets of Paris. She wore running Nikes and calf warmers over her running tights. Her white tissue cotton shirt hung loosely over her warm up outfit as she began jogging in the direction of the Tour Eiffel, in a kilometer she would be at Fine Arts to continue her conditioning and prepare for a small vignette in Swan Lake. She pushed her ear buds tighter into her ears and spoke into her Watch, “connect me with mama and papa.” When her mother picked up she looked around at her intersection, she was already past the tourist laden Tour Eiffel. She stopped in front of a Starbucks and entered. “I’m fine mama, you?” she nodded to the Barista and mouthed out her request. “Tall, sugar free vanilla, lactose free whole milk and double shot.” “Papa? Your hip ok?” With her latte in hand she sat at the outdoor table and looked out at the street. It was mostly clear, the occasional street worke...

Chapter 1 Iliana looked out at the edge of the patio                                                                       It was a quiet morning, then again, it was Paris and to be expected. A mecca for brilliance and dignity even in the smallest movement, it was right and good that a young lady pursue dance in such a place. Paris didn’t wake with instant cacophony, didn’t respond to the insistence of it citizens, didn’t bow down to the money that poured in from all over the world. It took its time to introduce itself to the day. Even the sun itself appeared one ray at a time. Not enough to suggest the sweltering heat that it intended t...