Parislog 8
March 12, 2006


It is funny how nothing here seems to be linear. The roads obviously aren't as they are based upon ancient pathways of humans and animals, all but the Haussmanian swathes cut through in the late 1800's. He made the likes of the Champs-Elysees in order to open up Paris.

Television is also not linear. Things don't start on the hour. They start whenever it matches to the time of the previous program. The nice thing is that there are no commercials during the middle of the movie. They come as a bunch at the ends of things. Sometimes if the show is really long, they will have a long commercial break. You won’t find something that resembles American news at all. It is closer to a bunch of 60 Minutes or Datelines. Whatever is being discussed is done so in much more detail. Time is spent with each topic.

You will love this too. All the hallway lights are on timers and sometimes as a typical American I forget and the light goes off while I am going down the stairs. If it is nighttime then it plunges you into total darkness and your heart starts a pounding. Then you look around for a little tiny glow on the landing to find the button to restart the timer. Sometimes though you are on the curve of the stair and can't see the landing so you have to feel your way there. Such fun!

Friday night I had my first evening out with one of the contacts given to me. When I sold my flute on Craigslist, the guy who bought it from me lives here part time and gave me a couple of numbers. I met up with the guy behind one those numbers and we went to a little bistro just down the street from me. It was the nicest little place.

We walk through the main door and behind it was a big heavy curtain that I presume was there to block the draft. It was like a stage curtain, really heavy. We were seated at this little miniature table that was crowded up next to the backs of the seats of the table next to us. I think the correct term is "cozy". M* and I had met up at 9 and were probably seated by 9:30 so for me this was a very late dinner. We had a "pichon" of wine and I had a filet mignon with what turned out to be scalloped potatoes. The menu said "pommes vapeurs" but there were good anyway. I hate to sound stereotypical but the sauce on the filet was
"incroyable" (incredible). After dinner I, of course, had to have the chocolate mousse. I mean I am me. It was outstanding. Then after we were done the waiter came by and offered a digestive on the house. It was a cherry liqueur and very interesting. Probably not something that I would buy for the house but sometimes it is good to stretch yourself a little.

Walking home afterwards was when I began to fall a little in love with Paris. It was midnight and the streets were full of life but not craziness. It was very gentle and neighborly. It was enchanting. There were so many people out returning from their visits and dinners etc. There was no sense of feeling scared or threatened at all.

Saturday was another busy day. I met up in the afternoon with another contact and another very nice person. M* from Friday night was very gracious and kind. This time it was A* whose name I received from a lovely woman who owns a clothing store in LA. A* was another kind and generous soul especially because this time the conversation was in French and she put up with my bumbling sentences and occasional complete inability to understand here stream of French.

Together we visited Notre Dame and got the audio guide to learn a little about the place. It was incredibly crowded with people as it was the weekend and there was a service going on at the same time. There was a small choir that was amplified. There are flat screen TV’s spaced throughout to better see the dais. Very up to date in a very ancient place. We didn't climb the tower this particular day as the weather wasn't good enough to pay the 7,50€ to see the clouds.
The last couple of stops on the audio tour were outside looking at the facade and we gave up quickly because the wind was brutally cold.

She took me over to the original Laduree's for tea and
macaroons. Very chi-chi! It was a very cozy setting.
The tea came in real silver teapots and the china had a very pretty pastel blue trim. The walls were covered in mirrors and gold and the ceilings had paintings in all the medallions. It was quite something. There was also a huge long line but fortunately for us it was for the patisserie counter and not the tea salon. Oh, the macaroons are quite something. We had a sampler.

A* drove me back to my apartment taking the picturesque route and I think that we will be visiting a few other places together as it seemed that we had some similar interests. I am quite excited.

That evening I was invited to a party by H*, a friend of a Le Conte teacher. So off I went again. This time I had to find H* at one of the big train stations to the "banlieue". We finally found each other and took of in a hurry to catch the next train out to Becon de something. It was a very cute little suburb having the same old buildings at weird angles and little stores street level but it was smaller and quieter. H* and I were met at the door and the three of us squished into the elevator to go up and I mean squish. It was a challenge to do. Upstairs we entered the apartment and I was introduced to her friends whom all gave me the two-cheek kiss. It seemed very odd as an American to have all these strangers kiss you but at the same time it is a nice system. I had a great time and met some more super people who just welcomed me with open arms. H* and I hit it off really well. The only tough part of the evening was being indoors with a bunch of smokers. I didn't mind it too much at the time, I was having some wine you know, but I noticed today that the smell of cigarettes is just totally repulsive. Other than that, I had fabulous fun. We danced too.

I came home by myself on the train then metro and again found it to be so unthreatening. How refreshing.

This morning I went back to the flea market by me and spent a little more time looking a little more closely and I have to tell you that the prices are not cheap.
Even though a lot of it looks well used the prices to be inversely related. I saw a pretty little candy dish last week and this week it was still there so I asked what the price was. 60€. Oh well.