Paris: Week 2

And the fun continues. Walking and looking, listening, shopping (not much) - a wool cardigan coat for me! The knife shop for James.

We found a great restaurant that had frogs legs- a must! We had mushroom tagliatelle and then apple tarte. It was the 10 Euro Plat.

Friday night was a trip to Palais Opéra- Decadance. Wow wow and wow. For those of you have seen Sydney Dance Company, imagine them on steroids! These ‘kids’ danced their hearts out - and the rest of their bodies, let me tell you. A wonderful hour and a half, with some fun through a ‘presenter’ who came on stage several times and was quite droll. At one stage the group came down into the audience and chose partners - mainly women, there were only 2 men - and danced: what a fantastic experience for those people. A truly amazing show.

The theatre itself is amazing as well.

Saturday we were up early (for us) and off to meet Janifer and Geoffrey for the drive to Samois, near Fontainebleau HHH. Lots of traffic but we got to the meeting place, a bar in the square. Croissants fr9m the Boulangerie, coffee from the bar, met some of Fonty Hash then off to the start.

This is a French Hash, with some expats who live long term in France. Well, they do things differently and fun is what it is about. So,

the tables are set up, the gas burner with a saucepan with water and the frankfurts put in, the wine casks are opened, the beers are out, the pickled onions are opened ... oh and some chips and pretzels. This is BEFORE the run. A good way to have a chat and get to know everyone- there were about 14 of us, a couple of fit and young (sons), the rest a range of years.

The run was called and off we went, meandering through the streets then into woodland and up a hill to a water tower/monument and then through more woodland and back into the streets.

We had a drink stop at a very old wash house- you could imagine the women gathering to do the washing and chat and gossip. And then back to the start- all about 8 km and very pleasant. There were a couple of youngies who ran, but most of us walked and chatted.

The tables came out again - a beautiful Camembert, a pate, Jan had made a delicious salad, bread, cornichons, beer, wine, pastis... We had down-downs, James and I were welcomed and we presented Laurent (the Grand Master) with a koala - he presented us with a Fonty t-shirt and invited us back. The BBQ was fired up with REAL patties and sausages.

We left about 2.30 pm but the traffic was again horrific so it was a bit of a rush home as we were going out to dinner with Yann, Agnes and the girls.

Change of plans as Agnès’ mother is not well, and they invited us home; we feel very privileged as we know it is not common ... it is something I’ve hoped we could do as being curious people we wonder how ‘the everyday’ French people live. Yann picked us up at Champs Élysées (he has parking under the Louis Vuitton shop as he

works right there) and we went down 3 flights of the carpark and this is a car park! About 300m long x 4 levels x 2 rows, so that’s a lot of cars.

I’ve tried to find out how many cars are in Paris but what I did find out was that in 2017 there were over 32 million. There are 2.24 million people living in Paris in the city (arrondisements) and another 10 million in the surrounding suburbs. There are underground car parking stations everywhere and paid parking on the streets, bumper to bumper.

So, digressing there ... off we went to a ‘town’ (we’d probably call it a city) outside Versailles. We had a really lovely evening and Agnes’ mother joined us. We briefly saw Lauriane as she went out babysitting and gave her the books we bought: Rimbaud and Toni Morrison. We bought Maewenn a Giacometti book (absolutely perfect with her level of skill already at 12) and Anaïs a book about Pia Bausch, a French dancer.

The books are not necessarily for total absorption now as they are adult books, however they are books for keeping and we hope treasuring.

We had Raclette, a typical French meal - you grill cheese slices until they are dripping and have them on potatoes or crepes, with a variety of meats, and then salad. A lovely Kir Royal to start and then a very nice red wine.

And the “typical” French home - not much different to how we live. They have a back yard, and the house is two levels. We know that apartment living in Paris is tiny (compared to what us Aussies are used to) for most.

This is a special family to us, and we will keep in touch - they are already talking about coming for a visit.

Yann loves driving and drove us back to Paris - the roads were quieter by then thank heavens. Thank you.

Sometimes the body needs a rest so that’s what we did on Sunday.

Ok, off we go again. We walked to L’Orangerie, through the Tuileries. It was a cool day but the sun was shining and that makes all the difference. We arrived at just the right time, with a lull in visitors- what a wonderful place. Apart from the many other paintings that make me feel very humble ... Modigliani, Sisley, Manet, Monet ...... there are two large rooms with curved walls, four paintings in each room: the water lillies. Oh, oh, oh.

We walked home and then later went for the worst Indian meal we have ever had. Oh well.

Tuesday we walked down to the Jardin des Plantes. It was cold and overcast and then rained. A good night for Vietnamese noodles!

We ticked off two things: a visit to ‘the best’ kitchen shop Dehillerin - and it certainly proved its reputation - anything and everything for chefs. James was very restrained and bought some moulding dishes.

We had a lovely walk and near the Pompadour Centre found a restaurant serving Osso Bucco - always a favourite, and it was delicious. Some red wine set it off. This will be our dinner. Funny story: we saw the Osso Bucco at this place and then walked around the corner before deciding to stop and have it. We walked past a

place that (also) had the dish, but decided we liked the look of the other place ... guess what, same place just two entrances! Haha.

The Pompadour Centre never disappoints- such a good view across Paris and an interesting array of art. We always come here and wander. The last two times there has been ‘the bottle man’ outside- he made a costume out of plastic bottles: very effective and a good message. He wasn’t here this time.

The pond in the square has changed little but is still fun.

Thursday has come around again. It was laundry time again, so we put that on - it’s only 100m down the road. We walked to a bookstore as I wanted another copy of the Giacometti book. Then the housework...

Can’t do drudgery for too long - the beauty of a small apartment is that it’s easy and quick to clean! Off to Luxembourg Gardens for a perambulation, it was a cloudless, beautiful day.

Parisians love their parks, and use them well. Making the most of the summer. Lots of people around. The female regents of France are represented around the park with ornate statues. We had an ice cream, nice. A Japanese bride having her bridal photographs done: someone told us that they actually have these photos done BEFORE the wedding, and they are used for the invitations. Lots of runners.

Around the fence of the gardens are mounted large photographs of different places badly affected by climate change- a lot in the arctic and Antarctica. It tells a brief message, in French and English, of what is happening and why. It is very effective and well viewed.

We walked down to rue de Bievre for my art lesson. Vero was very welcoming- she speaks a little English however I reassured her I didn’t want special treatment. James took off to explore, have a beer ... for 2.5 hours, coming back for the appointed hour, 9.30 pm.

I had a marvellous time, challenging: back to oils ... painting from real life, an apple. I did a credible job of it, and will go back next Thursday.

James also had a good time, wandering and looking, coming back and taking some photos through the window (I didn’t see), and then going to a bar for a beer and doing some writing on his iPad- creating an interest to s9me Koreans wondering wh9 he was.

On a high and awake, we wandered looking for somewhere to eat. We spotted a Tunisian restaurant and headed that way, and then heard music - right next door. Some ‘older’ guys playing jazz - so that’s where we ate: a new favourite. It was fun, and we had a good chat to them - turns out they just get together whoever is available each Thursday night; one of the guys, the bass player, lives over on the Atlantic coast near La Rochelle and is a film maker.

End of week 2. It rolls by so fast! As you can see, we are not touristy but enjoy life and everything around us. The sights and sounds.