HOT AS SUMMER IN PARIS
2010
Friday was an off day. Tired of walking - and thinking of the talk in Germany - Oswaldo chose to stay home while I visited the Galeries Lafayette (confusing and a little decadent) and Printemps (so much better, with a great café on the -1 floor). I have the hardest time, however, to tear myself away from the Lafayette Maison across the street - so many temptations. At night we go out with Max Dickman for a Georgian dinner and eat unusual raviolis with cherry filling as a main course.
Saturday we wake up with a plan to take the Metro to Pigalle and walk up to the Sacre Coeur. The day is gorgeous and hot and our walk takes us through a new area of ‘our’ side, the St. Sulpice, where people are lining up for lunch at ‘hot’ restaurant and the streets are dotted with designer boutiques. When we emerge in Pigalle the scenery has changed, Turkish baths ‘of the senses’ mingle with sex shops all looking rather cheesy in the bright sunshine. As we struggle up the narrow streets we come upon a lively café filled with happy lunchers and we stop there - for an indifferent meal, as it turns out - but the location is great. Then on to the great ‘eglise’ with a pit stop for ice-cream on the way. There are so many people, one can hardly move, maybe due to a wine tasting event with numerous booths offering champagne and vines. Long before we reach the church we hear familiar capoeira beat from a group of ‘sarados’ Brazilian boys, with a great and enthusiastic audience circling their acrobatics. After visiting the church we forego the ‘funicular’ and descend the curved stairs, observing sound equipment and fireworks set up for an event, probably after nightfall. When we reach the Pigalle station we decide to walk some more, down the Rue des Martyrs, which is lined with booths selling antiques and people out to catch bargains. We manage to walk all the way to Blvd. Hausmann, where we catch the Metro back to our place after a Perrier stop. The heat and walking has done us in and we both fall asleep and wake much later, reluctant to dress and go out for dinner. Fortunately we have fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil paste and that wonderful bread from yesterday in the fridge. And with a bottle of wine and the Amorino icecream we’re all set and have a lovely dinner at home.
MONTMARTRE ETC.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
SITTING IN A PAVEMENT CAFE WITH A PRIVILEGED VIEW, WE NONETHELESS WISH FOR SHADE. THE SUN IS BAKING ON OUR LONG PANTS AND CLOSED SHOES..
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