September 1, 2000 - Yes, You Read that Right!

The following paragraphs were taken from the journal I kept at the time, all the better to wallow in the joys of the trip long after my return. As mentioned on yesterday's post, this picture was taken by my friend Rita in 2005, the first year I had a digital camera.
Now for September 1, 2000: Our all-night flight on Corsair Airlines was surreal in that they woke us up at 2:45 AM for a chicken dinner which (the chicken part) was unchewable. We reached Paris 7 hours after takeoff, local time 1:52 PM. Customs/Immigration involved filling out a brief yellow form. Then we got an Air France bus to Invalides, from which we got a taxi to our hotel, where we were given room 304. My first sight of French buildings, once we got past the outlying airport area, produced feelings I can't quite articulate. I thought I'd be crying the entire time, and have no idea why I wasn't. I was vaguely disappointed, thinking it just doesn't look foreign. Maybe I'd lived there in a former life.
Curious coincidences in the book I'd bought for the flight, PARIS NEVER LEAVES YOU by Adreana Robbins: The heroine's arrival was on September 1st, as was mine, she gets a hotel room in the 7th arrondissement, as did I, and she sees from her balcony the Champ de Mars, which part I read the day (arrival day) I first was there!
After getting some rest in our room, we walked around in search of a place for our first Paris meal together, and my first ever. Eventually, we agreed on a place where the people seemed especially happy, Le Bosquet, on the corner of Avenue Bosquet and Champ de Mars, where they don't require reservations. I had steak and fries ("steak frites") followed by chocolate and coffee ice cream, my favorite combination. When Iasked for whipped cream they gave me a side of sour cream. N'importe -- I still love Paris.
A demain!

Ten Years/Dix Ans!!

It's hard to believe it's been ten whole years today since I first boarded a Paris-bound plane! Therefore, the week that follows is going to be full of "tenth anniversaries": Our first visit to Montmartre, Versailles, Giverny, the Eiffel Tower, the Marais, the Champs-Elysees . . . Speaking of the Champs-Elysees, September 6th is the 10th anniversary of our climb (200+ stairs) up the Arc de Triomphe and our meeting at the Arc de Triomphe later that day with my friend Rita, who has commented on this blog from time to time. (That's Rita on the right. As I didn't have a digital camera then, this picture was taken the one evening our 2005 stays in Paris overlapped.) Bernard, Rita and I went to dinner at Les Ecuries, a crepe place on the Rue Washington that Rita knew, and then we all rode the ferris wheel -- my first ferris wheel ride ever! -- at Place de La Concorde.

I also wanted to upload the photo Rita had taken at the same place, same evening, of Bernard and me, but the system isn't cooperating.

As it'll be a couple of months before our flight back to Paris, I especially appreciate Rita's StayatHomeTraveler blog. Travel is one thing, but keeping its joys alive in your everyday life is another -- and this is where this very helpful blog comes in. Check it out.

The joys of Paris are highs on a par with meeting and marrying Bernard, and getting published in print in the pre-blog days. Most amazing is that such intense highs are legal!

We're Going Back!

Between my previous post and today, I hadn't felt much like writing for this blog until such angels as our wonderful tax-return preparer and the folks at the IRS who agreed with him, made possible our next trip: October 29th.
Today is a particularly French day: Jean-Paul Sartre would have been 105, and Francoise Sagan 75.
Speaking of Francoise Sagan, last week at French Institute Alliance Francaise, we saw the 2008 biopic Sagan, starring Sylvie Testud, who makes the author seem more interesting than she was in real life.
As plans for our stay become clearer, I'll get back to you.

Edith Piaf's Birthday

Today, December 19th, is Edith Piaf's birthday. It was a song of hers, "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien," that I requested at La Mere Catherine on the evening of my own birthday. As I said to the singer, France Fannell, afterward, it's a perfect song for a birthday because it's not something I achieved but an ideal I always keep in mind. (That being the case, she proceeded to sing to me, before the entire restaurant, "Joyeux Anniversaire.") Thank you, Edith Piaf and France Fannell.

A few photos from our recent trip

Sacre Coeur (top left); Bernard and yours truly in front of the Boutique des Anges (right)

At Merci: Bernard admiring a couple of old schoolroom desks

A few friends in a gallery on Blvd. St. Germain.

Bibliotheque des Litteratures Policieres

For the second time this trip, we went to the Bibliotheque des Litteratures Policieres, 48-50 Cardinal Lemoine. The first time, the Hammett exhibit was still in preparation but by no means complete.

Librarian Katrina Chauchard was most hospitable -- even sent to archives for the issues of Le Saint Detective Magazine that my stories are in so I could have the kick of [re]reading my work in French. What a way to brush up on a language!

Having promised Katrina we'd go back when the rest of the Dashiell Hammett exhibit was in place, we went again today. We were sorry Katrina wasn't on duty, but her colleague, Michelle Witta, whom I'd previously met there a few years ago, promised to give her our regards. She also wrote down everyone's name, including that of Dominique Floirat, who'd worked on the Hammett exhibitiion. Excellent!

Merci beaucoup encore a Katrina et Michelle pour vos acceuils.

Here I am in Paris!

And I'm almost out of time at the hotel computer! More soon!