Squeezebox

Awoke at 11 (!) am- completely rested and a little shocked to have slept so long.

Showered, dressed and repacked to move next door to 3 bis-- which has a double bed and a twin bed. The prior occupants of 3 bis appear to have been backpackers in search of a cheaper room (ours)-- their backbacks (4 huge backpacks) were stashed in the hallway, waiting to be moved to our old room.

Met Judy and Bill at 1pm at Cafe Phares- the one of Paris' original philosopher's cafe. I had cafe creme, quiche lorraine with salad and a bottle of Badoit water.

In the afternoon we went walking in the neighborhood. We walked again through the Place de Vosges to the Hotel de Sully to see the photographic exhibit on the Algerian War-- mostly photos by army photographers and SIPA, Erich Lessing, Agence France Presse, etc. Very grim and moving. Also remarkable, however, was the excellent terrazzo floor- with an aggragate of black, grays and quartz with copper strands. Couldn't take a picture of the floor because we were in a museum.

Wandered through the Marais (most shops were closed for the Sabbath), though Carnavalet and towards the Centre Pompidou. Found an internet cafe, CyberBe@ubourg and checked email. The cafe dog was a huge rottweiler looking creature, sleeping happily in the middle of the floor. Luckily I didn't have to say a word to the clerk to get to a computer-- he just wrote down the time on a piece of paper and pointed to a computer. When I was done, I handed the paper back with some Euros. Forgot to ask for an American keyboard so I had to struggle with finding all the keys on the board. Found out I had work for Monday morning: helloooooooo writin' off the the trip!

Had a perrier with the ladies at Bistro Beaubourg and tghen strolled to Saint Eustace. Walked past the Louvre and took the Metro back to the Bastille. Back to Judy and Bill's for cheese and bread and a tasty rose. Decided on dinner at Baracane down the street on Rue des Tournelles. Back to the hotel to clean up and get ready for dinner.

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7:30- Dinner at Baracane. I had all the night's specials-- which amounted to all the parts of beast that I rarely eat. Entree: Salade Foie Persillade-- some unidentified birds liver cooked in balsamic, garlic and parsley on greens. Make that 4 or 5 livers of unidentified (chicken, duck or goose) birds. Plat: Gateau Leger avec Boudin. This was a cake made with sausage- very gamey tasting, so it could have been boudin noir (blood sausage) but quite delicious. Dessert: Savarin a Rhum- basically a donut soaked in rum with a dollup of whipped cream. Followed with espresso and then a leisurely stroll back to the hotel. Arranged to meet at Phares at 11 for coffee and then the farmer's market.

Posted by Christine at 10:04 AM | Permalink

Thursday 10AM: Flight to Chicago. Sat next to a close approximation of Martin: a young guy with his g4 laptop and ipod, alternately watching Fellowship of the Ring and listening to tunes.

Lunch at the airport: split a chicken caesar salad and drank vin rouge.

5:30 PM: flight to Charles de Gaulle. The plane was almost full. It was occupied by the parisian whistler- a fellow who would burst into brief but full whistle every half hour or so. Practically levitating out of their seats the whole flight were three young guys from San Francisco who were going to ride Eurail for 2 weeks. They twitched and twitted out the whole flight.

Arrived airport. Cold and beautiful weather. Looked for Blue Vans. There was a problem with the reservation, so we had to wait a half hour for it to be sorted out. Arrived at our hotel around 10am. Tiny room with 2 twin beds. No place to put our suitcases, let along sit down. Arranged to change rooms the next morning.

Cleaned up and went over to Judy and Bill's wonderful apartment on Rue de Tournelles. Had some champagne and then went out for lunch. Walked through the Place de Vosges to Bistro Ma Bourgogne. I had the Ma Bourgogne salade- greens with goat cheese crouton. Roberta had aignee avec frites, J had faux filet and frites, Bill had boeuf brochettes and frites. We drank cote du rhone. Finished with creme brulee and espresso. Walked around the neighborhood for an hour or so more. Mom had a hilarious one sided conversation with a woman and her poodle-ish dog who was wearing a sweater and had 2 scarves wrapped around it's head.

Tried tried TRIED to stay awake but I could not. Fell asleep at 5pm.

Posted by Christine at 09:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)