Week two in Paris, November 2013
The beauty of mobile phones is that it has become so inconspicuous you take more spontaneous pictures 'catching the moment'. So, I caught this man running happily in my street ...
What is it like in the morning when you go to school or to work at this time of the year (Nov) when 'Paris s'habille' (means 'Paris dresses up') for the End of the year festivities, New Year being the climax? This photo was taken on our way from our studio apartment to the Metro Station
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Going to the Metro Station in the morning to go to school (or work) |
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| 7h50 (am) |
What I really like in Paris is that you can walk... On Tuesday, a long long long time friend*- the kind of rare friends you find again as if time had never gone by and which bond strength makes you feel like there is some certainty to be found after all even if you don't control it - spontaneously came to visit us in our studio, and brought a rose he picked up on his way (as you do). He said: "even if you lived in a cupboard, I would come and visit you" ... joking about the size of my accommodation!
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| As I did not have a vase, I put the flower in an empty Bottle of Beaujolais on the kitchen shelves. Et voilà! |
The following day, another friend of mine, who happens to live 500m away, invited me in promptu at her place, and here is our very Parisian Women evening meal which consists of a very quick take away at the Traiteur (Delicatessen) downstairs, a candle or two on the table, good bread, wine, and cheese platter.
We decided we'd go and see a new movie 'Avant l'Hiver' (Before Winter) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/before-winter-chill-avant-lhiver-631791 next week!
With another friend, we got involved in School Fundraising activities, selling Fantasy Jewellery made by parents 'inspired by the latest fashion' at a fraction of the price of course, and we sold them like hot breads
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| Selling Jewellery at the School Christmas Market with a friend |
On Friday, I took my aunt to see a guided painting exhibition 'The Renaissance and Dreams' http://www.museeduluxembourg.fr/fr/expositions/p_exposition-20/ in Musée du Luxembourg nearby. According to Shakespeare these figures were 'on vacation' as per 'vacancy of the soul' following a famous Greek philosopher's idea (In Timaeus) that when we dream, inspiration surges in moments of loss of self, that is in moments characterised in loss of reason. Bodies are painted not lying down (which would suggest death) but half laying down, like 'ready to jump' and there is always a little light in the background (could be an oil lamp) to remind the viewer that night is not death, night is alive and night is fecund. I found interesting that during the Renaissance, books were so rare that an artist who owned a book thought it was like a duty to 'paint' in order to transmit ideas and stories (often mythological ones) to the larger numbers who could perhaps afford to hold one or two reproductions they could talk about and debate about with their friends when they came by invited.
I liked it so much and found it so accessible that I plan to take my daughter next Saturday to see it again.
I then took my aunt to this café to have lunch - liver and potato purée with a glass of Rosée. It was an ambiance 'feutrée' (gemûtlich in German, not sure about the word in English, "Cosy' perhaps, not quite though), very condusive to relaxing and enjoying each other company for two hours there.
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| Café-restaurant Les Éditeurs near Odéon Métro Station |
As we walked by, I saw we could now rent cars for a day, just like you can rent a bike in Brisbane CBD. I also noticed there were many scooters, some of them with protective frames on top of the driver's body (Mercedes or BMW).
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| Auto-Lib in Paris |
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| Scooters in front of La Sorbonne, near Pantheon (background) |
Alternatively, you have the metro
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| NO arms, NO chocolate ....At least, it rimes:) in FR |
Week end in family
Having Moules-frites (Musles-French Fries) in one of the many restaurants Rue Mouffetard to my daughter's delight on Saturday morning while enjoying street music.
My parents' house street in Autumn
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| Les feuilles d'automne |
Concert in Bercy on Saturday night. The dreaded 'first part' was actually a nice surprise: another 'Voice' as Celine Dion is often referred to here, and it was interesting to see that great use was made of the Soviet Army Guards who accompanied him.
(I only recorded one or two songs for your benefit as not to spoil the atmosphere, you'll understand, and probably as not to push your patience)
First Part - Amino (Red Guards and Vincent Niclo)
Third part (the song I love her to sing)
Sorry, this was recorded from my mobile as opposed to the two other clips recorded on iPod and the sound is not great. Since it is a great song, if you wish to watch it again on You Tube (better sound) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CttF4YjBraI
The achievement was that this concert managed to make happy three generations (my dad, myself and my daughter) in one go ... what else ?
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La Grande Dame on our way back home on Sunday night. I am finally back behind the wheels in Paris, ... I have to admit I was a bit rusty driving in Paris !
I even did the dreaded Rond Point des Champs Élizés at night. I am now a confirmed Parisian Driver.
