PARIS, MALE VERSION:

Before we left Seattle, I haphazardly bought some Clarks so I wouldn't look like a gringo geek in sneakers walking around Paris.  Which I usually do.  The first real shoes I've purchased in about 15 years, and I even noticed locals checking them out on the tube.  Like, who is this hippie?  I must say, they have been a godsend, hoofing the streets here.  

I can't lie, I haven't done anything since we got to Paris a week ago, and we're leaving for Andalusia mañana.  So I'll post photos:

Oh yeah - we went ice-skating up there.

Then we went to a bar on Blvd. St. Michel (Latin Quarter):

Underage Drinkers

After that we went to Notre Dame and fed the pigeons (see previous post).

Well, there WAS a French betty probably stalking me while I fed the birdies, but I politely told her, 'Non, merci.'

Obvious Gypsy 

  

Listened to a choir of angels sing Mass here on Sunday

On our way back to the flat, Robin and I ran into a very mysterious French intellectual swilling wine in a pub - but he declined to give us his name:

Mais, oui!

Later, some Germans showed up, and we did yoga every morning.  The thing about German yoga students, they do EVERYTHING they're told.

Doris and Pinche Lisa

Thanks to them, I went to the Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages.

Failed to finish his French onion soup

I have to say, it was pretty boring until we saw these:

Lady and Unicorn Tapestries

There are 6 of them, about 12' x 12' in one room - rather than mangle an explanation, here's a link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_and_the_Unicorn

After returning to the flat, Lisa polished off the rest of Donn's Icelandic vodka.  I helped:

Let's see... oh yes, Pamela and I also discovered a great place on Rue Lepic:

It's irresistible

Lux Bar Blondies

French Christmas Tree

We must have done something else but drink.  Oh yeah.  We ate.

Oh God - not another expensive dinner

Then later,

Drunken French Intellectuals

Obligatory bike photo:

Fr. Flea Mkt.

Time to leave Paree:

January sunset over the Seine (gracias, Donn Hess)

Thursday, Jan. 26

FEMALE

Having locked myself out of The Children's spectacular and cozy flat, I finally have time to write a post... Stuck as I am in a bar, underdressed for the late afternoon cold, and praying that Paul returns soon with our German friends Lisa and Doris... and the keys.

I had just popped out, keyless, for a quick boulangerie fix: baguette and pastries for dinner. God knows when dinner will be served now!

Paris is as captivating as ever, though degrees in the 20s and 30s do discourage wandering. Paul is being a great host and showing off the small segments of Paris that we know well: Iles of the Seine, the Left Bank... We had a wonderful 5 1/2-day visit with Donn and Robin that dissolved way too fast, like a film cutaway. See our many photos—mostly "images courtesy of Hess and Henshaw." I'm sorry that I missed seeing them all ice-skating in the Tour Eiffel, though climbing the requisite steps to the elevated rink might have done me in. My pace is so much slower and my cold tolerance so much lower... I stayed home a lot, happily, or rode buses. 

Today we entered the 40s, thank God. The flat is an easy walk to Montmartre, albeit uphill, so we've spent a lot of time and euros there. Few museums or "sights"—just enjoying being in the 'hood. The French seem friendlier than ever (the immigrants always were), whether because it's low season or because they pity the tragedy that's befallen our country. No knowing. 

My 70th birthday celebration (and Robin's belated 50th) was over the top: cocktails in the Hemingway Bar of the Ritz Hotel, us with the Beautiful, Moneyed, and more than a tad Kinky People. An experience that will suffice me for a lifetime, though I suspect the Children will make it a regular stop for special occasions—Enfants Perdus that they are! We did our best to rise to the venue, then off to a very tasty meal. 

Eating and drinking well has not been difficult, but perhaps our best meal was a lunch in a small café on Rue Lepic: simple ingredients drowned in melted Camembert. And as usual, the small, perfect, simple, refreshing salade...

Now we have the pleasure of Lisa and Doris's company: they are marching through Paris examining what they almost had... and being wonderful friends and guests.

The Male does not deign to write as yet; he just alters my captions and snickers...

Dining Room @ Hesshenshaw's, 74 Rue Dunkerque

Our room!  (No sex, please - we're British)

French scaffolding

Puttin' on the Ritz

Children @ Hemingway Bar

I'm sorry, Sir.  We have no vacancies.

Hesshenshaw Pets

I have friends all over the world