My last 2 days in Paris. Said goodbye to Angelina Jolie and Cilnei this morning; was sad to see them go, I had a great time with them and they were really down to earth people...can't say as much for some of the other people I met there. Last night I showed Ana my war letters from my Grandma, and she was very, very interested in them. I didn't fully understand why at first, I mean I think the letters are fascinating, but aren't everyone's cup of tea. But for a country like Brazil who had nothing to do with WW1 and only read about them, for her to see them in person was surreal and compelling. She had a huge smile on her face the whole time and said "Wow...this is so great...it's better than the Louvre!" That was a pretty awesome comment.
Said goodbye to Hubert as well, he was really cool. I'm glad I hung out with him and spoke french instead of those other canadians, one of whom was some girl from Toronto who spoke really loud especially when she was drunk and wouldn't shut the hell up about herself.
Again with the money issues...again the deja vu about that. Went to a Western Union to get my SECOND emergency Visa money transfer thanks to Vancity Savings and Credit Union...walked all the way to the Post Office and read a sign in the doorway ¨Les Services Western Union sont suspendus." I won't bother translating that for you. Spent more of my morning finding other locations. Walked 30 mins and it was the same story at the next one. Finally found one that worked, and I was back in the game with some cash... thank Baby Jesus. On the way back from the Post Office I bumped into Joelle again; small world! Small neighbourhood at least!
Walked to the Metro and went to Republique, where I found a cool shop and bought myself a very special souvenir of Paris. I saw it a long time ago and finally got a chance to get one here...
Wandered through the Marais again, the protests and parades were still ongoing...tons of people in the streets. Whaddya know! They have Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream here in Paris...Cookie Dough Ice Cream? Yes please. I went to this "Photo Service" place where they backed up my photos on DVD for a bargain price of 30 euros for 2 DVDs, one of which only had like 100 photos on it. That's like over 40 dollars people. Oh well, I had no choice really, and it was at this point I realized I needed a netbook. But peace of mind can cost alot sometimes so I bit the bullet.
Then I went to one of my favourite stores called WE. Wish we had it in Canada, I always find stuff I like. Bought a tshirt and by God in heaven they had pants that fit me. And then something happened...I was in the changeroom, and I put my brand new Ipod Nano on a little shelf to get it out of the way. I had the thought right then "better not leave it there"...well, I bought the stuff and head to the metro..then 10 mins later I realized I left it behind! Goddammit...I ran back and the stores were all closing. I got to the store and the gate was closed but I talked to the guys inside and got them to check the change room....and of course, it was gone. SHIT.
You know, chances were slim to get it back, I know. But I do know that in Canada there would at least be a SLIGHT chance that someone would bring it to the front desk so that the person could come back for it. Maybe less likely for an ipod, but a cell phone for sure. I know I was with my buddy Anthony and he found an Iphone on the lawn by the side of the road once. He just left it on and waited for someone to call, and they did and he gave it back. Just what we do in Canada. But honestly, I wouldn´t doubt the possibility that the worker dude at the shop went back there, the ipod was still there, he put it in his pocket and came back and said "Sorry, didnt find it." Something about french guys who will take anything they can get at any cost to anyone else. At least that's the sense I get in Paris, as I did back then too. Oh well, I had a feeling I was never destined to have that ipod, even though it was a gift from the show I worked on. So I didn't lose money per se but it's still a real pain in the ass.
And then I went outside and it started raining. Ah yes, this is the Paris I know too, cold and wet. Went and got some crappy chinese food and felt pretty bummed. So there was the last piece of the deja vu puzzle; years ago I was at a bar with my Italian friend Emilia and I had my Minidisc, YES MINIDISC player (ya now you know I'm old) in the pocket of my favourite jacket, on the back of the chair I was sitting in. She was facing me the whole time, keep in mind...and we got up to leave and my jacket was gone. It wasn't the monetary value of the things. My music, my favourite jacket, gone. And Emilia saw nothing and she was facing me! Damn these thieves are slick...So yes, like back then, I lost my music. Not quite the same way, but it was still stolen.
Feeling full of fried rice and nems (french word for spring rolls? WTF), I decided to do the one big thing I never got to do way back then: Go on a Bateau Mouche tour on the Seine. So I went down to Ile de la Cite and bought a big tall Heineken and sat in the front of the boat. Only 12 euros for a more than an hour tour. I'm impressed. Kinda spitting rain and I was sitting outside. Then my spirits lifted high: the boat started to move, and I was headed down the Seine at night with my camera in hand looking at all the beautifully lit monuments and buildings. It stopped raining too. Then everyone came out to the front where I was with their cameras too. Inching closer and closer to the Eiffel Tower, passing under the impressive bridges, while a cute french girl gives us some rushed and unrehearsed tour guide comments about everything we're seeing in a heavy french accent. We stop and turn around at the Eiffel Tower. No matter what happened that day, I couldn't help but smile like a fool when I'm looking up at that big bright thing in the night. It really is damned impressive. We just missed the interval for all the sparkly lights, but it was still amazing. We turned back and went around the islands by Notre Dame. I never got to learn so much about the bridges. So cool to see the kids along the Seine crowded together just hanging out...some great memories just like that. We rounded L'ile St. Louis and Paris' most expensive apartments, and we came to a bridge that they say if it's your first time going under, you have to turn and kiss the person next to you and make a wish...ok dammit, this was already a pretty damned romantic boatride and they had to rub it in my face...there was some old dude hanging out with his married friends, I wasn't about to make his night so I just looked around and enjoyed it vicariously through the other couples...without being creepy as much as I could.
I bought a Nutella Crepe and a Desperados beer...I remember those flavours so well. Do we get Desperados in Canada? Someone help me find it later. Anyways, I also found a little padlock at the corner store. For a project later...
Last day in Paris. Lots to do. Got up and went to the Sacre Coeur. Nice sunny cold day now. Got some great daytime pics of the Basilique. And of course got harassed by the dudes who want to put a bracelet on your wrist for "free". They are really aggressive, I walked past him saying "no no no" and he yelled back at me "Hey! Don't be Chinese!" Uuuhm...ok. I think I understand but wow. Bartered with one of the souvenir dudes and bought a decent sized Eiffel Tower for my new apartment when I get back. Hey, I´m allowed to have one :) Wandered through the Marais one last time and went to get a Shawarma again, but it was closed for some dumb reason and the lineup at another one was ridiculous...so I tried a fancy new crepe place and it was awesome. I watched him place the cheese intentionally so it spilled onto the grill so there was a yummy burnt crust on the outside..mmm...Went and sat in a park I sat in once with my mom when she came with me back then. Wandered to Centre Pompidou and there was this street performer dude named Phillipe who interacted with the crowd and imitated people as they walked through his "stage" he was actually pretty damned funny I don't usually laugh at those guys but he was good.
I went to the Larry Clark exhibit way on the other side of town, and discovered the line was about 6 hours long...maybe shorter, I decided I could spend my last day in a lineup or go do other stuff...so I did the latter. I made my way north to the giant flea market I went to before. SO awesome, everyone must go there sometime. But just outside it are more street vendors..and this time, even being more mature, fluent in french, and just plain bigger, I felt less safe by myself than last time. These french dudes are always looking for a way in and would fuck you over if they had the chance. Just don't give it to them is all. Wandered through the little stalls of antique furniture and knick knacks, and I bought some more awesome vintage 100 year old postcards of Paris. So cool. I also found another cool knicknacky place, but I bought a gift for someone there so I don't want to talk about it or type the word knickknkank anymore.
Rounded the corner at one point and saw 2 young punk kids smoking hash: they stopped talking and gave me a once over, they knew I was a foreigner...little pricks, just try it this time...I dunno if I ever explained that one early morning 7 years ago some of those kids were wandering through the metro train I was on and they saw my cell phone and jumped on top of me trying to take the phone and were punching me. Thankfully they didn't get it but then they followed me to my connection and sat next to me on the subway, about 10 of them. As every stop grew closer to mine I predicted they would get off at mine and follow me...thankfully I ran home lightning fast as soon as I got there so they never got the chance...
Took the train to St Michel and had Goat Cheese Fondue for my last meal in Paris...mmmm....so good.
Hey maybe it's cliche, but If you've been to Pont des Arts lately in Paris, it's covered in padlocks inscribed with couples's in love initials. Some just one lock, some two interlocked. All different kinds of locks...I got some great pics there. They weren't there 7 years ago I'm sure, but I spent a lot of time on that bridge with friends. In keeping with the new tradition, I scratched my name on the lock and went and put it on. Felt so cheesy but awesome at the same time.
I'll miss the way the metro voice lady sounds like Homer Simpson saying "Bed goes up! Bed goes down." as she says the name of the station twice. "Barbes Rochechouart! Barbes Rochechouart." Ill miss pronouncing that place too...haha I remember a cute little french girl trying to pronounce it "Barbes Roch...Rochefort" And the dad said " Non non, c'est Barbes ROCHECHOUART." I'll miss the time some girl got on the metro with a vintage chair, and there were no seats for her, so she put it down and sat on it and smiled and turned to me and shrugged her shoulders. In fact that same little girl who was trying to pronounce the word was on that trip, and the chair girl was deep in conversation with the guy next to her, and I watched the little girls face as she was so caught up in the other conversation that she was imitating the facial expressions unconsciously...so cute.
I'll miss Paris again this time, but I feel good about leaving it this time. The rest of my trip will be amazing. The beautiful people, the fashion, the crepes, the cafes, the crowded metro, and even the sketchy french guys...k maybe not them. I got to do everything I wanted, except see my friend Kathleen, one of the Canadian girls I met back then who married a french guy and stayed. I really wanted to see her, but it didn't work out.
But this was a great experience and a necessary one. I love this city, but I'm ready to move on, literally and figuratively. A bientot Paris! I'll be back, but next time with someone special to show it around to :)
Next stop, Rome, Italy!!!
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