So I'm now in a hostel for the first time this trip...been in a 3-star hotel or better until this point, so I've been spoiled. Now I'm in a room with 5 other people. For what it is, St. Christopher's Inn in Paris is pretty good. It actually has a restaurant, a bar, and a nightclub. The beds have little privacy curtains and charging stations and night lights. I would soon realize I would be pretty spoiled by this, as other hostels aren't as dialed. The hostel also happens to be 2 blocks from my first apartment in Paris. I was walking back from the metro and met a couple from Brazil, Ana and Cilnei. I would hang out with them later at the bar and we became good friends. I told Ana she looks like Angelina Jolie but she doesn't think so. Also, I woke up the first morning and met a big tall French guy from Senegal who was sleeping in my room. I came to know him as Hubert, doesn't speak much English. Super cool guy, very ambitious and wants to move to Montreal. But I told him how cold it gets there so he's having to mull it over...
The first night I went and visited Joelle Lenoir, my host-mom for the first part of my stay in Paris. She always has a foreign student staying in one of her rooms, often French-Canadian. Lots of memories in that apartment; it looks the same but with some more modern shelving in the living room. Knick knacks and crocheted art on the walls...we caught up for a bit, and I told her about my trip through Belgium. Turns out she had done a research paper on Canadians in the war for some reason; gave me a copy to bring back to Canada. What are the chances? We went out for dinner to catch up after...had my first pizza of MANY on this trip...ran into some problems later...if you catch my drift...
I'm seeing this place again but I'm still captivated by what I see. Every corner I turn I want to take a picture. It feels so great to feel iinspired to do so. I don't want to take any of this for granted. As I wrote this I'm sitting in Place des Vosges, a beautiful park surrounded by upscale apartments in the classy Marais district. I came here many times, to sit and write, or listen to music, or think. Alot of people here are doing just that: nothing. No ipods, no books, just sitting and watching the fountain, or the young mom being chased by her toddler. Funny how this place makes you want to do that; I can't tell you how many times if at all I've gone to a park in Vancouver just to sit and relax. I grabbed my favourite shawarma, the best in the city: L'As du Falafel. Still don't know what an As is...or do I? So damned delicious and tastes identical to how I remember. Often grab one down the block and head here to enjoy it.
Yesterday after I left the Poubelle (=garbage in french FYI), I wandered down to the Pantheon where Voltaire is buried. There was a chinese movie being shot out there...felt funny to be ushered aside by a French PA! Actually it didn't feel any different and it felt like I hadn't left Vancouver...except for the massive ancient coumned tomb in the background...continued to St. Michel area. Bought some postcards. And...GASP...I went to Starbucks...hahahah....I swear, they did not exist here 7 years ago. But, there was a company called "Columbus Cafe" which sold coffee to go...a completely unknown concept in France. I was convinced it was Starbucks in desguise, they used terms like "tall" and "grande" and sold muffins. Now, I haven't seen one while I've been here but Starbucks is everywhere...curious...The Starbucks guy asked me if I wanted syrup or whipped cream on my coffee...what the HELL is wrong with you of COURSE not. I responded in a less offensive way, but he was still taken aback. What an IDIOT...just kidding he's just doing his job...I guess...
I also tried to find my favourite crepe place, Kiki Mimi, which was Lebanese owned, and they would make this kickass lebanese chicken crepe...Adeel and I would frequent that place at least 3 times a week for one, but it's gone and replaced by a new falafel place. Sounds good, but not the same!
If you ever go to Paris, take a few minutes to wander through Shakespeare and Co. bookstore. A famous english bookstore in Paris, packed to the teets with books in every corner....the library section is upstairs, where you can sit and read whatever you want. Some amazing old original editions of some great books. But it's more the experience of being in there. It's so quiet, as the books as as a perfect sound insulator. I can hear music in the other room. I duck under the low doorway, and find a room with books in stacks on the ground. A piano sits eagerly inviting someone to play. But the music is coming from just around the corner, a young girl sits playing a strange ukelele-type instrument. So beautifully. The place is buzzing with energy, stories to be told by people passing, and the books themselves...I went back near the stairs and down another narrow hall, on my left is a tiny cubby with string lights and a typewriter...again, inviting someone to sit and share. Further down the hall is a room with benches and a table by a bright window, overlooking Notre Dame Cathedral. Not a bad view if you're sitting and reading and look up every once in a while; which one girl is doing right now. But in the corner, another girl sits and reads, unconsciously twisting her hair; her face is facing the other way but I can see her in the reflection of a large mirror with an ornate gold frame. Such a perfect photo opportunity. Alas, the place is so perfectly quiet that the shutter of my camera would disturb the very moment I'm trying to capture. I also don't want to seem creepy...so there's that too :)
Of course, everywhere I go the Metro is still jammed because of the strike. I met my friend Johane again for Japanese food in a new Japanese district in the 1st Arrondissement. No california rolls...but otherwise really yummy! I ordered Edamame for Johane, she never had it before. We had a great chat about all sorts of stuff, including pronounciations. There was a really cool exhibit here on Larry Clark, the director of the cult movie KIDS. But when she said his name I had no idea what the hell she was saying...."Laaarr-chy Claaar-chk"...OOOOOoooh...LARRY CLARK. Haha. Somehow we brought up the subject of eating a muffin. I don't know how much of the english is kept when pronouncing an english word in french...so I tried...and my version caused an unending fit of laughter from her...so now I call her my "muffin"...but the way I like to pronounce it in french.
Back at the hostel I met Ana and Cilnei and Hubert again. Yes, there are plenty of Canadians and Australians and other english speakers there, but except for a few I found most of them to be annoying. I preferred my group. It was Karaoke night at the club. I tore it up with "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot. Ana was quite happy about it, and Cilnei and Hubert liked it, but I think I scared off most of the frenchies. Oh well, I have a couple fans at least!
Just 2 more days in Paris and a lot left to see...some bad news, followed by the perfect pick-me-up...
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