It turns out that Tia had a connection in Paris.
Her friend Evan from Aikido was staying at a friend’s apartment for the summer while the regular
occupants were bicycling to Istanbul.
(Crazy right?) So again for the fourth night in a row, all six of us got out many blankets and pillows and set up a sleepover in the livingroom of a tiny European apartment. By this point the men even had coordinating pajamas! (Full disclosure… this picture was actually taken in Geneva, but I’ve been looking for a place to work it in.)
I
nterestingly enough we had another midnight stirring as we did in Geneva. At some point close to 3:00AM, my pillow nudged a pile of electrical
cords and magically turned on a lamp in the living room, and promptly woke everyone up. I could not for the life of me figure out how to turn the damn
cords and magically turned on a lamp in the living room, and promptly woke everyone up. I could not for the life of me figure out how to turn the damn thing off, and the electrical socket was behind an extremely heavy desk, so I couldn’t even unplug it. One by one, everyone got up to try to help me. Edith mused that she had solved the age-old riddle, it only took one
physicist to turn on the light bulb, but it took five to turn it off. Eventually the riddle was solved, there was a dimming device that we had all earlier dismissed as a power supply.
The next morning Evan made up some spectacular pancakes, and we started up our regular shower queue. Edith always woke up first, and after she was done she made Jorge go in, then it was my turn, then either Jimmy or Tia (whichever order Tia was in the mood for) and finally John dragged himself off the floor and shuffled into the shower. John
physicist to turn on the light bulb, but it took five to turn it off. Eventually the riddle was solved, there was a dimming device that we had all earlier dismissed as a power supply.The next morning Evan made up some spectacular pancakes, and we started up our regular shower queue. Edith always woke up first, and after she was done she made Jorge go in, then it was my turn, then either Jimmy or Tia (whichever order Tia was in the mood for) and finally John dragged himself off the floor and shuffled into the shower. John
loved the shower queue. It always guaranteed him an extra hour of sleep… or half sleep, considering everyone was stepping over him at all the time.
Finally, (pretty close to noon now) we were out of the house and on our way to the Eiffel Tower. (By the way, John and I had been lucky enough to view it ‘doing it’s thing’ the night before when we were awaiting everyone’s arrival. Please excuse the fact that this video is on it's side. I can't figure out how to rotate it on this &@$!ing european computer.)
It was even more impressive up close.
I was a fountain of information about
Monsieur Eiffel (recall my New York visit when I learned that Eiffel had designed the interior structure of the Statue of Liberty) but everyone seemed to know already or not care very much.Meat, cheese, and several baguettes later, we were off to Montmartre to see ‘Sacré- Coeur’ (Sacred Heart). This is home to the most famous steps in Paris, and also happens to be one of Evan’s favorite places. There was a really great dance troupe there that was performing all of Michael Jackson’s hits one by one. ‘Thriller’ has become the theme of our trip because the Europeans have been playing it constantly since the King of Pop’s unfortunate death
After dinner, Evan suggested that we get a few bottles of wine and ‘picnic’ on the Seine. After a somewhat comical quest for wine, (all the stores save one were closed) a wine opener, (Sinclair skillfully opened the bottle at the register despite all the pushing and rowdiness akin with a
More Paris to come... but for now, back to Prague!
Finally, (pretty close to noon now) we were out of the house and on our way to the Eiffel Tower. (By the way, John and I had been lucky enough to view it ‘doing it’s thing’ the night before when we were awaiting everyone’s arrival. Please excuse the fact that this video is on it's side. I can't figure out how to rotate it on this &@$!ing european computer.)
It was even more impressive up close.
I was a fountain of information about Monsieur Eiffel (recall my New York visit when I learned that Eiffel had designed the interior structure of the Statue of Liberty) but everyone seemed to know already or not care very much.Meat, cheese, and several baguettes later, we were off to Montmartre to see ‘Sacré- Coeur’ (Sacred Heart). This is home to the most famous steps in Paris, and also happens to be one of Evan’s favorite places. There was a really great dance troupe there that was performing all of Michael Jackson’s hits one by one. ‘Thriller’ has become the theme of our trip because the Europeans have been playing it constantly since the King of Pop’s unfortunate death earlier this summer. We enjoyed the moon-walking.
For our first dinner of the evening, we had pizza and a rosé wine. (Which I’m told dear Californians and fellow wine lovers, is very ‘a la mode’ in Paris right now, so if you want to be ‘trés chic,’ order a rosé at your next dinner outing.)Later that evening we planned to meet up with my friend Sinclair. Sinclair is living in Paris for the summer studying French cuisine. I like to think his life in class everyday is like an episode of ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ but he assures me it’s not. He asked us to meet him for second dinner in a lovely little village in the south west part of Paris… but when we got there, the gates to the village were CLOSED?! How can you close an entire village? It turns out there was a fire right in the middle of the dinner hour and about ten restaurants had to close. Tempers among restauranteers were high because a lost night during peak tourism season… well that’s a lot of Euros lost. Hungry, thirsty, and some of us in need of a free bathroom, we ended up eating in a British style pub. Sinclair found this humorous, but I believe he thoroughly enjoyed his burger.
After dinner, Evan suggested that we get a few bottles of wine and ‘picnic’ on the Seine. After a somewhat comical quest for wine, (all the stores save one were closed) a wine opener, (Sinclair skillfully opened the bottle at the register despite all the pushing and rowdiness akin with a Saturday night in a tiny liquor store) and of course plastic cups, (we aren’t heathens!) we made our way down to the riverside.
Stomachs full, thirst quenched, and all the museums closed for the day, we lounged, laughed, and enjoyed the view with locals and tourists alike. These were my favorite moments in Paris.
Stomachs full, thirst quenched, and all the museums closed for the day, we lounged, laughed, and enjoyed the view with locals and tourists alike. These were my favorite moments in Paris.
More Paris to come... but for now, back to Prague!
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