Susie quickly unpacked our things and we collected what few wits we had between the two of us and headed out from the apartment to explore our immediate surroundings and buy some groceries to stock the larder. Naturally we also had to stop somewhere for a bite to eat and on such a beautiful day it had to be outside. "Oh look at all the people sitting outside eating. . . "
We found a cafe on the Place Leon Blum where we ate a fairly mediocre salad -- but hey were were in Paris, sipping wine and watching the world rush past us, some at speeds approaching mach 1 I think. Anyway, afterwards we walked a block or so over to Monoprix where we bought some groceries and then headed back to the apartment and turned in early.
Friday was our first full day in Paris and we had things to do. First off was to make coffee and relax.
That done we showered, dressed and headed off for the Metro (the 5 to the 6 to the 12) and Le Cordon Bleu. Susie needed to pick up her convention from the school, a document that would allow here to return to Pascal's without anyone getting into trouble with the ever-present document-obsessed authorities. She also had a chance to stop and chat with her friend Julie at the school (a wonderfully pleasant woman who seems to be completely unruffled by anything and obviously a person who enjoys life minute-by-minute).
From LCB it was back on the Metro (the 12 to the 10) to Jussieu, back in our old stomping grounds as it were. We walked the few short blocks to Pascal's where Susie at last caught up with her friend Misato. (Pascal's wife Keiko was working the front of the shop -- Jean Marc who usually works the front for his brother was off today.)
Misato introduced Susan to the "new" Japanese working at the shop. (We were informed that Miss Bread and Miss Chocolate are both suffering from physical ailments at present.)
Misato then raced upstairs to tell Pascal that Susan was back, and a few moments later he came strolling downstairs and began making quite a fuss about her return. Several minutes later and the papers were signed and she was ready to come back to work.Susie said goodbye and that she would see everyone next Tuesday morning bright and early.
We then walked out of the shop and strolled past the Paris Mosque; it being Friday there was plenty of hustle and bustle and men entering and leaving the Mosque for prayers. We walked down to the Jardin des Plantes, wandering past all the gorgeous plantings and then across the Seine and on toward the Bastille, along the St. Martin canal.
At the Bastille we took the Metro (the 5 to the 11) to Belleville and upon exiting to the street found ourselves in the "other" Chinatown. (I used to shop at the one in Porte d'Ivry but Drea suggested we check the Asian markets here since they're much closer.) We stopped at one of the two supermarche where we stocked up on fresh vegetables and Asian condiments and then decided we would walk home.
Along the way we saw the vendors tearing down the huge Belleville open air market -- I'll be back here next Tuesday for sure -- and past dozens of Middle Eastern shops along Blvd. Menilmontant. There were lots of vendors with tables outside on the sidwalk in front of their shops selling fresh breads, nuts, sweets and the like. The sheer variety and diversity and availability of food in this city is astounding and unlike anything I have evr experienced anywhere else.
Susie and I were both a bit tired by the time we got back to the apartment and before long I started preparing our first meal in Paris: chicken breasts roasted in olive oil with onions and ginger. We ate late and went to bed much, much later.
It's good to be home.
Wish you were here,
Steve
PS: out our front window:
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