Paris 2010-6

22 Octobre (Vendredi) - I see on the news, that the strike is going on and now the disruptive criminal set is joining the fray.  Burning cars, looting and just generally taking advantage of the situation as those assholes are wont to do.  So far, we haven't seen any demonstrations, nor has it interfered with our getting where we want to go.  As for people walking to the airport, that can only mean my favorite people in the city (namely the taxi drivers - you do see that description is dripping with venom, right?) are refusing to drive them.

 

This must be a winter plant.  How else could it thrive in these freezing temperatures?

 

20 Technologies on the Way Out.  

 

23 Octobre (Samedi) - It's dark, wet and cold.  As we were on our way to Monoprix to get some essentials, I looked across to rue Poncelet and saw the street market about which Jean-Michel had told us when we first arrived.  Until today, I thought he had spoken about something many blocks from here.

 

We made our purchases and took them back to the apartment.

 

Then we walked back to rue Poncelet.  The first thing we noticed was that there were two streets on which markets were open, and thriving.  Rue Bayen, perpendicular to rue Pocelet, was also part of the market scene.  First we walked down rue Poncelet.  There were places selling just about everything, but I think the seafood places were most remarkable for their size and selection.  One place was selling packages of two dozen escargot à la bourguignonne, ready to be cooked (heated) and eaten.  We didn't buy any....today.

 

We stopped at a Nicolas wine store.  Robb bought a bottle of Bergerac.

 

Then we walked down rue Bayen.  It was pretty much the same as rue Poncelet.  

 

After leaving the street markets, we went back to Monoprix to get the orange juice Robb had forgotten earlier.  We just made it back to the apartment before a thunder storm passed through.

 

Dinner tonight at Kyo Fuji.  As soon as you sit down, and even before they bring you the menu, you are presented with a kir. A nicely appointed interior only added to the very good food.  We started with Soupe Unod (shrimp, noodles and veggies in a luscious bouillon), followed by a brochette du canard (duck on a stick) and dessert, Parfait Caramel (caramel ice cream - for me) and Parfait Café (coffee ice cream - for Robb).  They were both excellent, but the Parfait Café was superior.

 

24 Octobre (Dimanche) - The day started with such promise.  The sun was out and we had tentative plans for a little trip around the city.  It all came to a screeching halt when the sun disappeared and we realized today is Sunday and the things we wanted to visit would be closed.  Aye, que vida!  So ist das Leben!  C'est la vie! 

 

After a bit of internet sesrching, we determined that the place we wanted to visit was indeed open today.  So off we went to the Chocolate Museum, which is named Choco-Story.  It entailed taking a bus and two métros.  We almost cancelled our plan when we were walking to the bus stop because it started to sprinkle a little, but we stuck it out and by the time we got off the bus, the rain had stopped.  We paid the extra €3 which included a tasting and hot chocolate after the tour.  I wasn't sure what to expect. but it was very interesting.  It included the history of chocolate and its introduction into Europe. There were several videos and a lot of displays throughout the three floors.  The hot chocolate at the end was also quite interesting because you had several different kinds from which to chose.  I would recommend it, if for no other reason than the history lesson.

 

On the way back home, I saw a couple of interesting signs in the Ligne 9 métro station.  There is a rock star in France named M, who is apparently doing a concert at Bercy (a big sports and entertainment complex in the 12é).  There was a sign for a LIVE concert by another 'M'.  I'm really curious as to how they plan to bring that one off.

 

You can see all the Paris pictures here: Paris 2010

À la prochaine, mes amis.