After paying homage to my favorite bookstore, we crossed the Seine to see the Notre Dame. At this point Paul had been in about 4,000 churches. I had to bend his arm a bit. But I knew he’d want to say he got to see it. I find it to be a “must” on the Paris sights. It’s so old, beautiful, and breathtaking inside with its bejeweled, spheres of stained glasses. I lit a candle for Joan of Arc (she’s my confirmation name).
After Notre Dame we walked along the Seine and met back up with Olivia. Olivia and I proceeded to tramp about and go to thrift stores while Paul got some “Paul time,” with us ladies. I think he went to find a tattoo artist and see street art but I’ll let him tell you what he did.
We all met up again back at the hotel. After a bit of a pre game with wine, cheese, and bread (DUH.) we walked south through the marais to a dinner place Olivia found online, called Chez Janou.
BUT before we made it there we were siren called into a small art gallery. Walking closer we saw hipsters sipping on wine and beer outside while smoking. We went inside and saw some fantastic Paris art. It turns out that night was an art show opening for two Parisienne illustrators – Laura Junger and Edith Carron – both who have had their work featured in many publications like the New Yorker and New York Times.
There was free beer at the event so of course we made our way to the bar. As I walked back with my beer, and was about to place it to my lips an enthusiastic Frenchman stuck out his hand while gesticulating straight under my beer and flung it up into my face!!!! 1/4 of the beer spilled all over my shirt and – at least it felt like – everyone saw my face dripping wet while wearing a soaked shirt.
The Frenchman turned around and started apologizing profusely in French then said, “My God you do not speak French. Awww merde, I’m sorry, sorry, sorry. Let me give you my scarf!!!!” He reached to grab his scarf but I said no don’t worry. I was laughing at this point as the beer was in my eyes and running my mascara. Olivia was already patting me dry with napkins, like the loyal friend she is. In these situations all you can do is laugh at the ridiculousness and move on!!! No use crying over … spilled beer.
After the awkwardness of this subsided we ended up speaking to the Frenchman and his friend about the Paris art scene and how they knew the illustrators of the art show. In an odd way I don’t think I would’ve talked to this French man unless he had spilled beer all over me. So I guess it wasn’t so bad.
After I had dried out and we were done looking at art we moved to our dinner destination, Chez Janou.
I “accidentally” ordered a very large quantity of wine. Dinner was awesome and the atmosphere was fun. I had tagliatelle pasta with escargot (slathered in garlic, butter) and Paul had the rabbit with veggies and mashed potatoes.
Still in the mood to drink and be merry we all headed to the Seine afterwards to sit by the water, drink (more) wine, and people watch. Even though it was a Tuesday, there were people walking, teenagers misbehaving. One teen was playing an electric guitar. It’s sound reverberated off the stone walls of the walkway and we got free background music while we sat there, looking at the lights off the Seine.
