July 23, 2011

• No Worries in Paris France

  We made a couple of videos here but for one reason or another, xanga is not uploading them.

  They are hilarious. If you are my facebook friend, please go watch them. We have done two so far. We will do at least one more before we leave. If you can tell me the secret to uploading videos here, please share!

  So, today is day six of my birthday Paris tour.

  Ronn and I are having a total ulitmate blast. He is a wonderful traveling companion. Thank you Ronn Benway!

  It is absolute heaven to wake up to Ronn singing in the living room every morning. He brought his guitar along for crooning and what have you. Sigh. Waking up in Paris with a beautiful friend singing songs that I love.

  I have taken hundreds of photos.  

  There has been much city meandering, wonderful meals, pub drinking. Trying out the language as best we can. We actually ordered our breakfast in French this morning. There is a bakery down the street from our flat that we have been to three times now. They couple who run it told us they appreciated us at least trying. Murdering their beautiful language…nevertheless.

  Working like heck on our s’il vous plait!

  It has been mostly raining. No complaint just wish I would have packed better for this weather. The reports I viewed showed mostly sun. Only a smattering of rain. But, it is working out over all.

  Being in Paris in the rain kicks Davis, California in the rain’s ass.

  On Tuesday we headed over the Seine into the 20th. Our destination is the Pere Lachaise cemetary. Ronn has a goal of eating a chocolate croissant at Jim Morrison’s grave. 

  Oh my dog, what a place. Sigh. One could spend days walking around this cemetary. Vast, peaceful, beautiful. We communed with Mr. Morrison, our lady Edith Piaf and our tragic hero Oscar Wilde. We spent two hours wandering. There was still so much to see. We hung out at cafe’s after, drinking and chatting up anyone who would listen to our pardon’s and merci’s.

  We visted Notre Dame, a gothic Cathederal built during the 1100′s. And everyone has heard of the Hunch Back of Notre Dame. I have a ton of photos that I will share once I figure it out. For one reason or another, I cannot remember how to upload pictures off my mac laptop. No worries, they will follow.

  So, here is a fabulous story! We visit and pay tribute to the beautiful cathederal and then get in line to access the towers. The line is so long. We were in line for just about an hour before we decided to postpone this attraction to a morning. As we wait we see a bridal party skip past. The bride in a flowing white gown, attendants playing the alto sax and carrying champagne (we saw them later, driving past the church in a red Stutz Bearcat – I got a picture that I will post)

  Back to my story – we are standing in line, which is not moving much. In American, you will often see false dollars and coins on the street. I glance down and see a folded fifty euro bill laying on the sidewalk. I look around and see if anyone is looking as well. I look again and say to Ronn, is that a fifty euro bill? He picks it up and we both look around to see if anyone is the owner to this money. No one says anything. It was actully two fifty euro notes. One hundred euros on the streets of Paris. That is like $140 us dollars. I know immediately this is from Tracy. My pal that passed away in 2007. She always spoke of “pennies from heaven” when her dad passed away. And she does not know the penny equivilant to the euro amount and we are both turning fifty this year. Two fifties only made sense. Thank you Tracy.

  That night we partied late into the night in the Latin Quarter (paid for by Trace . Met a man named Jacques with his companion. We communicated with their broken English and our fractured French (thanks Ronn). Shared a chocolate dessert that made me cry. Met adorable kids hanging out on the streets. Came home to find one of our entry doors broken. Had to wake up half the building trying to find someone to let us in. 

  We have walked along the Seine as often as possible. It is just fifteen minutes from our flat. We start our evenings out with a cocktail on the Seine. Then we wander to dinner some where. Then complete our eve at a nearby pub with a beer and local color.

  Not to mention our time together. Ronn and I have been friends for about four years. I met him when he played a house show with my daughter in Sacramento. He was heading to Europe almost directly after that. For what ever reason, we have remained in contact and have become great pals after all this time. 

  I asked several girl friends to do this trip with me on the outset. Most had schedule constraints. Due to work and kids. I totally get it. Some wanted to go but did not get their passport situation together. I mean, come on, do you want to go or not?

  So, one weekend day, I was kind of tipsy and focused on making this trip happen. I thought to myself…who would I have to most fun with in Paris…think think think. Girl friends can be annoying. Boyfriends can be so demanding or pouty…who would be as fun and adventurous as me? 

  So, I called Ronn. We are not close friends. We are just pals. He always comes through this area when he tours. He knows he always has a place with me. I can help book a show or provide a couch for him and his musician entourage. BUT, I love this guy. I really do. If you met him, you would get this right away.

  So, his initial reaction was “What?” but I pressed him a little and he got his passport that same week. He followed through but I suspect that he did not expect this trip to actually happen.

  So, ok. Here we are together in France having the best time ever. Getting to know each other, lauging our asses off, really enjoying the hell out of Paris. I chose well.

  Bon soir from Paris. No worries!

  • 5:44 pm
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