Day 1 is here
The main purpose of the Friday, for me, at any rate, was to go to Cyrano de Bergerac at the Theatre du Chatelet. I was not going to let anything stand in the way.
After a lie-in and a leisurely breakfast on one of the back streets not far from the hotel, we walked down to the Theatre. I wanted to know exactly where it was. I know it probably sounds silly, but it would be my worse nightmare to think that something is somewhere only to find it isn't, and having arrived 'there' in good time, to then have to find it isn't and thus arriving late. And as Jimmy was coming to meet me at the end, he also wanted to know where it was!
It was further away from our hotel than I had imagined from the map, so that was good to find out. Indeed, walking down the Rue de Rivoli it seemed like we were walking miles. We were able to find the theatre and note that there were sizeable cafés either side, so that was good, too. Then we walked back along the river.
At first we walked along the pavement up above, and then actually along the banks of the river. I suppose it's not the most efficient way of sightseeing but hey-ho. It's enjoyable, especially as we seemed to find a pretty deserted spot, not having to dodge and weave around stoppers and ditherers on the pavement.
We then got ourself onto a riverboat that goes up and down the Seine in a sort of loop, stopping at various sights so that people can get off should they wish. It's a relaxed way to move about, a great way of preventing Gert from "Overdoing It", and it's a pretty effective to get at least a glimpse of some of the landmarks of this great city.
We decided to get off at St Germaine for a late lunch /early dinner. According to the Lonely Planet, there were several recommended restaurants in the area.
I figured that every area that has several listed will also have several more worth trying. We did try for a listed fish restaurant but, because it was mid-afternoon, it was closed.
So we tried one round the corner. I certainly can't complain about it. Service was excellent, friendly and well-timed, but the food was a bit meh.
As I say, no reason for complaint, but my main course, a seafood couscous, was just sauce dolloped on top of the couscous. The ingredients were fine, reasonably fresh and correctly cooked, but it was just boring after a bit. Jimmy felt similarly about his; I forget what it was now, some piece of meat with a choice of fries or salad.
We got back on the boat and completed the loop, sitting on the boat basking in the hot sunshine. I took the opportunity to take several standard tourist-style photos as well as couple more that I suspect that many - by no means all - people don't spot.
We strolled back to the hotel, no doubt stopping en route for more refreshment.
I spent quite some time getting ready, looking forward to Cyrano de Bergerac. I decided that I was not going to go to the Stage Door beforehand. It isn't necessary and it just complicates the logistics for the evening.
I decided to dress up; well, obviously I decided earlier in the week, in order to pack. I rarely get dressed up in London, often because I am going out straight from work, or because I'm sitting in the cheap seats, or because I'm travelling by bus or Tube, so realistically have to carry a change of shoes with me.
I am always slightly anxious when I go, or arrive, somewhere unfamiliar, but I wasn't too bad this time, certainly no physical anxiety attacks. I decided to indulge in getting a taxi down the road, which was a far more relaxed way to arrive than if I had walked or gone by Metro. To be honest, I really should have got a bus, but I didn't!
I have already written about the performance of Cyrano de Bergerac, and waiting afterwards at the Stage Door. After the "Stage Door" was over, Mandy and I joined Jimmy who had been sitting in a café on the Place du Chatelet for over an hour - he had walked down to meet me; we were each doing what we wanted to do, and weren't far apart - I know people think he spends his whole time waiting in bars near Stage Doors, but it just kind of works. He had come out to meet me, and he had no interest in waiting doing nothing for ages.
As we were sitting there a whole load of people came skating along the Quai. When I say 'a whole load', I mean hundreds, far more than I could count. They took quite some time to pass. I don't know if it was actually several minutes, but if I had realised it was such a long column of skaters, I would have had time to take my camera out of my bag, turn it on, change the settings, point and shoot. But I didn't!
At the time, I thought 'ooh, how very Parisian', but funnily enough, this Wednesday, I was standing outside the Abbey on Abbey Orchard Street having a smoke break with my erstwhile colleague when a similar, if shorter, line of skaters passed by along Victoria Street. I don't know whether it was Tube Strike-thing, or a regular Wednesday thing. My colleague said she'd like to do that, but she'd be scared of falling over. I suggested it's probably wise to practice first. But you know, the more I think about it, the more attractive it seems!
The bar we were in was closing, so it was time to head back. Mandy was staying not very far from us, so I suggested that we got a taxi back together. But she and Jimmy both over-ruled me, Jimmy pointing out that he had brought me a change of shoes, so I had no choice but to walk back. Which wasn't too bad, really. Except for when the skirt of my dress was caught in a breeze and flew up round my waist.
I wouldn't even remark on this but it happened on three separate occasions in Paris with three different skirts, which is quite something considering how rarely I wear skirts. The second occurred a few days later when I was photographing yet another naked statue and, without thinking, stood over some grille in the street, creating a genuine Marilyn Monroe moment, much to the amusement of Jimmy, and of several elderly ladies who were passing at the time. The third occurred when I returned the following Sunday and was killing time on the Pont au Change.
I am gradually adding to the photo-album
