Paris Journal 2013 – Barbara Joy Cooley Home: barbarajoycooley.com
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Roniece and Suzanne, our new friends in Paris, arrived at the door with three big sunflowers in hand! We were delighted to see them. Drinks were poured, and we showed them all the fine features of the apartment like the long balcony with the plants and the new windows/French doors. Suzanne owned a bookstore in Los Angeles and so she seemed to think it was normal to have so many books on so many shelves just about everywhere. We were talking and talking, and lost track of time. We would have been late for our reservation at Le Café du Commerce had Tom not noticed the clock. But we made it. The maître d’ was welcoming, and we were given exactly the kind of table we wanted, up one level, and near the railing. Having a table for four meant being in the more spacious end of the dining room. Our server was a charming young man. We all shared a lapereau (young rabbit) terrine and then moved on to our main courses: fish and chips for Roniece and Suzanne! And for me it was delicious, juicy duckling filets (the daily special) served with scalloped potatoes and veggies, and for Tom it was gnocchi. Tom and I shared a baba au rhum, and Suzanne had the beautiful profiteroles. Roniece also enjoyed a baba au rhum. Roniece told me about her volunteer work at the American Church in Paris. On Fridays, she helps to prepare, serve, and clean up after lunch for needy Parisians. I told her a little bit about my volunteer work as well (as president of Committee of the Islands and as a member of Zonta). I’ve been thinking of going to the American Church on Sunday, and noted that in the recent issue of FUSAC, the traditional service is at 11AM. The server was nice to take a photo of all of us using Suzanne’s and Roniece’s cameras, so I hope I will have one of those to show you. But here are a few now. Roniece is from New Zealand originally, and lived in Australia for a long time. She’s now decided to live in Paris, and she seems to be a natural here. She is a lovely, kind person. Tom and I share a love of cats (and other animals) with Suzanne, as well as a love of books, so we all had plenty to talk about. We talked about President Obama easily, with no political tension whatsoever. Roniece, although she’s never been to the U.S., appreciated the topic in her normally kind, enthusiastic manner. The restaurant was absolutely full – all three levels! We think that is because this was really the first night of the big holiday weekend. Thursday evening is when many Parisians think the weekend begins. I tend to agree with them. So now it is the weekend, the big holiday weekend. We all talked about the military parade, and what we like about it. We don’t have anything quite like it in the states, except for perhaps the Presidential Inaugural parade, but that isn’t really the same. Tom told his amusing story about leading a group of Navy men in President Johnson’s inaugural parade. Tom had to borrow a sword, which was too long for him, and so made for some interesting maneuvers . . . . We chatted for a while out on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant after dinner. We probably won’t see Suzanne again before she leaves on the 18th, but we hope we see Roniece again this summer. And I know Suzanne will stay in touch via Facebook. Before dinner, we’d watched the Tour de France. We don’t take the race very seriously anymore, but days like yesterday are spectacular because of the scenery. We saw chateaux of the Loire Valley from a bird’s eye point of view. Azay le Rideau took my breath away – always does. So we enjoy le tour de la France much more than the Tour de France. And that’s what I like so much about the Bastille day military parade: those spectacular helicopter views of Paris! Although I admit that the military groups and equipment are very interesting, too, and I always learn something from the commentators about French military history and tradition. While my officer and gentleman (Tom) was napping during the Tour yesterday, I went out in search of a handbag that my friend Linda K. wants me to find for her. There is a good baggagiste shop down the street from us now, so I thought I’d check it out. They did not have the Il Bisonte bag that Linda wants, but it was fun to look. Everything is on sale right now, it seems. I crossed the street and went on down to the shop that carries nothing but hair products used by professionals. I need some hair conditioner, as you can see in the photos above. I found exactly the right thing, a L’Oreal of Paris product, normally available only in beauty salons. This neighborhood is convenient for shopping; one can find almost everything here, on the aptly named rue du Commerce. Perhaps it is time to do more shopping today. It is vendredi, after all. |
Friday, July 12, 2013
Here
we are, at the Café du Commerce.
Heavens, look at all that bone structure! Frightening . . . . As our friend Arnie
pointed out, we don’t look very French.
Perhaps Dutch and Scottish?
Our
friends Roniece and Suzanne, having fun.
Roniece et moi.
Tom
is happy, especially while dining on French food with friends.
Chinese
cats in a shop window in the 5th arrondissement. |
