An accidental place of tourism for me, but maybe planned on G.’s part as we walked to the Palais de Tokyo, the tunnel where Princess Di died, decorated with flowers and adoring graffiti. The heart I am pointing to proclaims that she is “Our pricess 4 ever!”
Rouleau De Printemps!
This is an abolutely fantastic, cheap, delicious restaraunt in Bellville. 5 euro tofu vermecelli, the most yummy sushi I have ever tasted, ample vegetarian options, I always wanted to go and eat there! From the Belleville metro stop walk up the hill on Rue De Belleville and take a right on Rue de Tourtille (I think it is called, your second right, the first one being almost an ally). They are closed on Wednesdays.
Magic Passion
I have no idea what this place is. It is right accross the street from G.’s apartment and I spent most of the summer looking at it. It has never, ever been open and a previous attempt (before I was there) by G. to break in amounted to naught. A store for magicians? Wizards? Or…?
Mariage Freres II
The display at Mariage Freres.
Mariage Freres I
Tea and colonial memory at Mariage Freres. The tea room is set up to look vaguely “tropical” and waiters bustle around in starched white jackets and aprons like butlers. The room is adorned with posters boasting the 1931 colonial exposition that was held in Paris and the poster in the photo says “Where our tea comes from.” How do we construct luxury along with the idea of racial or ethnic or cultural superiority? How is the memory of good old fashioned empire revived to make for a special or relaxing afternoon tea experience? Of course the tea was good, but I thought about Stuart Hall discussing how colonialism can be found in the classic english cuppa- that is, it is worked into our very ideas of the mundane as well as the deluxe.
Magic Hour
Watching the sunset at Vaux Sur Mer, looking out to the Atlantic and the lighthouses in the distance. The light was totaly amazing.
Existentialist Tombs
If I could quote from the existentialists with ease (besides hell being the others and blah blah blah) I would say something witty here, but anyways, we make things and we live and we love and try to both with passion and an eye towards justice and then we die, hopefully after a long satisfying life, right?
Saint Suplice
Amazing light on Saint Suplice after a torrential downpour. Anais Nin is always talking about Saint Suplice and so it gave me a little thrill to walk by it and watch the light changing on one of the towers as the sunset.
Black Cat at Shakespeare and Company
This black cat makes his home at Shakespeare and Company and we got to visit him later when we went to find some more books for my neice.
On the Eiffel Tower
Yes, there I am with my neice, looking sceptical on the top of the Eiffel Tower. The wait was 2 hours long and I felt like since I had done it when I was 12 I didn’t need to again. But I was glad that I got to go with Chelsea, because it was something she really wanted to do and the view was pretty cool… I like seeing the streets of Paris unfolding beneath us, see the logic of the city, the beige buildings and parks all spread out below.
Killerfemme 