July 18 Paris Thursday {1974}
Sun is out again this morning - but for how long?
Apparently, one has breakfast in one's room in this hotel because there is almost no room in the salon downstairs.
feel like I've settled in now - hardly seems like I was just in Geneva and in London not so long ago.
Procope is closed 'till 30 July - fermature annual - damn! Walked over to r.d. Seine - lots of markets and stores there. Bought two large bottles of Evian - bottles are plastic now! Saw Eumig 5 in store, cost 1490 f (~$290!) taxes?! There is a post office just off the odeon metro square.
Girded up, carrying an umbrella, and went to stamp bousse. About 10 stalls, looked at all of them but saw nothing I wanted.
Sat on a bench in front of Grand Palais and read paper. Elderly japanese man aked me - in japanese - what building it was. I said - "eigo dekimas" but probably not clear. Anyway I pointed it out on map - he understood Seine was that way, and walked off. Thanking me in english! Guess I'll have to learn some japanese in self defense one of these days.
Had lunch in the Grand Palais self-service (side entrance) - pork chop, braised celery, coke + Perrier about $2.
Walked down to Pl. de la Concorde - filmed mad rush of traffic, pedestrians trying to negotiate river of cars. Started to rain buckets - I knew it was a good idea to bring umbrella!
Walked down St. Honore' toward Pl. Vendome. Lots of expensive shops, expensively dressed, good-looking women. Same with Place Vendome.
Went down r. Casanova - looking for bookshop I remembered. Turned out to be back entrance of Brentauo's on Av. De l'Opera. Girly mags from U.S. Big store - paper backs downstairs where I found a Simenon in French.
found G. Behr - philatelie (26 Avd. l'opera) but closed. Stopped in Pl. d. l'Opera at rest-cafeteria (?) for coffee and pastry , eaten standing up. Not civilised but refreshing. Jammed with people - tourists probably.
read about bomb explosion in Tower of London - killed one woman, injured 36 others. Lucky I wasn't there.
Felt like a pack horse again - camera, guides, umbrella, packages, etc.
Women are wearing flare slacks so tight around ass you can see outline of panties!
Hell of a long "correspondance" at Chatelet coming from Opera to Odeon. Walked up and down several flights of stairs and rode a long "people mover". Opera station has been really modernized - new tile and long banks of fluorescent lights. Metro is really crowded - tourists!
Tribune says weather "variable" - migod! Sun shining hot one minute, cold and raining buckets the next. Struggled with umbrella and movie camera at Notre Dame - too much hassle.
Librairie Gibert Jeaune at pl. St Michel has lots of Asterix books, sf in french, etc.
Watched street demolition by pneumatic drill at end of small crane. Operator punched thru thick concrete (blvd. St. Michel), then used tip to puch away debris. Very skilled - like remote handlers. Lots of onlookers watching.
Stupid of me to change $ to Swiss f to french f. Just lost money doing it.
Restaurants are closed on Thursday! Walked over to St. Antoine near Louvres but it was closed. Came back to rest. Paul. It was jam packed just like last year. They gave me the same little table again next to "mousieur Claudes'" maitre-de table! Had Quenelle de brochet ("a kind of dumpling made w/pike") pate', fromage + Perrier. Reasonable ~$6. Price on escallope de veau has gone up. Place was full and people came in constantly asking for tables. One american family sitting outside complained about waiting, cold.
Old woman, apparently presiding, took my order and passed it to waitress - amused about my not drinking any wine. More americans kept coming in + waiting. Too many people know about this restaurant!
Chilly - wore raincoat - no one else wearing coats at all. Walked past Notre Dame, crossed to Isle St. Louis and found rest. An Gourmet de I'sle - closed again. Crossed Pout Sully, walked back up blvd. St. Germain. Really dead - few scattered cafes + restaurants - no like at all until reach St. Germain area again. Mobs of tourists walking up and down.
Saw police towing away cars, apparently for illegal parking (?). Moved car up on trailer. Must be getting tougher although still see lots of cars parked on side walks.
I could swear drivers aim right at you when you're crossing the street.
Feet were really killing me - felt swollen - after that walk after dinner. Really not in shape - have to toughen up my feet before hand next time.
Apparently, one has breakfast in one's room in this hotel because there is almost no room in the salon downstairs.
feel like I've settled in now - hardly seems like I was just in Geneva and in London not so long ago.
Procope is closed 'till 30 July - fermature annual - damn! Walked over to r.d. Seine - lots of markets and stores there. Bought two large bottles of Evian - bottles are plastic now! Saw Eumig 5 in store, cost 1490 f (~$290!) taxes?! There is a post office just off the odeon metro square.
Girded up, carrying an umbrella, and went to stamp bousse. About 10 stalls, looked at all of them but saw nothing I wanted.
Sat on a bench in front of Grand Palais and read paper. Elderly japanese man aked me - in japanese - what building it was. I said - "eigo dekimas" but probably not clear. Anyway I pointed it out on map - he understood Seine was that way, and walked off. Thanking me in english! Guess I'll have to learn some japanese in self defense one of these days.
Had lunch in the Grand Palais self-service (side entrance) - pork chop, braised celery, coke + Perrier about $2.
Walked down to Pl. de la Concorde - filmed mad rush of traffic, pedestrians trying to negotiate river of cars. Started to rain buckets - I knew it was a good idea to bring umbrella!
Walked down St. Honore' toward Pl. Vendome. Lots of expensive shops, expensively dressed, good-looking women. Same with Place Vendome.
Went down r. Casanova - looking for bookshop I remembered. Turned out to be back entrance of Brentauo's on Av. De l'Opera. Girly mags from U.S. Big store - paper backs downstairs where I found a Simenon in French.
found G. Behr - philatelie (26 Avd. l'opera) but closed. Stopped in Pl. d. l'Opera at rest-cafeteria (?) for coffee and pastry , eaten standing up. Not civilised but refreshing. Jammed with people - tourists probably.
read about bomb explosion in Tower of London - killed one woman, injured 36 others. Lucky I wasn't there.
Felt like a pack horse again - camera, guides, umbrella, packages, etc.
Women are wearing flare slacks so tight around ass you can see outline of panties!
Hell of a long "correspondance" at Chatelet coming from Opera to Odeon. Walked up and down several flights of stairs and rode a long "people mover". Opera station has been really modernized - new tile and long banks of fluorescent lights. Metro is really crowded - tourists!
Tribune says weather "variable" - migod! Sun shining hot one minute, cold and raining buckets the next. Struggled with umbrella and movie camera at Notre Dame - too much hassle.
Librairie Gibert Jeaune at pl. St Michel has lots of Asterix books, sf in french, etc.
Watched street demolition by pneumatic drill at end of small crane. Operator punched thru thick concrete (blvd. St. Michel), then used tip to puch away debris. Very skilled - like remote handlers. Lots of onlookers watching.
Stupid of me to change $ to Swiss f to french f. Just lost money doing it.
Restaurants are closed on Thursday! Walked over to St. Antoine near Louvres but it was closed. Came back to rest. Paul. It was jam packed just like last year. They gave me the same little table again next to "mousieur Claudes'" maitre-de table! Had Quenelle de brochet ("a kind of dumpling made w/pike") pate', fromage + Perrier. Reasonable ~$6. Price on escallope de veau has gone up. Place was full and people came in constantly asking for tables. One american family sitting outside complained about waiting, cold.
Old woman, apparently presiding, took my order and passed it to waitress - amused about my not drinking any wine. More americans kept coming in + waiting. Too many people know about this restaurant!
Chilly - wore raincoat - no one else wearing coats at all. Walked past Notre Dame, crossed to Isle St. Louis and found rest. An Gourmet de I'sle - closed again. Crossed Pout Sully, walked back up blvd. St. Germain. Really dead - few scattered cafes + restaurants - no like at all until reach St. Germain area again. Mobs of tourists walking up and down.
Saw police towing away cars, apparently for illegal parking (?). Moved car up on trailer. Must be getting tougher although still see lots of cars parked on side walks.
I could swear drivers aim right at you when you're crossing the street.
Feet were really killing me - felt swollen - after that walk after dinner. Really not in shape - have to toughen up my feet before hand next time.