Chapter 48: Let Them Eat Cake

nerd blog post #52

I love Paris. I really do.

I arrived at 630pm on Friday and RtC met me at the station. We had a quick dinner, and then there was a surprise planned. For those of you who don't know, my greatest weakness is waiting for surprises. The metro ride felt painfully long. But the surprise was great! A BOAT RIDE down the Seine! Being that it was nighttime, and chilly, the boat (that holds a thousand snap-happy tourists) was almost empty. For just over an hour, we saw the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Notre Dame and many other spots, all lit up.. It was really beautiful. I love boats, and it was such a fun way to spend the first evening.

After the boat ride, RtC took me to see an Armenian memorial, dedicated to the lives lost during the genocide of 1915. Right across from there, is the Place du Canada! It was a little park that was dedicated to the true North, strong and free, and was supposed to look like Canada. It looked like a park, but was really nice. At the entrance is a big sugar maple tree that was brought here and given to the mayor of Paris by the mayor of Montreal. Such good pals, those two.

During clown school, I wandered around and had a coffee at a favourite spot near the school. I'm reading a good book that I recommend. It's called L'Africain, by J.M.G. Le Clezio. It won the Nobel Prize. Le Clezio is half African, half Breton, and this book re-traces his father's path through Africa.. It's beautifully written, and I'm sure has been translated into English.

I saw the clowns as they left class. RtC and I had a picnic lunch on the metro (called a metnic) and headed to Versailles. While it was incredible inside, I loved the gardens. Again, because of the time of year, there weren't a lot of people there, and it was nice to look around without the rest of the world there, too. The drawback to the inside of Versailles, was a horrible art exhibit by Jeff Koons. In each of the palace's magestic rooms, was also a piece of "art" by this guy. It kind of spoiled it. But the gardens...! Stretching endlessly and in pristine condition, they are worth the visit even without entering the palace. I'd like to go back and just spend an afternoon walking around outside.

In the evening, we met Viktor for dindins in the caf and then headed to a boat party! A classmate of theirs lives on a boat. It was far away - out of the arrondisements of Paris. It took over an hour to get there, but was well-worth it. We sipped wine on the metro (allowed) and then partied on this awesome houseboat. There were a bunch of clowns there, and we sat outside playing guitar (not me), singing (when I knew the words), and dancing (always). It was a really fun party. And being on the Seine again was such a treat! I would like to live on a houseboat one day. The cool thing about clown school is that so many different countries are represented. It makes for interesting conversation with anyone..

Today, I have a solo adventure lined up. I'll visit my Canadian friend who owns The Abbey Bookstore, go to the American grocery store to buy non-French things for American T-Giving dinner, and see some other things I've wanted to. I'll meet RtC at his work at the bakery at 5pm, and tonight we'll meet up with Viktor and go to a clown b-day party. How do clowns celebrate their own birthday parties? This is bound to be silly.

As much as I love being here, much of my time is spent thinking about what I'll show visitors when they come. I think about Canada all of the time, and always look forward to checking my e-mail at the end (beginning, and middle) of the day. (75 points E+T for the card!) Sincere thanks to all who read this, and who write to me..

Sending so much love your way. Enjoy the week-end!

Signing off,
Hincks.