Chapter 110: Doctor Makes a House Call

nerd blog post #120

I picked Doctor up from his airport shuttle stop last Friday. Even though it had only been a couple of weeks, it always feels too long since I've seen him and his visit was incredibly welcomed. He stayed for four nights and it was a great time!

On the first night, we had a feast with Raffi and then went to meet Viktor and Clown Michele. Michele is from Milan and if you remember our Christmas Eve dindins, it was at his house. So Doctor met the man whose house he spent Christmas 2008 at and the five of us had a great night at a bar and then sipping wine on the streets of the Marais neighbourhood. A highlight (for me, though not everyone was amused) was when a neighbour poured water from the window of their apartment. I guess we were being too noisy. It was a very direct way of dealing with things, something I've grown to appreciate the French for -- no beating around the bush.

The next day, I was supposed to work but when I got there, it was too slow and they sent me home. This ended up being great as I was able to spend the afternoon with Doctor. We didn't do too much, just chatted and made a piri-piri chicken dinner. That night, we met Viktor once again and went to his house and played games. Very fun.

Sunday we went to the world's biggest flea market, which is located at the North end of the city, at the end of the metro line. I had wanted to go there since I arrived, and was glad I did. It was huge, and we only saw a small part of it. Bargainers, stalls, antiques... It had it all. What's more, it didn't feel like Paris or even France. Doctor and I were the minority and often felt like a couple from a yacht club. Experiences like that are eye-opening to the diversity of major cities, and especially of Paris where large amounts of newcomers to France live in the suburbs. We didn't buy anything, but did enjoy a little picnic at an indoor fountain.

Gel showed me a wine bar near our place that sells glasses of wine for 2 Euros. It has become a favourite joint and we ended up there two nights in a row. We also saw Pere Lachaise cemetary (something Doctor had missed his last time here) and had a big picnic dinner with Raff and Viktor at my favourite park in Paris. It's one of the few that you're actually allowed to sit on the grass and it has a great view of the city. We arrived there at 6pm and stayed until it was dark and the park was closing up for the night.

I was, as always, sad to see Doctor go, but will be seeing him again in a few weeks in England. Since his departure, I've been enjoying the city, working at the pub, and spending time with Raffi before he goes to London tomorrow. Yesterday, we finally went to the Picasso museum, something we have been meaning to do for months. It's a beautiful museum that isn't too big but houses some of Picasso's best work. I like his work, especially seeing how he changed as an artist over the years. And most of the work in this museum was from his time spent in France, so it was neat to see where it was painted. There was a big group of paintings done in Dinard, which is a coastal town in Brittany I visited a couple of times when I lived there.

This afternoon, I'm meeting a friend from Queen's for coffee. Carolyn Roche is a Drama 07 grad as well, and is in Paris for a few days. I'll also see her tonight as a group of peeps are celebrating Raffi's last night at the pub (I'm working). Viktor leaves town on Monday, so I'm sure he and I will hang out tomorrow night.

And then I have just the new friends I've made since working at the pub! I am actually getting kind of excited to live in the city without the clowns, something I haven't done since arriving in France. I am optimistic that August will be busy, social, and productive.

Hope you are all well!

Love,
Hincks.