Blogposts and pictures from our trip to Paris and Provence in July 2016
Last night we ended at “Bouquet du Nord” in the mostly Black neighborhood Saint-Raoul. Violinist Stéphane Grappelli lived opposite this cafe and used to come in for a drink and jam with the tziganes.
These guys were terrific here kicking ass on “Sweet Georgia Brown” (I couldn’t resit exclaiming “take me home Daddy!” after the guitar solo at 1:20)
We had a lovely time at Le Bouquet du Nord. Hope to visit again for gypsy jazz.
You’re still glowin’, You’re still crowin’, You’re still goin’ strong (in that kooky surrealist kinda way.)
We attempted to hear hear some music at a popular jazz club in Paris last night. I was thinking Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto’s “Corcovado.” Instead of “quiet nights and quiet stars,” there were millions of cars beeping soccer chants (think “Ole, Ole” being performed at your steering wheel.) It was absolutely bonkers. C’est la vie.
On our first night in Paris, Linda and I took a 10 pm cruise down the Seine river. You can get these boats near the Eiffel Tower, at Pont Neuf and at Pont d’Alma. So much fun. The tower is magnificent when it lights up! When I get lit up, I only think I’m magnificent, but this is the real deal. Here’s some video off my iPhone 6. If it looks familiar, you may remember the boatride in the movie “Charade” with Carey Grant and Audrey Hepburn.
I just read that “the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel now considers any illumination of the tower to be a separate work of art that falls under copyright. As a result, it is illegal to publish contemporary photographs of the lit tower at night without permission in France and some other countries.”
So, voila.
Needing a to rest our weary legs as we were walking to the Rodin Museum, a Paris bicycle-taxi driver offered his services. We accepted, foolishly not agreeing to a fee right away. Upon entering his chariot, the driver asked, “You like music?” He spoke in a heavy Eastern European accent (later telling us he was from Romania.)
I replied “Oui, I like music!”
“I have music!” he said through a wide grin.
Our lean and lanky driver then dialed his boombox to “11” and and away we went – pedaling thru the busy Paris streets along the Left Bank, and blasting Techno, Rap and Club music, while Linda danced.
Once we arrived at our destination, our new Romanian friend definitely over-charged us, Linda says “we got taken for a ride, twice!” But it was worth it.!
More pictures from the Rodin later.. The museum was wonderful.
Pas De Merde 