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“Don’t you think PDA in Paris is so romantic…”
By Administrator | May 19, 2008
I woke up early that brisk morning with her lying beautiful next to me. It was May in Paris and the weather had come around but the crowds had not, ingredients for a perfect evening the night before within the city of lights.
Before I continue, let me first state that although the theme of this blog says it’s about my stereotypical insights on life in France, I generally try to avoid blatantly writing to these stereotypes unless I can spin it, because, well, it just wouldn’t be fresh and interesting.
Plus, in general, I avoid discussing this particular topic publicly for obvious reasons, but because it is France, which is synonymous with L’Amour, we can be exceptional.
Although I wrote in a previous post about my disgust of PDA (public display of affection), I will now admit it was all out of spite and jealously. Recently, while in Paris, I found myself saying (and believing)… “Don’t you think PDA is so romantic here…”
So I say to you, the reader, that this is a blog on France and it wouldn’t be complete without some romance.
With that said, a good friend of mine from the States was stopping through Paris for a night and wanted to meet up. I agreed and took the train up Tuesday afternoon. I brought a bottle of wine that I purchased on my Bordeaux trip, booked dinner at a known restaurant with a nice terrace, and picked up some flowers on the way to meet her. It’s Paris. You go big or don’t go at all.
We met up. Smooth. Dinner reservations were at a quaint place near the Ile St. Louis, which is near the Latin district and adjacent to the island harboring Notre-Dame. At this time of the year, the sun doesn’t go down until almost 10pm, which makes long, late dinners really enjoyable with the prolonged sunsets.
We sat on the terrace and ate Parisian style, full of courses lasting almost three hours. Places like these are intimate because of the proximity. You’re sitting close to the other person, directly opposite you. Other tables are small and close which means, if you’re a good American, you lean in and speak softer rather than blurt out English for all to hear.
We asked for food recommendations (anything other than Tartar…which I have seen as of late, a pound of raw ground beef served in the middle of the plate with a raw egg cracked on top, surrounded in spices on the plate, to muster the texture and taste; not exactly a cup of tea). This was a restaurant specializing in Beef Bourguignon and had select wines from the burgundy region. We stuck with their recommendations and ate and drank well.
The night was warm with a cool breeze and was great for outdoor strolling, so after dinner we walked to the Seine, where locals and tourists alike were conglomerating in the areas with good views to enjoy the atmosphere.
We passed them up and explored the banks of the Seine just past Notre-Dame and settled on the bohemian left bank before the Eiffel Tower across from the Louvre. The city of lights didn’t disappoint. We cracked open my bottle, bs’d about life, and enjoyed each other and Paris’ ambiance till late. It was a good night.
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