Random Observations during quiet days -- October 15-17

After a busy week in Champagne, with what might be the last of the good weather in the immediate future, and with more busy-ness ahead of us, we’ve been taking it slow.  So, some random observations and photos:

Emmy on the Pont des Arts. And trying to fit in at the apartment.

The Moulin Rouge

A craft cocktail bar, the Prescription Cocktail Club

Halloween is coming. And it seems to be celebrated more than 2006 or 2014

Compared to our last visit in 2014, there seem to be many fewer homeless people evident.

There are also more retail spaces empty and looking for renters.

There have been many more people out on the streets and in the stores. But, we’re reserving judgment on this until the weather gets colder. Could be the economy is good or it could be the tail end of tourism.

Setup of lights and displays for Christmas has begun.

I ran into some younger people wearing plaid (the official color of my home of Portland).  I asked where they were from, thinking I’d hear Portland. Surprised to find out that they were from Finland.

Four years ago I got it into my head that I wanted to buy “scented inks” for the fountain pens that I use at home.  I knew that the manufacturer, J. Herbin, was based here in Paris, but it was difficult to find a store that sold them.  I ended up at a small stationary shop in the Marais district -- the only place I could find the inks. After I got home, I thought to check on Amazon and, no surprise, found that I could have saved myself the trouble and bought them online.  My point -- good commercial ideas have an easy time going worldwide now. Which makes France less unique.

The other night I overheard a French woman telling her dog, in French, “let’s go”. What was unique was that she used the formal word, “allez” to talk to her dog rather than being informal with her dog.

We went to the big “flea market” on the outskirts of town looking for old French posters. Discovered that we could buy them for less online from a gallery in New York.   I used the bathroom, inadvertently going to the one dedicated to people who work at the flea market. It was immaculate and sterile. Maxine tried to use the one for visitors and discovered an antiquated “squat” toilet.  Had me wondering if they preserved it for visitors to maintain the aura of hunting for bargains?

Speaking of toilets, ones here have gone entirely to blowers for hand drying.  Most of the ones I’ve seen in Portland, a bedrock of environmentalism, have both paper and blower choices. Makes me think that Paris is more committed to the environment…

What I’ve seen about clothing:

1. Black, black, black
2. Haven’t seen women wearing athleisure wear (e.g. Lululemon).  From the few people we’ve asked about it, this trend hasn’t yet made it to Europe.
3. Patches on jackets (emulating re-purposed boy scouts clothing)
4. Above the ankle pants are still a thing. But, now they’re baggy/wide leg versus clingy/skinny.

French speaking English.  Wow. So much more of it than ever before.  You (I) almost don’t even need to learn French.  Paraphrasing John Belushi, “7 years of French classes down the drain”.  Sometimes we discover that the command of English is pretty limited, i.e. waiters who only know how to ask for your order and tell you what the menu items are in English, but still…  It makes it almost too easy to be here.

In the last 24 hours I’ve seen French people smile, talk loudly, and eat while walking down the street.  Where are all the stereotypes going? At least they’re still smoking cigarettes.

Last night I (Tom) went back to my nearest craft beer bar.  I had an Imperial Stout aged in Laphroaig scotch barrels. Good but only if you like smoky scotches.  It was from Brasserie Correzienne. Then I had La Triplex Coffea Dementia which was billed as a Belgian Tripel.  Tasted more like a coffee pale ale. Not sweet enough nor enough belgian spice flavors. It was from Brasserie de l’Etre.

Maxine went to a wine tasting sponsored by WICE (the association that offers programs in English here in Paris).  It was held in the French instructor’s Paris apartment. It turned out that I tried to get in touch with her when we were here four years ago.  She remembered the correspondence. Paris, especially the expat community, is a small world!

We tasted five chardonnays, all from parts of Burgundy and ate some delicious food prepared by the instructor.  Having grown up in California, I’m not usually a chardonnay fan, too buttery and oaky for me. But I had tried some chardonnays from Burgundy previously and really liked them, so I wanted to learn more.  The wines we tasted were delicious! Much more complex flavor and only hints of the oak. And the group was very interesting. Three Brits who live in Paris full-time, one woman who owns an apartment here and splits her time between Paris and Park City, and a couple who come to Paris every year and stay in the same apartment.  It’s always interesting to hear peoples’ stories.