By now it is lunch time so I go to a local bistro and order a bowl of Lobster Bisque. At E14.50 ($A25) I had some high expectations - and was not disappointed by what was probably the best one I have ever had. Full of fresh lobster pieces it was rich and very tasty - but so rich that I had to forgo the Panna Cotta that I had been thinking of while ordering.
So 14:30 and more walking when I stumble on a lovely part of St Honore with a wonderful fruit shop. At the risk of making my mum very jealous the most luscious white cherries imaginable - the size of small plumbs.
Now when you are travelling to Paris you probably think lovely Boulevards, great cafes, wonderful museums. I must confess that my first thought was that it was cherry season and how great that will be - but hey that is me and my priorities.
I head back to the hotel with my booty only to find that my computer has a virus. Oh well another 3 hours of fixing tinkering and buggering around with it I get it working again - just in time for my 19:30 dinner engagement.
By happenstance my personal trainer and good friend Belinda King is in Paris for the same time as myself. I had booked her into the same hotel and we arranged to meet for dinner. Around the corner for Japanese with a very strict understanding that there is to be no discussion of what we eat - no problem for (a very ordinary) Japanese but of course most important for the Nutella and banana pancake desert - but hey we walked 2kms to the Creperie.
We arrange to meet for a (long - her words not mine) walk and for her to go for a run the next morning after which we will head up to Montmartre.
I wake up at 07:30 ready for a walk, shower and dress and wait for my call which comes at 10:00 saying she would like to go for a swim rather than a run - phew the walk is OFF. I put together my washing and go down to the Laverie Automatique and then back to the hotel with the damp washing.
Now comes a dark time in my travels as I spend the next 4 hours eradicating a supposed virus on my computer and fixing a whole lot of problems. I think I have got it sorted but still cant log on to MSN. All else seems to work OK.
At 15:30 I decide to walk down to the Marais - silly me - Friday afternoon and all close. I walk for around three hours and decide to go to Synagogue to say Kaddish but with the sun setting so late services don't start till 20:00 and I have arrangements for dinner with Belinda for 19:30. Anyway maybe best if Danielle and I do it together or I may go in the morning. I did ask a young man wearing a Kippah where the nearest synagogue was "Labbavitch" he enquired "certainment pas" I responded.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century and in the first half of the twentieth century, the area surrounding the Rue des Rosiers became home to many Jews from Eastern Europe, further specializing local labour in the clothing industry. The Marais was therefore a target for the Germans when they controlled France.
Anyway the chopped liver bagel hit the spot even if my timing didn't. Back to the hotel to meet for dinner.
I had a window of 6 days where I was planning to go to Flekkfjord in Norway to see some bridge friends but that has become all too hard so I am shuffling things around to see Judy and Gary in Washington. Was also thinking of going with them to Las Vegas but Gary in Las Vegas - I think not!!!
Only 36 more hours till Danz and I hook up.
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