Today we explored Paris a little further, however, it was around the local area we were staying in. In fact, it was more a meander through the streets (and shops for the princess) working towards, probably my favourite place in Paris, Place des Vosges. The Place des Vosges is the oldest square in Paris. It is located in le Marais, and is part of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris. It is a square park with exact dimensions of 140m x 140m and is surrounded by buildings that are all identical. Underneath all the buildings are arcades with arches. Hard to describe but beautiful. I was here last time we were in Paris and was so impressed that I lobbied the Laurimar crew to build something along these lines. Unfortunately I was shot down in flames, something along the lines that this is a development in the middle of the suburbs of Melbourne not bloody Paris. Their loss. Place des Vosges is where Victor Hugo (author of Les Miserables & Hunchback of Notre-Dame) lived from 1832 – 1848.
Arcades
Architecture
Boys in the Place des Vosges
After finishing walking around the area we went and had lunch in a nearby cafe with the boys. Then the moment came where my Princess was going to get to spend some time with her friend. E lived just off the Champs-Élysées in a kick arse apartment. It turns out his partner has rented this apartment for 15 years. It is part of an estate that was left in trust and the laws of Paris prevent these properties from making a profit. It was probably 200m2 which is enormous for Parisian standards and due to the laws very cheap rent. Something that you would never let go of it you were fortunate enough to rent it. It is really the luck of the draw because the first you know of the status of ownership is when you sign the rental contract.
We quickly met with them and went and had a coffee in a park at the base of the Eifel Tower. They had a son who was 9 and mad on soccer, so the X-man & he kicked the ball for hours.
Photo at the park
We then returned to their apartment for a early dinner, which was Unique in itself. We had ourselves an old fashioned Parisian BBQ. Once ashes were established in went the tin foil wrapped spuds into the fire. A little later on E came out with a tray of marinated steak and then proceded to cook the steak in the fireplace on a grill. It was outstanding. So 3 or maybe 4 bottles of wine later, the early 5pm dinner ended up finishing around 11. The only reason it finished was they were heading off to the families farm that night an hour away. Don’t worry, E’s partner was not drinking that much.
Me on the couch (this room had 3 massive mirrors like the one behind me)
E tending to his Parisian BBQ
They drove us back to the apartment. It felt strange to be driving past some of the most amazing sites in the world and then all of a sudden E would nonchalantly call out “Oh this is the tunnel where Dianna died”, “You can see the Notre Dame in the background there” etc, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. An absolutely great night had by all. One I will remember for a long time to come.
Out.
