Freak in a Fountain

Ha ha! The things you see when looking for rivers. This guy was just hanging out by some fountain taking pictures in full-face leopard make-up. Extra from "The Lion King" or dumbass fool? His girlfriend/photographer had her face painted to look like a parrot. She-fool! But on the other hand, isn't it nice that they found each other and now they can prance around London together taking pictures of each other wearing animal make-up? Awwww....sweet! (Fools).

...I Emerged In London Rain

We arrived in London at at the St. Pancras/King's Cross station at around 9am. I washed my face, joined the tourist throng and headed to the exit. My plan was to head to the river,walk around, visit the Tate Modern, and maybe grab some lunch until Juli was done with her afternoon plans. Luckily it seemed like it had just stopped raining, and the air was nice and cool

Once outside, feeling very Pet shop Boys-ish, I started randomly walking to the left, thinking that I would just evetually run into the Thames (or at least a sign with an arrow). After a little while, I made another left, walked down a cute cobblestone road and sat in a little park to eat my sandwich. I also got a call from John, Emmanuelle's friend, and we agreed to meet at 2pm at Piccadilly Circus for lunch.

Then I walked through a church carnival, down another lane, and somehow ended back at the station (which by the way, was a totally cool building, but not enough to come back to it so soon).

Admitting to myself that I am no boy scout, I went into Boots and bought a pocket map (along with some chocolate and jelly babies) and headed back out on my way.

By this time it had somehow warmed up quite a bit, so I threw my sweater into the bag and headed to that river I'd seen so much of at the end of Benny Hill shows.

I Was On the Paris Train...

At 5am, I headed to the Gare du Nord to catch the Eurostar to London. Since I had been there a few weeks before to pick up Juli , it was actually really easy to find my terminal. However, I did have a little freak-out when my card didn't work in the automated ticket retrieval machine and then there was no one at the help kiosk. Le crap. Luckily I walked around and found another help desk what seemed like a mile away on the other end of the station where a totally grumpy guy printed out my tickets for me.

Since I was actually kinda early, I bought a sandwich for the train and then spent the rest of the time walking around the waiting area until they finallycalled boardoing and it was time to go through immigration. That process was a little weird since you go from one desk where you are asked questions in french, to another five steps away where they ask questions in english, and they're all "cheers" and "jolly good".

The train itself was awesome. The seats were large and cush, and there was a full rack of complementary magazines by each compartment door. And not like airplane magazines where you can buy garden gnomes and learn about how to get to your next terminal, but goodstuff like Bazaar, The Economist, and Numero.

And then cherry on top: there was breakfast service! Just as I was settling down to work my way through my new pile of magazines, the stewardess (or train equivalent) brought me tray with croissants, jam, orange juice, and coffee. And then when I was finished...she brought me an omelet with susage and baked tomato. Yay!

After breakfast, I dozed off while listening to the very bohemian and aromatic american parents sitting behind me in the compartment explain the perils of using non-organic soaps and the evils of shampoo to their kids. Dirty hippies.

Prepping for London

I spent the rest of the night preparing for the trip. First, I called Juli to see if she was going to be around, luckily she was and immediately asked if I wanted to go see The Dark Knight with her, but then was kinda bummed that I was only coming for the day. Since my train back to Paris left at 9pm, and she had plans in the afternoon, it meant no time for movies. But still, we planned on getting together for early dinner. Not that I was looking forward to steak-and-kidney pies and english muffins and stuff, but more for the conversation.

Right after I hung up, I rethought the situation. I mean, what better reason to go to London than to watch a movie with Juli. Also, Gina has just emailed me to tell me how good the movie was and it wasn't coming to Paris until I left. So what the bloody hell? So I called Juli back and we made a date with Batman. I figured I'd wander around London until the morning train, but Juli graciously offered me her couch for the night.

Considering that at home I avoid even going as far as Daly City, or the Marina, for movies, I felt completely decadent (which is a feeling I don't necessarily hate lol).

I also emailed Emmanuelle's friend John, whom she'd always wanted me to meet. Since Juli wasn't going to be available until after 5pm, I wrote him and asked if he was free for lunch.

I spent a good part of the rest of the night talking to Raymond. He had gone downstairs to use the computer and had been accosted by a pack of japanese, who then peer-pressured him into drinking numerous shots of whiskey. He was a little confused by the fact that I was leaving again. And for such a short amount of time. Not sure if he was sad to see me go, or upset that he wouldn't have the room to himself for longer. Hmmmm.

After he finally passed out while telling me some story about a girl and geometry, I packed my tote with London overnight essentials (toothbrush, t-shirt, change of underwear, chocolate bars, iPod, umbrella, sweater and camera) for the trip and tried to not fall asleep so I wouldn't miss the early 6am metro to the Gare du Nord.

Pete and The Pirates at the Plage

And of course, Paris Plage couldn't be resisted, especially by the Japanese. So during dinner, one of the older Japanese gentlemen came by our table and invited Raymond and I to join him for one of the free concerts that evening.

After checking the schedule and ascertaining that a good group was playing, we walked downstairs, wine and snacks in hand, to meet the group. It was Mister Older Gentleman, Older Lady with Hat, Mikiko, Raymond and I, as it seemed the rest of the group got to drinking very quickly after dinner and were now too groggy to go anywhere.

After a very rushed trip on the subway, with us running after a surprisingly spry Mr. OG, we made it to the Seine, and found a nice place to settle. I'm always impressed by the japanese foresight, as as soon as we opened the wine, a blanket came out, little Hello Kitty cups appeared, and little plates were passed around for the rice cracker and cofee cake snacks. All I had was some plastic cups that Don left for me in case I went to a picnic. And my wine and gummi coke bottles were rejected as appropriate. But whatever, more gummi for me.

As soon as Pete and the Pirates started playing, we kinda disbanded. Mr. OG ran into the crowd to go bounce with the out-of-rhythm frenchies, Mikiko and Hat thought it was too loud and left. Raymond said he prefered classical, but was a trooper and stayed with me 'til the end. I think mostly because I said we should stop for ice cream on the way back home. lol

Pete and the Pirates were really good, almost better than on CD. But since all their songs are about 2 minute slong, they were done relatively quickly. So we stopped for ice cream and then, once home and in a fit of inspiration (or restlessness) I bought a ticket to London for the next morning. And thus my third night with no sleep.

Paris Plage

And now back to our regular program with a few words about Paris Plage.

Paris Plage happens every year from the middle of July to the middle of August, mostly for the benefit of those parisians that for some reason don't leave town on holiday. The whole nedeavor is a little weird, but in a cool way.

Sections of the Seine's right bank get fitted with cabanas, pools, hammocks, sand, lawnchairs, ice cream stands, little restaurants, and other beach accroutements to simulate a holiday oceanside. Excpet that instead of seagulls and waves, you wave at tourist boats and shoosh away pigeons. But it is highly enjoyable.

There are also magazine stands on bikes, huge water sprayers to cool down, free rock shows, and activities galore like fencing, babyfoot, exercise areas, segway rides, and crocket. On sunny days, the beach seems to be packed by noon.

Don and I went to study there one afternoon, and though we stalked the hammocks and lawnchairs, we finally settled on a wooden platform next to a cafe. (Though I wanted some hammock time badly enough that I almost narc-ed out the teens smoking pot). But it was way too sunny to study so after five minutes I ended up taking a nap and working on the tan.