My Very Own Self
"Sugar and spice and everything nice, My Dearly Beloved and then Some
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|  || Saturday, March 10, 2007 || Fri, 29th Dec – Thurs, 4th JanDays 116 – 121: Paris Paris is intoxicating, Paris is seductive, Paris is sleek. Paris also polarises. You either love her or you hate her. There is no in between. If you would like to know more about my feelings towards this city, please refer to picture at the top of this blog. Whereas my first two visits were about food, this visit was about friends. And my conclusion is that friends and food are equally enjoyable; depending on what food a friend is compared against, friends can even trump food!! Day 1: Late arrival at Charles De Gaulle. Got to love that man, De Gaulle. Nationalist, right-wing and religious. Quel idéal!! Day 2: Versailles with XM and Pam. Dawn-ie was supposed to join us but decided not to in the end, citing fatigue and romantic hope to share Versailles some future (near-future?) day with some other person. Versailles very pretty, very big and took a lot of photos. Here:    Sub-standard dinner at Chez Omar’s. See, friends can trump food. Day 3: D-day!! Exploring with Dawn-ie-day. Bastille (where Marie Antoinette was executed), Victor Hugo’s House, Georges Pompidou Center (a building built inside-out!!), Falungong Street Protest (as spectators, not participant of course). Temporary farewell to Dawn-ie. Head over to Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides (Napoleon’s Tomb), Pont Alexander and the Père Lachaise Cemetery as Dawn-ie went museum-ing.   In favourite book series, the Chalet School saga, the protagonist’s hero is Napoleon. Wanted to give Napoleon flowers on her behalf, but finances and general fear of embarrassment prevent my doing so. Have yet to become mature enough so as to not care what people think. Ambience at Cemetery perfect for visiting. Was dark, rainy with crows caw-ing in background. Meet Dawn-ie again and rush to meet Alicia and friends for New Year’s Eve dinner and celebrations. While waiting, Dawn Chan abducted the heart of a little boy, who insisted that Dawn Chan carry him and wailed piteously when his mother tore him away. Rather immoral I think of Dawn Chan to come in between mother and son. Tsk tsk. New Year’s Eve dinner around a lamppost of fast-food.   Day 4: Church day. Sacré-Coeur with Dawn-ie alone because Ali and friends 3 hours late.  Notre-Dame.   Chez Omar dinner (the lamb couscous was GOOD). Moulin Rouge. Dessert with Dawn-ie, rush to watch the Tour Eiffel sparkle on the hour.  [Zihua's failed attempt to do a Monroe style pose] Day 5: Catacombs (a whole underground alley of skeletons and remains; in case you didn’t know), and Dawn-ie, my Dawn-ie leaves. Alicia left to reconcile me. But sad news that Ali not joining us for Venice intervenes. Most depressed. Cheered by promise of a buffet treat upon return to Singapore, which I think is an excellent swap. Food at buffet at least of some nutritional value, hence beneficial. Cannot say the same about Ali. (Ali: how about Goodwood Park? Lunch buffet apparently excellent.) Attempt for lunch at recommended restaurant fails as restaurant closed. Have good pizza from nearby bakery instead. Champs-Elysée. Scaling the Eiffel. Pictures outside the Louvre and view of Concorde. Tearful farewell with Alicia before she leaves; many hankerchiefs used up and one heart broken.   Day 6: Slackful day. Tea, more accurately, chocolate with Sin at Angeline’s as Sin returns from London. Pierre Hermé Ispahans (Rose and Lychee and Raspberry macarons) and general stock-up of snacks for domestic consumption.   Day 7: Departure for Venezia!! Ciao Venezia, ciao, ciao, ciao. |