Paris

For our last day and night in Paris we decided we would go to Père Lachaise Cemetery, say hello to Edith Piaf, Jimbo, and lay some flowers on Oscar Wilde's tomb.  Père Lachaise is north of the Seine, and is not in a particularly touristy part of Paris.  Generally, everywhere we had been in Paris to that point, we could count on hearing a fair amount of English, and be comfortable speaking English, too.  

After paying our respects, the Wife decided we should go to this Thai bistro she had heard about called Sawan.  Sawan was closer to where were staying, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, on the north side of the Seine, but was still a considerable jaunt from Père Lachaise.  We decided to try and catch a cab, and until we could, just keep walking south towards our destination.  Only problem was there was nary a cab to catch.  So we walked.  And walked. And walked.  We must have walked through two or three arrondissements just to get to this restaurant.  These were not touristy neighborhoods, either.  They were decidedly working class, a little dingy in spots, and no one spoke English.

I was getting cranky for sure, but Renee kept us on the path towards nourishment, and we did reach Sawan.

Sawan was packed when we sat down, but was fairly empty by the time we left.  One thing I noticed was that the menu included prices in Thai Bhat as well as Euros.  I suppose you could pay in that currency if you had it.  Next to us, packed fairly tightly, by the street window, were two Parisian businessmen, both wearing coat and tie.  When our waiter came, Renee took the initiative and placed her order in English.  The waiter understood perfectly, and I did the same.  But, you should have seen the look on the older (facing me) Parisian businessman when he heard the two of us have the Charles de Gaulle to not even try to speak French.  It was pretty funny.

The meal was wonderful.  I had a beer.  It was one of the best restaurant experiences we had on our honeymoon, and it was cheap.  But, the punch line comes near the end of our meal, just before the businessmen left.  The younger businessman (facing Renee) wanted to do a high five with his buddy.  They tried.  It was the most pathetic high five I have ever seen.  Their hands barely grazed each other, and there was no oomph or panache whatsoever.

So.  Maybe we are a couple of well-meaning ugly Americans, but the Wife and I sure as hell have mastered the American art of the high five!

















xxxoooxxx,
Ardent