Paris briefly

Well it has been an interesting time in Paris, to say the least.  I can't say that I accomplished much, but did spend a lot of money in unanticipated ways.

It was after Christmas, and my guardienne, Maria, left the Christmas tree and crèche up for me to take a photo.  She goes to elaborate pains every year, and people stop by to gaze in the doorway because it's quite unusual to see something like this in an apartment building.  I even let one woman come inside so she could take a better photo. 

 

 Many of the Christmas decorations are still up, although some were taken down this past weekend, and there are discarded Christmas trees along the sidewalks.  

Rue de Levis

And it is the season of sales (soldes) so there is much activity in the evenings after work, despite the transportation problems.

And transportation problems there are--serious ones...  Because the government is trying to synchronize all the different rules for retirement, the unions are extremely active, and for a month and a half, the country has been partially paralyzed by strikes, particularly transportation strikes.  The RER and Metro are, of course, on strike, which is why I took a shared ride from the airport into the city and will do so again when I leave for Abidjan tomorrow morning.  I had to walk quite a distance to have lunch with one friend, and had to cancel dinner arrangements with another because we were so far apart, and getting together was just too complicated in the evening when there were few viable options other than walking if you are without a car.

my café gourmand

 In addition, I have had plumbing problems--both toilet and sink--so have had to spend four nights in two separate hotels because of lack of facilities.  Two nights were in a minuscule room in the posher Pavillon Monceau just next to my place where there was a great weekend rate, but it doubled during the workweek, so I spent two more down the street in the Cosy Monceau, a friendly but sad two-star hotel that could use a demolition crew.  The former has been updated a bit since my parents stayed there some 15 years ago and was very pleasant.

Room in the Pavillon Monceau

Meanwhile, I have been messaging Ezéchiel, and Paul Solomiac trying to finalize travel plans for upcoming library visits for him [Ezéchiel] to both Abidjan and Bamako, and I would like to spend a few days in Ouagadougou myself, if possible, but this remains to be seen.  I did order a handful of books for the library, and will surprise Ezéchiel when I see him next month. 

I was also delighted to find that I had the foresight to leave a few of my African clothes in Paris (as most have been left in storage in Ouagadougou) so I will have something appropriate to wear when in Abidjan.  Since it has been so long since my last visit, I have forgotten exactly what I had done, and had planned to pick up a few in Ouaga if I passed through again this time around.

A few titles for Ezéchiel to add to his collection