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Bianca Rossini |
Paris á l’impromptu
I just got back from Paris - France where I was for ten days. Here are
some unforgettable snapshots of my trip.
The
Prince of Marroco was visiting Paris the same week. The French and Marrocan
flags were lined up along the corridor of the Champs Elysees. In the
middle of the Arc de Triomphe a huge French flag seemed to be suspended
in the air, dancing like a nymph. Depending on the angle, you could
center the full moon in the middle of the arch, just above the left
side of the flag.
Wednesday
- Saint Germain des Pres - eleven at night - quiet and almost empty
compared with other times. Looking for a restaurant. We almost chose
"Les Assassins" just because of the name, but the cigarette smoking
was so thick you could not see passed the second table. We opted for
a restaurant even smaller, typical of the neighborhood, "La Brocherie."
It was delicious, especially the small talk at the table next to us,
three man and one girl. The man talked among themselves, the girl was
mostly silent and sometimes she smiled. They practiced the art of talking
about everything and nothing at the same time.
All
of sudden the whole table was talking in their cellular.
The dessert was delicious, my childhood
favorite: flan.
Thursday
in Saint Germain des Pres, our friend Monique took us to a VIP Party
at Le Deux Magots to celebrate the signing of the Presevation and Artistic
Heritage of both sister cities: St. Germain in Paris and Soho in New
York. Exhibitions and Performance Art all around the area. Unforgettable
moment at Place Furstenberg, sponsored by The Delacroix Museum, where
lots of people watched Arab dancers in costumes perform surrounded by
colorful fabrics and props, Whether you were inside the Channel boutique,
or on the street the neighborhood was full of creative energy. The Parisians
like the Cariocas in that sense are very similar- no rain will alter
their fun.
At the church in Saint Germain a recital
of music and Flamengo dancing at 8:00PM. But we had reservations for
dinner at Michel Rostandg's last venture which I would not recommend
except for the oysters.
Favorite
dinner in Paris: At our friend Monique Teil's apartment which like her
hotel George Sands in Courbevoie reflects her feminine, romantic and
artistic spirit. Not only the Fish au Gros Sel was divine but we were
in the best of company: Monique, Brigitte who sang an opera in Chinese,
Michelle, Gerard, Robert and Philippe. We danced, sang, improvised poetry
and laughed throughout the night.
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From left to right: Bianca, Brigitte, Philippe,
Michelle and Robert
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Monique ready to serve a "Fish au Gros Sel"
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Saturday
I went for a walk on Rue Saint Honore. My friend had insisted that I
went to see "Colette", a new trendy store in Paris. I liked the arquitecture,
very minimalist, the people dressed like in LA, all in black. Nobody
was buying anything. Easy to understand: a stupid little skirt cost
US$945.00. As a matter of fact everything was around that price and
higher. The restaurant underneath was simple and slick, but it reminded
me too much of LA and I decided to continue walking.
As usual there was so much to see, smile,
appreciate and laugh...I visited several stores. I always like to visit
the building where Versace's store is located. I had a light lunch in
a Bistro. From my table I could see different perspectives of the intersecting
avenues with people walking, biking, fire trucks with sirens but nobody
rushing, Japanese people in groups, some Brazilians, Italians...and
on and on.
I walked up to La Comedie Francaise to
visit the building, and the bell started to announce the beginning of
the play "L'Avare" by Moliere. I bought the last ticket available, at
the very top, in the galerie. When I went in the play had just started.
I discovered an empty seat which was blocked by a women's coat and purse.
Expecting an air of dissatisfaction typically French I asked permission
and took my seat. Surprise- there was no bad attitude. 
On
my right side there were two Japanese girls, and from the heads of the
people below and around I could observe the different people in the
audience: man, women, old, young, children, foreigners, students. The
theater was full. It was only 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday.
Although I knew the play, it was hard for me to understand the dialogue.
My French is not that good. But I was having so much fun... The atmosphere,
the gorgeous theater even in the dark, the concentration of the audience,
their reaction, the elegant and minimalist set design, the wardrobe,
and even the over dramatic French style of acting, which reminded me
of the Latin style in general.
After an hour I walked on the red carpeted
stairs to enjoy the silence and the entrance where carved in marble
were the names of Moliere, Racine among other genius of the French theater.
I
went back to the Rue Saint Honore, on the other side of the street,
after all I wanted to complete my promenade. I crossed the street, divided
by a fountain gushing musical notes with birds jumping around it. I
felt full as if I had left a banquet. I thought to myself: "I couldn't
have planed it better", But as usual Paris was constantly surprising
me ...
On my way back I passed in front of a church
( not the Polish one) which the facade was under renovation. Before
I could decide whether or not I was going in, I had already gone up
the stairs and entered the church.
As soon as I entered I heard the voices
of 60 children from the age of 6 to 17 years old filled the Church with
melodious music. I felt as if I was listening angels sing. It was so
in tune and beautiful that it touched my heart instantly. I seated in
the middle row. There were only a few people in the church besides the
conductor, the pianist, and the choir. Without knowing why tears flooded
my eyes. I had to make an effort not to sob, so intense was the beauty
I was feeling. In the end one of the students soloists sang "Ave Maria".
It was as if I was in heaven, floating among the stars. Pure Magic.
The teacher of the group came and invited me to attend the recital in
the evening. I asked where were the kid's parents from, and she answered:
France, Tunisia, Marroco, Japan..."The world is becoming one big country",
I thought. I thanked Scott Alan Prouty, the maestro from Connecticut
who told me that he had come to Paris only for a few months, but ended
up staying and creating the "Choeur d'Enfants de Creteil".
I
continued my walk to La Madeleine where a huge red billboard promoting
a theatrical play called "Jesus" blocked the front of the Church. When
I went in I saw a fat priest from New York who was studying in Paris.
He laughed at my question. "You are telling me that you heard on CNN
that this church was being sold to the Universal Church in Brazil? Hey
Nun, listen to this... It will be an interesting topic tonight when
I have dinner with the cardinal, he will enjoy hearing his story. I
left the church not knowing if I should feel relieved with the priests'
news or irritated with CNN. I chose relieved, after all what would be
of Paris if the government started to sell its monuments?
As I walked down the stairs of La Madeleine
I thought of how the fat priest was happy when I asked him why was the
church advertising the play, he had answered that he was glad because
it attracted a lot of people to the church and besides it had been approved
by the cardinal and the minister. To my sadness he said that after the
billboard is removed a bronze cross will be placed right at the entrance
of the church. "Too bad", I thought, "Napoleon's arquitect must be turning
on his grave when he sees what changes they are making to the facade
of his building."
I
visited the Louvre Museum and as always it was hard to decide where
to start when there is 30.000 works of art to look at. So I did the
obvious. I started with my favorites Italian paintings and marble sculptures.
Sunday - Rain - Sunshine - Rain
Favorites
at the Musee D'Orsay
Favorite room: Salon de fete
Favorite sculpture: Salome (bronze) by Jules Desbois and La Danse Guerreire
(marble) by Victor Segoffin.
Favorite paintings: All the impressionists
Favorite moment: Not knowing where to look. The paintings of Pissaro
and Renoir or a hale storm that changed the skies above Le Seine. Both
choices beautiful.
Favorite place to rest: The Musee d'Orsay restaurant.1900's decor with
fresco ceilings, a pianist playing Debussy. While sipping tea, I was
overwhelmed with the beauty outside the room as well. A beautiful rainbow
layed over, right in the middle of the giant carrousel. Afterwards the
sun changed positions and each metal chair in the carrousel reflected
a brilliant green, like a tiara of emeralds.
Other
surprises: Pink huge roses and yellow flowers everywhere in the midle
of March - early spring in Paris!!!! Champs Elysees looked magnificent.
Favorite dessert: black currant and lemon
sorbet at Nostalgie in Courboevoie. The chef goes to the market everyday
and based on what he finds he then designs his menu.
Discovered new romantic late night place-
great atmosphere and beauty- The restaurant and bar at Hotel Costes
at Rue Saint Honore.
Paris Spring fashion was full of colors,
and Indian influences. Corlors in Vogue: Pink, Red, Fuscia, Orange and
lots of 70's fashion revival.
Last
but not least we saw the jewel of Paris lit with thousand sparkling
lights, celebrating the new Millennium- La Tour Eiffel
Au revoir - Bianca Rossini
