When Melissa and I checked into the hotel we found out it was the night of Fete De Music! Once a year there are hundreds of musicians, groups, singers, etc playing all over Paris! We went walking, and came upon the drummers along the Seine. Well, I knew I had to play! Any of you that know me well, know I am a participater and will join in to just about anything, even a phoney card trick scam...haa haaaaa! So I went down and stood and watched them play until they stopped and I asked if I could play, when I sat down and put the drum between my legs there was a hum of uh huh's in the audience like they thought , oh no, who is this chick? Well, I started toplay slowly at first, it was a very nice Djembe. The leader, I could tell, went to the rhythm drums and joined in my paying. I played for about 15-20 minutes one of the highlights of my LIFE! To play with French and African drummers along the Seine in Paris was a dream! I will never forget it!...too bad I had my camera in my bag and Melissa was up above us....
12 July 2008
Djembe by the Seine
When Melissa and I checked into the hotel we found out it was the night of Fete De Music! Once a year there are hundreds of musicians, groups, singers, etc playing all over Paris! We went walking, and came upon the drummers along the Seine. Well, I knew I had to play! Any of you that know me well, know I am a participater and will join in to just about anything, even a phoney card trick scam...haa haaaaa! So I went down and stood and watched them play until they stopped and I asked if I could play, when I sat down and put the drum between my legs there was a hum of uh huh's in the audience like they thought , oh no, who is this chick? Well, I started toplay slowly at first, it was a very nice Djembe. The leader, I could tell, went to the rhythm drums and joined in my paying. I played for about 15-20 minutes one of the highlights of my LIFE! To play with French and African drummers along the Seine in Paris was a dream! I will never forget it!...too bad I had my camera in my bag and Melissa was up above us....
A find in Paris
O.K. I am enthralled and madly in love with Paris. The most amazing thing about it.....?......Around every corner you will find a really amazing treat, an amazing building, a beautiful door, someone singing, a gorgeous dress, a fantastic ice cream cone, a mysterious F on a wall, some beautiful peeling paint, an antique ring, a flower pot brimming with red geraniums, a cute dog, a stuffy old woman, the Seine, a scrumptious meal, a flock of pigeons, a sculpture that takes your breath away, great smelling suntan oil, a pyramid, a juggler, a chinese fortune teller speaking Arabic, a lightpost that inspires you, someone in love, djembe drummers by the seine....this is why I am madly in LOVE WITH PARIS!
On to Paris.....Croq Monsieur or how to behave on 3,000 calories a day
So, I arrive in Paris. Well, let me tell you first how I get there. I cannot seem to find a good way out of Spain. The truckers strike has put the Spanish roads at a stand still. Fights break out, no milk on the store shelves, food is being thrown in waste by the truckers. They are furious over the cost of fuel, it's a strike against oil prices. This is all fine and well, I'm all for freedom of speech, but it is having a serious affect on me getting out of Benidorm. I finally after much internet searching for reasonable flights, decide to take a bus at midnight, yes 12:001 AM from Benidorm to Madrid. So not sooo bad, I get to sleep a little it does take 5 and a half hours. I get to Madrid airport and realize I got off at the wrong terminal, for any of you that know the Madrid airport, you know this is a huge mistake. I finally get a bus and ride the 5 miles to my terminal. I am trying to arrive on time in Paris so as to meet Melissa, my sister in law at Gare du Nord. She is coming to spend a few days in Paris with me. I arrive at CDG, oh, this airport! I finally find my way to RER to get to the Gare du Nord and am serenaded by Edith Piaf..sp? songs all the way there by some guy with a pre recorded song playing in the aisle and his hat out for change. Yes, the music makes me realize I am in for a treat. I did try my French in the airport on a man that was pushed along to the RER with me, he seemed to understand where I was going and showed me the way....Maybe my studies have helped. I meet Melissa and we are off to Hotel Mont Blanc in the Latin Quarter, only thing is our taxi doesn't know the street Huchette, a very famous street.....eye yih yih
Relaxed in Spain
Two weeks in I am showing signs of complete relaxation. It is amazing the feeling you get when you do not have a care in the world. Is this nirvana? Is it an altered state of consiousness, or is this just life in all it's grand reality?
The Donkey haunts me! Hee Haw!
I regress here. The first day I arrive in Benidorm I am sooo happy to see Michelle, she has a great apartment and looks so happy. I look out the window 8 floors up and here Hee haww! There is a donkey in the lot across the street. They are gypsey's living in an abandoned house. The Hee haw goes off at all times of day or night, I didn'trelize how loud a donkey could be. I stare out the window at the donkey checking on him several times a day...o.k. maybe 40 times, I'm becoming obsessed with this donkey. How does he eat? Does he have water? I don't see anyone caring for him. Finally on the 5th day of my concerns I spot a gypsey lady shrouded in all black giving him food. He is tied to a robe in one spot forever. It has to be 100 degrees in the sun. He's there always. Oh where in the world is Peta when you need them. It makes me realize how animals all over the world must be treated. I see kids late one night with firebrackers throwing them near him. The next day I see 2 little boys come near him and then run as he starts to hee haw, they run and approach him from another side. All of a sudden they throw a bunch of food his way, ah well, all kids are not bad huh. I still wonder about that donkey even now home in Malibu.
The owner of El Chirimquito
If you are going to Spain to The Costa Blanca, you will probably fly into Alicante. From Alicante take a bus to Altea, probably about 12 dollars, dinner at El Chirimquito is worth it! Wood burning Bar-B-Q, sitting across from the beach, it will be packed in the summer month's call in Spain 966880465 to rsvp.
Altea, Spain
Right across from the fantastic restaurant El Chirinquito, a restaurant that requires you to sit for 5-6 hours laughing, eating, and drinking with your friends.
Spain continues...
Bar-B-Q at Casa Verde, the "dancer" Flo-Flo, Darlene, Nicole, Michelle, and Colin. Darlene bar-b-qued so much meat! Michelle's garlic bread the BEST! I stayed up til 2pm with Flo talking about Stan, old times, etc. I just love her so much! She is my Malibu Mom, creative, an artist, and full of wonderful stories about old Malibu, Liz, etc. When you loose your own Mom you realize how lucky Michelle and Darlene are to have her there everyday. I would give an arm to be able to talk to my Mom for 5 minutes. Time must be cherished. I feel like Flo is my connection to a parent.I love you guys sooooo much!
The Flea Market of Benidorm, Spain
Sunday and Weds. Benidorm, the Flea Market. The come in the night and the next morning looking out the 8th floor window they are there. The Flea Market, pick pockets, gypseys, thieves and 3 euro skirts. Orange juice and spanish pancakes with Nutella. It is damn hot, packed wall to wall, but bargains! Go early while it's only 90 degrees!
Spain, Michelle, Flo Flo, Darlene, and the Donkey!
So I will move ahead. I went to Spain to see my friend Michelle and her sister Darlene, and of course Flo Flo, my "other" Mom, the Liz Taylor Mom. Here we are at the lunch Michelle got mad at me paying so much for. They spotted that I the Americano of the bunch was paying and charged me too much. Oh, well, I was great and I learned how to make garlic potatoes, Spanish style. This little restaurant is in Benidorm, El Alperitivo, and is the real deal for tapas. We had sardines, potatoes, meatballs, salad, all excellent. I love being with them, and talking story! All the wonderful things, and not so wonderful things that have happened in our lives. I grew up with Michelle, Malibu, and the 60's, so many escapades, in trouble, dancing, boyfriends, red mustands, fires on the beach....it was the best of times. We were hippy girl's together, surfing, Topanga, Venice, oh the times we had. We are better people for all of those experiences. The 60's were such a growth time for women, for youth to rebell against the status quo, we were a part of the growth of the times. I would not have had it any other way, it made me what I am. I have that amazing history with Michelle, connecting us forever!
My trip to Europe, or A Month of Joy!
I have not written in 6 month's, and even had a hard time remembering my blog here. So much has happened! Where to begin? I started a new job at the end of Feb. love it, and the challenges of learning something new. I have had to up the intake of my ginko. It is sometimes over whelming what info goes into the brain. Resources lay dormant only to be dredged up and put into service once again.
I left on a Friday night, it was so sad to leave my Swef, he cried, I cried, but we both knew that I needed and deserved this trip. I felt at ease after getting on the plane, the anticipation of the long flight and the adventure that lay at my feet. I'm in the window seat, and luckily a nice female student sits in the aisle. We have room to spare. I am very impressed by the crew on the flight. They keep food and drink coming. The food on all Air France flights is stupendous, would you expect any less? It's so funny at one point they come by and tell everyone to close their window blinds, like a giant camp outing "Lights out" ! People abide by this, it is really funny to be told now, you must sleep! What about those of us who try to get on a European time schedule? That is the suggestion by all travel pro's to try and eliminate jet lag problems. The flight is great, I land in London and must get to Lufthansa soon, or at least find out where it is. I have 3 hours to get through customs and get on a flight to Frankfurt. I have plenty of time and take great joy and changing dollars to pounds and look for some food. It is such a joy to discover an airport store with sandwiches that you've never heard of. Cucumber and cream cheese? Tuna and corn? So many wierd varieties. It is a passion of mine to snoop foreign grocery stores, trying to make out what I'm looking at. It's a grocery game show, you are the host and contestant. Some things you purchase you win, some you loose, but it's always exciting to discover.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
