Past glories

It's been a while, but we've gone back to a fine resto, les Caves Solignac, thanks to our friends Jean-Marie and Sylvie. Excellent value, très français and delicious "cuisine du marché"in a sort of 30's atmosphere.

"Cabaret Latin" au Dansoir

NO time to translate ... we went to see this piece tonight and I cen tell you it was VERY enjoyable (including seeing our friend Juanca dance besides sing and play guitar). I recommend it ... so GO, you have a few days left.

See more info here at the entry "Cabaret Latin au Dansoir"

12th Annual "Carnaval de Paris"

This afternoon, Pimprenelle, the cow - queen of "la Promenade du Bœuf Gras", kicks off the traditional procession of the Carnaval de Paris. Rendez-vous at 3pm rue Le Vau, behind the square Séverine in the 20th arrondissement.

UPDATE: Got my 30km training run sandwiched in between lunch and a later afternoon foray to City Hall (the endpoint) of the Carnaval procession ... got to see Pimprenelle, herself, and scads of batucada groups drumming up a frenzy. Bravo to Macaq, the organization that puts on this fine, fun event.

Drinks at Le Pick Clops afterwards and then dinner at a new place, Le Chant des Voyelles, with Odile and Denis.

Dreaming of warmer climes

Odile heard from our dear friend Gianni, in Milan, and tried to convince him to take a break and come visit us (a hint to you, dear Reader - you know who you are). Of course when you have a place in Brazil, as he does, perhaps "sunny Paris" (which it certainly it has not been) is not the first place you'd go in late February!

If YOU are looking for place to stay in Brazil then consider Gianni's place (this is shamless huckstering since I've never been there - but I trust him with my life) - take a look at: http://www.casadaareia.com/

24 heures de la vie d'une femme

We're off to the Théâtre Le Petit Montparnasse tonight to see this play by Stefan Zweig.

Crim'expo

Whodunnit? ---Leave it to science!
The museum director has been found murdered – and you have to identify the killer. To complete your investigation you'll need to visit each department of the forensic science lab, from forensic medicine and fingerprints to odontology, DNA, microfibre analysis, entomology and ballistics. After this fascinating experience, you'll watch CSI: Crime Scene Investigation with twice as much interest!

Tonight at la Villette we're attending the vernissage of this expo (for which we did some of the translation from French to English/Spanish) - it runs until 2010, so if you're a fan of CSI, NCIS, Bones, Crossing Jordon, RSI (France) or any one of those German sci-pol series then get on over to the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie.

Where is this statue?

Some of you have asked (OK, it was only me) where the statue, that appear on our 2009 New Year's Well Wishes Card (NYWWC - I *guess* that what one calls it), is located in Paris. On the left-hand side of this text you have another photo of the work.

It took me a while and some CSI photo work, but I've located the placement, if not the name, of the statue.

So, here's the challenge to YOU ... tell me the name given to this work (extra points for who sculpted it)! Just add it as a comment. First correct answer wins ... what? My gratitude. Hmm, not enough? Well, let's say I'll stand the winner to a drink in a bistro near this park.

And, to warm up just try to tell me where it is located ... if you "give the cat your tongue" then click here.

Switzerland - France training run

Below is the map of the route I ran today. I guess I could call it a bi-national, inter-faith run, as I ran from the synagogue (rue de la ...) in Porrentruy, Switzerland to the church in Vieux-Ferrette, France. About 2h40m ... and a daunting hill climb about two kilometers before the border. But a truly nice run, with the sun coming out in the latter half, and snow everywhere. Odile caught up with me (by car, easier) about 5 km from the end - and had lovingly thought to bring me a croissant. Quick energy!

The photo just above is the city center of Porrentruy this morning - click on the image to see it larger.

The towns on this run were: Porrentruy, Alle, Miécourt, Liebsdorf, Durlinsdorf, Moernach, Koestlach and, finally, Vieux-Ferrette.

View Larger Map

Café-théâtre par la Compagnie Labile

We've come to Porrentury, in the Swiss Jura, to see Odile's cousin, Françoise. She's acting in a theater piece entitled "Elles & Eux". You can hear an interview and excerpts here (en français, bien sûr).

UPDATE: We all had a wonderful time - the actors were all top-notch, the direction (Danièle) was impeccable for timing and rhythm, the tech crew did very well. And the texts! Laugh-out-loud funny (touching, incisive, even biting at times).
Afterwards about a dozen of us met for dinner at the Buffet de la Gare, where Danièle's cousin, Didier, is the head chef.