How Do You Say 'Cold' in French?
Left: Ah, Paris, je t'aime; center: Our apartment in the Marais; right: the chocolate crémeux a l'ancienne at Bread and Roses in Paris. It's 5.5 Euros, but worth every cent, um, Euro.
I'm finally in Paris! We've rented an apartment in the Marais, which is home to lots of boutiques, nightlife spots, and restaurants. Things are great, except that I've contracted a cold. In French, it's called a "rhume." In my world, it's a big bummer.
Oh well. A tip I've picked up this trip: To get your bearings in Paris, everyone tells you to rent one of the bateaux mouches (fly boats) and see the city by water. I say, rent a bike instead. We rented bikes at a shop in Belleville for 2 Euros an hour and cruised across the city in an afternoon. The best part is that Paris has bike lanes and you feel safe for the most part—unless you do what we did and ride across the circle intersection that surrounds the Arc de Triomphe. I almost met God courtesy of a buzzing Renault.
While sipping a hot chocolate today at this amazing cafe called Bread and Roses, we sat a few tables away from Sofia Coppola. I didn't want to bother her to take her picture, so I took pictures of the chocolate crémeux instead.
Then I decided to do one of those dumb things that seem like a good idea at the time. After paying our check, I asked the man friend to give me a kiss, all romantic style, right in front of the café. He did, and then he asked me why.
"Sofia Coppola might think we're cute and put it in a movie," I said.
And then I sneezed. A big ol' fatty sneeze, right in the middle of the sidewalk. The man friend looked at me as if I was crazy. For her part, Sofia didn't look up from her coffee.
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Coda is a blog by arts and culture editor Cassie Walker, who, love it or hate it, always has an opinion. During the course of her weekly culture hunting, she reviews high art and pop culture events so you'll know what you need to check out and what you can miss.
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Reader Comments:
Bless you!
A brush with greatness as well...well, moderate greatness anyway.
Did hot chocolate help the rhume? :)
Bonjour! Wow, you found my favorite cafe in Paris. I am friends with the owner...Phillip. My family keeps an apt. one block from the cafe. Perfect setting...close to Luxembourg Gardens as well. When in Paris, I have breakfast there about 4 times a week.
You should have said hello to Sophie! When I was last there, Phillip introduced me to the White Sox owner. His daughter has an apt. in the same area. It is a great place to eat and meet people from around the world.
I adore the coffee and the Lemonade...made with fresh orange slices, lime and lemon juice with a hint of mint. The food is incredibly delicious also. Oh it is very nice to know someone else found Bread and Roses Cafe. Thanks for the walk in Memory Lane!
Bonne Journee!
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