"Moving between Paris and Havana.. the two feasts" Paris by cochinjew

Bastille Day is around the corner.. 2009 it was on Bastille Day 2006 my connection with Paris began.. Bonne Anniversaire!
I must say I had fears of loosing Habana, the city of my heart but now I feel comfortable to say that I live between Paris and Havana. Home is where your heart is, and on Bastille Day 2009, it is for me Paris, France and our beloved San Cristobal de la Habana.. I am also happy that I can fly between these two cities on Air France and dont have to worry about Visas and permission from the Govt and Ladrones who run charter flights from Miami and the crass exhibitionism of third world immigrant mentality on flights to Havana from Miami but can enjoy the civilized AF treatment.. I wish they served Champagne on HAV to CDG though.. never mind.. cant have everything!
I am on a spree of getting to know this city and i have excellent guidebooks to the architecture of this city and also various recommended walks. At this time, a short visit before I head back to the Americas, I am discovering by foot and this reminds me of the time I discovered London as a Medical Student! Pleasure indeed it was to run into Shakespeare and Co, as I got off the RER C yesterday at San Michel..both RER and Notre Dame was crowded with visitors and Shakespeare and Company felt like an oasis! I thought of my cuban compatrior pedmar (with whom so far I have shared CUba, Florida and now Paris!), RER C must be the train he must take to get to Centre of Paris!
also Bus no 95 from Montparnasse to Gare San Lazare goes through some beautiful areas and sights of Paris.. and one can get off at Louvre, Opera, San Germain du Pres etc. I would like to discover other bus routes of such qualities, if any one can suggest I will be happy than ever to try it..

just who is coming in november

It seems i have been lucky to run into this book HUNGRY FOR PARIS written by Alexander Lobrano, an american living in Paris with a wonderful sense of humour and needless to say a savoury palate. I plan to try as many as I can.. I will begin smal and just work my way up the ladder.
August 2009: Higuma Japanese 1st arr.Au Coin des Gourmets. viet 6th arr.

It is a people watching Paradise
Many a times I am waiting for my partner somewhere or other in Paris and it is an occasion to watch people. Whilst this is not as Cosmopolitan as London or New York, for a person used to those cities, the faces are far more interesting. Much less of an asian presence and more of a maghreb and african presence. Today watching the rush hour home at La Defense, I was enchanted by black faces as smooth as ebony with joy and surprise, an occasional tamil face of Pondicherry, multiple memories of north africa, an occasional Haitian, many from guaduloupe or Martinique, tamuls from Reunion... but all french to the core in the way they dress and comport themselves. It is truly an education for me. Have not come across many english speakers, especially the harshness of an american accent of english or the lazy drawl of an aussie accent. Occasionally I see a face I can identify as South American and I want to approach them and burst out in my cuban spanish, but I restrain myself. The definition of who is French is totally different from who is English (black British but not Black English) or American

Closed boulangerie and pharmacie

But be prepared for a silence not common in other months of the year. this is the month of vacation and everyone has gone off somewhere or other. Not the entire town is deserted but your favourite bakery might be closed, there are no parking inspectors so parking is free, the pharmacie close to you is closed, the facial will have to wait until the end of august.. so one and so forth.. i suppose that is what the quality of life in France is superior, when surveys are taken. workers will have a chance to spend a month with their families at some place within their means, since there are places catering for every budget..

• Pros:After La Habana, coming to the original moveable feast
• Cons:I love their respect for speaking French properly
• In a nutshell:Truly a city for Lovers and a Privilege to Visit