Stephanie et le Manteau en Technicolor de Rêve (Technicolor Dream Coat)

 

Place des Vosges

So far, I’ve been a shopping wimp. An inexpensive scarf here, a needed pair of gloves there, window shopping and notetaking, mostly. Until Tuesday and Wednesday, when I hit another area of the city – Le Marais. Watch out American Express. She’s ba-a-a-ck! Actually,  lots of shops don’t take AMEX here, so I’ll have to employ extra dicipline when the bills come. For the last couple of days, I completely forgot that there is a recession going on. I guess if my dollars are dropping in value, I might as well spend some of them, right?

My original intention was to return to this amazing part of town to revisit Place des Vosges, a stunning, harmonious archtectural work of art where I remember feeling at peace and transported into the past on my last visit. The whole neighborhood has a rich history that you can feel in the air. It is an important area of the city for the Jewish and Gay communities. It is full of beauty, original art, great food (I spotted my first parisian bagel here) and, of course, SHOPS!

EAT - While my attention really was not on food here, it could have been. I saw everything from Sushi Bars to Tea rooms and would love to return with a friend just to linger at one of the many cafe’s, full of character. Both my visits were short, and between my usual brunch and dinner times. On the second day, I brought along some nuts to munch on as I sat at “le place,” because I knew my tummy would be growling. I found the pigeons here quite agressive. One of them even stepped on my toe while stalking me for a cashew. I, being an american germo-phobe, had packed some purell wipe packets into the outside pocket of my purse. When I finally sat down to munch and got ready to wipe the “metro-bacteria” off my hands, I noticed they were gone. Pickpocket? Maybe. Probably the ghosts of residents past, telling me to get over it! I ate my nuts with my tainted fingers, and I’m still alive to tell about it.

PLAY – Just sitting there was a study in play. There were lots of young  student-types sitting in clusters. I could hear the sound of teenage chatter, which sounds the same in every language I’ve noticed! Over to one side there were these teeter totters that work whether you have someone on both ends or not. They made a constant “skreeky” noise as solo kiddies tottered at a furious pace. I was struck by the fact that the calming impact of this place was lost on the little ones. They’ve got energy to expend no matter what the architects intended! It was great people watching, but I must admit that I spent most of my time shopping… and I didn’t even make it to the best street. I’ll be back!Pop

Here is my very first movie, complete with score. I did not go to film school, obviously, but I am a self-taught user of Flipshare software. Pop yourself some popcorn and enjoy this 1-minute wonder – Place des Vosges: The Movie.

SHOP - The first day I only had about an hour (poor planning.) As I proceeded down rue St. Antione I found the coolest kitchen gadget store: La Vaissellerie. Now THIS was a place for a Paris Souvenier that isn’t cheesy. Although, there were a number of items there for purchase that were related to cheese, as you can well imagine. There was even a round plastic container for keeping you camembert fresh. You could “dial-a-wedge-size” by rotating, so that you seal off your soft cheeses perfectly. Of course, for it to work you have to cut your wedges straight. Every kitchen needs one of these. I decided mine didn’t.

Cool Kitchen and Gift Stuff

What I did take home with me was something I’ve seen before, and  love, because it is about rabbits. Salt and Pepper grinders that look like bunny-heads! And magnetic, so I could put them up on the fridge for space-saving purposes! What a concept! I was doubly pleased because I hadn’t found any salt or pepper in the apartment. As usual, though, I did find some salt this morning when I looked one last time. But that’s OK. I have my new pets, Salt ‘n Peppa, to keep me properly seasoned. And for all of you old Salt ‘n Pepa fans, know that they “Grind it REAL GOOD!”

Les lapins, "Salt 'n Peppa"

On day two, I hit some clothing stores along the same street. Oh, the shoes! One store in particular had some fab footwear – Jonak. No purchase that day, but I’ve got my eye on a pair or two.

In a little boutique called Tera Bora I found it – the piece de reisistance – the item that will forever remind me of this trip. At least for now… I had entered this little store, “bonjoured” the vendeuse properly, asked if she spoke english, and heard “Non.” She lost interest in me after I responded that I didn’t speak francais either. I wandered through the little store in my unsual tactile way, feeling everything, picking up things on hangers and making them “dance.” (My friends who’ve shopped with me know what I’m taking about.)

Then my eyes fell upon it. This jacket/coat thing. It was a sort of patchwork masterpiece in lots of small prints and brocades of colors I love. All of the buttons going down the front were mismatched, chunky and antique looking. Ooh! I just kept picking it up, looking at it, hanging back up and repeating. I noticed in the background the U2 song “Magnificent” was playing. Bono just kept singing the word. I asked myself, is this thing magnificent, or am I just giddy with a Paris shopping bug? Bono says it is magnificent. He wouldn’t lie! It was then that I looked at the back. Right between the shoulderblades was a huge embroidered rose. OMG! I had to try it on.

La Vie en Rose

When I asked Madame Vendeuse if I could try it, her eyes lit up and we were suddenly best friends. (She either loved it too, or was hoping some fool would take it off her hands.) This piece is not for the faint of heart, or the person hoping to “blend.” In wardrobe terms, it would be referred to as a “costume piece.” That’s something that doesn’t go with much, is perfect for certain occasions, and might start a conversation. The conversation with another might be “That’s interesting, where did you get that?” The conversation with yourself, when discovering it in your closet a few years later might be more like, “What the hell were you thinking?”

At that moment I was thinking “I hope it fits me.” It did. The vendeuse said, “C’est bon!” I said, “C’est le mien!” But before I pulled out my credit card I tuned my ears to the background music one more time. This time, Sinead O’Conner was telling the coat “Nothing compares, nothing compares to you.”

That was all I needed. In coaching terms, we call that listening at level 3 (hearing clues through every thing in the environment.) I knew this “Technicolor Dream Coat” was going to be hanging in my closet, and hopefully traveling around on my back frequently. What better place to wear a “costume piece” then on an adventure where you vowed to do things differently than usuual? This item is definitley a departure from my norm. It wasn’t the only piece of clothing I bought on Wednesday. But, I’ll bet it will be the one I regret the least and love the most… or the other way around. Only time will tell. For now, I’m in love!

And just in case you’ve already guessed, today’s theme songs are “Magnificent” by U2, and not the Sinead song, but “Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton. Sorry to do this to you if you aren’t Dolly-tolerant, but I couldn’t get the tune out of my head. Plus, it always makes me cry a little. Grab a tissue and have a little listen.

Heading back to the apartment, I sat on the metro noticing that I hadn’t had a Jacques encounter on either day. To preserve my ego I reminded myself that all of those good-looking well-dressed guys I saw in Le Marais might have been looking at each other.

But then, a nice young guy sat next to me toward the end of my ride. He spoke to me in french, I thought he was talking into his cell phone headset, I asked if he was talking to me, and he turned out to have perfect english.  “Jacques dans le Metro” is a professional interpreter, tour guide, and teacher of language. Score! I quickly got his number before his stop so I could call him for some lessons. Now, if I could just get my cell phone working…In fact, I think I’ll head out right now and try one more time at the Tabac to get the minutes charged.

See you soon!

Advertisement