I am spending my last week in one of the most beautiful cities in the world...a major player on the world scene, a western city crammed with millions of people.
One would think, with this in mind, that when my Chillian, American and Brazillian friends and I wanted to go for a little dance somewhere hot and funky, Paris might have something to offer us...even on a Wednesday night.
It seems not.
Walking down rue Montorgruil on Wednesday night at around 11pm the bars around us were closing and we were trying to work out where to go next (story of my life it seems....)
We must have been talking rather loudly. My chillian friends MAY have been staggering slightly....whatever the reason we drew attention from two young french guys quietly smoking outside a bar.
"Do you know where you are?' mr young and funky said to me in his frenchly french accent.
"yes...of course!" i said haughtily (la belle parisienne remember....)
"you want to go dancing but you are in paris on a wednesday night. there is no where to go."
oh....shame.
'BUT!' he continued....'just around the corner is a bar owned by a friend of mine. it is an underground bar (not litterally....just in terms of being young and funky i think...). It is known only by locals and if I don't take you there you won't know where to find it - there is only a door.....'
Hmmmm - intriguing! Of course i couldnt resist and rounded up my 5 friends (not an easy task...) and followed mr young and funky down the road.
The bar was amazing. teeny tiny and literally just a hole in the wall (mr young and funky was right - we wouldnt have found it if it wasn't for him...), the bar is owned by 'Sof', bartender and owner, he lives above the bar. he was born on this street, the bar was his father's before him, but he has turned this space into a trendy local spot in a seriously trendy part of paris, with DJs playing on the weekends and heavenly mojhitos being whipped up behind the bar.
I stayed for hours, enjoying the atmosphere (and the mohitos)....but most importantly the company where i chatted to the young and funky locals, one of whom had lived in australia for a year....who needs a dancefloor when you have found a secret bar....? parisian nightlife doesn't get better.
The next day bought a french experience of an entirely different sort when Bethany, my New Yorker friend, and I decided to do a souffle course at a little cooking school just near Hotel de Ville. Whipping up (litterally) a concoction of spinach fluffiness for our spinach souffles and a vinagarette dressing for the salad we enjoyed the fruits of our labour with a glass of vin blanc while the white chocolate souffles also whipped up by the class rose obediently in the oven.
Two hours of gastronomy heaven was so much fun amongst similarly minded foodies....both living in paris and visiting....a highlight of my trip....
It's been a good week...and I can't believe it's over.
One more party tonight with my amazing new friends who i will miss very much....then Bethany and I head to Marseille for more french adventures.
Till next time....
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