Cassie's in the middle of some major projects and has been home late a lot the last few weeks and last night was no exception. Usually, at the beginning of the week if that's the case we'll head out to our local's only place Brasserie 16 (pronounced "sezem") and our favorite waiter Pascal who's also foremost in the pantheon of neighborhood French language tutors, for some Parisian Bistro fare and some good wine (a carafe of Sancere merci.....). When we sat down it wasn't crowded but that changed suddenly when the big screen TV was turned on and as our dinner was being served we were surrounded by a sea of mostly young Parisian men watching FC Barcelona playing Arsenal in a European Cup Semi Final Match.
Let's just say that it was a short crescendo to BEDLAM and we were surrounded by for the most part very happy Barcelona fans whooping it up and later on in our dinner we joined in as Cassie turned her chair around so she could watch too.
Not only was the bistro packed but there were quite a number of folks outside watching through the windows smoking (smoking was banned by the government in eating establishments a number of years ago here) and whooping it up outside. Almost everyone inside was gracious enough to try to explain why this match was important and also express their pleasure that we were interested. Being caught up in all of it while eating another KICK ASS meal here was something pretty special at least for the time being. We both talked about how we need to hold these things close throughout our entire tenure here and never take them for granted.
We've been in Brasserie 16 enough that whenever we arrive we always get a handshake from Pascal and if the owner is there he always speaks with us in English even though he knows we're endeavoring to speak French as much as possible.
Sometime the in the near future Cassie will do a blog entry on her new French instructor who even though she has a French name has been dubbed "Mrs Doubtfire" by Cassie.
I guess the purpose of this entry was to let everyone know that there are actually French folks here who like us and almost all them fly in the face of conventional wisdom positing that French people are unfriendly and hostile towards Americans. Not true in our new hood where we chill with our homies and watch the REAL football.........*
Love to all everywhere.....*
A bientot
Sid
And what football it was. Lionel Messi of Barca-4 goals to Arsenal's 1. Arsenal has a french coach (Arsene Wenger) and several (or more) French players (probably more than they have english) so that has a little something to do with the interest. Plus Barca has Messi.
ReplyDeleteI remember fondly my first, and only I think, World Cup series game in Paris. Engrossed in my book while enjoying wine and a cigar after dinner in a little cafe, I didn't realize that everyone who had been facing the street, like me, had turned to face the television inside - until the first cheer. I looked up to see this group of people facing me and cheering wildly. I finally summoned enough courage to look behind to see what all the fuss was about!
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