pillion

Monday I met up with my friend Francois, who offered to show me a bit of Paris from the back of his motorcycle. Its not the kind of experience many get to have, so how could I resist? Luckily I was used to riding the streets of San Francisco with my friend Russ, so have been trained to be a good "pillion," something I take some pride in. He toured me around some areas through the Marais, Bastille, Ile Saint-Louis, and near his old district near the Sorbonne, including Arènes de Lutèce, a hidden Roman Circus from the first Century now used as a park. And of course we also spent time just visiting in a streetfront cafe. It was exactly the kind of unique experience I love, unfortunately it didn't offer much chance for photos to share. Later that evening, I caught up again with my friend Eric for dinner. I mentioned wanting Moules et Frites, which took him by surprise, so he took me to a local place that specializes in it. It turned out to be more of a belgian chain that offered every kind of variety there is, so wasn't the happenstance cozy cafe experience I had with them years ago in Paris, but was still nice even just for the company. And after we stopped at another cafe to sit streetfront (of course) over coffee (and cola light for me.) A very full day of just being here. I leave for Munich tomorrow, so one last day still to go in Paris, but I'm already missing it.