France - Paris Second Time

  Shayne's place was in a 300 year old building - "As old as the ancient tree outside" he said.  An enthusiastic older gentleman, he loves Paris and wants to share his awesome location where he lives with the world.  He began telling us of the magical currents of energy that flowed in lines throughout the world and that many run through cities, which were built along them.  He said that in the area in Paris that we were in, 4 of the laylines converge in his neighborhood and why there are 5 churches within a block or two of each other and built around this area.  He said he hadn't seen or heard a fight out front of his place (one of the busiest party streets in Paris 7 days a week) and also mentioned that it's a reason why people are so happy and live so long in the area.


  After more interesting conversation, some history of the area in regards to Romans, the story of the hill and so on, he gave us a super awesome map that he put together himself and sells normally for 2.5 euros.   The three of us then headed downstairs for dinner together!  Shayne is an American who moved to France chasing a girl 30 years ago.  He has been a teacher, a playwriter and actor, and does tours of the city of Paris, among other things.  He takes people in for a month at a time for $1200, making them fluent in French.  They stay at his place and he teaches them French every day in his special way, even using movies to help learn the slang.


  Dinner was at a Greek restaurant downstairs and was very good, filling, and costing only 18.50 euros.  Shayne did an opening scene for us from one of his plays he wants to put on and we were impressed.  I hope we can someday see it in a theater.


  Candace and I grabbed our chilled wine from the flat and headed for a walk, swinging by Shakespeare & Company





 and along the river to once again check out Notre Dame, only moments away.





  Some of the same performers were there doing their thing and it was fun to stop and watch for a bit while we enjoyed our Muscat wine.





  Eventually wanting to get away from all the people, we snapped a pic of Notre Dame and headed to walk along the river.





  Stopping at various spots, we talked about stuff and enjoyed the surroundings.





  We hit up a couple spots that we had wanted to see the last time we were there and didn't get a chance to, ending up at the point of the island west of Notre Dame (google maps it and you'll see exactly the area we were in).  We headed up to a bridge with a view of the Eiffel Tower





  and hung out while the rest of the "hour" ended and the Eiffel Tower lit up in sparkling glory for it's 5 minute show.  (It does this in the evenings each hour on the hour)


  Heading back home, Candace found a little guy through the window





and we then stopped directly across the street from the apartment/flat and went into the Jazz club which was in a cool downstairs, cave-like room.  This place has been around a very long time and every night there is live music here and dancing until 2 or 3am.  It's also cool because you could barely hear anything from the street, but they have plenty of volume downstairs. 





  We had some fun and then it was a night!


  The next morning we took a walk to Notre Dame and enjoyed the inside, which we had never been in.





  We hadn't been in a Cathedral in a bit so we were glad we didn't see it the last time that we were in Paris, because it would have been right after going inside the Louvre, which is ridiculous in its art and beauty.





   It was a beautiful walk through and we took some pics before heading outside





to walk around to check out the garden in the back that Shayne had told us about.





  Eating a little picnic, we relaxed in the great scenery and watched a couple get their wedding pictures taken. 





  We then walked back to the place a different route, crossing a "bridge of locks"





  The idea with the bridge was that you and your Sig. other would come together with your lock in hand, attach and lock it to the bridge, then throw the key into the water as a symbol of your commitment and staying locked together forever.  Cool idea.





  We attached a piece of tissue paper securely to the metal frame because that's all we had.  Besides, if I don't have an adamantium lock, its all or nothing because it could be cut off so tissue will have to do! ;)




  We passed another garden across the river and on the way back.





   One more pic of Notre Dame and a 300 year old tree, supported by a tree made of stone.


 


  Soon it was time to push on and to catch our flight to Dublin, Ireland!


Jason & Candace