6 weeks in Paris

28.02.08
Before Hudson arrived I’d made assumptions stupidly,
But nothing is predictable from the girl that’s from Bingley,
I thought we’d do the sights and I’d prepared myself for this,
Counting on the fact it’s her first trip to Paris.
And while we did the Louvre and the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur
In terms of Paris sights this was enough for her.
On the steps of the Sacre-Coeur we sat and watched buskers,
As February was providing us with as much sun as it could muster
Some weird old lady had had far too much and was dancing to the music,
Had no-one told her she was over the hill or was she refusing to believe it?
So whilst sitting in Montmartre, with views over the whole town,
My eyes scanned the horizon, left, right, up and down.
Thinking this is pretty French, I’m a real Parisian,
Before realising I found myself at another tourist attraction
But fortunately I saw it, I found what I was looking for,
Only five yards from me were a group sitting on the floor,
All sharing cheese and wine now just how French is that?
A simple sight like this made me a very happy chap.
You see I’m not happy being a tourist, I want to feel French
I want to be considered a native in every single sense.
This is why I persist in speaking French when a waiter speaks English
And why I force myself to eat the oddest tasting dish.
My accent is so obvious, people realise straight away,
That I’m an English university boy that isn’t here to stay.
Paris has got me in its grasp and I’m addicted to its charm,
Walking these streets at any time I feel safe from harm.
Hudson saw my frustrations at a café we went to,
When someone ignores my attempts at French it makes me feel like poo
The waiter spoke bad English as I continued in his language,
Perhaps he wanted us to know just how well he could manage.
The meal we ate was called “The French” and he asked us if we liked it?
I said yeah we liked “the French” at which he was delighted.
He said “haha, funny joke” in a very odd accent,
And just for the international relations that was 15 euros well spent.
We met up with Dorny and three lovely girls out here,
To go and see 2manydjs for the second time this year.
The girls will hate me if I talk too much about their drunken state
Better to say they behaved themselves than to lose three mates.
“Social Club” the venue, was just the place for me,
But not good for smokers or sweat, unfortunately!!
The place was rammed by one o’clock, I couldn’t move my feet.
It was like corned beef in a can, compacted greasy meat!
But the night was a success, and I’ll be going back
With mates on my birthday in a posse, group or pact.
Hudson’s time to go, came and quickly went,
But I’ll be forever grateful for the time over here she spent
Since I had a bit more focus, I had a better aim,
To integrate myself in France I really stood to gain.
So with a week off from work, (the gallery’s being rented out)
I thought I’d get my arse in gear and find out Paris is about.
I planned to do some research and some discovery
But truth be told the weather wasn’t kind to me.
I have done a few good things, went to a gallery outside of the Marais
All about immigrants and international djs
I tried to go to the Catacombs but this was a non-starter,
The bleeding thing is shut, so there’s no happy ever after,
It ruined my day and put an end to my concerted attempt,
To find more things in Paris other than work and paying rent.
But things are back on track, it’s free museum Sunday
I’ll take a stroll round some free places with Coates leading the way.