I received my first-ever guest blog. From my dear friend and sista, Lora Ostrow who is spending 10 days in Paris. She couldn’t have captured the spirit of this blog better:

So, i have experienced my first night of live jazz in monmartre. we were told to go to a cafe on Rue Lepic (where we are staying!)  that had a cave. I have never been into a cafe with a cave before and was curious. It turned out to be the most amazing live music venue i’ve ever been to, but probably tres normal for parisians. Not to mention the great jazz, mingling with the Anglophone pianist who asked me for my e-mail and a kiss “for inspiration”, and having some local Frenchies buy me a glass of wine.

saturday morning- at a cafe in monmartre. after all the sightseeing and the eiffel tower, montmartre still inspires the most musings in me.

the bells of the cathedral chime 12. U2 plays softly from the bar inside…with or without you. the swing jazz, or beebop or whatever you call it band wraps takes a break from their show in the plaza across the way by the merry-go-round. metro abesses. monmartre. i sit. content to order cafe creme in french and read my new yorker. i think i may have found quite possibly the best spot in monmartre. money and relationship problems aside. i DO know how lucky i am.

the silly over-eager Morrocan man asked me how much  plane ticket is from here to there. he didnt know what “the states” was. his friend was embarrassed for him. they moved on after annoying me but only for a few minutes. i am left now to my senses and the music and the people on the street. and i wonder, who do they see when they walk by? an american writing in her journal? or possibly a passionate french poet, in red striped pants, chronicalling the stories of her heart. yes, i like the sound of that better, although i dont pull it off very well, even after bonjour, merci and si vous plaix. they walk around and i become a part of what makes this city beautiful. i watch them and i have no place to rush to. and the women! oh, the women. they do feminine better than anywhere i’ve ever been. and not in the sexy damsel way. they own it, naturally. it helps that the clothes here are light, inspired, and sexy. but of course its not the clothes that makes the woman, al reves (the reverse?)!

after the cafe i walked across to the plaza and chose a spot on a bench near the band. i couldnt help moving a bit to the rhythm, and letting my gaze wander lightly to the cathedral across the way, the bookstore, a jewelry shop (soldes, of courses!), the children with their mom, swinging from her arms. when the music was about to end i walked into the jewelry shop to find a friendly store owner who engaged me in conversation about travel, family origins and such. she was a mix of many things, even more than me, and i felt we understood each other.

yesterday by the end of the day (we walked some and then took the boat down the river) i was absolutely overhwhelmed by the amazing sights and architecture all around. we laughed when we got to one of the huge intesections with palaces and statues. it was almost too much to take in, but painfully beautiful nonetheelss. i actually teared up as we approached arc de triumph as our first stop in the day. it was breathtaking, and i had this feeling come over me that was like everyone was there to appreciate the potential of the human hand and mind and art…. and . and… !!

the eiffel tower area also had really good energy, but different. the pakistani guys selling miniature toweres and getting chased by police on bikes and horses may have had something to do with it.