Paris, France 7/10/09- 7/14/09

fd7/10/09
I arrived in Paris at 11:30 a.m. My first visit in Paris was to the Auberge de Venice which was formerly known as the Dingo Bar. This was where Ernest Hemingway met famous American writer Scott Fitzgerald. Hemingway also met many other famous people that he wrote about in his books A Moveable Feast and The Sun Also Rises. After I paid the 6 euro taxi fare to get to my hotel in Paris, I checked in. I would be staying at the Le Méridien Montparnasse hotel. Just twenty yards away from the hotel was my first destination. I entered the cafe Auberge de Venice and ordered my lunch, an appetizer and a cup of coffee for 5 euros. The atmosphere was astounding and although I was in France the theme of the restuarant was Italian. I ate my meal and pondered the ties between Hemingway's stories and his actual encounters in life. Who did he meet that he based his characters off of? For dinner I had a return visit to the restuarant with some people I had met on my flight to Paris. They were a husband and wife from America who gave me a tour of the important monuments in Paris and helped familiarize me with the Parisian lifestyle. They were an exquisite couple and I enjoyed their company with my dinner of spaghetti and meatballs for 10 euros.
7/11/09
My destination today would be to 74 rue du Cardinal Lemoine which was Ernest Hemingway's Paris home. I take a taxi there and pay him the 5 euro fare. As I walked up to the building all there was on the building to recognize Hemingway is a small plaque with his name and picture. I greeted the concierge and asked to see the room which is described by Hemingway in A Moveable Feast as being on the theird floor and having a squat toilet outside on the landing. She told us that her parents knew Ernest Hemingway as she took us up the same spiral staircase that Ernest walked up to get to his third story room. It was a small cramped room witha small kitchen and is a little on the gloomy side. I thanked the man who currently resides there and walk out onto the street. Not much had changed about the street since Ernest Hemingway described it in A Moveable Feast. Some of the buildings were renovated but they are still the same buildings. It reassured me that no matter how far we go into the future, Hemingway's stories will still apply and remain timeless. Next I walked to the cafe across the street called the Café des Amateurs. It was also described in A Moveable Feast. I ordered a crêpe filled with ham and cheese for 7 euros and enjoyed the pleasant warm summer weather. Hemingway felt that this area was run-down and adventurous. I would definatley agree. Later in the evening I returned to the Auberge de Venice for another fine tasting meal. This time I ordered ravioli for 7 euros.
7/12/09
Today I took a break from Ernest Hemingway to watch the Tour de France. I watched the Tour de France which takes place from July 5- 27. It is the biggest event in bicycle racing. It has 21 stages in which cyclists race and the leader of the race wears a yellow jersey. Many people line the streets to cheer on their favorite riders and teams. I was one of those people today and boy did I see some wierd things. Many of the people around me were under the influence of alcohol and wearing less than appropriate clothing. There bodies were spray painted with different colors and names. Although, the bikers only pass by for at most a minute the spectators make this an all day affair. I enjoyed myself relaxing and watching this phenomenal sporting event. I had lunch and dinner at the race for a total of 15 euros.
7/13/09
Today I stopped by one of Hemingway's other hag out spots, a bookstore called Shakespeare and Company. The smell of the store was enough to keep you there forever. It had a very bohemian look and seemed very rugged and classic yet filled with much new and blooming literature. We spoke with the owner about Ernest Hemingway and he told us and interesting stoy about him that he had heard from the previous store owner. He said that Hemingway would regularly come to the store to read rewiews about his published literature. If there was a poor review about his books he would get very angry and throw the mangazine. One time he actually punched a vase breaking it and spilling the water over the bookcase. He also commented that he was terrible about returning library books. I found this quite amusing and pondered this fact over my lunch which consisted of a sausage bacon quiche slice and a glass of water with no ice. After lunch I decided to return to the bookstore to purchase a souvenir. I bought a French copy of A Moveable Feast with a very intriguing picture on the front cover. For dinner I ate at Auberge de Venice I was rather full from my lunch so I sampled some dessert, chocolate cake which was very reasonably priced at 3 euros. The waiter asked if he should start calling me a regular since I had been eating there so much. I laughed and told him that this was my last night in Paris though I wish I could stay longer. My flight left for Kenya, Africa at 12:00 the next afternoon.