Sooooo, how was it? It was really, really fun. I always love spending time alone with Maxime. We pretty much do one thing, and one thing only: laugh and joke around forever.
As we all know, I think, he can be very mature and serious too.
We went to the Military Museum. He wanted to see the canons first. The 17th to 19th century artillery.
Then, the tomb of Napoleon, which if any visual experience is unforgettable, this one qualifies. I remember the first time I saw it, and it was implanted in my head. I had no idea what to expect, and I think that makes the impression all the more shocking.
It is the approach, the looking down, and then the collosal scale of the sacaphagos (sp?). Well, Maxime went all silent. Golly, who doesn't.
Now, don't get me wrong, I really, really dislike Napoleon: another dictator who rounded up youth to be killed on battlefields for no reason. So, it's not about Napoleon, per se. Just want to keep that straight. Okay, Greg, you can shut up now.
The highlight of the day, actually, was not anything historic. It was our lunch at the Cafe de Flore. Really neat place. (But you have to "get it".)
It was very popular (along with its neighboring cafe, Les Deux Magots) ever since the '20s. Two literary cafes, competing with each other. Cafe de Flore much cooler. I wouldn't be caught dead in Les Deux Magots. Just want to make it clear that I am with the cool crowd, not the Wannabes. hahahaha.
Now, with Cafe de Flore, it is not that the decoration is anything of particular interest. And (now this is going to sound a bit weird), even the food is not "high end" or "fancy"....
Okay, so what is special about it; tell us, will ya?
Well, it is this: each item on the menu has somehow achieved an iconic rendition of itself. Like the attainment of an archetype, which then you see before you (an experience which induces vertigo), and the final straw: you can actaully interact with it. By imbibing it.
It is really just too much to take. I suggested to Maxime that we just leave everything in the middle of the table, watch it for a while, and then get up and leave.
He voted no.
The croque madame (with egg on top): quite sure I have never had any better. Not that it is fancy, mind you. It is just perfect. Perfect toast, perfect egg. Same with Maxime's orange juice. Freshly pressed (is there any other way)? Even the green salad.
But, the very very pinnacle was this: the hot chocolate. If you think you have had a hot chocolate before in your life, please allow me to interject and point out that you are mistaken.
This was GORGEOUS. A meliflouous symphony for the tongue, and on the way down ......
:-)
