Sunday, May 10, 2009

Drink at Café de Flore


Because Bettina (a regular visitor to PDP) was arriving in Paris today, Anne Reeves had organized a little gathering with her at Café de Flore. Alas, Bettina never showed up! I suppose I'll meet her later on, at the picnic on Wednesday 13, but in the meantime we enjoyed a nice little drink at the terrace of "Le Flore", as we call it. Le Flore is famous for having been the HQ of many intellectuals after the war. Now it's a little touristy, very expensive (a beer costs 8,50 €!) but that is what is costs to sit where Sartre and Beauvoir sat 50 years ago!

63 comments:

  1. Eric, since you don't drink, what did you have? 8 euro 50 for a beer?! Too rich for my blood. However I hear wine is worth the price in Paris ;).

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  2. Yesterday, while watching "The Barefoot Contessa" on the Food Channel, she and her husband had drinks there.
    The cafe also has a store right behind it where you can buy coffee cups and other goodies from the cafe.
    And directly accross from the store, is a MISS TIC graffiti on the door of the bookstore.

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  3. a graffito (?) of Simone de Bouvoir. Miss T. was asked to do it.

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  4. Like the skewed & blurred view of the waiters. I bet many have that same view through a glass ;)

    What a shame Bettina couldn't make it. Imagine sitting where Sartre sat...wow.

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  5. Wren you got GF! So what will be on your crown tonight?

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  6. I'm going with glasses from de Flore on each of its crystal points. and a wine glass in my hand!

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  7. Hope Bettina can make it later on.

    What a privilege to have a cafe or a drink at Le Flore!!!

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  8. Guille, where you there? Did you whisper in Eric's ear "must organize a post picnic gathering, must organize a post gather...." ?

    I'm sure you've got the power to enchant anyone with you charms!!!

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  9. Maybe Bettina had trouble figuring out Le Metro. I did, at first. But once you get it it's easy.

    I wonder how long they let you nurse a single beer at Le Flore...

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  10. I'm proud to say that the glass you're looking at is mine! because Michael's glass was already...empty. Hehe. You can also notice the very French waiter behind it, apron, tray and everything...

    Monica, I did whisper some soft words to Eric's ear and the answer was YES! We'll organize something for you, dear.

    I had a great evening, as usual with the PDP regulars. A shame Bettina didn't show up!! Where are you Bettina?!

    Lynn, once again, thanks for your help.

    Anyway, see you guys on Wed.

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  11. Bon disons que cette photo elle fera la rue Michel!!

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  12. No prob Guille. I really couldn't do much but I tried.

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  13. Not that I'm complaining, but hey! How about a glimpse of Guille and Michael and whoever else was there?

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  14. Petrea, Anne took some pictures of us...but Eric didn't, that why!

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  15. Lynn, the story continues, what have I roped myself in for?
    I'm off to bed.

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  17. Yay Eric!!!!!!

    Guille what can I say??

    Barely can't wait!!!!!!!!

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  18. That should read "barely can wait", right?

    Too much emotion... makes one a bit confused!

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  19. Cafe Flore never had more wonderful company as it had last night.

    I sure do hope Bettina is all right! Is she alone is Paris? Brave girl! I could never be alone in such a big city.

    Lynn and Drummond, I LOVE your story!

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  20. Mystery picnic guest is married........

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  21. Ooh, PHX, that's an enticing clue. But Eric doesn't want to know who it is so we can't guess correctly.

    Is it Maria from San Dimas?

    WAIT! I KNOW! IT'S ME!

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  22. Looks like it was the perfect day to sit and sip in the midst of so much history. What a lucky bunch!!

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  23. It's not like me to whine but I wish I'd been there!

    LOL, Lynn and Drummond!

    Phx, can I change my mystery guest suggestion to Coltrane? It's a common deflection technique of people hiding something to shift the attention to someone else ...

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  24. Petrea, I have a feeling that PHX-CDG isn't going to tell us even if we guess correctly!

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  25. Was this really shot in Paris?
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/5278200/Sign-language-week-48.html?image=15

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  26. How quick and clever of Guille to point out that my wine glass was empty and her's wasn't. I guess not, after 5 glasses...you slow down after a while Guille, isn't that right?

    When Eric was taking this, I kept thinking, "I hope he gets the waiters in the shot" and voila, there they are.

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  27. Yes Bettina, where are you? I hope you are alright. Even LynnUK (our official PDP investigator) couldn't find you.

    It was nice to meet up again with Anne and her husband Dan on their last evening in Paris. It was really a Moment of Delight!

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  28. Can hardly see the keyboard through the happy tears - will miss you all.

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  29. BTW, you probably knew that, but it's just been confirmed by a study!

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  30. hmmm... historical, maybe, but they don't know how to clean a glass! What are all those spots on the glass?!

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  31. Martha Stewart said, "What are all those spots on the glass?!"

    Why, after 5 glasses, Guille was getting a little sloppy that's all.

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  32. Sure you had a great time yesterday evening... and I don't need to know how many glasses of wine Guille and Michael had ;-)

    And I add my piece to "Wednesday's guest star" game : I vote for Coltrane...

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  33. he he Michael - Official PDP investigator - I like it! :)

    Michael have you read the story Drummond and I are writing ..er...being roped into? lol go to the comments box of 8 May.... !
    thanks Suzy and Shell. Fun isn't it.

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  34. "Why, after 5 glasses, Guille was getting a little sloppy that's all".
    "I guess not, after 5 glasses...you slow down after a while Guille, isn't that right?"
    Michael, be careful, one more like this and you could regret it...

    Thib, just few glasses, imagine le prix..!

    Petrea, north America, married...so it's you!!?

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  35. Okay Drummond, the next chapter is written. Over to you! :D How I am enjoying this!

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  36. Guille, yes I guess the price! But what do you mean by "few"? ;-)

    Lynn, glad you mentionned "go to the comments box of 8 May...." to Michael, 'cause I couldn't understand anything about your exchanges with Drummond above... So I'm going back to 8 May right now...

    ... I wish I could in real, that would be the beginning of a 3 days weekend ;-)

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  37. LOL it would! Glad you will read it Thib, it's a bit of fun - and the picnic features!

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  38. Hmm well caught. Never even had a drink at 'Le Flore'!!
    Sure it was, a great moment.
    The best thing to do when you love French food/wine is to eat/drink it, as often as you can !!
    Hard to live that vicarioulsly, indeed!

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  39. I'm sorry Bettina missed it, it seems like you had a wonderful time. Have a great time at the picnic, and I'll be wishing you the best and great weather as well!

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  40. Lynn, I took a quick look at your novel on 8 May and I'm afraid I can't even begin to get involved. It seems quite elaborate and sophisticated (did I say "sophisticated"?) for me. Have fun!

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  41. By the way, I have figured out who the surprise guest is, and I'm sure I'll get thrown in the Seine by PHX (right after Guille) for giving you this clue, but it's a.......


    ............



    ...................



    ..........................


    ..............................MAN!

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  42. I like this photo. I sat in almost the same spot about 3 years ago only it was in the evening and it was raining. The waiters wanted to know if we wanted to go inside but we were enjoying the rain too much and stayed under the awning.

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  43. Nothing is too sophisticated for you, Michael ;)

    A MAN? Un homme...el hombre...ein mann...um homem, een man...nope I've still no idea! That last one reminds me though - any news of Bettina?

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  44. Is it Coltrane? I don't even know where he lives, but hey I'm going for it - Coltrane!

    Or...Clo...whom we haven't seen for ages, but...?

    Jeff! Where does Jeff live? lol...oh I don't know. I'm exhausted... :(

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  45. Is it tonton flaneur?!
    Come on Michael, spill! BTW, right after Guille?! Who plans to throw me in the Seine? Not you I hope.

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  46. Like every year Guille!

    No news from Bettina...I hope she's ok.

    Tonton Flaneur is close, but not quite. Yeah, what happened to Clo? Coltrane would be cool - he on his drums, me on my banjo, woohoo!

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  47. In this case, Drummond might be right yesterday with his guess...?? :)

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  48. Close but not quite? Louis la Vache alors? I can't think about other regular PDPers, men, north america... Allez Mike!!

    And no, not like every year. You didn't succeed last year, remember!

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  49. Close? Close in what sense? Geographically?taste?looks?nationality?writingstyle?age? whaaaaaaaaaaaat? Guille and I are begging for a clue, right Guille?

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  50. Anon do you know where Drummond is? Tell him the ink's dry.

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  51. I feel like I have to corral in Mr.Clue who is clueless in Paris (Michael).

    I am the official sponser, not HE! I give away nothing more, until I hear back from mystery guest, who is out robbing a bank right now to pay for their 2 day trip.

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  52. Guille -- Louis La Vache was also my guess, yesterday. Whoever it is, I envy them—as I do all of you who were at the Flore last night. I tried to contact my brother and niece (who are in Paris right now) and tell them to join you in my place, but no luck. Anyway now you know that the mystery guest is not moi.

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  53. "Their" 2 days trip?! Coming with his wife? That's a hint!!

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  54. Indeed - perhaps this person is not coming to Paree alone...

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  55. Eric,
    No offense but when we get together while I'm in Paris we're gonna have to find something less pricey, n'est pas?? :)
    V

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  56. I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane I want to hop on a plane

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  57. USelaine: HOP! Paris awaits!

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  58. Ooh! Big hugs to my friend Anne. I am so glad that you've had a wonderful time together.
    Michael, you are just too funny!
    Eric; I love your photo with the waiters out of focus; not suspecting that they might be in the photo too.

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