{"id":226,"date":"2009-03-16T02:32:14","date_gmt":"2009-03-16T06:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forbesgrant.com\/blog\/?p=226"},"modified":"2022-01-12T08:25:58","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T13:25:58","slug":"day-16-what-recession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forbesgrant.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/16\/day-16-what-recession\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 16–What Recession?"},"content":{"rendered":"

While there is no doubt we are in a recession, it doesn’t appear visible here, at least from an outsider’s perspective. The Europeans have not bought into the stimulus idea. Hard to know whether that makes sense yet (although I noticed that the NYT chided them the other day to get the lead out’), but\u00a0les Parisians\u00a0<\/em>are going about their business every day, from all appearances, like everyone else, I guess, but I supppose there’s really no choice but to do that.<\/p>\n

I suspect, however, that the shops and restaurants and hotels here, especially the high end ones, are hurting. An article in the IHT the other day talked about the return to automated food vending machines, surprising really, when even the\u00a0boulanger\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>around the corner has tasty-looking sandwiches at seemingly reasonable prices.\u00a0It has long\u00a0line-ups at lunch time, students, construction workers,\u00a0tout le monde<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, our friend Linda asked to see photos of our place here, so I’ve attached a few. Note the computers on the dining room table; we each brought one to avoid domestic dispute. I “Skyped” this for my daughter the other day.<\/p>\n

It’s another beautiful day here, just on the cusp of spring, so after Sandy’s class, we went to Caf\u00e9 de la Mairie, 8, pl. Saint-Sulpice, on\u00a0the north side of the\u00a0square, another great people-watching spot where I’ve been coming for 25 years. Its great location is why, for a roast beef sandwich and a beer, it’s not exactly inexpensive. You might recognize the place as it shows up in many films set in Paris. We didn’t see anyone famous although Jude Law walked by Sandy the other day and the guy sitting next to us at the Caf\u00e9 reading\u00a0Le Monde<\/em>could win the Jean-Paul Sartre look alike contest, wall-eye, pipe and all. His wife didn’t look like Simone de Beauvoir, though. I figurered\u00a0he’d think I was a goof (and probably be right) if I asked to take his picture so I showed some restraint.<\/p>\n

After an apple tart from Poil\u00e2ne, not to be missed although I certainly could have missed it, we hung out in the Jardin du Luxembourg where I had a bit of a nap. (Maybe not such a good idea in light of the ballet coming up tonight.)<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

The ballet wasn’t as good as the one last week although I liked the Mahler 3rd better than the Mozart. Although modern, as Sandy\u00a0explains, it was way too\u00a0pas de deux\u00a0<\/em>and twirly for me although it reminded me that I haven’t been to a Yoga class since we’ve been here. The Op\u00e9ra Bastille couldn’t be more different from Palais Garnier if\u00a0they had tried, the former much less ornate and more functional as befitted the century, I guess.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, we went to a\u00a0bustling little\u00a0spot in the north end of the Marais, across Place Bastille which we had\u00a0enjoyed the last time we were here, called Caf\u00e9 des Mus\u00e9es, 49, rue de Turenne, near both the Mus\u00e9e Picasso and Mus\u00e9e Carnavalet.<\/p>\n\n\t\t