Isn’t it funny when a girl wants to shop there are no language barriers.
With my little French and her little English, we still managed to communicate very well and she made the whole experience fun and pleasurable. She didn’t have a purple pair in my size but will have them, next week and will call me.
 |
| Henry Achkoyan Shoes |
Armed with what could have been obscure instructions; get out at the Belleville Metro, walk up the hill, and continue walking until you see a big sign on the wall with men hanging off it. It is just near there. OK – I did walk up a hill and started to asked myself, why didn’t I ask the name of the bar or something clearer.
Sure enough, after walking up the hill from Belleville Metro stop on Rue de Belleville rather than down the hill I came across a giant sign on the side of a building with what appeared to be two men in the process of installing the sign; an installation. There was the bar, when I looked through the window, JD was sitting inside. Too easy!
He assured me more people will arrive shortly, including some friends of his who write, act, etc.
The small bar was buzzing by the time I sat down and ordered a drink and by the time JD’s friends had arrived, I started to wonder how many more people could squeeze into this lovely eclectic space.
Many more.
Anita, a New Yorker, well traveled, writer, therapist, teacher, actor, you name it and all round amazing woman and I connected minutes after she sat down. To begin with we shared stories of missing luggage. This was just the beginning of many unfinished and animated stories between the two of us.
 |
| Both Anita and I loved the lighting! |
Then the night began to unfold. Anita, displayed her writing skills coupled with her acting skills and wooed the crowd. Later her friend Georgia, an American who has been living in Paris for the past six years, unhappy with the way her country and government has turned out, expressed her views through prose. A young Australian man, who arrived in Paris six weeks ago, also part of our group, shared his soul and pain through lyrics he had recently written. One outstanding young lady, who I think, if there was a prize, she should have won it. Delivered, without notes, a moving and emotional piece which brought the small crammed packed cafe down.
As more and more people squeezed into the cafe, of which I overheard the organiser say they only had a small crowd tonight, the audience who were also the participants, continued to entertain.
An english lady, who I also had the pleasure of meeting and who earlier in the day, had a job interview with Givenchy, expressed with excitement; we normally would have to pay to see and hear such talent.
Tonight for free, I witnessed not only a captivated audience but a talented group of people, sharing their stories, their hearts and their souls through song or verse.
Perhaps the new stars, the literary movement of Paris or the World of today.
Shoes and chocolate, now that is a good mixture but shoes made from chocolate? There is a wonderful little shop around the corner from Place des Voges where I spotted this window.
 |
| Shoes made from chocolate! |