9/29/2014 visits with Pascal and Charlie

Our friend Pascal Kramer, a French writer, recently moved to a new apartment. This is a what a garret looks like. (Of course, she is in the process of making it nice.) We met Pascal in Los Angeles about 14 years ago and have seen her through the years.


First, you climb the stairs to the very top:


If you get thirsty on the way:


Just in case: (I think that at one time these might have been the only water source and toilets in the building and shared by all)


Then after you get to the door there are two smaller flights. But these gave her a space for a nice book shelf. She has carried everything up all of the stairs with the help of a few friends.


Then there is another flight that you crawl up to a loft that Pascal uses when she has overnight guests.


Pascal says that it feels very cozy under the roof and that she loves to use it, but she can't stand up in it. When she has guests, and needs to go in the middle of the night, there is a toilet under the stair behind the blue curtain in the photo above.


Her normal bedroom. There is a full bath attached.


Marie leaning on the refrigerator. Notice how close her head is to the ceiling.


The kitchen table - also used as a desk.


There is a view of St. Paul's over the rooftops.


After a wonderful visit, we wandered. Saw a giant egg that was a present from Croatia, I think.


Drooled at lots of chocolate shops. The squirrel is in honor of my friend Ursula. Lots of shops have them.


Stopped at Marriage Freres for some tea.


And had lunch at the Brasserie l'isle St. Louis. We both had the onion tart, which came with a small salad.


That night M&B went out to dinner with Phillip and Evelyn for a combination birthday and anniversary. I went out for dinner with Chuck's grad school roommate, Charlie, his significant other Deborah, and another couple, Luz and Luis. Luis also knew Chuck.

The plans for this were a little complicated because C&D were arriving from their home in Italy that evening. The rest of their stay was probably going to babysitting D's granddaughter. So this was our best shot. We met for Champagne at C&D's (up many more stairs) and then walked to the restaurant. It was chosen because it was close and open on Monday. But the food was tasty and interesting.

I had quail:


Luz had scallops:


Deborah had foie de veau:


Charlie had beef cheeks:


And Luis had duck:


A very enjoyable evening. L&L are planning on being in L.A. In November, so I will probably see them then.

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