Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Paris and Amsterdam

Two cities that have enriched my life are Amsterdam and Paris. My first visit to both was exactly 40 years ago, the summer of '70.

Amsterdam

Photo by Jack

Amsterdam

Darryl and I enjoyed this city of canals and cafes, bridges and bicycles, in the summer of 1993. Steve and David Killian joined us on our trip there, riding the scenic boats, walking the pedestrian streets, drinking Belgian beer in the cafes and taking in the unique night life. We returned in 1998 when Darryl played tennis and starred onstage in the Gay Games-- Amsterdam's biggest public event ever according to the Mayor. Our most recent visit was for Thanksgiving '99 when Mom joined us for a pleasant stay at the Ambassade.

Paris

Notre Dame

Photo by Jack

We love Paris in the Springtime, having enjoyed two merry months of May here in 1993 and 1995. We also spent a hot August, 1998 visiting Amy between stays in Amsterdam and Belgium. We visited Paris again with Mom for Thanksgiving, 1999, having dinner with Amy at Les Bookinistes; and visiting the Louvre. On our first visit we stayed on the Right Bank with the Killian brothers, took in the haunts of cemeteries where Chopin, Balzac, Oscar Wilde, and Jim Morrison are buried, and experienced the leisure of afternoon and evening cafe life. We also attended the French Open at Roland Garros once as guests of Lindsay Lee, who played three rounds of tennis qualifiers before losing to rising sensation Amelie Mauresmo. In 1995 we stayed first at the Boileau near the Bois de B. When Darryl returned to the U.S., Jack moved to the Hotel Unic on Rue du Montparnasse to enjoy all the pleasures of the Left Bank, including strolls through the Luxembourg Gardens, followed by a trip to Annecy and the French Alps.

Some of our favorite places:

Les Deux Magots

Where: 170 blvd, St Germain, 6th
Métro stop: St-Germain-des-Prés.
Open: 8h - 02h Daily; closed second week of January. Named after the two wooden statues (the two magots) which still dominate the room, Les Deux Magots is one the most famous cafés in Paris. Jean-Paul Sartre, and Hemingway were both patrons in an earlier era. Its rival - Café de Flore - is just next door.