Challiman

Great report, took such twists and turns I keep reading and kept reading, had to find out how you were and how your romantic encounter would end.
SO, you must contact him, at least with many thanks and an explanation of what happened. Who knows what might happen after that.
Hurry and do another trip so we can see what other adventures you may have.

cw

Mahya--what an adventure. I'm so happy you're feeling well. I think you have received good advice on getting in touch with your friend in order to update and thank him. Do let us know what happens.

It does sound like a great Parisian novel. I'll buy it!

You say this is Part 1--if so, I can't wait for Part 2!

Mahya2

Well since the adventure with the hospital and Gerard was a major event in my mind, this was what I wrote about but there was another interesting event, I didnt mention.

When I left the closed L'Orangerie I walked down to the street surrounding the Concord - and I saw a group with signs and people chanting some slogans and then I noticed there were not only lots of gendarme around but plainclothesmen, and military. I stopped and stood still thinking whatever was happening I didnt want to get near it. Just as I stopped, 5 or 6 black and some gray SUV's and fancy cars drove up and abruptly stopped. Short obviously Latin men in dark suits jumped out - everyone was at attention with their backs to the cars and watching the crowd, and then Chavez jumped out and ran to the chanting crowd. I'm thinking I dont want to be mistaken for part of this group, or around if anyone decides to assassinate him and I need to get away from here.. since I'm also under the gaze of a particular plain clothesman. Just as quickly as they all jumped out of the cars, they all ran back to them, jumped back in and left. And so did I, in the other direction.

Mahya2

So, Kerouac, was snickering. Common lines in France, eh?

Apparently I have eyes that get me in trouble. I shall wear sunglasses at all times in the future.

When I was in Lisbon I also almost got in trouble with my direct gaze. Apparently if you look at men directly in the eyes in Europe, it is taken as a "come-on". I was having lunch with a companion at a restaurant, popular with the businessmen in the area, and I was facing the door watching people coming in. A man came in and I was looking at him as I had looked at everyone entering. His eyes met mine, and he wiggled those eyebrows. LOL. Then when the businessman was seated,and although I was seated with a male friend, he continued to look at me and wiggle his eyebrows at me if I looked that way.

I'm afraid to find out what wiggling eyebrows at you means in Europe - I suspect it's something I dont want to know

kerouac

"Meet me in the restroom in 3 minutes."

Mahya2

eeeeuwww- yech.

kerouac

Well? What next?

SeaUrchin

Of course he had his lines but that is what makes it fun! I think you should contact him also, he was very sweet in going to the hospital with you, not many people you have just met would do that. He may have had his little romantic lines but he was a good person who cared what happened to you. It is worth a thank you note!

What did happen? Just you just leave Paris then, right afterwards?

Mahya2

Sea Urchin,

Yes of course you are right - a very decent caring person.

The hospital literally told me I could go home on the 23rd at 3 AM in the morning - (laughing - that is also a first ) and called a taxi for me. The nurse negotiated 15 Euro with the driver, and when we got there, he said no no, only 9 euro.

I'm telling you - Paris is the place for me. Now if only I had 1 million.2 Euro for a studio apartment in Paris

I reported to the travel insurance company on Wednesday and they were ready to get me home - I decided to wait til I felt less shaky before boarding another plane, and left on Sunday.

Kismet. I have been going to American doctors for 3 years without their finding anything wrong - I had to go to France and a French hospital to find out what it was !

Mahya2

Kerouac,

<Author: kerouac
Date: 10/13/2008, 05:28 pm

Well? What next? >


Actually Kerouac, I am thinking of assigning you the task of finding him and explaining what happened - since you know the whole story - and speak the language - and that when I return to Paris he may continue to look in my eyes - LOLOLOLOLOL - if he so chooses. He may not.

I dont think you should tease him about his "lines" though.

I think he is a very sincere and extremely sensitive person - but then again, I'm not a man nor a a Frenchman, so what do I know !

So Kerouac, are you up to the task ?

WillTravel

So what is the proper etiquette if you find a sawed-off shotgun in the closet of a short-term apartment you are renting? Would you inform the apartment owner, the police, or whom?

Mahya2

Will Travel

Since I strongly doubt that the little nervous French/Spanish woman was a drug dealer, and noting what a highly strung woman she was and with 5 locks on the door, I would say the proper etiquette is to mind one's own business

Is owning a firearm in France illegal? Perhaps she had it left over from when the Nazis invaded. Who knows. As long as I was in the apartment and no one had access to it while I was there - c'est la vie.

SeaUrchin

I enjoyed your writing style, please let us know what happens. If nothing else, you may have a nice gentleman friend in Paris, not so bad, lol.

Mahya2

Sea Urchin,

Thank you -I have been writing business reports and legal drafts for briefs for so long that I really appreciate everyone's enjoyment of this report effort.

I believe in fated events; maybe Gerard was just put in my path by the fates so that I wouldn't be an unknown person passing out on the street - perhaps there will be more to the story - and perhaps not -

Yes, it would be nice to have a "friend" in Paris but sometimes there is a magic moment which when interrupted cannot be recovered.

We shall see.

cigalechanta

Mayhaya, I've ben following your story and love it. When I was younger on my first trip to Paris, two young French men raced after me and my friend who luckily spoke French as we were about to cross a street. They told her they must speak to me , to sit at the cafe across the street. It turned out to be weird. This incredible gorgeous young man, told my friend I looked exactly like his fiancee who died in a boating accident. I thought it was the greatest pickup line I had ever heard-until-he pulled a photo out of his wallet. It was creepy! She did look like me and not only that wearing the same dress I had once worn. We had drinks and asked if he could see me again. He came to my hotel the next day waiting in the lobby and took me to his aunt's solon de tea(sp?)they gasped when they saw me. Anyway after that we parted and he wrote me wanting to come to the USA to study and be near me. I told him I looked younger than I was and he should find another girl who does not look like the one he loved, But he was so handsome, I still have his photo.

Tempusfugit

Thanks so mcuh

Mahya2

Cigelachanta,

Ahh,..

That is what I would call another missed opportunity.

If you weren't married at the time, why not?

But I understand why not - our generations of women were brought up to be proper and not daring and not risk takers - I think. The generation of the children who should be seen but not heard. I think we did not grow up until after 40 -

How does that saying go?

"If only I knew then what I know now ......"

kerouac

Well, give me his name and I will send him a message. I don't suppose that you would want him to come to the Fodor's site and read this thread, though...?

progol

Mahya,
If Kerouac contacts Gerard, that may be another missed opportunity!

I can only imagine how touched he'd feel if you do contact him directly. And who knows what friendship would transpire when you return to Paris?

Paule

gracie04

Okay, Mahya, I haven't checked in on this thread in a few days. I thought for sure by now you would have contacted Gerard, and I would be reading a great love story. Or at least an entertaining one.

Get to it, girl!

By the way, I went make up shopping Sunday (it was time to give my make up bag a good overhaul and replace some things.) In addition to my usual pinky-beige lipsticks I picked up a great red in honor of you! It looks good! It's Bobbi Brown "Scarlett".

Maybe I'll wear it in Paris and get my own Gerard!

Johanna