1985-05 (May)

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May 1st, 1985

A great French (indeed, European) holiday; shops and restaurants mostly closed. Called Hugs, who came over for another deep-soaking bath and a change of shirt and underwear. Around 1:30 we went out for a lunch at a nearby brasserie, Lutetia; snails and lotte for me, duck salad sole menuise for Gwyn and Hugs, a bottle of Sinere? for all three; they had dessert, not me. Coffee all around.

After lunch we walked over to the dead-end Rue Recamier, which has a park the end and a pleasant, highly praised restaurant on the street itself. Cunning, well laid out playground for children, with benches around for grownups. Back to the hotel by 5; Hugs returned to his digs to organize his photos into a portfolio for submission to possible employers.

Gwyn and I had dinner at La Coupole; ate lightly- Claire oysters for Gwyn, onion soup for me; main courses, roast chicken and sole menuiere; dessert, crepes flambé gilles. Home by midnight.

Last edit about 5 years ago by mctaggartalex
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$25,000 Certificate Matures

May 2nd, 1985

Walked directly up the Rue du Bac and over the Port Royal to the Louvre. Alas, the Dutch- Hemish section (Vermer!) was closed, but we saw many great paintings, including ones by Goya, Velaquez, De la Croix, and many Italians; Mona Lisa too crowded-about for viewing.

Lunch in brasserie St.- Germain. Rested in room till time to leave for a reception for Toni Morrison given by an American Embassy official, Tennessee Catherman, at his apartment on Ave. Henri-Martin, Paris 750 16. Stayed till 8, then left for dinner at the Pre Catalan in the Bois de Boulogne.

Stupendous repast in elegant surroundings; cost 3179.75 FF. for the four of us including Hugs and his girl Gabriella. Meal too lengthy and complicated to itemize; this was our only two-star Michelin excursion.

Afterwards Hugs took us to some Blvd. of bal-mussette near the Bouloung, mainly frequented by African and West-Indian blacks who dances as if their sex lives depended on it. Home by 2 am. Dof!

Last edit about 5 years ago by mctaggartalex
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May 3rd, 1985

Paris: twelfth day. Wakened at 8:50 by phone call from a French journalist, Bernard Geries of Le Monde; I agreed to meet him at 3:330 in the lobby for an interview. Napped for much of the morning, then had lunch in the hotel dinning room, Les Autisaires. Walked up to Credit Lyonnaie; cashed another $200. Came back for interview. Likeable, interested and interesting young way, apparently much respected in literary circles here; spoke English quite fluently but with curious accent I couldn’t place as either English or American or by class. We talked for just over an hour, and he promised to send me a copy of the paper it comes in on May 9, the afternoon of the day we leave.

Embassy reception, 6:30-8 o’clock. Saw a number of friends, including Michel Mohrt (again), Michel Gresset, Claude Richard, Phillips Jawroski – the best three long-term student of my work and sponsor of it here in France. I made an appointment for an interview at 11 a.m. on Sunday with Mathieu Lindon of Liberation; Jaworski will serve as interpreter, his wife as photographer.

Afterwards, Gwyn and I went to the Hemmingway bar at the Ritz; drank Johnny Walker black while the bartender told Hemmingway stories out of his personal experiences as a young chauffeur- mainly to do with guns and shooting, most of them apparently ture, including an account of how he gave him a fine over-and – under shotgun when he was barely 17.

Last edit about 5 years ago by mctaggartalex
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May 2nd, 1985

Walked directly to the Rue du Sac and over the Port Royal to the Louvre. Alas, the Dutch-Flemish section (Vermeer!) was closed, but we saw many great paintings including one by Goya, Velasquez, Delacroix, and many Italians; Mona Lisa too crowded-about for viewing. Luuchim brasserie St Germain. Rested in room till time to leave for a reception for Tomi Morrison given by an American embassy official. , Terrence Catherman, at his apartment on Ave. henri-Martin, Paris 750 16. Stayed till 8, then left for dinner at the Pre Catalan in the Bois de Boulogne. Stupendous report in elegant surroundings; cost 3179.78 ff for the four of us, including Hugs and his girl Gabriella. Meal too lengthy and complicated to itemize; this was our only two-star Michelin excursion. Afterwards hugs took us to some kind of bar- musette near the Boubourg, mainly frequented by African and West Indian blacks who danced as if their sex lives depended on it. Home by 2 a.m. Oof!

Last edit about 5 years ago by mctaggartalex
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May 5th, 1985

Got in at 9:30, in time to bathe and dress for interview in lobby with Mathieu Lindon of Liberation. Last about two hours, woke about 12:30; lengthy and, I think, interesting. Phillips Jaworsky acted as interpreter and his wife was there a photographer. He’ll bring a copy of the paper here Tuesday. Called Hugs to see whether he wanted us to bring him his laundry by taxi; no answer, but I left a message on his machine. He called back within ten minutes, undecided (as usual) what to do. I made a reservation for the three of us at Chez les Augues, 54 Blvd La Tour-Marbourg (just off Rue de Greuelle on far side of Les Invalides) for 2 o’clock; left message for Hugs to join us if he can and wants to. We arrived at restaurant on schedule, Hugs and Gabriella not arrived until 2:40. But we then had one of the best meals of my trip so far: ouefs meurette and liver for me, goat-cheese salad and veal aiguillettes for Gwyn; dessert for everyone but me, and a bottle of Champagne afterward.

Walked in drizzling rain to Les Invalides; walked in and saw Napoleon’s tomb from both levels. Impressive.

Back to hotel by 5:30 for rent. Took nap; watched part of Clouzot film,” The Wages of Fear,” then went what I got a Croque special at St. Germaine were xxxx back to hotel; asleep by 1.

Last edit about 5 years ago by mctaggartalex
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