Paris, France - one of my favorite cities. This time I was here to meet with France Television and TF1, but that's boring, let me tell you about the evening after the meetings.
My friend Samir was too tired to come out, but suggested that my colleague Kidong and I go for a meal in Georges, the restaurant on the roof of the George Pompidou Centre. I had no idea there was a restaurant here, but the view from the roof was great. Inside the restaurant it's very stylish, but we opted to sit outside and enjoy the view. We had a great meal, with the best red wine I think I've ever tasted, it was so fruity, almost thick like a grape smoothy but still dry.
Next, we moved on to a place called Aux Trois Mailletz (The Three Mallets) - a bar that Kidong had mentioned to me a few months ago. I was really looking forward to coming here, I love listening to live music, and I was told that the place has such a great ambiance. I mentioned this place to a girl that I got talking to outside the University where I learn Korean in London and co-incidentaly, she knew of the place; not only that, she plays the Double Bass and has actually performed there! Suffice to say I was quite excited about going along.
All that I've been told about Aux Trois Mailletz was true, the ambiance really is amazing. When you first enter the place, it looks like just any other place in the 5em part of Paris, there's a bar and someone playing a piano in the corner, but it's when you go down the passage at the side that it gets really impressive. In the basement is another bar, and what I guess must have been a wine cellar, at the end of the cellar is a stage, and it's in this room that the live performances take place. It kind of reminds me of pictures I've seen of 'The Cavern Club' where 'The Beatles' used to play in Liverpool.
The group performing this evening were from Chile and they played a great set from around 11pm until the time we left at around 2am. Initially one guy started doing solo songs, but then his band joined him, and several girls that danced and performed. It was very interactive, with the singers and dancers dancing on the tables and down the aisles. There was one small guy who had a voice just like Prince, powerful with a great vocal range.
As I said, we left at around 2am, by this time I was really very drunk, and well ready for bed. On the way out, we were asked by the performers if we could email them copies of the photos that we'd taken, which was nice. Kidong was annoyed that he didn't bring a longer lense or a speedlight, I guess he'll remember for next time!
I won't go into details, but my flight was at 7am the next day - Hangover from Hell!
[this is good]
You are such a good writer! I enjoy reading your postings.
I really enjoyed the night and thank you again for the good company. Thank you also for reminding me of the tele-lens and speedlight.
It was my third time already to this place, but it will always be my favorite everytime I visit Paris.
Posted by: Kidong | 10/12/2007 at 12:43 AM