It was great to get back to my favourite city – Paris – after nearly a decade’s absence!
Why such a long gap since my last Paris sojourn? Well – I have been busy? I don’t think that’s an acceptable excuse really! But it was great to finally get back to that magical city, and this time, for the first time ever, to have a book in hand.
Since I was there last, my book Irish Moves, an illustrated history of Dance and Physical Theatre in Ireland was published by Dublin’s Liffey Press, and it felt good to get my book into the Abbey Bookstore on 29 Rue de la Parcheminerie (the Canadian Bookstore, in the Latin Quarter), and into the legendary Shakespeare and Co (37 Rue de la Bucherie, on the Quays, near Notre Dame). What a thrill! So now all I will ask you is to indulge me, if you are in Paris anytime soon, just pop in and ask for my book so they might order some more! Go on, make my day 😉
Abbey Bookstore, 29 Rue de la Parcheminerie, Paris 75005
Seriously though, I had a great time in Paris, where I reminisced about my days as a cheerleader in Jean Paul Goude’s Bicentennial Parade, with my beautiful late friend Debbie. You can see us at the end of this fantastic youtube video by Assouline Publishing (more of which anon):
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Before Paris I visited Debbie’s family – her husband Dewey and their daughter Aurora, now 16 years old (4, the last time I saw her), in their country home in St. Christophe near Poitiers. It was wonderful to spend time with them, sharing happy memories of Debbie, and hanging out with their extraordinary friends. Oh, to be in the French countryside at a dinner party full of interesting people!
While in Paris I stayed at the Centre Culturel Irlandais for the first time ever, a real Parisian oasis on the Left Bank, and then to balance the peace and quiet out, moved over to the happening Hotel Les Sans Culottes on one of Paris’s busiest night-time streets, Rue de Lappe. That’s what i call le Yin et la Yang. Or is it la Yin et le Yang? I also caught a few fantastic exhibitions, including Mona Hatoum at the Centre Georges Pompidou, and the swish Vernissage of “Portraits a la Cour des Medicis” at l’Institut de France, no less. At a press conference earlier that day, I heard the strategic plans of the new director of Centre Georges Pompidou, Serge Lasvignes, and I can assure you the Institution is in good hands. So I’m looking forward to plenty more visits back to Paris, to keep dans le vent of all that is going down.
I’m also looking forward to the re-publication of my first interview published ever, when I was an intern with Paris Passion Magazine during my first ever sojourn in Paris. It was with Frederic Beigbeider, of the notorious CaCa’s Club, about whom Assouline Publishing are now bringing out a luxurious publication. Well, I suppose it’s nice to think that I am already considered memorabilia in Paris! Watch this space 😉 [Wait a minute – memorabilia? me?!]
Incidentally, my book Irish Moves is also available in some of Ireland’s most prestigious outlets, in Dublin at The Winding Stair Bookshop (40 Ormond Quay Lower, D1), Connolly Bookstore (East Essex Street, Temple Bar, D2), Sweny’s Pharmacy at Lincoln Place,D2; and Antonia’s Bookstore in Trim, County Meath. If passing don’t forget to go in and ask for a copy!