Nuit Blanche

Saturday evening we were meeting friends Billandnancy.com at a sidewalk café near the Bastille. Over drinks we mapped out our strategy for Nuit Blanche or Sleepless Night; it is the fifth annual version of this event which has now spread to Rome, Riga, Madrid, and Bruxelles.

Paris lights up the entire city and opens museums and public spaces for entertainment and revelry. The Metro system runs for free and a youthful energy of freedom and anticipation pervades the night autumn air.

Nancy and her French skills were invaluable in checking the official published announcements, and Bill organized our attack and route of march. Mary and I occasionally said oui to their ideas and the all purpose d’accord. Once in a fit of unearned confidence I uttered a forceful exactement.

Bill lead us on a wending way through the Marais district, our destination the Pont Saint Louis, a small bridge on the Ile Saint Louis where a modern dance troupe threatened to appear. We watched the troupe contort to electronic music and then headed off thru the island.

We made a stop at the atelier of an artist friend of Billandnancy.com/ We had a wonderful visit and their warmth was infectious. Then we headed for Hotel de Ville or City Hall. There we went thru a security screening to go inside and see more electronic music groups and giant black balloons hanging as a mobile over a central courtyard.

The Louvre Museum was calling out to Bill and we continued our march thru the crowded streets of youthful and friendly revelers. Did I mention that the four of us were slightly older than anyone else in the crowd? The Louvre courtyard was crowded but no discernable entertainment could be found so we left for a late dinner at a nearby Brasserie.

The Marais was singing out to Bill and Nancy, but the bewitching hour of midnight was upon us. Mary and I headed to a crowded Metro for our return home. The youthful revelers were singing on the Metro subway cars, I would rate the singing more successful than the modern dance troupe. Nuit Blanche even more successful, Thank you Bill and Nancy.