film-like Paris story

So, in a way, this is a continuation of my Paris trip post, but with such an interesting twist that I'm glad I just didn't have time to post it before.

In Paris I stayed at Olivia's and Arne's place, a beautiful studio flat that you accessed via a courtyard, near the Bastille. Upon entering the courtyard, I immediately thought that it was quite like the courtyard in "Before Sunset". You know, the grown-up continuation of the seminal European train romance "Before Sunrise" with Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke. You know, of course you do. Climbing up to the flat, and after greeting her properly, I commented on this, and on the fact that the flat was even decorated in a similar way. "Where a lot of places in Paris like this" I inquired. Olivia said very likely but she hadn't seen the film. When I got back I lent them the dvd by post. Here's her answer:

Yes, we got it a few days ago and watched it- appropriately- for Valentine's day! And by the way, it's not only like our building, it is our building! I can't believe we live in a *famous* Parisian building! The flat is not ours though, it's in the back, and the cat is different too... So it was surreal to watch it. By the way, they edit a lot of bits of Paris out between the walking scenes- ie in the film it looks like you can walk from Shakespeare and co to Bastille without crossing the Seine! I wonder if they thought they were making the film for people who'd never been to Paris.

I stupidly hadn't downloaded pictures from my camera before going there so couldn't take pics of the flat. Here's the film one anyway:

Worth going

It is worth going to the Juan Munoz exhibition at the Tate, and possibly even coming to London, just for the opportunity of walking around Many Times:

Russell Brand interviewing Richard Dawkins. Genius

And another good idea: I don't like marmite + I don't like rice cakes= I like marmite rice cakes!

You can see I'm having an uninspired Monday...

In Porto from today until Mon 4th evening for a fancy dress party tonight!