Paris 2010

We all arrived in Paris in the early afternoon on Thursday 2nd September 2010 and after dropping our luggage off at the hotel headed straight to Père Lachaise cemetary to lay flowers on the grave of Jane Avril after which we sat and kept her company for 30 minutes or so. I was lost in my own thoughts wondering what it must have been like to have seen her dance, I can rely only on those who wrote so descriptively about her.

A gentleman accompanied by his wife asked whether I had laid the flowers and I indicated that I had, we then entered into a conversation (fortunately in English) about her life and he assured me that she was in good company with those around her, of this I had no doubt.

Sadly, my flowers were the only ones to grace her final resting place this particular day but perhaps throughout the year those who feel as I do about her lay their own private tributes. That's what I like to think.

There was a lot of noise around division 19 where Jane is buried as work was being carried out on some of the older graves with new stone being laid whilst others still were having their lettering re-worked. It brought a smile to my face to know that they were all in good hands should work be required.

After leaving Jane (and promising myself one day to return) we walked towards the final resting place of Oscar Wilde. To be honest I was saddened by all the graffiti which marks the fine sculpture of Jacob Epstein. It was my fourth trip to Oscar and it seems to be getting inevitably worse year by year. Is it really the way to pay tribute to the great man? I think not, and I also think it disrespects the work of Mr Epstein. Just leave a written note, please!

It was a wonderful 4 days spent in my beloved Paris with all the expected visits made and was even lucky enough on this occasion to enter the Moulin Rouge without a formal reservation (a story all on its own) and to drink at the once famous Chat Noir. It was a pity the Lapin Agile (nimble rabbit) was closed but perhaps will be more fortunate the next time round.

A visit to Shakespeare and Co was also productive and came away with 2 fine books with the Shakespeare and Co emblem stamped on the inside sleeve. It is perhaps fitting that one of the books was an English translation of "The Confessions of Arsène Houssaye - Man About Paris" - a friend no less of Jane Avril.

Craig