No offense to writers who claim to get significant work done in Paris cafés, but that’s an urban legend as far as I can tell. Editing, maybe; a blog entry, I suppose; observational notes for future work, possibly; a flash poem, perhaps; mental notes that soon evaporate, definitely; inspirational pages spilled out in 5 minutes, why not? But writing as an extended activity of wording, sentences, paragraphs, construction, ideas, and story while the coffee gets cold or the beer warm. Nyet!
Nevertheless, if I were to write in a café it would be a place like Les Parigots, a bistro/bar/café just off Place de la République. (Parigot is slang for Parisian.) There’s a back area with books on shelves that’s fairly calm but with enough distraction to remind a writer that he or she isn’t at home. The writer would also be well placed to watch food coming from the kitchen and clients going into the rest room, which could be just the spark needed to further some important work.
I imagined this post at Les Parigots while watching the waitress pick up two plates of hamburger-and-fries from the kitchen ledge. But I wrote it at home.
Les Parigots. 5 rue Château d’Eau, 10th arrondissement. 100 yards north of Place de la République, Metro République. Tel. 01 42 00 22 26.
Gary, Just revisited FranceRevisited! What wonderful developments in the last few weeks – You have a truly ambitious and well-developed web site – far ahead with your content and style. Much like your tours! We will be grateful to you always for your pace, content and sensitivity to three sixteen- year-old girls and their Mums. Congratulations.”