Gay Paree

Concerts tomorrow in Philharmonie de Paris, the new concert hall that opened last year. I booked the tickets back in September, so it's been a bit of a wait.

Talk about an early morning flight! We were out for a meal on Wednesday night (Locks restaurant — very good, though pricey enough when you add on a gin or two and a bottle of wine). Aperitifs in MPV on Clanbrassil Street (great place, and in the news recently because they cocked a snoot at the HSE and let dogs back in). After the meal, it was on to the The Front Door on Dame Street (brilliant atmosphere).

Danny was my taxi driver home afterwards and I asked him to pick me up this morning at 5 am. He phoned yesterday to confirm and showed up as arranged — well done, Danny. Ryanair to "Paris Beauvais", so 75 mins in a coach before getting to Paris. Metro to Bastille, pick up Airbnb keys in the nearby pub, then find my way to my home away from home. Great location, just off Place de la Bastille. Went exploring, found my way to Hotel de Villes and the Pompidou Centre and Notre Dame. Stopped off for this coffee and pastise (not cheap), then back home for longer-than-intended snooze. Great night afterwards around the neighbourhood.

Lesson: Paris is expensive, but it's brimming with atmosphere and the money doesn't matter. Back to the apartment around 2:30 am after a very long day (got out of bed at 4 am at home). Versailles tomorrow. First concert tomorrow night.