I n October I booked a very cheap train ticket & my favourite hotel in Paris for a night and then wondered if I was being extravagant. A stressful Christmas reassured me I was doing the right thing in getting away. The date was 8 January 2015.
I have to admit that being without a television meant that I hadn't taken in the full horror of the Terrorist attacked on 7th. On arrival at Gare du Nord I didn't perceive too much difference. As the day unfurled that changed. I was asked to take part in a minute's silence at the Orangerie. I was contemplating a Cezanne at the time. A revolutionary painter and an appropriate place to mourn.
On the way to the Hotel I was struck by the windows in what were obviously the offices at the Louvre with their "Nous sommes Charlie" posters. Being very tired I crashed for a bit at the hotel (I had got up at 5.30am). When I woke up I found myself glued to BBC News. It was so very real being there. I didn't head up to the Place de la Republique. Somehow it felt an intrusion although the whole world was shocked. I felt it was a place for Parisians to mourn their own. I watched on the television as the lights went out on the Eifel Tower. I did go out for supper but the place was quieter than usual.
On the Thursday there was sadness. On the Friday there was tension. You could feel people flinch at the sound of a siren. The shops had their "Nous sommes Charlie" signs so did the Musem tills. What moved me the most was the spontaneous cardboard signs "Je suis Charlie" in front of a beggar who had a tea light and an Eastern European group of buskers.
I have to admit that the only solace I felt that day was in a yarn shop. Lang Yarns and some pure alpaca Worsted (thanks very much). A visit to the Picasso Museum was overwhelming and possibly because of my mood for the first time I realised how cruel he could be towards women. If you look at a collection of his cubist nude women you might see what I mean.
I returned to the hotel to pick up my small overnight bag (even travelling light I could see I hadn't been to popular at the Musee d'Orsay. You can't blame them). In the reception there was television coverage of the siege and I exchanged a few words with the Manager.
"Paris c'est une ville tres courageux. Nous avons beaucoup des problems en Londres". A bit simplistic I know. To which he replied there is trouble all over Europe. Sobering when you consider it is only 100 years since the War that was supposed to end all Wars.
I was ready to leave Paris. As a last tribute I decided to take the bus up to the Place de Republique and pay tribute to a sad but brave city.
Bravo Paris. Je suis Charlie.
