"Excitement, adventure, a Jedi craves not these things." Hmmm, then I'm not not much of a Jedi because this weekend was jammed packed with excitement, adventure, new experiences, and the anticipation leading up to the results of a historical election. I picked a great weekend to come back!
Séb and I were planning to hear the results at Bastille, thinking it was an original idea (I know, how naive) but when we saw the footage of how many people flocked to this symbolic landmark, we decided to tag along with Zoé, her English boyfriend, who is in the same boat as I am (not eligible to vote), and their friends to an art space near Père Lachaise to watch the election on a big screen. Sitting comfortably in the mini theater (where I'm sure during the rest of the year holds performing art shows like Butoh and Spoken Word), while sipping on complimentary boxed red wine and watching the news coverage of the crowds and madness that was ensuing on every street corner, validated our choice to stay low-key. As I get older, my need for comfort gets increasingly more demanding, and being stuffed among thousands of other people on a damp day in Paris has very little appeal on my inner little old lady. Maybe I'm more Jedi than I think...
The results came in and it should be no surprise that my current company was jazzed that François Hollande will be their new president, but with all elections, there's a large percentage of people who are extremely unhappy with the results. Fortunately I was in an area where none of these people were and walking home from the art space, the streets were packed with folk who are more than ready for le changement. The energy and brouhaha whisked me back to 2008 in Williamsburg when Obama was elected and an impromptu dance party busted out on Bedford Avenue. Regardless of any disappointments and setbacks we've had, along with the endless stream of opinions and criticism during his administration, it was a special time to be in America.
Not wanting to go home yet, Séb and I took a stroll through the 12th and the outskirts of Bastille. On Avenue Ledru-Rollin, we found this patriotic little guy, who was more than pleased with the results...either that or he was happy to be out way past his bedtime.
What a little m&m just waiting to be eaten up.
Too mimi.
I couldn't help but be grateful that the elections didn't take place last year! I can just see myself alone in my little apartment, drunk on rosé, hearing the celebration on the streets of the Marais, and waving a French flag toothpick in forced jubilation. Tragic.
Regardless of last night's outcome, I appreciated every second of this cultural experience. I've never been in a country other than my own during a presidential election, so you can imagine my enchantment with the entire evening. For one, I was impressed that results came in exactly when they said the would, unlike in the States where we sometimes have to wait until the next day...or the polls make drastic last minute changes. Although I've been here for three years, it's still moments like these that remind me that I still have lots to take in, plenty more to experience and that my next adventure is never far from reach.
On a side note, did anyone else find the Sarko groupies a little freaky? The young girls crying and screaming at the camera with their NS face art running down their faces, as well as the ones giving him the hand heart symbol during his departing speech like it was a Justin Bieber concert. Did anyone else take note of that?
