US Cash Money is Papier des Toilettes

"Woman caught trying to exchange stack of utterly worthless US hundred dollar bills for
Real Euros!"

It can't be done. Terrorists have flooded the country with fakes, and no bank will exchange any US hundred OR fifty cash dollar that was printed before 1996. Travellers beware!
Lexxy did you run into this? This happened after I watched Bush stutter and hem and haw on the nat'l debate and I was irritated beyond belief. THINGS DEFINITELY NEED FIXING!

Skedaddling off to Paris now, more later from the Marais.

What a calamity! No, I didn't encounter this problem because I arrived in my host countries with little cash and just went to ATMs periodically, taking out several hundred Euro at a time to last me 2-3 days. The disadvantage of doing it that way is that the machines can't tell you what your balance is in American dollars, therefore you're never absolutely sure how much money you're taking out of your account. You can only approximate. But for a basically impractical person like me who rarely bothers examining exchange rates, I found the ATM method an easier way to get along day by day. Less time worrying about money, more time partying!

Also, if you plan on using credit cards for purchases or cash advances, it might be a good idea to advise your credit card issuer that you're on vacation, where you are and for how long. Otherwise your charges/cash advances might raise their suspicions and they'll cut you off in the name of fraud protection.

Now .... tell us about the Marais! Surely the ladies of St. Denis will look at you and scowl, thinking "who is this bee-yotch working our side of the street?"

Need to catch up, wasn't into doing the internet thing in Paris! Yes Lexxy using your Visa/MC is the only way to go. US Cash money is just trash to them!

Caught up with Madgie Maddy there, and trawled the streets but I have to say Paris night-life is pretty bourgeoisie. There is not much happening except on Friday & Saturday nights.
The Marais is tres tres TRES gay and was really hopping Sat. night, but after that the pickings were slim street-wise. To end our evenings, Madge and I ended up eating vertiginous ice creams at that little place right at the end of Ile St. Louis.

Madge's 'hubbie' was due in to take him shopping on Thursday so her 'cruising' was desultory at best... and I was unmotivated to get raunchy and never called Laurent.Well, since he's such an international piece perhaps he'll make it to NY! (The whole idea was based on the Tufted Footstool being involved... but he went to Germany, and it did look like Laurent was tres cher, as a prime piece ought to be...)

Instead I haunted the underground dungeons of the medieval Louvre. (I think I used to be a keeper there! It is currently my favorite place in Paris.) Or I sat up reading 'Monsieur', an obscure novel by Lawrence Durrell about the philosophical beauty of pessimism and suicide. Comment suete!

btw Hotel Bourg Tibourgh is absolutely sumptuous and delightful... Michael JO had recommended it
http://www.hotelbourgtibourg.com/

One night Zoltan and I played chess in the lobby which is strangely Morocca/French provincial. We enjoyed free refreshments too... It was totally a toss up between lounging around in that lobby, and going out to see Paris!

But I made it to Versailles, to have an out-of-body experience... perceiving the rabble as attacking 'my home'. (I mean hundreds of Japanese schoolgirls in their uniforms, armed with pikes...) On my birthday, watching big black rain clouds rush up the gardens to the chateau... Crazy anxiety, and I believe that was the day I caught this cold...

so have to get back to bed now! Love to all, sorry I can't edify your ravenous appetities for sleaze (not this week at least.)
Love Stan

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S'tan, we wish you could stay longer in Paris for our literary delectations.

Laurent phoned to say he had lost the number of your hotel as I had instructed him that you would be the best diversion for his return to Paris. But to no avail I picked up his message way too late. He is keeping the ribbon of raw yellow silk for your next visit.

I think I saw that same phallanx of Asian schoolgirls with pikes. In Washington Square Park! They were chanting "Marie AntoiS'tan, Marie AntoiS'tan." -Mean anything to you?

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Those Asian schoolgirls are a plague. And I believe they grow those uniforms directly from out of their epidermi! If they have followed me here, it's something out of 'RINGU'...

They were swarming all over Sacre Coeur the very next day when Madge and I visited. We managed to escape their importunities, only to be attacked by a gaggle of frantic artists, drawing pads held alert, all insisting we hold still and be drawn by them on the spot. When I refused one bestial looking creature, he hissed in my ear, "You are locky beetch I even talk to you! You are too ugly for any man!" I mean really ~~ verbally abused on sacred ground by a sadistic sketch artist! Madge told him he was goin' ta hell. We later saw him violently quarrelling over a hustling/sketching spot with another artist.

Paris looks so pretty and perfect but then at other times it has this perfect/fake aspect that is really frightening. Like everyone is living on a movie set and acting a part. Like those artists stuck on Montmarte sketching tourists for a living, people are living through the cliches of the town, being 'french' and 'artistic' or 'gourmands'... I don't know how to explain but it was kind of an orangina vision where I felt like half the shops and restaurants I looked at were stage sets. And everything is so excessively priced which adds to the unreal sensation.

S'tan am loving these posts... can picture it all.. Paris was never my fave place to visit, yes definately the food and the art and the history of the city is amazing (ahh those huge doors of Notre Dame et al)... but I always feel that the vibe is very 'Upper east side' ... (maybe if I found the Moroccan quarter or smth it would seem all a bit better!!!)
Hope you and Messy MM got to do some good eats and drinks at least!

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Hi Cherie!
Today's Messy MM's last day in non-messy Paree. She called me last night purring, all smooth and ironed out from all the grandiose attention she's been getting there from the fiance. (Wait until you see the diamond!) Messy as you know won't eat dog, fish or tuna so finding a vegan restaurant in Paris was a chore... though her faithful attendant no doubt dug up every last one, and perhaps even required something first-class to be established! The woman's probably gained a whole pound.

On my birthday we found a beautiful sushi place near Beaubourg with a huge awning out on the sidewalk, and those nice heaters, and it was raining... Very cozy with plum wine... It was called 'Oki.' Messy wanted to gallop all over town thereafter but I had just done Versailles and could barely shuffle one foot in front of the other. "Where's my carriage!!" I squealed, stamping my tiny crooked foot.

I have to get cracking writing down all the details of the trip in order. But look for a spray of twinkle-dust over Queens tonight, it's Messy flyin' in on her broom.

Love Stan

Rabbit is looking for a good/cheap hotel in paris. any ideas?

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/paris/H33128.html

Shockingly cheap... and divine location
on Cite behind the Ministry of Justice
on a cute triangular "square"

Hotel Henri IV
25 Place Dauphine
off the Pont Neuf
Paris 75001, France
General price range:
EUR 28 - 43
Rooms: 21
01-43-54-44-53

Good luck, it used to be unknown but the internet is making it popular. No credit cards and they don't speak English willingly. Don't come with a huge suitcase, the staircase is murder and there's no bellboy to say the least. Rooms are tiny and adequate, not sleazy. If you can't share a toilet or bath this is not for you.

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I suggest Rabbit take S'tan's point about the internet. Last time I was in Europe and scoping for a Paris place to stay I found Hotel Dauphin, a terrific kinky-chic boutique style place on Rue Dauphin just blocks from everything and because it was offered on a web discount site it was a last minute steal.

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Hi glammie--
I liked Hotel du 7e Art, 20 rue St Paul, in the Marais. Very convenient, 2 blocks from Saint Paul metro and 1.5 blocks from the Seine. Super kitsch with movie posters everywhere (the french call filmmaking the "7th art" - who knew?) Rooms start at 59 euros with toilet in hallway, and for 75 euros you get your own potty. Very clean. Attentive staff. E-mail directly for reservations: hotel7art@wanadoo.fr. Don't miss the new Pierre et Gilles exhibit at the Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont. Have fun!

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Lots to write about.
Lots of pics.

(Did Rabbit find a bed yet?)

This really says "Paris" to me.
The dog, the cigarette, the glass of wine, the chapeau, the jaunty scarf.
This was from Michael O'Brien's opening (which was fabulous by the way).

This really says "Paris" to me.
Marble apes and their marble cocks, ancient dust, iron fencing, the pillaging of Egypt... miles upon miles of Louvre.

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You see alot Dr. Lecter.

This really says "Paris" to me.
The thousand-year-old Dungeon Keep of the Medieval Louvre... with a thousand-year old dominatrix revisiting.

Quite Parisien as well... a young bat in an old belfry.

GAY GAY GAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

On this'ere thread,
that's GAI!
You gals make me pee.

So what about you gai birds... caught here poopin' on the poor statuary?

Marble cocks again. What did I say