Living in Paris 2009-10 No.5 New Year’s Day and a deep silence pervades in rue de la Corderie. Most of the shutters and blinds opposite remained closed until well past midday. It is grey and cold and attempting to snow. Last night (known here as the Réveillon de St Silvestre) we took Mark’s daughters, who are staying with us, down to the Seine after dinner. Notre Dame was wonderfully illuminated and some rustic musicians in medieval attire were encouraging a handful of people to dance under a giant Christmas tree. The Left Bank was ablaze with lights and streaming with people ‘just like Blackpool’ said Hannah. We sought refuge in Café Panis opposite Notre Dame and found a table overlooking her just in time to order a bottle of champagne before midnight, rewarding the waiter with
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