Dining in the Dark

To know how sweet your home may be, just try to get home in a taxi.

Last night we went out with Zoe, Hilary, Alex and some other friends to celebrate Alex's birthday. Zoe had chosen a restaurant in the Bastille area, but unfortunately the only time she could get a table was at 10:00.

No problem, not feeling so hot, I had a long nap in the afternoon, and a snack on the way over. We went to Hilary's apartment in the Marais for drinks beforehand, and then took the metro over together to the China Club, and neat place in the 12th arrondissement.

The China Club is a three storey establishment, with a jazz club in the basement and a smoking room upstairs. The main floor has high ceilings and is decorated, according to LP, "like a tropical gentleman's club."

When we arrived shortly after ten, our table was still not ready, so we sidled up to the long bar and perused the drink menu. After scouring the three pages of cocktails on offer, we enjoyed our apperitifs and some snacks before making our way to the now-ready table. It was now 10:40.

The restaurant was beautiful, we had a nice round table in the corner, and the food was Chinese inspired, served French style. We all chose the menu, which consisted of an appetizer of a pineapple salad, or dim sum dumplings; a plat of tempura style chicken, roast pork, or steamed salmon; and a dessert. The food was lovely, the service was unrushed, and we took our time enjoying our meal and each other's company.

The plan for after dinner was to go dancing. It was 2:00am by the time we actually left the restaurant, and I was done for the evening. The girls were planning on catching a cab to the next place, and we were going to get one home. Sounds simple. But you forget, nothing is simple in Paris.

We walk to the taxi stand at La Bastille. The line up is almost a block long, and we are told by the uncertified cabbie trying to get our business that the wait would be at least 45 minutes. Still feeling optimistic, the girls take off on foot to the club, and we decide to walk to Hotel de Ville where the is another popular taxi stand. We stop at one in the Marais on our way, wait 20 minutes in the rain and not a single cab comes. Keep going. By the time we get to Hotel de Ville it's 3:30, and Erik and I have decided that it's probably faster just to walk home. Did I mention that it was raining?

We continue our hike over Ile de la Cite, in front of Notre Dame, and into the Latin Quarter. Once we get close to the university buildings we notice that the street we are following is completely barricaded, and there is a bus full of police guarding it. We skirt around the campus, and find that all the streets leading in are barricaded and guarded. We saw a couple heading home, and they had to show ID to go up the street to their house. Everything seemed quiet though, and once we got to the Jardin Luxembourg, we managed to get a cab.

I don't think we had ever been so happy to be home. We almost fell asleep in the elevator (yes, we took the elevator!! It was 4am. Not a time to be exercising).

We could not figure out where all the cabs were! It was so strange to be walking through a city that was teeming with people, who all seemed to be looking for a cab, and not be able to just flag one down. There were taxi queues everywhere, and huge line ups at all of them. And it wasn't a question of just getting in the cab once it was your turn, either. You had to discuss your destination with the driver first, then, maybe, he (or she) would take you.

So we are home, safe and sound, and are having people over for dinner tonight. Our first guests, Bicher and Roeline helped us move in. We're looking forward to entertaining, got all our shopping done yesterday, and are looking forward to a day of cooking.

China Club
50 rue de Charenton, 12e