gochess

One of my favorite places to walk in Paris. It offers a very poetic perspective on life. Some of the neo-classical sculptures are absolutely shunning (for example, see Madame Henriette-Adélaïde *Raspail*’s site (née Trousseau, 1799-1853) which displays work by Antoine Etex (1808-1888, bas-reliefs pour l’Arc de triomphe de l’Étoile) {nota bene DCD fans}).

Permission was officially denied to hold a recital of piano music by Erik Satie. So just imagine listening to his Gymnopedies as you stroll along . . .

and when you sit down to rest, bring out some poetry by Gérard de Nerval and Paul Eluard to quietly recite . . . they are both there, and probably would be quite honored by your presence! (A friend suggested setting up camp overnight, to get a feel for the afterlife ;-)

« A la fin tu es las de ce monde ancien. » -Guillaume Apollinaire

In 1912 archaeologist, Ludwig Borchardt, excavated at Amarna and discovered Nefertiti. He wrote just one thing in his diary: “Description is useless – - see for yourself.” [. . .] In the 12th year of Akhenaten’s reign and at the height of Nefertiti’s powers, she vanished from history. Egyptologists have failed to discover exactly what happened to her. [Fascinating source: http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/ definitely worth seeing the program, “Egypt’s Golden Empire.”]

Very extensive written records were kept, however, the Egyptian rulers were fanatical history revisionists, and so frequently documents were “shredded” when there was a change of regime, or change in religious ideology.

Akhenaten (1352 – 1336 BC), by the way, was history’s first recorded proponent of monotheism. “The visible sun” god Aten was worshipped. So no wonder why sunsets in Egypt are always so beautiful . . .

Check-in to a suite at the InterContinental Le Vendôme, with a clear view of the Mediterranean. Immediately ask the concierge to bring my favorite French pastries from Alain Ducasse’s shop, Tamaris, on Weygand Street. Take a short nap while listening to Fairouz, then explore the rebuilt city-center at Solidere. Invite friends for a mezze dinner in the chic Ashrafieh district, then spent the rest of the evening dancing at the De Prague in Hamra. Wake up in the morning to strong café Arabe. (Was it all a dream?)