Nuit Blanche

Another weekend, another trip to Paris.  I almost tire of it.  (Just kidding, as if!)  This trip was going to be a quick one - 12 hours in Paris to be precise - as we were only there for Nuit Blanche.  With my crappy French on hand, I made the literal translation of 'Night White' and had incorrectly assumed that Nuit Blanche was an annual event whereby all the museums in Paris would be open for visitors from dusk until dawn.  Smee and I got quite happy at the thought of running through the Lourve at 2am.

It was only about 2-3 weeks prior to the trip that I was informed that Nuit Blanche in fact translated into 'sleepless night' and no museums were open.  This was a night to enjoy light and art installations which are placed at random locations around the city.  Hmmm not quite what I expected but Paris is Paris and it will be fun nonetheless.

Smee, Temzy and PF and I boarded our Eurostar and arrived just before the crack of 8pm.  Hungry, we roamed the streets of arrondisement 11 and after being rejected at a few full houses, we stumbled into the bohemian and cosy surroundings of L'Oga, a restaurant whose specialty was exotic meats.  The menu was entirely in French but our skinny, effeminate, funky and patient waiter happily translated any of our queries.

My foie gras de canard and pain d'espice toaste.  Toasted spice cake was so nummy!!  Smee's antelope steak - nummy too!  My cafe delice dessert, a selection of three mini desserts and an espresso.  

We could have very easily resorted to a kebabs so it was a nice surprise to have bumped into L'Oga.  Onwards and upwards to the Nuit Blanche displays!

We were all caught out by the surprisingly warm night and bit by bit we had to peel off off our hats, scarves and jackets.  We had managed to get our hands on an English press pack which detailed each piece and their location which was the reason why we were in arrondisement 11.

Kaleidescope.  Iconic images of contemporary China.  Hypnotic.  (Very stuffy room.)

Comfort #4.  Inflated tubes coming out of the windows.  Looks like worms!  A good time for PF and Smee to participate in a tug-of-war game.  They didn't win :(

Mon Repos Aux Tuileries.  A burnt out van lit from inside by a chandelier.  Naice! 

I can't remember what this is because I can't find it in the guide.  These carvings are actually also musical instruments.  I'm enjoying stroking this block because it sounded like a soft harp!

Harmonichaos.  This was a room filled with vacuum cleaners with harmonicas attached to the head.  Every so often the vacuum cleaners would turn on and make the harmonica sound.  Cool in a creepy way.  Klub Europa.  A decapitated dinosaur.  

Snooze.  Ok this photo was taken with a flash, but the room was actually pitch black and only lit by the LED lights of the alarm clocks.  By this time, it was about 5am and it seemed to be a refuge for people wanting a quick nap.  

Other pieces of note were the Offrez Moi Votre Silence, Lucioles and Metroscope.  Two didn't photographed well because of our lack of skill and the other was a visual installation on the Metro .

Offrez Moi Votre Silence had all the lights in and around the Notre Dame switched off.  This emphasised the natural illumination of the church's stained glass windows.  It was also the place where we had a little break and watched some freestyle French rapping and beat-boxing.  So cool woaaaarr.

Lucioles was a pretty display of little green lights suspended over a hospital courtyard and with the warm night with us, it was very relaxing to lie down and stare at the green little electric fireflies.

Metroscope was on Metro line 9 between Republique and Strasbourg St. Denis stations.  The line ran all night and slowed down between the two stations to show performers posing in giant batwing-like cloaks to resemble certain letters of the alphabet.

The Metro crowd was most pleased.

After walking around all night long we returned to Gare du Nord for our 8am Eurostar.  This was the first time I had stayed up all night in a looooooooooong time and yes we were all beat and grumpy.  

Outside the Gare du Nord McDonalds, Smee and I found this 'bonus' art installation.  I couldn't find him listed in the official Nuit Blanche guide.  

Nuit Blanche - would I return?  It was a lovely night and there was a definite vibe in the city but I wouldn't make a special trip for it again.  I would only go if it happened to coincide with my Paris visit and if I had a hotel room.  I can't pull all-nighters anymore.  I'm too old for that shit!