Le Vieux Belleville

In March Coco wrote about Le Vieux Belleville on her blog.

Next thing I hear, "I'm taking you there Friday April 11".

"Oh sure. Look if you asked me to jump off a bridge into the Seine, I probably would".
Coco has good taste.

She wrote back,"Wear a bathing suit!"

This week I am reminded,

"Don't forget we're going to Le Vieux Belleville Friday. Come by at 6:30".
 

Ooopla...I plumb forgot but why not...

First Coco took me for a tour around her house in the 20th arrondissement near Place Edith Piaf.
 

It's known as "la compagna a Paris" or the country of Paris.
 

More like a little village in the Cottswalds with French trimmings.

Really you can not be led astray if you follow Coco.

We met up with Coco's friend Georges at the very top of Paris above parc Belleville - stunning views.

I wasn't sure if we were going to dance or sing

Inside Le Vieux Belleville.

12, rue des Envierges 75020

In fact it's one of the two last restaurant musette with live sing-alongs of old traditional French songs in Paris.

The owner/patron and staff immortalized.

It reminded me of old Jean Gabin movies

There are tons of them in Youtube.
If he walked through the door I wouldn't be the least surprised.

Old photo of the Le Vieux Belleville's facade.

Our starter - a salade mixed

Then the accordéoniste MINELLE came out
 

For each song we got copies for the sing-along.
 

Then they were collected and we got the next song. All printed out in French but with a few Edith Piaf songs the whole world knows.
 

Padam Padam Padam...Even I could mumble through that one.
 

Really a very jolly evening and not just for Frenchies.
5***** from Travel Advisor. Do consider going for something completely different and loads of fun.
Willis, the cat, stayed home and guarded his new little friend.
 

What I Ate Last Nite

What I ate last night - mini jambon beurre sandwiches on a cereal baguette from Grand Epicerie that was incredibly crunchy or croustillante. I'm becoming a butter queen here.

You know you're living in a nice place when you lose your glasses and find them perched on top of the mail box next day...

My 50 steps to heaven. This plus the pool are working wonders.

I love walking by the Butte Chaumont park on the way to the pool everyday.
 

The light filtered through the trees is wonderful

Everyone is out doing their thing..
 

At the pool I got the news - not open till 10 am bla bla. I decided spur of the moment to go back to the cheese store.

Can you get a Velib bike with training wheels?

Beillevaire is becoming my new locale. Picard forgetabout it.

I bought a little tray of these Rocamadour AOP chèvres for no special reason and another slice of their pain d'épice.
 

In the window I spotted their salads with cheese.
 

What I ate for lunch today - Chèvre frais and the best butter I've tasted so far - beurre cru a la barrate bois. The round soft cheeses were quite tart and infinitely creamy,melting.

If I'd had a fork I could have picnic'd in the park. Instead the giant crows/ravens feasted on my roll.
 

I'm really loving it here in the 19th.
 

Every day is like Christmas...

And every night is like New Years Eve..to quote Sade ;)

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