Le Hotel Louisiane 1985

The corner third-floor room of the Hotel Louisiane on Rue de Seine in St. Germain 1985. Maybe room 204.

During the early 1980s I had lived all over Paris with accommodating amis amies et amants, while working les portes or doors at nightclubs such as  le Rex, Bains Douches, Balajo, Royal Lieu et Nouvelle Eve as le physionomiste or doorman. Sometimes a videur or bouncer.  For a change it was good to live alone at hotels; le Ecouffes in le Marais, le Nelle, et le Louisiane in St. Germain. 160 francs per night. $20 with a petite dejeuner.

Not a quiet street. Le marche on Rue de Seine opened early. Shouts of the grocers.

Returning from the clubs at dawn I took advantage of its hours by lowering a weaved pannier by rope to the fruit seller with a 100-franc notes, a list of desires; clementines, baguette, fromage, et une cafe creme from the corner bistro et the Herald Tribune for basically $3. The phone rarely rang. Friends visited unannounced. I read away the days. Books from Shakespeare and Company on the Seine. Walking the back streets to le Cafe Flore. A glass of Sancerre in the late afternoon watching Paris become the fabled City of Light or le Ville de Lumierie.

 Oh, for the simple life.