Paris is burning

Friday November 13th 2015.

The day started not unlike any other, a quick AM walk down the street to get a croissant and coffee for breakfast, Me - chocolate x 2 Her - plain with butter x 1, americano x2 - we planned on heading up to Sacre Couer in the morning then traversing the city back through the 9th 10th and 11th ARR.

We uber'd it through the morning drizzle, up winding streets until getting dropped at place du tertre, more coffee - starbucks this time ( sigh). 

Pretty awesome view of the city from sacre couer, belinda hit the go button on her camera. 

Off to the next destination but not before another croissant for me - this time almond -  delicious.

We planned on heading over to Chocolate by Alain Ducasse - it's a hike, but we are talking about chocolate, so no distance too far,  we walked down along blvd Voltaire and into the Marais stopping for a burger at Paris New York - Me double cheeseburger, fries and a coke. Her - regular cheeseburger, fries and a coke. Chocolate in hand we headed down to Place de la Bastille.

By now it was late afternoon still overcast but at least no rain. For some reason we sensed a change in the atmosphere walking through the square, a large contingent of heavily armed police stood at nervous ease along the edge of the square, smoking cigarettes and talking in small groups, the 20 or so riot vans stood idling, exhaust fumes hanging low in the streets, people though seemed not to care , maybe it's common 

A quick dinner at a french / italian restaurant on boulevard saint- germain then back to the apartment. It's friday night.

Around 9pm we were watching something on netflix when the phone started to ring, not the kind of news you want to hear.

The streets outside became quiet - no cars - no people - nothing. Paris is Burning. 

A nervous night ensued. punctuated by the endless repeat of news on CNN.

By morning the raw tragedy of events that had unfolded was evident. 130 dead.