Is There Life After Paris?

If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris…then wherever you go for the rest of you life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.

– Ernest Hemingway

Nothing can replace Paris, but I am finding Erlangen has some French flair of its own.  Within the first week, the Le Figaro* hair salon had already turned my head, along with a number of other curious associations between famous French establishments and seemingly unrelated contexts.

Café Culture

Erlangen is a university town, and what do students to better than study?  Well, let’s just say there is no shortage of bars and pubs.  One in particular caught my eye – La Sorbonne.  Based on the various signage, it seems to be a bar (die Kneipe), bistro, and café all in one.  Although I have not been inside, I am guessing the ambiance is not quite as studious as its name might suggest.

For those who prefer drinking their coffee outside, “La Brasserie” is the place to be.  This café was conceived in true French fashion, complete with a French flag motif on the sign above the entrance and a spacious outdoor terrace with authentic Parisian style café furniture.

Oh Champs-Elysées…

Les Champs-Elysées is said to be the most beautiful avenue in the world, although even the original avenue in Paris is not what it once was.   Thanks to the creativity of Parisian souvenir vendors, one can now find self-proclaimed renditions of this famous avenue everywhere, even in Erlangen.  For those of you who are wondering, someone really did put this sign on their house.  I just happened to come across it when walking one afternoon in what is pretty much the middle of nowhere.  Definitely not what Joe Dassin had in mind.

Chez Michel – Cheese vs. fromage

In Germany cheese is pretty popular.  The problem one encounters after crossing the French border, however, is that you realize “cheese” and “fromage” are not really quite the same.  No need to worry my fellow Roquefort fans. All you need to do is head to Erlangen’s main market and ask for Michel.  His cheeses come straight from the Rungis market near Paris and this fromager is out to keep his customers satisfied.  No pasteurized cheese here folks!

*Le Figaro is a well-known French daily newspaper.