Paris, France: Has Everything Already Been Said?

      The Mayor zipped over to Paris to advise PM Hollande on the political situation in Tahoma,CA.  He was very busy in October with his immigration issues, monetary issues, labor issues, and , of course, Angela Merkel of Germany(just re-elected by a commanding margin).   France's moribund economy needs some oxygen, fast, and Monsieur Hollande is doing his best at resuscitation.  Compared to Spain and Italy, he just might be having a little more success.   The Minister Of European Affairs has been reviewing all statistics and economic variables in an attempt to discern the growth rate of the French economy: not easy! 
      For Americans, Paris has long held a certain fascination.  Touted as the harbor of culture and learning, students, artists, writers, philosophers, and socialists have long agreed- it is the place to be and be seen.   Between the wars( WW I and WW II), this was definitely true.   Bolsheviks and Commies were running the conversations with promises of a new "Utopian" life.  And the setting of Paris gave them ample room to spread their vegetable soup of labels, leaders, lackeys, and leftists.
Papa Hemingway found Paris to be to his liking; of course, Charles Lindbergh loved all things Parisiene, and foodies were discovering the dietary plums of classic continental cuisine.

       So, not quite 'April in Paris', but the weather in late September, 2013, in Paris was magnificent.  In the 70's(20's C) everyday, and warm at night at the sidewalk cafes and bars.   We had arranged an apartment on Rue de Rousseau, off Rue St. Honore', one block from the Lourve Museum.  It proved to be a great location.
     Rue de Rousseau itself is a small(narrow) one way/one lane street often used as a byway to Rue du Lourve and Les Halles, the great shopping mall(now being completely redone).  It is home to several eating and drinking establishments, along with a variety of shops, a few definitely high end.  There is also a laundrymat.   We enjoyed a few meals at Coup d'Etat(on the corner); L'Emile. mid-block; the patisserie JJ Rousseau, and the no-name bar across from the apt.   An antique store(read-junk) opened occasionally as the typical hole-in-the-wall.   At the end of the block was the International House: a hostel type residential hotel for young people visiting or studying in Paris.  It appeared clean and well managed.   A small arcade extended from Rousseau to Rue du Bouloi and houses leather goods shops, women's wear, restaurants(2), shoe stores(several men's & women's) and a real estate office(?).
So Rue JJ Rousseau is a lively part of the neighborhood.
More later