Halloween in Paris
This was the first night all my favorite people in Paris hung out...Melissa, Asra, Sally, Mika, and Loz. This was my France family. On this particular night, we went for drinks at a bar off the Champs Elysees called Freedom. I'd visit that bar again on my last night in Paris...one of my all time favorite memories. But on Halloween 2007, we were all still getting to know eachother...
Meet Asra: From Alabama, she's pretty, eccentric and barely has a twang. She looks more Parisian than Southern Belle, and despite being quiet at first is one of the most outrageous and funny people I know. She and I became thick as thieves, and had several adventures everywhere from Paris to Marseilles.
Meet Loz: An Englishman and proud of it, Loz was hilarious and sarcastic.
Meet Melissa: A Minnesotan sweetheart, Melissa and I were best buds for the first few months of living in Paris...unfortunately, fate took her back to the States before her time. Until then, though, we had some wild good times...it was with her long lashes and flirty smiles that brought Mika to the group...
Meet Mika: Tall, with brooding good looks, Mika is a Swedish/French/English speaking finlandais who worked at the British Embassy. No one enjoyed a good time more than Mika, and though he was often quiet in a group, he still managed to come up with wild dares to give me in his Finnish accent: "Maaaygan...twenty EURos if you DRINK this..."
Meet Sally: A New Yorker through and through, Sally was my role model. She had an eclectic style, a sweet nature, and an incredibly creative mind. She and I spent long hours smoking cigarettes, talking, and drinking in her kitchen on days when her roommate was out of town. One of the most generous people I've ever met.
The Freedom is just off the Champs Elysees, and let me tell you, if you're not with someone who knows where they're going, you'll be lucky if you stumble across it. I know for a fact that it would take me at least a street map and a couple of street crossings (to get to the correct side) before I'd be able to find it again. I always went with friends who knew exactly where they were going.
The bar is dubbed an "English" bar, so there are lots of big wooden tables and pints of Guinness aplenty. There is also a dancefloor, and in the back are pool tables. The dancefloor may or may not be hoppin', it depends on what time of night you arrive--the music is extremely eclectic, so be ready to dance to everything from rap to techno. You'll find lots of different kinds of people there, most of whom (in my experience) are regulars.
Depending on the night there's a cover--but I think that's to check your coat. It's not too expensive, maybe at most 5euros. And it IS a relief (particularly in the winter) to not have to carry around a coat and scarf.
The other perks of going to the Freedom is that nearby are the wonderful late night or all night fast food places along the Champs...namely the Quick. When Freedom closes at three, make your way over there for some post bar deliciousness!
