Sunday morning—beautiful sunny skies. I can’t remember the last weekend when we didn’t have at least one sunny day since I arrived. And it will be in the high 50s today. Sorry, Midwest.I went to 10:30 AM mass at Saint-Severin on the Left Bank (see 3/1/07 post), which is very close to Notre-Dame. I really enjoy these services—not that I can understand more than 10% of the words they say but the priest and readers do speak plus lentement (slower) and some of the churches hand out programs. This one did—so I could read or sing along and hear the words, which is the best way for me to continue my study of French. Oh, and I was so pleased that a big man behind me was shouting out his baritone voice on all songs. (You just knew he had to be "big" by the strength of his voice!) This really helped me with the pronunciations not to mention that I enjoyed his beautiful voice.
On my way back past Notre-Dame, I finally stopped and had my first crepe (on this trip). I’d been saving myself until Suz arrived but that's one thing on our list we didn't get done. I had a lemon sugar one—very good. I always used to have a Nutella (chocolate) one (with bananas sometimes) with chantilly (whipped cream); but the chantilly melts from the hot chocolate and drips all over the place—down my hands, on my coat, etc. I hate that. Crepes must be a necessity here—they’re sold everywhere and many cafes have a window that opens onto the street where they make them emporter (to go) as you pass by.
I turned the corner at Notre-Dame and made fun of all the people waiting in line to climb the towers. Not really but I’m glad I did that on a week day and was in line before it opened at 10. While nearing the Petit Pont Saint Louis bridge behind Notre-Dame to cross over to Ile St. Louis, I heard a band playing music I recognize—and it reminded me that I had read something about this group. 
The Buddy DiCollette Band sets up every weekend on this bridge, when not otherwise engaged, to entertain the crowds (and collect donations and sell CDs). They are very good—they play mostly jazz and blues music. Drummer, bass, saxophone, and guitar players, a couple of the members—one might have been under 40—were from the good ol’ USA (Tennessee and New York). They were very dapper, especially the Americans, dressed in suits and hats reminiscent of Frank Sinatra (the Parisian wore a beret, of course). Their music took me back to jazz band days in high school. I just hit their web site (http://www.myspace.com/thebuddydicolletteband) and feel like I’m standing on the bridge again with them! They won't win any awards—they’re street musicians, after all, who also play at weddings and festivals—but they are enjoyable to listen to and watch. (I was too cheap to pay 15 euros for a CD. I never seem to listen to CDs at home so it would’ve been a waste of money for me. Besides, if I want to reminisce, I can go to their website!) 
The rest of the day was spent wandering the city—including stepping into the Saint-Louis en l’Ile church while the organist was practicing—oh, I so love that—and enjoying Parisians enjoying Paris enjoying the weather enjoying the city. What could be better??
