Falafel and Denial

Today, I arrived at the BnF bright and early (or at least, as bright and early as I could muster on this lovely Monday morning, aka 10:45am), and found it was closed. Yes, the National Library of France is closed on Monday's until 2pm (the research halls are anyway). How does anything get accomplished here? Seriously! It's absurd. So, I went over to Prêt à manger, got one of their own Ginger Ales (they don't taste like Ginger Ale—they taste like Ginger!), and read a book until heading over to the Marais to meet Alix for some falafel. I've found a nice route to take from the BnF to the Marais: my bus 89 to Jussieu (one of the universities), then I walk across my favorite bridge in Paris (Le pont de la tournelle, the one where the statue of Saint Geneviève watching over Paris is), across the île Saint-Louis (where Berthillon is, but sadly it's closed on Monday), and then by the Holocaust memorial into the Marais. That is where I met Alix, and we headed over to L'As du Falafel. 

This restaurant is a little hole in the wall, but it is probably also the best falafel in France. Downside: there is always a line. Except for today, at least! We got right in (there was a line to get falafel to go, but it's nicer sitting down). I was pretty disappointed today, what with the Tony Awards results from last night, so I basically spent lunch explaining to Alix how amazing Matilda is and how mediocre Kinky Boots is. She's convinced—in fact, she wants to see Matilda while she's back in the US this summer! They should pay me a commission! 

Afterwards, we got some pastries from a pâtisserie, then parted ways and I tried to decide which BnF to head to. Should I go to the BnF at Richelieu and see if my request to see the actual manuscripts was approved? Or should I go back to the lazy BnF that is closed at 11am on a Monday? Choices choices. I walked back over the île Saint-Louis and looked at the bus stop, and it was 15 minutes until the next bus! I waited for a minute or two before deciding that was crazy, and started heading back to the métro on the other side of the island. As I was walking, I saw the bus coming. As I'd say in France, MINCE!!! (it's like "merde" but nicer) Really, though. Just my luck. Anyway, I took the métro from Pont Marie to Opéra, got to Richelieu, and they informed me that my request was denied. Why? Who knows? That's how France operates I guess. I guess it wasn't necessary to see them, but I really wanted to. Anyway, I then took the 14 back to the other BnF, where my book was finally there (not without problems), and I finished perusing that. And guess what: no mention of Mme Biard or convents! I guess I'm doing real original research!