Paris – June 13/13

Today it started rainy and stayed that way for most of the day. We went for a couple walks to see the sights. However it was cool, we got a little wet but made the most of it. We walked down to Notre Dame Basilica, had a coffee at a small cafe right next to Notre Dame and I did a crossword from Kamloops Daily News; check off one of those things I had planned to do when we started planning this trip.

We also bought a lock from a street vendor, added our names and date to it, then locked it on the Pont des Arts and threw the key into the Seine River.

By late afternoon the weather was improving and after dinner we head out for a walk. Right across the street is a small cafe/ bar and we saw about 12 people all dressed in white. At first we thought it was a wedding and then we noticed more people arriving and standing on the opposite street corners.

Many had little carts with collapsible tables and chairs and bags with what appeared to be wine and food. After about 1/2 hr there were about 75 people standing around visiting. It was about this time we met a very nice older couple that were also visiting the city like us and happened upon this event; whatever it’s was.

As far as the large randomly assembled group, they all of a suddenly started on the move and were headed towards the Seine River. Well we decided to follow them to see where they were headed, not too far away is a bridge across the Seine that heads towards the Louvre Museum. It was then we noticed large groups/lines of other people all dressed in white all heading in the same direction. This included one group coming down the boulevard that just did not end, it was continous, people all wearing white and all carrying supplies of some sort.

Tables were set up, men on one side women on the other, and they were all having dinner, partying, and enjoying each others company. In the end we found out that this was called “The White Party” which was started by a group of 10 friends 25 years ago. They wanted to have a group dinner in a forbidden place and have a set of rules round attendance. You must wear white, must be invited by a friend, you must bring someone, use public transportation, bring a table, chairs, white table cloth and dinner/wine.