Paris, I had my apprehensions and for good reason. My last encounter with this metropolis was a brief but unpleasant pass through while coming back from Nantes. Jer telling a beggar that she couldn't have any of his chocolate biscuits coz' they were for "Me and my friends" was the only real event of note that occured. "Biscee bisceee?" "No, you can have an apple"
The only other time before was worse. I was around the 18/19 mark and Paris was the first stop along a month long inter-railing trip with 3 other Bray heads. After a sweaty day of nearly getting started on in the Metro and other such misfortunes, we took it upon ourselves to get trolleyed during happy hour in our hostel (in an effort to thwart stereotypes that may have preceded us). Apres' getting gee-eyed, the group ventured outdoors in search of steamed hams and the like. Being the budding camera man that I was I felt inspired enough to bring my old Hi-8 camera to document the adventure, and an adventure it was. Upon leaving the chipper we were confronted by two jumped up little fucks who clocked me in the head a few times (with their forearms, not fists??) and demanded my camcorder off me. Due to my lack of French I'd no idea what they were saying, but I could kind of get the jist of it as they both gestured that they were going to knife. Shit wan. As one of them attempted to get forearm punch my mate Damo, are two other "friends" watched on from a good 100 metres down the road. Nice one lads. Panic station. They tried to corner me and kept screaming "Donay! Donay!" Apparently that meant "give, give, (you scuttered tourist)", but I only knew is as being a brand of tennis racket that Andre Aggasi used. I did what any other hero would do and screamed "Noooo, nooo!" then sprinted as fast as I could, straight into a bench. Thud! Strangely enough they didn't pounce on me then, they just left me.
Anyway, you can see that between "Donay!" and "Biscee?" Paris hadn't really left a great impression on me. However, upon recommendation from Mr Bean-a-like Dom Marley that I should definitely hook up with Soy Panday & Vivien Feil for the new film I found myself zooming towards the French capital once again, 3 times the charm? Oui!
For wan Paris is massive, so I figured that I must have only seen the shit bits before. This time round I seen A LOT of it mainly because the roads were so smooth that we could skate everywhere. When the journey was too big we Metro'd or took these €1 rental bikes. Fixie? Non! 3 speed and a basket is where its at!
Vi vi, tres tech.
One distinct advantage of my recent film-related travels has been the luxury of turning my brain off and following the leader. This was basically my view for any A-B movement during the trip. No stressing, no getting loss, no Donnay! Easy street, leaves you to properly soak the city in.
Cuisine, another advantage, I rip at eating.
Wan of the few times underground, and for good reason..
..to get to this amazing epic spot, its been in tonnes of stuff but I didn't really realise how big it was, tonnes of fun!
This place was pretty close and pretty fun too.
Le subjects. When we weren't out skating we were checking out
the cream of youtube. Invade Cuba and take their sugar to help our economy? That dude knows what he's talking about! Christ!
After a hard days shred we lapped it up in a very non traditional way by schlurping fine wine and indulging in several cheeses on baguettes.
Vivien had promised, with a smirk on his beak, that he was going to get me "Fucked up, Parisian style". I was almost intimidated until he flaked after too many wine gums. Maybe next time.
"Get a picture of me with all these drinks"
Next morning, we re-visited the Sun dial spot, never knew it was a Sun dial, but it is, so there. Its due to get demolished next year, but that didn't stop us getting le boot the first time, the re-visit proved way more fruitful with Soy's silent ripper friend Oliver tearing it up.
We explored and shot, was so nice to actually be able to skate from A-B around a city this big.
Unfortunately Johny Law was already on the scene at this mental spot, shame.
I can safely say that my Parisian perspective as been turned back to front. I had such a rad time from start to finish and felt the urge to return as soon as I left. Thanks to Soy for putting me up in his gaff, showing me so many sick spots, and ripping with a rare aul steeze that only he possesses. Cheers to Vivien for being a smart fugger, and a hard ripper (he's got mega POP!). The scene in general was super friendly, and the spots were plentyfull, diverse and fun! I gotta hit the post office and get that all that film off to the lab!
Wahay!
Its the finaaall countdownnnnn.. Belfast, my second filming trip to my favourite kip! 
