After watching the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday night on television, I wondered what all the decorations looked like in person. I wanted to see Lady Gaga’s stage and wondered if Marie Antoinette was still standing in the Conciergerie windows holding her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wandering from the Bastille to the Seine I walked along the upper quai. I saw the enchanted golden staircase on the tip of Square Barye where Lady Gaga sang on and danced in pink and white plumage. I could still envision the movements and the moments. Ahead of me lay the next island to inspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The island of \u00cele-Saint-Louis was open to pedestrians again. The pink flags were still hanging along Quai de B\u00e9thune where the can-can dancers entered their stage. The pedestrian traffic was light. Under the grey, wet sky, I found bright flowers and residents on their morning strolls. Further on along \u00cele de la Cit\u00e9, the wall of the H\u00f4pital H\u00f4tel-Dieu was still draped in gold that acted as a backdrop to dancers on Friday and to workers on Saturday dismantling the stage and the bleachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n