I Love the Nightlife
There are many things that I believe are typically, intrinsically American, and therefore do not (and in my opinion, should not) extend beyond our borders. For instance, professional wrestling, soap operas, NASCAR, and trailer parks (funny how all of these things seem to go together in a neat little “white-trash” package... Also funny that the French do have terrible soap operas, are addicted to Formula 1 racing and sometimes choose to live in gypsy camps...).
There are other things, things that I love, that I imagined would sadly be relegated to my home country. Things like roller skating and bowling. Things I used to love doing as a kid, and that, from time to time, I still love to do. But things are not as they seem...
Hidden away in a small, brightly-lit neighborhood South of Notre Dame and East of the Boulevard Saint-Michel is an easily overlooked establishment called Bowling Mouffetard (the name comes from the neighborhood the establishment is situated in). It was perfect; eight tiny and cramped lanes, two or three pool tables, arcade games and an air hockey table. The atmosphere was somber, but permeated by touches of neon, cigarette smoke, hand-made signs and waiters dressed like league bowlers.
The drinks were cheap (relatively speaking of course): 6€ for a pint of Heineken and three glasses of sangria for pennies more. The small space was full of young people, the music was loud (and varied; from the new Madonna album to old school funk) and there was all kinds of fun (and nostalgia) to be had.
It was like I was home again... not exactly like when I was ten, but more like that time in college when I had nothing to do and ended up passing an entire evening at the local bowling alley with friends, a few drinks and childish enthusiasm. It was nostalgic, it was simple, it was good, clean fun (minus the slightly tipsy walk to the crêpe stand afterwards, and the ensuing inability to stop laughing). Once the buzz wore off (the buzz of memories, not alcohol) and I headed home in the crowded metro, I couldn’t help but think back fondly on my night and hope that I would be back again soon under the neon lights reliving my childhood
For more information, check out http://www.bowling-mouffetard.abcsalles.com/fiche.aspx?o=1&n=19 (in French). Address: 13 rue Gracieuse-73 rue Mouffetard 75005 Paris (that's the fifth district) métro: Place Monge.
