Signs and Wonders

Rounding off my Mum's fun but all too swift stay, we decided to eat out on the final night. During a scout out of Trip Advisor reviews, I came across a gem of a restaurant called '1000 et 1 signes'. The name didn't mean much to me, until I read about the restaurant's concept. 

PREMIÈRE PERSONNE SOURDE À OUVRIR UN RESTAURANT - CAFÉ PHILO BILINGUE (FRANÇAIS /LANGUE DES SIGNES) DE SPÉCIALITÉS MAROCAINES BIO OU AVEC DES PRODUITS DU MARCHÉ. Pour une clientèle d'entendants et de sourds, de personnes qui travaillent et se restaurent dans le quartier du 9ème arrondissement 
de Paris, 1000 &1 signes est un espace chaleureux et convivial, de restauration marocaine biologique, servie dans un décor Pop'art Made in Bled: 

• Où bien manger, même en peu de temps, est possible et accessible; 
• Où créer des liens ne passe pas forcément par la parole orale; 
• Où l'on peut, le temps d'un repas: vivre une expérience gourmande, s'ouvrir à la Langue des signes, favoriser l'activité économique de citoyens sourds, loin des clichés sur le "handicap" (cuisiniers et serveurs sourds), valoriser le commerce responsable et l'échange entre les cultures Sourde et Entendante.

Apart from serving delicious and generous portions of moroccan food, this tiny place in the 9th arrondissement is pretty special, as according to their website, it is the first restaurant to be opened by a Deaf person. It is a bilingual cafe-philo and aims to create links between Deaf and hearing people, showing that communication is always possible, even if not strictly through words. The restaurant also want to do away with tired old prejudices against 'disabled' people: the talented waiters and cooks are all Deaf and provide a brilliant service, with a dash of humour and exuding warmth and charm at the same time. For once, you are the clumsy, well-meaning fish out of water - whilst the waiter dances perfectly at ease between the tables, making himself clear with a swish and a flick of some pretty snappy fingers. I think a role reversal like this is only too important, as you begin to realise just how difficult Deaf people have it in a world that cares nothing for promoting or supporting such a beautiful language. I didn't get many pictures as the lighting was quite dimmed - so you'll just have to go and visit yourself!

The next day, Mum & I wound our way around the 7th arrondissement's finest sites:

Rue de Cler with its cute shopping & then a stroll towards the base of the Eiffel Tower.

       

On the way home, we stumbled across an open air photography exhibition put on by The Musee du quai Branly. Paris is great for these sudden, unexpected treasures which you stumble upon by chance. There's nothing better than wandering along by the river, taking your time not to rush for once, and to really open your eyes and see.

 My favourite work by Rony Zakaria: 

Just one thing I might have changed on our little adventure: next time - look after your macarons. This €10 mush is definitely not as pretty as the pastel coloured shiny topped rounds which Mum might have hoped to bring home. Perhaps the box would have been a good investment after all...! I'll bet it still tastes as good though :)

À Bientôt !

x