My Experiences in France (II): Carla Bruni

Quatre consonnes trois vowels, c’est le prenom de Raphaël..

– 4 consonants 3 vowels, it’s the first name of Raphael..

I am still trembling right this moment murmuring this song. This song was written for an ex-lover by a famous Italian singer-song-writer, Carla Bruni.

When I “liked” Carla Bruni on Facebook, a friend of mine rolled her eyes. It was the moment I was judged by liking the wife of then-new-president-Sarkozy! I didn’t want to justify myself back then but here I want to talk a little about it.

Carla.. I discovered her in 2005 when I found her album, Quelqu’un m’a dit. How much I cried listening to La Noyée (reprise de Gaingsbourg) and Chanson Triste. Beautiful poems with melodies, which were what Carla Bruni brought to my life when I was going through hard times. I was so much in love with her songs, so I googled her photos and wow she had kilometres of legs! I got more curious, so I started researching and found out a few facts on her:

• Was born into an Italian family of very high socio-economic class.
• Was one of the 20 highest-paid fashion models in the 90’s.
• Dated some of the top figures in entertainment and politics in USA and France.
• There is really a “Raphaël” person and also there is a book, Rien de Grave.

Carla Bruni is a tall beautiful woman who worked hard for music, fashion, and her desires. And if you listen to her songs you will know how much hilarious she is. I loved her character through her lyrics. Then a few years later, Nicolas Sarkozy divorced as soon as he was elected as French president and married to Carla! That was the time the whole world discovered Carla Bruni. Then so many people started to develop issues against the new wife of the president of France.

One day in 2009 there was a fashion tea at Hotel Le Bristol: it was Emanuel Ungaro that day. I went there with two LCB friends. I was there for fun but there was also exclusive Ungaro sale for attendees. After the show my friends wanted to smoke outside. As soon as I entered in the inner garden, I saw a smoking lady with huge sunglasses. At the very moment we made eye contact, she smiled, disarmingly big smile.. and I was like “who is she?” I was embarrassed, une grande dame at grand hotel Le Bristol smiled at a stranger like me? Then I realized she was … Carla Bruni! We were so close to each other, so she could hear us. And one of my friends suddenly started talking about the neighbourhood of 16th arrondissement. Later when I turned my head to Carla’s table, she was gone. “Oh, she was Carla, wasn’t she?” And my friend said, “yes, that’s why I changed the subject to 16th where Carla has an apartment.” And another friend from Kuwait asked, “Who is Carla?”, “The wife of President of France.” “WHAT? That’s impossible.. I mean in Kuwait it’s impossible to be in the same place with the queen of Kuwait if you are not… …” Carla was there after shopping Ungaro. I saw white shopping bags next to her. No wonder le Bristol is located in the walking distance from Palais de l’Elysée, the presidential residence. And from that day I remember her as a beautiful artist who smiled at me without delay of even 1 second… as if she knew me.

A few days ago, there was a question: which one is better, LCB Paris or LCB London? I said, “As far as I know they teach the same thing. So it depends on you: are you a Francophile or Anglophile?” And if you ask me, “so are you a Francophile?”, then my answer is no, not anymore. Now I have memories, good and bad, in France and lived everyday life in Paris. It’s just a part of me.

I hope you enjoyed my story. And please judge no one. ^.^

And read more >> My Experiences in France (I): My first year in France

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