Souvenir de Paris

Written by Juergen L. Hemm
Published: March 18, 2009 at 10:39 AM [UTC]

On a recent business trip to France, I finally managed to buy a case for both my violin and my viola.

If you search for a tailor in London, go to Savile Row. If you search for makers of bowed instruments and bows in Paris, go to rue de Rome. Metro 2 has a stop called "Rome" and you're only a few paces away from the shop(s) of your dreams.

While looking at the shop windows, watch your step: the City of Light is full of adorable little lapdogs that leave their smelly traces all over the place. In fact, more than 600 people are hospitalized in Paris each year after slipping on dog-doo and falling.

Several trials & errors later, I found what I was looking for at Le Canu.

According to the shop window, they speak English and German, but I resolutely relied on my spotty French and succeeded. The case was made by FEL (Fabrique d'Etuis de Luxe) in France.

The Paris RER (Resaux Express Régional) during rush hour is packed with people. Like in Tokyo, there are gloved "pushers" that will try to fit one more sardine in a can that is already too full. So there I was, with my little trolley plus my sizeable instrument case, wedged in between the other travelers.

Transport in the aircraft was no problem: since the case contained no instruments, I willingly checked it a the aircraft to be put into the cargo hold. We arrived safe and sound at NUE and continued our homebound journey.

The next day, I put my new case to good use - carrying my violin to my lessons and viola to the orchestra rehearsal.