Now we know why French was required in school : échangisme, libertinism, Cléopâtre

April 30, 2002 8:42 PM

Now we know why French was required in school : échangisme, libertinism, Cléopâtre "For the past 18 months Jean-Charles and Sylvie have had a standing date with each other and with a changing cast of instantly made new best friends at a private club in central Paris called Cléopâtre...échangisme, she said, is something more interesting than the movies to do on a Saturday night...nearly 50 restaurants, clubs and saunas in Paris openly cater to heterosexual adventurers. " Time to bring back Plato's Retreat. [NYT reg req]
posted by Voyageman (5 comments total)

Don't tell themn about AIDS.
posted by Postroad at 1:05 AM on May 1, 2002

Don't tell Postroad about condoms.
posted by Sapphireblue at 6:07 AM on May 1, 2002

I don't get it... is this treated as something exotic because it is French? Surely you have swinger parties in the states too?
posted by dagny at 6:55 AM on May 1, 2002

I believe I saw this on RealSex on HBO a couple of years ago. Much more fun to watch than to read. :)

But yes, there are plenty of swinger clubs here in the states, but I don't think they serve "white asparagus with béarnaise sauce, lobster and a nice bottle of Chablis."
posted by eas98 at 7:03 AM on May 1, 2002

My favorite quote from this piece is the wife's, here:

"Basically, my wife and I come because it is good for the relationship," Jean-Luc, a Cléopâtre regular, said recently. "When you play outside the customary roles, you see your partner in a different way, and you can combat the inevitable boredom of marriage."

As for Jean-Luc's wife, Sybille, échangisme is, she said, "something more interesting than the movies" to do on a Saturday night.

(She may as well have said, "Heck, it's easier than a divorce!")
posted by mattpfeff at 7:55 AM on May 1, 2002