The Paris Traveler

 If you happen to be heading over to Paris this month, be warned that you are going to see an amazing amount of signs similar to this one, telling patrons that yes, indeed, it is August, we are French and by God, we are going on vacation for the entire month!!  That’s it.  Shops and cafés will draw the curtains, their owners will flee the city in search of sun and fun, usually in the south of France where chances are, the sun will actually shine and the city will feel different–quieter.  I moved to Paris in August and the …read more

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 Pétanque, is a game that captivates Frenchmen ( I am alluding to the male species as I have never seen women playing).  If you see a gaggle of men looking at the ground in various parks and gravelly areas throughout Paris and France, with very serious and concerned looks on their faces, you can pretty much bet an intense game is going on.  Cigarettes are usually involved which accounts for the haze surrounding the area.  It is a unifying event, bringing men of all ages, socio-economic backgrounds and cultures together to have their moment in the pétanque sun.  
The game …read more

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There are so many parts of Paris that are sort of alluded to in guidebooks, but as a first time visitor, there just isn’t time to hit everything.  Being overwhelmed by all there is to see and do is understandable and expected.  The little journey I am going to send you on isn’t out of the way–it’s something that you might not know to do but can easily fit into your day.  The above photo is taken from Place de la Concorde looking down Rue Royale towards Place de la Madeleine which is where you might want to go today.

 La Madeleine’s history …read more

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Awhile back, I wrote a post about a gem of a website, The Little Bookroom, which features beautiful volumes devoted to travel, food, wine, shopping and equally beautiful journals that easily inspire one to jot down thoughts that could be a future title on this charming site.
  Previously, I mentioned a book by Gilles Pudlowski, Pudlo Paris, a guide to all that is yummy in Paris–restaurants, bars, cafés and gourmet shops.  A foodie’s Paris bible if there ever was one.
Now, Mr. Pudlowski has taken his show on the road.  Pudlo France,  just out last month, is a comprehensive journey through the entire country, …read more

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Enjoy your Sunday.

Man on Wire (2008) (nytimes.com) 
France tops bill for costly holidays (timesonline.co.uk)
Eau dear! French turn on the tap (guardian.co.uk)
Gulp! Mystery oyster killer threatens to deprive France of its precious delicacy(timesonline.co.uk)
Bored by the Tour de France:  No doping, no drama (chron.com)

 
Photo credit:  s j b@flickr
 

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Sadly, I have just finished reading the latest adventures of David Sedaris, author of When You Are Engulfed In Flames.   I say sadly because I laugh harder than I usually do when I read about the misadventures of he and his partner, Hugh, as they traverse the world.  Actually, Hugh has few misadventures.  It is Mr. Sedaris that finds himself doing banal, daily things like smoking cigarettes or visiting a doctor’s office, as we all must once in awhile, however,  all hell breaks loose for this author and the mundane becomes hilarious.
These events would not be half as funny …read more

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As I go along my merry way through the land of the Internet, I come across all sorts of crazy and/or unnecessary things that would be fun to have or just fun to know that they exist.

I am fairly certain that no one would actually use this anymore, but it would be so fun to have–a little treasure that I would put on a fancy little dish on my desk and just look at and think how cute is that.  A pen nib in the shape of the Eiffel Tower!  Something for the Francophile that has everything.
 

We are all chocoholics …read more

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As I sit here with a cup of coffee and various newspapers on a sunny, Sunday morning, not in a hurry to do anything in particular,  I have decided to stick to the little ritual of sending you off to other parts of the web so you can leisurely read through some interesting articles about all the goings on in France.  If I think something is amazingly interesting but has nothing to do with France, I am sending you there anyway just to be amazed.

 Villages fight over champagne  (telegraph.co.uk)
 Cohen:  Wine, haste and religion (iht.com)
 Prunes:  Better than chocolates in Paris (chicagotribune.com)
 How not to …read more

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 First off, I just have to say that I could not love this graphic more and would chop it all up and use it a million different ways in crazy collages or decoupaged on a pendent to create a necklace or bracelet charm.  Too much fun.  The guy is Napoleon and Musée des Arts décoratifs is honoring his influence on design with an exhibition: Symbols des pouvoirs sous l’Empire (Symbols of power under the Empire) now through October 5, 2008. 
As you may or may not know, Napoleon aligned himself with military heroes from ancient Rome and Greece, taking many of …read more

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Okay, so you can’t decide if you want to go to the beach or to Paris for your summer holidays, then think again! Paris has its own beach and this year it’s getting even bigger!
It use to be when you thought of Paris Plage, you thought of Le Touquet! Not anymore! For the past five years Paris has its own beach right on the Seine. With palm trees and sandy beaches, you’ll think you’re in Tahiti. Hmm, okay maybe not, since the one little thing missing is the ocean! “Little thing!” you say?…. Well use a bit of imagination! (Work with me …read more

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