Paris is totally breathtakingly beautiful year round, but at Christmas it is even more spectacular! The Champs Élysées along with the whole city of lights sparkles with as many bright colours as baubles on a Christmas tree. Christmas markets galore, smells of spicy vin chaud, hot chocolate and roasting chestnuts fill the brisk air. …
Wow! What a combination of diverse activities provoking opposite feelings this weekend! Sainte Barbe artillery show, and sumptuous Saveur Christmas gourmet salon, both to the glory of France! Who would have guessed that poor Saint Barbara is the patron saint of such tough guys as artillery men and firemen! The Fête Sainte Barbe is actually a …
Weekend of Artillery, Gourmet Treats And Mixed Feelings Read More »
I know this sounds rather wacky, because that was my first thought too! But, Paris is Paris and never fails to come up with unheard of events and activities to dazzle you in sometimes strange but enjoyable ways. Fortunately this seemingly weird festivity took place a week before the attacks, because I doubt that I, …
After the many years of living here, I have developed a Pavlovian association of certain seasons with certain events. October, when the first wrinkled brown leaves start to scatter along the sidewalks and the air takes on a certain cool crispness, I start to think of chocolate! It has nothing to do with wanting …
Believe it or not, I just celebrated my very first Halloween outing in Paris! The French still have an on and off relationship with Halloween, which has had a bumpy enough broom ride to throw off any well meaning witch, with multiple takeoffs and crashes (like the adorable Google doodle)! The majority of the Halloween happenings …
It was that time again to harvest the grapes in Montmartre, which goes all out to celebrate this event. Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous sunny autumn day for meandering around the narrow labyrinth of streets in hilly Montmartre. I don’t go for the wine, nor to see the harvest, however picturesque that is, but just …
I would have loved to have stayed all night gazing at all the very softest of pastel colors Fragonard excelled in his paintings of romantic love and libertinage. Eroticism in his era was more mentally evocative and veiled, allowing the observer much more freedom to project his/her own sensuality and erotica, rather than being limited …
Sensual Paintings and Perfumes, Paris Nuit Blanche 2015 Read More »
It was just way too much! At least for me! Fête du Gastronomie, Heures Heureuses des Tartines, Fête des Jardins, Gazons Paris and Paris Sans Voitures(without cars). Down right impossible to enjoy them to the fullest, and practically impossible to get but a few smidgens here and there! Why did the mayor of Paris …
There I was in front of a neatly stacked pyramid of coconuts. Parts of them appeared to have been sprinkled with turmeric water and there were tiny yellow chrysanthemums tucked here and there. Behind me was a small altar, carefully arranged with offerings of rice, lemons and bananas with incense burning and more coconuts awaiting Lord …
I have always loved going to Fête de la Musique, that rowdy, crowded, and almost anything goes music festival that celebrates the summer solstice. The crowds of inebriated merrymakers reminds me of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, minus the costumes and parades. This year, I thought I would approach Paris’s ultimate street party in a …
I am not by any means an “expert” on pickpocket prevention, (obviously not at all in the past), but along the way, I have learned a few tips from my very own stupidity! With the event of upcoming summer travel, I thought I might as well put in my own two cents worth, learned the …
Pickpocket Prevention Tips Learned From My Own Stupidity! Read More »
The other Sunday after a delicious lunch of cauliflower dill soup that is always comforting and warms my tummy and a little siesta, I felt I wanted to get out and take a really long walk, hoping to hit the park and then the Fête du Pain at Notre Dame. We started walking towards Luxembourg …