Eugene Delacroix was described by his friend Charles Baudelaire as “a volcanic crater artfully concealed behind bouquets of flowers”. He remains in many ways an enigma, where his personality and inner life can be drawn from his art, his tragic childhood losses, and conjectured by reading the correspondence to various persons during his lifetime. This …
I absolutely adore going to the many outdoor markets here to pick out my fruits, vegetables and seafood. They are all a dazzling feast for my eyes and the smells of roasting chickens, simmering paellas, tartiflettes, etc offer enticing bouquets that titillate my nose as walk down the aisles. This one had famous chef’s farmers …
Saturday was one of those absolutely perfect warm autumn days in Paris. As soon as I hit the lovely Palais Royal gardens, the heavenly odor of foie gras sizzling in a pan perfumed the air. Les Toques du Canard was well in process celebrating the famous foie gras ducks of the Landes region in southwest …
September is one of my favourite months in Paris, in part because of les Journées du Patrimoine, or Heritage Days. Yesterday was the tightest security ever seen for a historical visit: sadly needed but very much welcomed! One weekend out of the year, all of over France, historical monuments, governmental buildings, châteaux and all sorts …
Tightest Security Ever Seen For Heritage Days In Paris Read More »
As I stood in the broiling hot sun, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, I noticed only the pigeons had to freedom to still call Sainte Rita’s church their home. I wonder what they were thinking snugly perched in the pretty rose window looking down on all the faithful kneeling and praying in the …
Strolling along pretty Canal Saint Martin or north along the Bassin de la Villette, makes for a really lovely walk to take along this unique part of Paris. Sometimes you just want to be distracted by either pretty tree shaded vistas, interesting things to see, romantic water views and people. The canals that Napoleon built …
With so many fabulous museums in Paris to choose from, the decision can be a tough one, on the first Sunday of each month. I had been putting off going to the Musee Picasso for various reasons that I will explain below. If it’s between October and March, I will generally gravitate returning to the …
I started out at full throttle, full of inspiration to see the free jazz concerts to celebrate Jazz Saint Germain and two museums opened at night for Nuit de Musées European. By late Saturday, the rain started and it became evident that my museum choices were a bust. It was one of those weekends …
Yesterday was one of those absolutely gorgeous days in Paris, that would incite any songwriter to rhapsodize about the thousands of chestnut trees in bloom. What better way to celebrate the Spring season than a leisurely stroll down the Champs Élysées! To make it even more irresistible was that this Sunday, it was without the …
These little birds must be some classy chicks! Falco tinnunculus, aka kestrels have been coming back to roost in the spires of Notre Dame for eons. The view must be absolutely magnificent overlooking the Seine and the garden behind Notre Dame Cathedral . Frankly I had never heard of them, but any birds that love …
Lord knows they have tried once again to make up for the sacrilege destruction of the revered stomach of Paris, Les Halles de Baltard, that proudly stood in the center of Paris for over a hundred years till 1971. But sadly this second extremely expensive renovation attempt it is nothing more but a blasphemous architectural …
Les Halles Of Paris Renovation, Another Architectural Flop? Read More »
It was one of those perfect late winter Sundays with sunny skies that held the promise of spring, mobilizing Parisians to get outdoors. Bundled up, the sun felt warm on my face, buffering the cold wind as I walked slowly up the very steep cobblestone hill, past the vineyard and Le Lapin Agile towards the Musée …
Museé Montmartre Celebrates Utrillo, Valadon and Utter Read More »