Partager The Last Days of Paris SOLDES!

Rue Saint Honoré

Still haven't found that perfect pair of shoes yet?  The Paris SOLDES are nearly over, so now is the time to get serious.  With most stores displaying 50% off, you will be able to afford two pairs!   I have never seen so many shoes crying out for a home!

Don't wait too long, the sales will be over the 15th. 

But, just in case you missed them this time, don't fret, Paris has SOLDES (sales) two times per year. The summer sales will begin the end of June (check here for exact dates and maybe a good airfare) and last for 6 weeks.  I do encourage you to arrange your trip to arrive the first week or so of the SOLDES if you want the best choice of merchandise and sizes.  If it is best prices you are after, wait until the last couple of weeks of the sales.  You will find the reductions are many times up to 70 %.
You can make organize your own tour by checking out the Itineraries for shopping, or if you would prefer to take full advantage of your time, there are many tours, large, small, luxury, or just girlfriends together, that will make your shopping trip a profitable affair. 
If you have any questions, please drop me a line. 
See  you for the SOLDES D'ÉTÉ!

PPxx
"Fashion fades, only style remains the same"
Coco Chanel

Partager Soleil!

The sun came out today ... 

So nice to see my shadow!!


Living in Florida most of my life, I had taken these magic,  golden rays for granted,  


Not now!

PPxx

Partager L'Autumn

Champ de Mars

Its happened.  Overnight.  The leaves have tombé sur la terre.  This is always such a beautiful time in Paris.   The walks by the Seine take on another dimension.  The Jardin de Luxembourg becomes a monastery, a place of worship, everyone overcome with the colors that nature has painted on this season's canvas. 

  

As leaves swirl down to find connection with where they arose, we, too, unknowingly are performing the same ritual.  

This morning, I opened a magazine that I had stowed away for future reference of some sort, and out slipped a red leaf from last fall.  Still perfect, still with its beautiful rich colors.  What a nice reminder of the past year's fall adventures.

Go find your perfect fall leaf and tuck it away .... it will reward you someday.

PPxx

Partager "Sun Dog" Night

Taking a walk around Paris usually turns into a "happening" of some sort.  The other night, Mr. T was involved in a major photo contest, so we headed out to see what we could see.  Any direction will take you there.   Our first stop was the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor, because there are such lovely views from this bridge at sunset, plus there are usually some interesting people gathered together, playing music, dancing or picnicing.  We had gotten off the bus and taken two steps onto the bridge when I looked up ... and "WOW ...  what is that?"  If you look closely at my photo (of course, Mr. T's was much better, but mine will have to do unless you look at his Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/collardgreens/4859393840/ ) you will see "3 Suns"  AKA, Sun Dog. or a mock sun.  Such a photo opp!!  We both yanked out our cameras, laughing at the coincidence of this miraculous siting.  But, I think Shakespeare said it best, "Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns?"


So, next time you are in Paris, maybe take a walk over this pedestrian bridge and hope for a "3 Sun Dog Night"  !


PPxx

Partager Parc Bagatelle

The weekend has arrived once again .. right on time.  The city has cleared out nicely, and it is the month of sharing this beautiful city with les etrangers that keep this city bustling  and beautiful.  I do love the month of August in Paris, although an old friend told me ... "in the old days you would not be seen in Paris in August; you would be too embarrassed to be in the city instead of your country home in the provinces.  If you did not have a country home, so sorry for you, then you  would just pull your blinds down and stay hidden!"   Well, I am glad its not like that today, but it is nice to enjoy the calmness of the city, the long nights that are perfect for walks along the river, the light just right for the perfect romantic photographs near the Square du Vert Galant, and the lights of the city gleaming in your eyes ...Paris, Paris, Paris!  

Here is a nice place to visit  during these long days .. the lovely restaurant at Parc de Bagatelle.

Partager Paris in the Summertime

BACK in PARIS for the summertime!  Tres Chaud, but lots of fun for all!


After 24 hours of traveling, via Canada Air this time, I am back in Paris.  The last month was spent with Family and Friends in the beautiful, but some days way too hot, FLORIDA - my home before Paris.  


But now I'm back and already hitting the streets for all that Paris has to offer for summer fun, and there is lots of fun for all.  I took the obligatory walk thru the neighborhood .. starting with the all the beautiful brides gathered in front of the Tour Eiffel for their pictures with their families,  sharing the Champ de Mars with all the energetic children enjoying the beautiful warm day, up and down the rue St. Dominique, excited to see that the SOLDES are still going on (!), smelling  my favorite Moisson Bread at the boulangerie on rue Grenelle, passing by L'Epicerie Fine for their inspiring vitrines to see what I should buy for the next time we entertain and, of course, including a stroll down rue Cler, our famous market street, I felt like I was home again.  


OHhh, what a feeling!
Come and Partager the feeling with me sometime soon!  
Tomorrow is the fresh market on Blvd. Grenelle to gather my evening meal...why don't you come along?


PPXX

Partager Un Verre!

The corner where Mr. T and I sit, usually on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, is a very special corner.  You can sit here for as long as you want ...  no one tries to shoo you away ... we have chosen our places carefully and they are ours until we are good and ready to go.  The bill  doesn't come our  way until we finally catch the server's eye and wave the universal sign for "l'addition, s'il vous plait."  

We have been sitting at this café for over 10 years now.  They know us;  we know them.    It has changed over the years, but so have we ....  (just a little). Although it did take us awhile to get used to the new chairs, hours of trying them out helped us to learn to love them, too.  The café faces one of the famous buildings in Paris, L'Ecole Militaire, where Napoleon received his military training.   The corner map for the quartier lives here too.  We have watched "the world"  come here to find La Tour Eiffel, only to walk in the wrong direction.  Remember when you are using these very helpful neighborhood maps, usually located right next to the metro stops, that they all face north, remember that and then you will easily find La Grande Dame!


Tomorrow I will be leaving for my bi-annual trip to the states, so my posts may be a bit par hasard but I will try to post from sunny Florida when I can.  Mr. T will have to visit the café alone (c'est dommage) ...  but I'll be back before he knows it! ... So, when you are near the corner café, take a look around for us.  We'll partager un verre!  And, in the meantime ... 
Bon Vacance!

Partager May Day

The First of May, La Fête du Muguet, is the first of many Jours Fériés n the month of May.  So many holidays  (2 more to come, the 13 and 24) that the month of May is called the month of Swiss cheese....needless to say, not much gets accomplished, but everyone has a good time!

Lily -of- the- Valley, la Muguet, is sold on all the street corners...and everywhere you turn...as you come up from the metro, as you exit the grocery store..on your way down rue Cler, small little stands scattered all about, all over the city and all over  France.    It is tradition to give the ones you love a small bouquet of these lilies for good luck and to celebrate the arrival of spring. This is also considered Labor Day in France, a holiday the French got from America, (although America celebrates it in September). 

So, if you are visiting Paris this month, be prepared for a few closed stores and museums, and arrange your time on these holidays visiting the beautiful parks of Paris...or take in a classical movie at the Grand Rex Theater. 

Alors! Partager Paris wishes you la Bon Chance and ....

take some time to smell the Muguets of Spring!

Partager de Livres

BOOKS, BOOKS,  BOOKS... we all love them..we love to spend time with them...

Wars have been fought over them,.. Lives have been led according to them...
Rules have been made from them..
Clubs have argued about them...
Movies have been made from them...
Nights have been spent with them....
Days have been shared with them...
Fantasies have been woven from them....
Ideas have been created from them....
Friendships have been made due to them..
Fairs have been organized for them..
Libraries have been built for them...
Art has been inspired from them...
Money has been spent on them....
and Time should be devoted to them.....

Le Nouveau Chapeau...HATS, HATS, HATS on the Streets of Paris

Every direction I look I see Les Chapeaux! Le Chapeau sur les Chapeaux de roues!
And with the cold weather we've been enjoying...hmmm...I felt a strong urge to find me a nouveau chapeau!




Paris has changed its look since the 30s and 40s, but Paris changes her look on a daily basis.  That's one of her many tricks.  There are many looks this season, but the one that keeps turning my head is the Russian fur hat...or the fur bomber .  Just the thing to keep you sur les roues de Paris in this cold weather.  So, this fuzzy bear-ear model, the trapper look, is the beginning of a new collection for me.  I found it in a little store on rue St. Dominique in the 7th.  Wonder what kind I will find tomorrow?  There are so many to chose from...maybe the stocking cap, maybe the cute little felt bucket hats with flowers on the side, or maybe with buttons instead?  What about you?  Have you found your perfect winter hat yet?  Partager your favorites with me!