Partager CARNAR - Viande D'Argentine

Carnar, 13 rue de la Comète - 75007

This story is not for vegetarians!

We have just returned from a "Not for Vegetarians" weekend with some of our bestest buds from Paris, S and JP, who have recently demanager á Geneve.  That is one of the good/bad parts of living in Paris ... which is ... (this is the good part) ... you meet lots of nice people, become close .... and (this is the bad part) ... they often move away.  BUT, (this is the other part of the good part), they invite you to visit them wherever their new home may be.    

So, we are invited to Geneva ...

Walking around the quartier, as often I do, this shop, Carnar caught my eye.  First of all, I thought it was an Argentinian restaurant, which it wasn't ... but it was the next best thing.  A Take-Out Argentinian store, a Vente au Public!  As JP is in love with a good steak,  I decided to venture in to see what it was all about....especially since the weekend for our Geneva BBQ  was approaching, and I knew how JP would really be happy to see us with this cadeau in our luggage.  The vendeures were very kind and helpful, showing all the cuts of beef, best ones for the bar-be, and suggested wines for each cut of beef.   Also they have many side dishes and some desserts you can also add to your order.  It takes a few days, so plan ahead, but it is soooo worth it (if you are not a vegetarian), especially if you know someone who really enjoys some delicious Argentinian beef.   Right JP? 

Our weekend in Geneva was a great success, with an open invitation ... I guess as long as we bring the goods from Carnar we will be visiting Geneva again soon!!

Take a walk by and plan your weekend BBQ

PPxx

Partager La Vie á Paris - Manifestations

Manifestation 2009

Tomorrow will be a challenging day.   Another manifestation against the changes that are trying to take place in the social system of France.  So, this is how it will probably look from my window tomorrow.   there will be many disruptions of trains, RER, bus and metro ...plus I think the teachers are participating, so the children will lose a day of school.   I guess , being American, the changes seem quite minimal - 60 years of age to 62, when in the good ole 

US of A, it is more like 65 years old ... and we will be lucky if there are any monies left when we reach this ripe old age.   So, what to do?  


Enjoy the music and hope that it doesn't last for too many days....


You have to give the french credit for not letting anyone go hungry along the way!

Words of advice... When you are traveling to France in September...take care.

PPxx 

Partager More ... RIGA, LATVIA

Old Riga

The past week flew by .. way too fast when you are having a good time in Riga, Latvia.
This picture represents a real quiet part of the day in Riga.  It doesn't look like this all day and never at night ... the nights are quite different.   People from everywhere are enjoying the last remaining clear nights of the summer season.  Restaurants are everywhere, bike taxis to pedal you home after hours enjoying the music that could be found at the many beer gardens ... that ran into the next beer garden and into the next beer garden ... and I'm sure you get it..., interesting small shops selling their famous amber from the sea, craft markets selling their handmade linens, woolens, and carved leather books, and flower vendors on every corner brightening up your day.   Plus, the largest fresh market in Europe, selling the biggest mushrooms I have ever seen.  Walking thru this market was like taking a walk in the forest ..the smell of these mushrooms hit you, forcing you to find the nearest restaurant with mushroom soup on its outdoor menu.   Fortunately, that was not a problem in this easy to get around town.  Transportation by bus and tram was easy to figure out and jump on.  Just look out for the controllers on the right bank! 


Yes, Riga, is a very agreeable city, a very lively place to spend your weekend.   I had been anxiously waiting for an invitation from Mr. T to visit the "Paris of the North"  for quite some time.  The last time he went, poor guy, was in February, meters of snow minimized his explorations, but even with this hardship he managed to take some great pictures and have some stories to share... Enough to catch my interest and hope that I, too, would be flying Baltic Air to this lovely city, decorated in art nouveau architecture,  near the Baltic Sea.  


There are some tips I will pass on to you, so you will have an even better time in Riga ...
If you are heading that way, let me know and I will be happy to partager  them with you!


PPxx

Partager Details of Paris - Pont Alexander III

Pont Alexander III - Paris

The weather should be good this weekend, so profitez!  

Take that nice long walk that you have wanted all week and notice some of the details of Paris..

OR just lay around and let people notice you!!

PPxx

Partager The End of the Summer Fruits

Miam .. Miam...

The rains have returned to Paris today .. a bit triste ..., but there is still a bit of summer fruits to enjoy before the season is over. So Waste no time gathering up those last tastes of Summer ... those luscious peaches, plump blackberries, sensuous mangos, and sweet mirabelles at your favorite marché.

This is a lunch that my friend, J, served me the other day.  I felt like I had just devoured an injection of health,  magic, and even some extra "smarts."  I proceeded to my new french professor's house, and wowed her with my progress, well nearly..... I did feel a certain amount of confidence after eating this delicious repas of summer fruits.  This confidence cannot come soon enough, as we are interviewing for our 10-year residency card in a few short weeks.  I realize that my french should (and I am most of the time understood correctly) be somewhat acceptable by now... but losing this southern accent is difficult!  So, back to school I go for another round!

Anyone have their 10-year card that could give me some tips?

Merci d'avance,

PPxx

Partager the Grand Braderies of Fall

Brocante 14th arrondisement Rue de Maine

La Rentree is the signal for everyone to clean out their closets, and put it on the streets along side the professional sellers during the city's grand braderies (discount sales), vide-greniers and brocantes.  There are several large brocantes and vide-greniers (empty the attic) scheduled for this month.  The largest is in LIlle, La Grande Braderie de LIlle, the 4 and 5 of September, located a bit north of Paris.  This is one of the biggest puces in Europe, covering hundreds of kilometers.  Everyone comes to have a good time and eat moules-frites (mussels and french fires).   But, if you don't have the time to travel to Lille, or you don't like moules-frites, try next weekend's brocante, 11 and 12 Sept., at St. Sulpice in the 6e; and La Bourse the weekend of the 18 and 19, September in the 2e.  You are bound to find that special something for yourself!  

I will be looking for you there!

PS Take a look at Chez Loulou for some really nice looking moules-frites!

PPxx

Partager Paris Arrondisments - 18e

L'Escalier off rue Caulaincourt

Another of my little hobbies that fills my days is chasing after brocantes and vide-greniers (empty the attic, since the garages are few and far between here).  This is not a new thing for me, as I managed to make the rounds in my old home town of Jacksonville Beach.  
Paris and around ... has a plethora of them.  The difficulty is chosing which one to visit on your "empty"  weekend day.  The website http://www.info-brocantes.com/  helps me figure out this difficult task.  Sometimes I even talk Mr. T in coming along... 
One of the best parts of the puces tour, besides finding that really special something that absolutely no one else has ... is discovering a new part of Paris.  Last weekend, I chose the 18e, getting off the bus at rue Caulaincourt and heading down the "rabbit holes"  that are frequent in this quartier.  Wandering around this area affectionately called the "Balcony of Paris", it is a half-dream, half-nightmare of an area; exploring the seedy joints and Christian sites sitting side by side.  


Its time to get familiar with the area since the Vendange - the local annual wine-harvest parade and party will be the first of October.  Take a look at what's to come!:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/budgetplaces/4834620366/


á prochain!
PPxx