Paris, always the same but also some differences
Bonjour!
It’s a very early day here for me in Paris trying to get body clocks, eating habits, and body systems reset. Always a challenge and more so with each year. Now, I didn’t say that we’re getting old, but that’s what we’re all thinking…Ha! It’s a lot for anyone at any age, but more so now than ever. Bernie survives it all better than I. He is amazing. I need 48 hours and hopefully back to being the Everyready Bunny.
We had a lovely travel day yesterday with no issues whatsoever, good weather, great food and on-time arrivals throughout the day. So from that standpoint, we have no complaints. La Compagnie, our boutique French airline, is now flying into Orly which we much prefer over Charles de Gaulle. The cab ride is about 15 minutes and only 35 euros verses almost an hour and 55 euros! The price and quality are unbeatable.
Paris appears to be the same despite fake, exaggerated news of horrible deterioration in the city from immigrants. The weather is quite nice, and the reports of flooding have not impacted our area. We had an immediate sadness, though upon turning onto rue St. Paul, to find one of our favorite shops shuttered, the wonderful Thanksgiving store which sold American food products, most especially my JIF p-nut butter! Oh dear, as it’s a favorite staple for my attempt at a gluten-free diet. I wrote about this little shop in “Bernie’s Paris.”
We encountered many of our friends and neighbors and even our new friends from Australia last evening, Linda and Mark. They are only here a few more days and have been touring around Europe for several months. We had dinner with Chantel, our neighbor of over ten years now, and reconnected with many of Bernie’s drinkin’ buddies. So all in all, a great welcome back. The proprietor, Julie and her chef husband down below us at Le Bouquet St. Paul, are the same as last year, and we enjoy them and the café very much.
Our beloved apartment on rue St. Paul is also showing its age. And gives us pause to think that perhaps we need to find a new spot in the same area. We are paying more for less, it seems. We purchased our third coffee pot yesterday at our whirlwind grocery spree. We don’t like espressos in the morning; rather hearty cups of American coffee. Though the apartment has a Nespresso machine, we like the real deal. Multiple other things don’t work as well as they used to either, but we’ll adapt. The location is the best!!!
Many of you have asked what photo emphasis we’ll do this year, and I’ve given it a lot of thought. Probably nothing we select will ever top the café chair theme. What fun that was. The ease and availability of quick photos is paramount. I’ve thought about shoes, scarves, hats, desserts, even tattoos, all of which would be wonderful, but sometimes very hard to obtain without being gauche. And the French don’t like gauche. So I have decided to focus on street scenes. There’s never a dull moment walking Paris streets, and interesting material is readily at your fingertips. For example, yesterday in just one trip to the ATM for our euros, I ran across these tantalizing scenes:
In anticipation of taking two sets of company to Normandy in July, Bernie was determined to get our train tickets after many attempts on-line. He withstood a 2-hour backlog but came away with a viable solution, not the exact time we wanted but certainly doable.
To you who have read the blog for years and years, thanks for your support. To our many new readers this year, we’ll give you a heck of a Paris tour so welcome aboard.
À bientôt,
Linda & Bernie
June 16, 2018 @ 4:01 am
What a handsome young couple in the first picture—looking so rested and Parisian. Glad you are there and safe. We are so looking forward to being there next year. Oh, and for the photography, I would have recommended the theme the museum curators here gave us for the HPS exhibit this year, “Unexpected Beauty.” I kept thinking of Paris all the while we were working with that. There is so much beauty there that I didn’t expect—so many serendipities.
June 16, 2018 @ 4:50 am
Thanj you for sharing.
June 16, 2018 @ 4:53 am
Thank you Linda 😃
June 16, 2018 @ 9:45 am
Yippee! Can’t tell you how excited I am L& B are back in Paris and writing / photographing for your wonderful blog. Couldn’t agree more about Orly and ‘street scenes’ is perfect for your photos (the flowers, the flowers!). Well done Bernie on the train tickets, too.
Cheers across the Channel and enjoy the COFFEE xx
June 16, 2018 @ 9:51 am
Hi Linda and Bernie, lovely reading your news and pleased to hear that you are back again and enjoying Paris. Very much looking forward to seeing you both on 3rd August.
Love to you both,
Malcolm and Antonia
June 16, 2018 @ 11:32 am
Yes, we have it on our calendar!
June 16, 2018 @ 10:59 am
It’s wonderful to be back in Paris with you! I love reading the details of your day and seeing all of the lovely photos you take. Thank you so much for sharing your adventures with us.
June 16, 2018 @ 11:02 am
It’s wonderful to be back in Paris with you! I love reading the details of your experiences and seeing the lovely photos of my favorite city in the world. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
June 16, 2018 @ 11:03 am
It’s wonderful to be back in Paris with you! I love reading the details of your experiences and seeing the lovely photos of my favorite city in the world. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
June 16, 2018 @ 11:35 am
Thanks for all 3 of your comments! Ha! Glad you’re along for the ride.
June 16, 2018 @ 9:44 pm
I’m so sorry, Linda! I didn’t think my comment was going through. Please feel free to delete two of them. 😔
June 16, 2018 @ 11:24 am
So glad you are back. I learn so much following you!
June 16, 2018 @ 11:31 am
I am so thrilled to hear from you and to know that you are following along. To others on the blog, Betsy is my dear friend of MANY years ago (1970-72) in Atlanta. We suffered through teaching school together…High School English.
June 16, 2018 @ 11:25 am
You do my heart good. Have a wonderful stay and know I will look forward to every post. Best to you both!
June 16, 2018 @ 11:34 am
Bonjour, Linda and Bernie! I think the street scenes are wonderful. That’s an excellent pick of a theme for this year’s blog. I can visualize being there perfectly! Have a magnificent time! I can’t wait to read and see more!
June 16, 2018 @ 11:47 am
Thanks for joining us!!
June 16, 2018 @ 11:45 am
Glad you are there and sharing the stories with us. Sorry to hear that Thanksgiving is closed. I interviewed Judith, the owner, about ten years ago. She said her best- selling items were American cereals and peanut butter.
June 16, 2018 @ 11:47 am
Thanks for joining us!!
June 16, 2018 @ 11:48 am
I thought for sure I’d see you before you left. SO glad to hear you had “smooth sailing” going over. LOVE the photos and yes, esp the first one. Keep them coming and have a lovely and safe and healthy trip.
June 16, 2018 @ 11:51 am
Play golf on Tuesdays for me!!!
June 16, 2018 @ 11:50 am
I always enjoy your posts from Paris. Sorry to hear that Thanksgiving closed. I interviewed Judith, the owner, about ten years ago. She said her best sellers were American cereals and peanut butter.
June 16, 2018 @ 12:01 pm
You two are so photogenic! Enjoy your stay! I look forward to reading your posts and seeing Bernie’s photos!
June 16, 2018 @ 12:27 pm
Merci, Marie. Good memories from last year!
June 16, 2018 @ 12:02 pm
We’re ready to share your adventures in Paris!
June 16, 2018 @ 12:27 pm
Oui, oui!
June 16, 2018 @ 12:15 pm
A daily treat for me! Thank you for sharing.
June 16, 2018 @ 12:28 pm
Merci!
June 16, 2018 @ 12:40 pm
So glad that WE are all on this trip with you again!
I love the Paris scenes and look forward to more.
You both look so wonderful in the first picture.Thanks
for always sharing your wonderful time in France.
June 16, 2018 @ 12:53 pm
Linda and Bernard! Thank you for popping up in my email this morning as I prepare for a week in North Alabama!! haha. Those photos you shared are the essence to me of my first time in Frances, especially the bouquets and the alluring fruit stand and patisserie. Please tell every Chantel hello for me and assure her that Americans are working hard here — voting, supporting good candidates– as we can to get USA back to the country they will recognize again. Looking forward to traveling with you. Kiss kiss. Jeanie
June 16, 2018 @ 12:53 pm
Linda and Bernard! Thank you for popping up in my email this morning as I prepare for a week in North Alabama!! haha. Those photos you shared are the essence to me of my first time in France, especially the bouquets and the alluring fruit stand and patisserie. Please tell every Chantel hello for me and assure her that Americans are working hard here — voting, supporting good candidates– as we can to get USA back to the country they will recognize again. Looking forward to traveling with you. Kiss kiss. Jeanie
June 16, 2018 @ 1:38 pm
I did not even know you were gone. Now THAT is old!
June 16, 2018 @ 1:45 pm
Enjoy !!!! Paris is so beautiful and I can’t wait to see more photos enjoy,
June 16, 2018 @ 1:50 pm
Looking forward to your posts! Love all the photos. Could Bernie add something musical this summer as a theme?
Sophia
June 16, 2018 @ 1:51 pm
For taking our minds off Judy’s pain! It won’t last long. Jim
June 16, 2018 @ 2:03 pm
So wonderful that you made it safely and like M & M I’m looking forward to this years adventures.
June 16, 2018 @ 2:03 pm
Those pictures make me feel like I’m there! Beautiful! Have a lovely time!
June 16, 2018 @ 2:52 pm
I love my annual trip to Paris through you and Bernie! Hope you nance a fabulous summer! Thanks for sharing your adventures.
June 16, 2018 @ 4:40 pm
Linda so glad you two made it over safe! Always love your posts! Thanks for sharing Paris and France with us!
June 16, 2018 @ 6:36 pm
I’m delighted to hear your trip was uneventful and your travel time to your apartment shorter and less expensive. I always love your photos and food and flowers are two of my favorite subjects. Let the adventures begin!
June 16, 2018 @ 11:40 pm
See you soon! We can’t wait.
June 17, 2018 @ 12:06 am
Wow! Looking Good!!! Love the Market Photos……think this is the perfect subject for this year’s photo odyssey.
June 17, 2018 @ 4:55 am
Can’t wait for the next installment! Your adventure is always a favorite.