Birthdays in Paris
Bonjour,
Yesterday was my daughter’s birthday, and we’re both wishing we were in Paris. Last year we celebrated together at the lovely restaurant atop Georges Pompidou museum. It’s a chic spot called Le Georges with an incredible view of the city. Carson, my grandson, ordered a piece of salmon and loved it. Not bad for a then 14-year old.
We’ve had other times at this spot over the years.
Les Georges is a hot spot for the hip crowd so it’s fun to be a voyeur and check out all the fashion. The food is good but not great and the cascade of elevators which take you to the top are such fun. For Paris. it’s moderately priced and will produce a memorable soiree. It definitely requires a trip through the interior to the “toilettes.”
Over the last 20 years, we’ve had so many other birthdays. Bernie’s 75th at Le Grand Colbert:
Bernie’s 80th at Les Ombres beside the Eiffel Tower:
What a night it was…gray, cold and rainy. We almost missed the party because our subway station was suddenly closed, and there were no cabs available. In desperation, we went to the tiny little hotel in the Marais where Bernie’s brothers were staying and begged the concierge to find us a cab. He did but we were about 40 minutes late. Everyone in the restaurant applauded when we entered. Great memories with Bernie’s brothers, Steve (now deceased) and Bill; his cousins, Pierre & Laurie Verdier and Curt and Diane Brewer; and our dear British friends, Malcolm and Antonia.
And my February birthday last year at Le Train Blue with much of the same group.
And not to forget a non-birthday celebrated at Le Grand Colbert with our friend Hannah Swartz. They misunderstood and thought it was my birthday so we played along!
The birthday cake featured up top is very special. It was bought at Miss Manon (our little bakery by Cindi & Bob Ludwig and presented to Bernie in our dear little apartment of so many years.
I hope you watched the ceremony this morning from Normandy, honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day. We have been there SO many times. I texted all of my family who have stood with us in these spots. Nothing to say here as I conclude except that we are so very blessed!
A bientôt
L & B
June 6, 2024 @ 2:47 pm
Linda,
Thank you for sharing these special memories and photos. We share your joy. I knew this special anniversary will bring up many memories for you. We are blessed indeed!
Shobha
June 6, 2024 @ 2:56 pm
Such happy memories celebrating with you both. Sending love and warmest wishes from London xx
June 6, 2024 @ 2:57 pm
Such happy memories! Looking forward to creating new memories in Paris with you both later this year. Sending love and warmest wishes, Antonia and Malcolm xx
June 6, 2024 @ 4:05 pm
So many wonderful memories for you. Even the near-disasters make great stories. But this blog diary made me hungry!
June 6, 2024 @ 4:25 pm
we are truly blessed! My first operational assignment was to a small Air Base in France, and we stood on those bluffs and looked over those beaches almost 60 years ago. You never forget.
June 6, 2024 @ 6:02 pm
Dear Linda Spalla ,
I have followed your blogs about Paris for many years and enjoy them immensely. I spent five years in Europe in Belgium and subsequently went to Paris many times. I have seen many blogs and picture books for tourists and none of which have been as interesting as your blog.
I wonder if you have ever considered making a picture book of all your excellent photos with minimal commentary. I have been to almost every place that you have shown in your book.. It brought back long forgotten memories. I have reviewed many picture books with static pictures which really are not the same as yours perhaps it’s because I read your book
“ Travels with Bernie” and have followed you since then but nevertheless I would urge you to put your pictures together in the form of a book with minimal commentary. People have been to Paris and love Paris will know what’s going on and I think we would appreciate it more than the usual tourist books. Your pictures show real ;life.
Thank you for your blog and many years of enjoyment looking over your shoulder. Please give my suggestions your consideration. And please continue your blog for as long as possible
. Sincerely yours,
David Lipkin
June 7, 2024 @ 12:35 am
David, what a lovely comment! Thank you ever so much. I’ll certainly give your idea consideration. Bernie and are finding ourselves getting old! Alas, but perhaps there’s still a spark of energy to investigate a project of this magnitude. When we go to Paris in December to see the newly renovated Notre Dame, Bernie will be 85 and I, 77! We’ll have to eat our Wheaties.
June 6, 2024 @ 10:17 pm
Lovely!
Thank you for posting, Linda!
I hope you and Bernie are well. Such a lovely couple!
June 7, 2024 @ 2:26 pm
Linda,’
I sincerely hope you and Bernie have a few more Paris trips in you. Find ways to make it less physically stressful. I was there this spring for 2 weeks (age 82) and met a friend who is 89 and uses a cane. et,she took the metro everywhere! I used the Batobus to get from one side of Paris to the other. And in between i used Uber, if it was too far for me to walk.
June 7, 2024 @ 3:37 pm
Just delightful! Makes me hungry – for the food and for Paris!