Bonjour, It’s always such fun to welcome folks who have never seen Paris before. It’s a combination of sensory overload, exhaustion, amazement, cultural confusion, and pure enjoyment. Such has been the case with Cindi and Dave Branham. They had been on a Seine River cruise and then took the Paris extension to spend some time […]
Bonjour, The weather continues to be so pleasant, just barely tipping 80 degrees yesterday. It calls for being outside as much as possible! And yesterday we had two new outdoor dining experiences at lunch and dinner. A favorite spot for us has always been at the end of Ile de la Cité in a secluded […]
Bonjour mes amis, We gave considerable thought to going up to Montmartre yesterday, but we decided to wait until later in September in hopes of seeing a little color appear in the beautiful vines which drape some of the houses. With so little rain, who knows what kind of fall will develop. I look at […]
Bonjour, Yesterday was busy doing what we eventually all have to do…laundry and housecleaning. We started early on the laundry since it included bed linen for both beds and used our washing machine/dryer here in the apartment (takes 4 hours!) as well as a lavomatique down the street for the large duvées. It all sounds a […]
Bonjour, We are just ten minutes from the Bastille market and it’s such a fun Sunday morning excursion. During July, it was slightly off and then in August, it’s been almost not worth spending the time to visit. BUT yesterday! Wow, oh, wow, it was absolutely packed. Our theory was that French folks are all […]
Bonjour, Admittedly, there are moments in Paris where I want to pinch myself to make sure everything is truly happening. Almost too pleasant to be real, yesterday was such a day…a leisurely Saturday, perfect weather (in the 70’s), no deadlines or appointments other than to link up with the Bilbro’s for separate lunches, one for […]
Bonjour mes amis, First of all, merci beaucoup for the positive feedback on my blogging. Many of you commented and that was so rewarding. It does take quite a bit of my time but has become a part of my daily Paris experience. If it brings a little joy to your day, how wonderful is […]
Bonjour, What a glorious morning outside as I look out our window onto the peaceful courtyard. Cooler temps today with a high of only 80; however, the rain did not show up last evening which is so desperately needed in this dry, dry city. Yesterday was a day of foiled expectations which can happen even […]
Bonjour, It’s Thursday, August 25. High yesterday was almost 90 and today will be 87 in the late afternoon. I’d love to believe this is the end of a hot summer, but we’ll have to wait to see. The last couple of days, we’ve been spending our time on the Left Bank and learning new […]
Bonjour, Yesterday, the dogs seemed to be everywhere we went both outside and inside cafés. It was truly amazing, and I was able to snap some great photos. Some of you have commented that you’ve already picked your favorite doggie, but you better hold off on that! Just saying… And since we’re on animals, we […]
Bonjour, Sunday afternoons are somehow meant for strolling, especially amid beautiful weather. After a quick trip to the Bastille market, we ate a light lunch and talked about what we wanted to do for the rest of the day. As we clicked off all the various places we could go, we finally settled on a […]
Bonne Dimanche, Happy Sunday everyone. As referenced before, many shops and restaurants have been closed for August vacations. Slowly, things are beginning to open back up but not fully until the first of September. We have one more month to go and the temps have moderated quite a bit; we are so thankful for that. […]
Bonjour, One of the joys of reclaiming Paris every year is reconnecting with friends and former neighbors. Through the years, we’ve watched babies just born grow into teen-agers, met friends from Germany, Australia, England and of course here in Paris. We even have a New Yorker whom we now claim as a dear friend, Richard […]
Bonjour mes amis, Yesterday was another catch-up day full of shopping and dealing with an unfortunate issue relative to our apartment! It is frustrating and exasperating. We feel we may be part of a scam. Many thanks to my realtor daughter for her assistance. Again, I caution about using VRBO. Bernie, being the dear that […]
Bonjour, If you have a copy of my book Bernie’s Paris, you may recall an entire chapter on strolling in Paris, or becoming a flaneur. Oh, for sure, you can schedule, plan, make reservations, and rush from museum to museum, but it is the strolling that opens up surprise and discovery. For us, that is the […]
Bonjour, This will be a short post this morning as the big news is RAIN. It is 68 degrees at 11am and still raining off and on after a good solid rain last evening. I think the entire city is heaving a jubilant sigh. Our day yesterday was again very easy and for me all […]
Bonjour, Yesterday, August 15, was a national holiday in France, Assumption Day, which in Roman Catholic tradition is when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken bodily up into heaven. It is a day of obligation for Catholics meaning they must attend Mass or face going to hell! Louis XIII declared August 15 as a […]
Bonjour mes amis, Finding the time to post has been a challenge for me so this will be a few days’ worth. We’ve pushed hard, and all of us are tired. The heat has not been our friend. Sharon & Johnny have an air-conditioned hotel room but L & B have nothing but hot all […]
Bonjour, The last few days of the Tysons visit have been fast and furious with four late nights in a row as our grand finale. Two down and two to go. Guess who’s showing their ages? I’m afraid Bernie and I opted for a bit of rest yesterday and left Sharon and Johnny to navigate […]
Bonjour mes amis, I’m getting quite the Paris tan from all of these sunny days! Hot, but just enough breeze to be very tolerable. We had a most enjoyable day on the Left Bank yesterday. I’m aware that many of you love the museum photos and accompanying facts, and some of you would rather see […]
Bonjour, The Tysons have been with us now for 10 days and other than the heat, the weather has been gorgeous. Sharon bought an umbrella here which has not been needed once! Yesterday, we had no time commitments with reservations, just the opportunity to stroll and wander around. We showed them the tunnel first where […]
Bonjour, Despite the droves of tourists, Montmartre still touches every pleasant nerve in my body. Despite the litter, all the steps, the trashy little souvenir shops, the caricaturists luring you to sit for them, the cruel cobblestones that are so difficult to trod. and the jammed-together cafe tables, Montmartre for me is that remnant of old […]
Bonjour, Sharon and Johnny had been to the Louvre a lifetime ago when Johnny was serving in Germany so yesterday was quite an experience for them. They had never seen the Pyramid, built by I.M. Pei and opened in April of 1989. I’m certainly no authority but some might agree that Le Louvre is the […]
Bonjour mes amis, Yesterday was a glorious day, weather-wise for us after a rain during the night. Cool, breezy, clear skies, just perfect for getting around. Our day began with a visit to a relatively new museum about the Liberation of Paris in WWII. It is free and without reservation. Located across from the catacombs […]
Bonjour, Yesterday, the skies tried to squeeze out a little rain but it was precious little. Just a few raindrops as I introduced Sharon to riding the bus. Of course, in the mornings, there are fewer people so we found a seat and rode to l’Hotel de Ville for some shopping in the BHV, the […]
Bonjour, Probably ten years ago, we visited Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte with Jim and Peggy Bilbro. Jim was “in charge” of directions that day, and what I remember was a beautiful, lush garden and interesting interior. Yesterday, it was so hot that it took your breath away especially in the sun. We first had a train ride […]
Bonjour mes amis, Though it was brutally hot, a long train ride followed by a shuttle ride, Giverny is a gift of beauty, peace, and art history worth all the effort to get there. There were plenty of folks but not the mobs we have encountered in the past. Claude Monet is probably the premiere […]
Bonjour, Yesterday was beautiful and delightfully cooler as we started our day with eating, of course. Miss Manon is our beloved little patisserie at the corner of rue St. Paul and is just across the street from John and Sharon’s hotel. We are still hauling it back and forth on the bus, but yesterday it […]
Bonjour mes amis, Yesterday, Bernie’s phone rang around 8:40. I answered. It was Sharon who said, “Hey buddy, we’re sitting at Miss Manon having coffee. We’ve already been to the ATM and stored our bags at the hotel.” Yikes! Bernie had just jumped into the shower expecting to leave our apartment about 9:30 for a […]
Bonjour, Today is arrival day for Sharon and Johnny Tyson, dear friends from Arizona who used to live in Huntsville. They will be here for two glorious weeks and surely hope they bring summer clothes. The weather is wonderful in that sunny days are much easier to navigate than rainy ones, but the lack of […]
Bonjour, Yesterday was wash day again. Our washing machine is quite good, and I’m beginning to figure out how to use the dryer part so as to avoid the lavomatic down the street. To get clothes completely dry like at home takes 2 hours per load! It really becomes a commitment around which to build […]
Bonjour mes amis, Yesterday, I took a break from the blog because the day before we spent in two train stations trying to get tickets exchanged and rebought in preparation for Sharon and Johnny Tyson’s visit. They have decided not to go north to Rouen. Unfortunately, things like this in Paris become very complicated. Photos […]
Bonjour, After 18 years of spending summers/autumns here in Paris, you might think we’ve seen it all. But the experiences of living woven into those years is always changing as is Paris. For example, we’ve never been terribly fond of riding the bus, but this year, it’s usually our best option. The buses are tight, […]
Bonjour, Yesterday was the quiet day in Paris… Monday. Many shops and museums are closed which means less circulation and traffic. It’s a bit maddening until you get used to it. We did more walking around the area and discovered ATM’s close by which is great. Also, my observation is that this once used to […]
Bonjour, Yesterday’s weather surprised us with a high of 92. It was a beautiful day but a hot one for moving around. Bernie often comments that I never sweat. But I proved him wrong yesterday!! We began our morning back at the Bastille market. Bernie purchased a baguette and in typical French fashion ate much […]
Bonjour, After a fast and furious 12 days in Paris, we have a week’s respite to discover life in this new apartment and in the area. Everything is so different, and I have not conceded to the “newness” with ease. But it is a lovely apartment, and we jokingly say that we walk ourselves to […]
Bonjour, The blog is a bit late this morning as we greeted Pierre and Laurie at their hotel early to say a final Au Revoir. They were headed to Le Gare de Lyon. It’s been fun to say to the receptionist, “The Verdiers are here to see the Verdiers.” We’ve had a quick but lovely […]
Bonjour, Ah, the rains came and cooler temps have blessed us! Even walking in the rain (which I usually hate) felt wonderful yesterday! That’s not to say that temps will not soar again but at least a few days respite will be appreciated. The dirt and dust have been washed away and breathing is much […]
Bonjour mes amis, As my daughter was getting into a taxi for the airport to go back to Alabama, Bernie’s cousins were arriving by train at the Gare de Lyon. Oh, the memories we’ve had with them over the years. Two of his other cousins have passed away, and we remembered them with fondness in […]
Bonsoir, While I have just a minute of extra time, here are the photos from DisneyLand Paris. I so wish Natalie were still here to give you a play-by-play, but I think this will give you a good overview. After further discussion with them, I was able to better understand the pluses and minuses as […]
Dear friends, Yesterday, the temps were stifling as Natalie and Lisa squeezed all the fun out of their last day. We all bought little $10 dresses, tops and pants, etc. at the market to be as cool as possible. They will most likely disintegrate when washed but they were cool and comfy. We began by […]
Bonjour, Sunday mornings are my favorite time in Paris when it is cool, quiet, and calm. For true Parisians, it’s a family day, perhaps with a little church or a stroll in one of the parks. But for tourists, it’s just another day, and by mid-morning, everything is bustling. Definitely the hot weather is a […]
Bonjour mes amis, Yesterday was incredibly beautiful without a cloud in the sky, a nice breeze, and slightly cooler temps, all in preparation for the heat surge on Monday and Tuesday. Natalie and Lisa were at DisneyLand Paris, and we have yet to get a full report. Hopefully, no news was good news. Bernie and […]
Bonjour, Life in Paris embraces many facets, most of which are truly wonderful. The reality of walking, however, is one which can be overwhelming. Yes, it does offset the need to worry over calories. Where we are now in this beautiful, unexpected apartment versus where our guests are and will be located for the extent […]
Bonjour mes amis, July 14 is a spectacular day in France, signifying the end of the monarchy and a day of liberty, equality and fraternity. Believe it or not, the temperature was fantastic with a cool breeze which blew all day. By the end of the evening at midnight, I was wearing Bernie’s sports coat! […]
Bonjour, My daughter Natalie, and her friend Lisa arrived safely yesterday into a very hot Paris. This is Natalie’s third visit and will be the hottest and most crowded for her. She visited first in August when the city dies down due to traditional August vacations, and last year’s visit was just a week after […]
Bonjour! Life is much better after 24 hours in Paris, and we do love our new apartment, though we’re struggling with the location. A good night’s rest, new friends, and good food made for a smile on our faces. I do apologize for the negativity in my first post as I try always to make […]
Bonjour for 2022, It would be an understatement to say that we’ve had better first days for our annual Paris visit! Travel is tough right now, but we’re trying to be positive and grateful for the experience. And we’re doubly grateful for those of you who have followed us for many years. Here’s hoping that […]
Dear Friends and blog followers, I’ve never written a post quite like this one, and I do so with a heavy heart. Beth Wise and her travel companion sat in my home about three weeks ago to discuss some tips on their upcoming trip to Paris and other destinations in France. Bernie joined us. Beth […]