Le Fete du Pain – A Fun Outing Even in the Rain
Happy Monday to all,
Despite a cold, blowing rain and 55 degrees, we trudged across the river to one of Paris’ most interesting celebrations, Le Fète du Pain. Each year this event is held in front of Notre Dame in honor of St. Honoré (Patron Saint of bread bakers), with the purpose of selecting the best baker in all of France. The winner is given the privilege of baking all the bread for the Elysées Palace and the President of France for the entire next year. It’s a big deal!
At 9am tomorrow morning, we depart for our visit to Bernie’s cousins in Alsace and the Burritt Danube river boat cruise, SO today was our only chance to see this fun exhibit. And as luck would have it, the Alsace region was represented – important because this is the region where Bernie’s father was born.
The very first time we saw this event in 2008 was the absolute best with more free samples, delightful regional costumes from all the surrounding areas of France, and artistic creations made out of dough. I highlight this in our book so a good reason to get your copy later this year! But we still enjoyed ourselves this time. As usual the exhibit hall was packed, and the aroma was divine! Today seemed more about selling than exhibiting, a sign of our times, it seems.
On our way back, we found some lovely café chairs, one set purple and one set all gold. Enjoy!
We may be slightly out of commission with our travel for the next ten days as we aren’t sure about reliable Wi-Fi on the river boat. We will do our best to continue to send as many photos as possible and share our escapades.
Thanks for all the comments and wonderful feedback!
Au revoir,
L&B
P.S. Caption this! Mine would be: “Bernie, when is this rain going to go away?”
May 23, 2016 @ 3:15 pm
Linda, have a wonderful cruise down the Danube. I’m sorry we can’t be there, but we leave for Norway on June 17th. Don’t bring any refugees home! Jim
May 23, 2016 @ 3:32 pm
We’ll miss you guys!
May 23, 2016 @ 6:38 pm
The purple chairs have to be the winner today because of the setting; Chickens, roosters…. Imagine how wonderful all will be when that wisteria tree is in full bloom!
How I love the picture of you with a Kugelhopf your same size! And the longshoreman’s cap will be the perfect foil for the river trip to Alsace! Stay warm and dry, and we will miss you!
May 23, 2016 @ 6:43 pm
I love the purple chairs and the little restaurant is one street over from Notre Dame. Great little spot to eat. Very cold here tonight.
May 23, 2016 @ 3:18 pm
Caption: La petite Parisienne spies a tourist
May 23, 2016 @ 3:31 pm
Good one!
May 23, 2016 @ 3:46 pm
When I took Jenna and the girls to Paris we were in the rain almost everyday so I can relate BUT it didn’t stop us from having a wonderful time.
I can smell the bread and taste it too!
May 23, 2016 @ 5:27 pm
What better way to spend a rainy day than in a huge tent with aromatic breads! Yum.
May 23, 2016 @ 6:14 pm
Linda,
Nothing could be better than all those beautiful, delicious breads…even in the rain!
You will be on a delightful cruise with a lovely group. Viking WiFi is Free on the ship…but the connection speeds may vary.
When the ship docks in Regensburg don’t fail to have wonderful sausages at a restaurant right at the dock, Alte Wurstkuch, (Old Sausage Kitchen),
near the Old Stone Bridge on the Danube. You will enjoy the best sausages in Europe!
Wish we could all be with you!!!!
May 23, 2016 @ 9:26 pm
Beautiful event, beautiful pictures, and beautiful pictures of you Linda ! 🙂
May 24, 2016 @ 3:17 am
Thank you, Ann!
May 24, 2016 @ 4:25 am
Funny thing, when I saw the picture (love the hat on you , btw), I pictured “BERNIE!, you *SAID* it would stop raining!”
Please give Pierre and Lorie (sp?) my fond regards. Are they going on the cruise with you?
For some reason, I find your prose much more enjoyable this year. Is it me, or you?
May 24, 2016 @ 6:26 am
Glad you are enjoying everything! Maybe my writing skills are improving!
May 25, 2016 @ 5:26 pm
Hey, enjoying these so much! Embrace the rain! Better to be in the rain in Paris than in some other places! So glad you got in, got settled, have begun your rambles. Safe travels!
May 25, 2016 @ 7:21 pm
How was the beach trip?