Sunshine in Paris!
Bonjour from a sunny Saturday in Paris!
It’s 73 degrees in Paris on a gorgeous day and we have thoroughly enjoyed the uptick in weather. All the winter wardrobes overnight become summer, including mine! And what better place to enjoy a summer day than along the Champs Elysees?
We stopped by the elegant Marriott hotel first for a quick cup of coffee in order to ask for a WHERE PARIS magazine. This is a free publication that is so handy, but is getting hard to find except at the larger hotels. These seasonal publications are full of things to do, in this case for the month of May, and the rest of the summer. With that accomplished, we went outside to Marriott’s sidewalk cafe and had a small but tasty lunch. Bernie is lookin’ good in the sunshine, don’t you think?
If you recall, I posted a blog before we left about my list of 24 new things to do in Paris on this visit. We accomplished one yesterday with the Musée de l’Homme. Another on the list was to locate the only remaining pissoir in Paris. These were the notorious street-side urinals where men could relieve themselves on the go. The location is on Boulevard Arago (14th arrondissment) which was a LONG subway ride and then a LONG walk after that. But, we found it, and here are the pictures. It’s just a little history of Paris for your reading pleasure. 
By the way, I recognized a public square and statue from the news this past week, so this was obviously where all the violence occurred from strikers who were demonstrating. It’s not a great part of the city, but all was quiet today.
Here are a few more of our café chairs. Maybe we’ll have a contest at the end to select the overall favorite!
Have a lovely weekend,
L & B
May 21, 2016 @ 4:00 pm
The pissoir was handy for the men but what about the ladies? Neat that you found this one and only one left in all of Paris. Btw Bernie looks very fit and French. Glad y’all are enjoying your day.
May 21, 2016 @ 5:12 pm
Someone just commented that there are other pissoirs in Paris! So an oops for me! Still it was fun to find this one.
May 21, 2016 @ 4:19 pm
By the way there are more Pissoirs along the canal Saint Martin up toward Stalingrad. Glad sunshine has arrived! An Bernie does look good!
May 21, 2016 @ 5:10 pm
Thanks for the info. I was basing it off something I read on another blog.
May 21, 2016 @ 5:13 pm
Wonderful photo of Bernie! I’m pleased that you have agreeable weather today. As always the photos are informative and well done!
May 21, 2016 @ 5:16 pm
I’ll tell him you like it!
May 21, 2016 @ 5:50 pm
Linda, as always, I enjoy traveling with you and Bernard — who looks very fit and happy. How could he not be with you as his companion?! I have a fashion question — I’m going to be in Italy from June 20-30. mostly not dressing up a lot but of course I don’t want to be spotted as a tourist when I am sitting in an outdoor restaurant or touring — are there any new summer fashion trends you are noticing that are must haves for the locals? I have lightweight, easy to pack items, of course. In 25 words or less what are the European women wearing that is new this season!
May 21, 2016 @ 6:03 pm
Jeanie, I’m not sure how to answer. It’s been cool and rainy until today so everyone was in black! I notice the very short shorts (!) and free-flowing tops and wraps. Also a lot of blue in the stores from navy to almost a periwinkle. Today was the first time to see anything summery and we were on the Champs which was mostly tourists. Of course, scarves, always! BIg purses. Maybe later I will have had more than time to notice and the weather will be warmer.
May 21, 2016 @ 8:04 pm
Bernie looks mahvelous!!!
May 21, 2016 @ 9:22 pm
We’re already looking forward to the Café Chair Contest. Are outdoor cafés or restaurants more popular in Paris than other cities in Europe? Also, do you know if there is a practical reason that led to the abundance of sidewalk cafés in Paris/Europe?
May 22, 2016 @ 5:19 am
The French have such a love of life or Le jois de vivre. The cafes are the outward symbol of that as they love to sit, relax and visit with friends. I honestly don’t know if France has more cafes than other European countries but I would guess that they do.
May 21, 2016 @ 11:19 pm
Bonjour! How I look forward to your posts! Your prose and Bernie’s photos are just the next best thing to being there. Thank you so very much for sharing your adventures. I love it!! Wishing you both good health, great times and fair weather. Fondly,
May 22, 2016 @ 5:16 am
Your feedback is so kind! Makes us want to continue to share our trip.
May 21, 2016 @ 11:25 pm
Hi Linda! Bernie does look very français and suave in your photo! So glad to see that you have nice weather to day to get out. I will post to my Facebook page and tag you on some photos of the well-decorated pissoirs along the Canal Saint-Martin. We came by them one time when they were being hosed down by a city water truck. They are even less discrete than the one you posted.