Restorations take place all the time in Paris. One of the things I admire about French culture, is that old edifices are more likely to be restored than torn down and replaced with some modern building. That certainly is the case with Notre Dame and a recently visited medieval jewel in the Marais. On a personal …
Restorations: Notre Dame de Paris, a Medieval Monastery and Me Read More »
Some of you may have noticed and questioned why I have not been posting regularly for a while. Not out of choice, mind you. Instead, I had been called to do a new modeling project. Since April, I have been hanging around white-coated photographers, posing for rather shadowy black and white photos. Unfortunately, I wasn’t …
As I write, there is a patch of hot sun slowly creeping across my back. I am sitting at my dinning table with the balcony door open for the last few drifts of early morning cool air before I have to close the door. If I had shutters or even a curtain, they would be …
It is so ironic that la Conciergerie, the medieval prison where Marie Antoinette, spent her final days being insulted, taunted, humiliated, and hated has been the star draw for this haunting yet stunning edifice! Advertised as Marie Antoinette’s prison, I decided to go back again after several years. The first time, years ago, I felt too …
La Conciergerie Where Marie Antoinette Spent Her Final Days Read More »
I won’t be surprised if I hear the sound of scraping metal and concrete during the night this weekend! It’s Halloween time and instead of goblins flying around, the cataphiles will be crawling down to the Catacombs. This scene plays out my 8-floor balcony every year. They have to be quick to avoid any patrolling …
Catacombs, A Scary Dangerous Place To Be Halloween Or Anytime Read More »
Hemmingway described Paris being a movable feast. Certainly, it is with all the beautiful sights, but also a tantalizing olfactory feast for your nose! Because of recent confinements, when I couldn’t go around as freely as before, I started to be more nostalgic of some of the marvelous smells of Paris. I don’t go anywhere …
Well, the Christmas flea market was a surprise, at least to me. I looked down last Friday evening and saw the telltale white booths lining up on the Avenue! Never saw any banners announcing it, which I find strange. But Paris is always full of surprises! I am not a huge fan of them in …
A Surprise Christmas Market Springs Up Overnight Below Me Read More »
The world is being ravaged by the Covid-19 virus as it slowly infiltrates into practically every crevice of the earth. Most of us are in confinement but our healthcare heroes aren’t, nor many other supportive heroes. Paris has been in strict confinement since last Tuesday at noon. The whole city has taken on an eery …
Coping With Paris Confinement And Compassion For Our Heroes Who Aren’t Read More »
I have no intentions of writing philosophic waxings in my post about the immense menace that this virulent virus poses. Nor, do I want to write psycho babblings about let’s not panic or that none of us can escape death, so we might as well go cheerful as I recently read. The enemy is here …
Anybody who lives in Paris will have to get used to living in small spaces. Downsizing is essential if you want to live in lilliputian Parisian apartments! When I came here over 20 years ago, the sudden transition to suddenly living in a small place wasn’t really difficult. After all, I arrived with 3 suitcases …
Paris is always a feast for the eyes, but recently the strike had limited my getting around to enjoy all of its beauty as I usually like to do. Now it is fears of a virus. I finally was able to zoom out of my arrondissement last week when the metro was running almost back …
First It Was The Strike, Now Virus Fears Are Keeping Me Put Read More »
Europe is once again battling invasions of terrorism and violence, not yet with the same dimensions as during the life of Maria Skobtsova, also known as Saint Maria of Paris and Ravensbruck. She dedicated her life to easing the pain and suffering of hundreds in Paris plagued with hunger, racism, homelessness, mental illness, addictions and …
Saint Maria Skobtsova, Gutsy, Courageous And Charitable To The End Read More »