As I saw the sun rising over the rooftops, I greeted my birthday with much gratitude. Another year to behold that would offer seeds of hope and joys to be gathered and shared. Birthdays are more of a challenge to me since I lost my son and with this year, I felt additional rays of …
By the time I arrived at Rue du Bac last Friday, blue and white balloons were bobbling in the air and there was already a crowd of people milling around the Le M de Marie carriage parked in front of Chapel of the Miraculous Medal. Spontaneous singing of Avé Maria filled the air in between …
If King Louis XIV had seen the extraordinary gardens of Château Courances he definitely would have been as jealous as he was by Château Vaux Le Vicomte! So maybe it was a good thing that these lovely gardens weren’t completely finished at that time. If Fouquet at Vaux Le Vicomte was punished for trying to …
Finally, I was Abbey bound! The bus driver, an obvious aficionado of blues and impromptu drummer took delight in pumping up the volume while beating the side of his chair to the rhythm of the music. A rather strange musical accompaniment cruising towards Saint Jacut de la Mer Abbey. The territory of Saint Jacut de …
Abbey Saint Jacut de la Mer, My Mini Retreat , Part Two Read More »
After the strict confinement in Paris finally was relaxed to some degree, I found myself craving to flee to the sea. Oceans for me offer the most healing and revitalizing energy available from mother earth! I first thought of Biarritz in the southern part of coastal France near the Basque country and the border of …
My Mini Abbey Retreat By The Sea Near Saint Malo, Part One Read More »
Each time, I prepared “mes sorties”, or outings, during confinement, I would feel this slight anxiety as I went through my mental checklist. Authorization QR code or paper? Did I fill it out correctly? Did I bring my French ID card? Am I going beyond the allotted one kilometer? My mask? After all, I had …
Whereas whatever self-discipline I had pre confinement, has waned and flown the coop with all my best intentions, preparing nice meals hasn’t. It’s my way of bringing something of joy and pleasure into my life, not only for myself but others of course. Sitting down to candlelight dinners is a delight I look forward to …
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 »
French strikers are not showing any glimpses of backing down. So far, the strike has been extended to Wednesday and I won’t be surprised if it continues even longer. I would venture to say that if you had their plum retirement age and pensions promised to you when you were hired, you would be out …
French Strikers Have Reason To Fight For Their Plum Retirements. Read More »