Traveling

We just left for the weekend to Tuscaloosa, AL. I squeezed in somehow- should not have have that candy corn. We will be back Sunday- pray for safe travels for us on this roller skate!!

Sweet Charlotte

Charlotte, we will be back!! Hopefully soon!

Sweet Memories

Charlotte's jogged our memories of simpler times and provided heavenly treats.

Coconut pie for the road! Umm umm GOOD!! Posted by V

Pull Up A Stool And Sit For A Spell...

The backbone of Main Street, USA, the drugstore, in addition to providing pharmaceutical needs for the sick, also provided a relaxing environment. Many of us remember climbing up on a bar stool and ordering a cherry Coke or other refreshing drink from the soda fountain. Bells hanging from the door, rang as one walked through the door; alerting those seated on the stools that another had joined them for friendly conversation. It was a place to meet old friends or make new ones.

We were taken back in time when we noticed the old fashioned soda fountain pulls at Charlotte's. Life seemed uncomplicated at that moment as we reminisced and enjoyed the delicious pies and fellowship of our delightful waitress. Posted by V

Wow!!

What a treat after a long ride ~ caramel pie and chocolate pie at Charlotte's. The restaurant is one of the buildings in Keo's Historic District. Once a drug store, beautiful apothecary cabinets line the interior walls; a collection of tea pots have replaced medicinal supplies.

And Then There Was Pie...Delicious Pie!

Charlotte's Eats & Sweets in Keo, AR turned out to be such a treat. Charlotte's is no stranger to those who love delicious food, especially cakes and pies. The restaurant has been featured in Southern Living magazine on several occasions included in the article, "The South's Best Pies". Coconut, chocolate, caramel, blackberry cobbler were just a few of our choices. Gale chose caramel and I, of course could not resist the chocolate. Posted by Valerie

Good Things Come In Small Packages

We've all heard the expression and it rings true with small towns as we discovered on our recent outing. Keo, Arkansas, may be small in population, (approximately 256) but huge in hospitality! From the moment we arrived and stopped to ask if we could take pictures, we were greeted with a genuine kindness that left a warm imprint throughout our trip.

Cotton gins, pecans, delicious pies, unique antiques and collectibles ~ all wonderful finds framed by smiles and friendly faces of those who have the pleasure of living there.

Cameras At Rest

Our cameras were recently pulled from their shelves for a roadside trip through rural Arkansas. Pictures will be posted soon of a few of our most enjoyable experiences as we embraced the beauty, warm hospitality and kindness of this lovely area. Posted by Vee

Babe Ruth and Baltimore

Memphis sunset

The sunsets in downtown Memphis are some of the prettiest I've seen; especially overlooking the Mississippi River. This one was breathtaking. You can see the reflection on the hood of my car. Posted by Valerie

some girls buy shoes...

...guess I'm not one of those girls

Test driving this beauty this weekend.

rainy day at the beach

1T darkest, best cocoa available

1T granulated sugar (or vanilla bean simple syrup)

1T butter

melt in microwave; stir together
(or use chocolate chips rather than three ingredients above)

Stir together in separate dish:

2 oz heavy cream

2 oz 2% milk (whatever you have; the richer the better)

microwave just below boiling point

stir chocolate mixture into warm milk

add touch of vanilla extract

whisk to mix well

enjoy

(yield 1 small, quite rich glass of hot chocolate)

reading "A Movable Feast" and watching the rain...

"...praise for the morning..."

after the rain

reading "Chasing Sylvia Beach"

If you loved "Midnight in Paris," you will love this book...

"feels like rain..."

the beach

jingle of ice cream truck
squeals of happy children
swish of gentle waves
warmth of Gulf breeze

another day in paradise

I thought I was on vacation!

FL sunset

Do's and Don'ts in Paris

I've learned most of the items on this list the hard way.

The list is not meant to discourage you from visiting Paris.  I'm already planning for next year's visit!!!

Here we go--
Don't talk loud on the subway

Don't open your purse in the middle of the sidewalk

Don't talk about a competitors product in a store selling the same product (keep the tea conversations to the sidewalk)

Don't wear American labels branded across the front of a sweatshirt if you want to blend in

Do wear black and grey to meld with the locals

Don't leave a tip (unless fine dining)  in excess of 1 or 2 euros

Don't expect to just walk into the Louver; there are lines everywhere, and security checks also

Don't expect complimentary potato chips at the neighborhood bar/bistro if you are not a local

Don't photography the perfume ads if there is a 'bouncer' guard standing at the front door

Don't expect every Metro stop to be the same; they will be different based on neighborhood culture/lifestyle

Don't expect merchants to readily give change; they prefer you give them the exact purchase price

Don't expect the airline checkin to be simple in Paris, especially if airline points/miles were used to purchase the ticket

(flying Delta...be SURE taxi driver drops you at 2E, Not 2A---it's quite a long walk--I know...)

Don't expect the boarding pass printed in Paris to work at your USA connection, especially Pittsburg

Don't check Anything that you need or value (I almost checked my computer, etc cords, and changed my mind at the last minute)

Don't allow the airline agent to tag your checked luggage without you first checking the bag claim tag that is attached to your luggage (the gate agent in Paris put my luggage claim tag on the bag of someone from NY; no one knew that until we got to Memphis  UPDATE: 14 days later Air France called and my luggage is in Bordeaux, FR  UPDATE UPDATE Day 17-still no luggage UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE my luggage arrived home, unharmed on day 18!

Do (men) carry a man bag; just get over it-you will actually look very stylish; you will Need the bag
Don't walk out the door without an umbrella in your bag, regardless of any sunlight you may see
Don't walk out the door without a Metro map and a city street map
Don't try to board the Metro after the buzzer goes off!
Do have a plan in case one of your party Does board the Metro after the buzzer goes off; agree to meet at the next Metro stop, and stick with the plan

Don't pack anything in your checked luggage that you can't afford to lose(ie:  travel purchases, etc)
Do keep receipts for all travel purchases in your carry on luggage in case your checked bag containing these items is lost
Do photography your luggage prior to departure; if mistaged you can prove what your bag looks like
Do include two ID tags on all checked luggage; attach sky miles luggage tag to outside of checked bag

Don’t throw away Metro or RER tickets before your journey ends. Inspectors sometimes spot-check and you could be fined. (I Had to show proof to inspectors once during 2012 trip!)


DON'T LOSE YOUR KEY, NO MATTER WHAT.  Sleep with it, bathe with it, never leave it in a pocket of a jacket you tie around your waist. 


Enjoy your trip.  I could write a list twice this long of things to "DO" while in Paris.

how to spend your Last day in Paris

We planned a quick morning walk to the Bastille area, to sit and enjoy petit dejeuner and watch the City go by.

But, morning traffic on the wide roundabout circling the spire at the Place de la Bastille is very loud from delivery trucks and cars and motorcycles and horns and raw noise.  Where are the birds and the church bells and the smell of fresh flowers drifting on the breeze?

So we walked on, intending to walk to the next corner and find a quiet table on a side street.  Soon we had walked an hour, looking for just the right place for our final morning cafe.  Though most shops were not yet open, we meandered through the Saint-Paul Village, gazing into windows of art galleries and weaving in and out of the maze of shops off the main rue.

After cafe and croissant, we walked across one of the may bridges spanning the Seine and sat for a while to gaze upon Notre-Dame de Paris.

A little souvineer shopping along the quai, a nutella crepe from a street vendor, and now it's mid afternoon.  I needed to return to the flat and complete my packing; Jerry will weigh my bag with his hand-held digital scale and prepare me for the 50 lb limit.

48 pounds-perfect!


The late afternoon sun is shining
tree branches are swaying in the gentle breeze
birds are singing

A scene is set by nature
    --- all that one wishes for just prior to the first day of summer in Paris----and the last vacation day in the City of Light


We have dinner reservations at 8:30PM, which gives us time to stroll along the narrow streets of the Left Bank.

Warm afternoon light brings musicians, friends with picnics of wine and cheese, and bicycle riders onto the pedestrian bridge,  Pont des Arts crossing the Seine.  We and they relax and enjoy the view, and the moment...

Sitting at an outdoor cafe, watching the locals, listening to a language I don't understand, yet knowing that they are joyfully greeting their friends, we leisurely wile away an hour before dinner.

It's nearing midnight, and we make our way to the Metro for the ride back to the flat. The Metro is packed with people.  I wonder where they are going and where they have been, knowing that I return to TN tomorrow.

This has been the most amazing day.  Plan your last day in Paris to be one of very little packing and very Much opening your arms and embracing the City of Light.

au revoir

(My camera cards are filled with captured - moments of Paris.  I'll post a link to my website once I have time to edit the images.)

street scene

street scene

If I can't have Paris, I'll take Portland, OR. 9:28PM and it's not yet dark. Outdoor cafe. Music. Beautiful weather. Awesome food. Hum of fellow diners in background. Streetlights line green path and glow yellow in last light of day.

Date/almond/Jamon Serrano appetizer
Fish/fingerling potato entree
Marionberry/rhubarb/orange cream gelato dessert

Strolling downhill back to hotel. "God our maker doth provide..."

Portland, OR. A-Z

I only saw streets E through S; diversity in food establishments and other retail businesses.

rose city

A different coffee and chocolate establishment on every city block corner! I'm trying to taste each one. Frozen Godiva chocolate raspberry coffee w/ whip gets A+.

Refreshing afternoon breeze. Bicycles and chess matches and tattoos.

Sunlight and shadows.

Focus on 'green' all around; preserving for the future.

lost in France

Saturday  07Jul12  2PM CST
My luggage is in Bordeaux, France.  It's been there since approximately June 21, the day it first disappeared.  

I heard nothing for two weeks, and then a lovely Air France lady, speaking with her flowing French accent, called me Thursday and let me know that my bag was at the Bordeaux airport.  It may be there now; I don't really know.  Neither does Delta Air Lines.  

Delta agents are sending messages to Air France.  However, I've seen no results.

Laura Calder/French Food at Home baked this simple cake today.  She mentioned that it is often found in the south of France. 

Perhaps, after baking the cake my luggage will come home.

 (Paris-7am-21June12)

Update:  cake is delicious!!!

Update/Update:  6:30PM  CST   07Jul12  the baggage delivery service just telephoned; my luggage will be delivered in a matter of minutes!!!!!!!!

Paris is most beautiful at night

Here's the LINK to another of Martha and Jerry's blog posts recounting our Days Together in Paris.

Retracing the steps of the movie "Midnight in Paris."


enjoy

Paris Opera

Tuesday

Though our pace is somewhat slower today, we find tea, coffee, and chocolate to stuff into luggage preparing for the return trip to TN.

Lunch was a true delight.  I wanted to go to this particular restaurant only on the merit of their really cool web site (watch Le film!).  After two failed attempts to obtain dinner reservations, we stopped by for lunch and were promptly seated at Chez Janou.

Chez Janou

2 rue Roger Verlomme, 3d arr.

Metro:Chemin Vert or Bastille

Tel. 01 42 72 28 41

Open everyday for lunch & dinner

Reservations for dinner a must

Black and white photos, old show posters, mirrors, and decorative tiles around the windows transport the diner to Paris of a bygone era.

The food was excellent.  Presentation was stunning, taste was fresh, and the sauce.....the French do know their sauces.  I'm not sure what was in the sauce.  It was good on my fish, and it was good on the end of my spoon....to the last drop.  This was one of the highlight meals of Paris 2012.

We have tickets to the Bastille Opera - Opera de Paris.
Aren't our gloves lovely!

The Barber of Seville-presented in Italian with French translations on a digital display did not suppress the thrill of sitting in this stunning theatre.  Seats reached high, high, and higher into the ceiling.  Our 4th row center seats were perfect to view the orchestra and all the lively action on stage.  The sets were spectacular, alive with color as were the characters.  Figaro wore a cloak boasting gold chains, watches, and colorful cell phones, modernizing the 19th century character.

Richard Gere spoke the truth in "Pretty Woman" when he told Julia Roberts
 "People's reaction to opera is very powerful. They will either love it or hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they hate it, they may learn to appreciate it but it will never become a part of them."


Another lovely evening in Paris, rain and light

chocolat, the Louvre, and Eiffel

Monday

We returned to one of my favorite places in Paris, as is a tradition for our little trio.
Breakfast in Place des Vosges
At Carette

The chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) is thick, rich, and delicious. Be prepared to lick your spoon and your cup!
The macarons are as colorful as a painter's pallet and as delicious as the varied fillings-raspberry, pistachio-caramel-cafe-etc, etc, etc

This year we celebrate French delicacies by including cream scrambled eggs to the array spread across the table, as well as an Opera Cake, Saint Honore, and pain au chocolat.

We needed energy for our journey to the Louvre.......

Braving the brisk wind and light rain, we make our way to one of the entrances of the Louvre. People are massed around the pyramid, some sitting and resting their tired feet, others standing on stone pedistals photographing themselves touching the top of the pyramid (visual play on objects).

The long lines inside the Louvre move rather quickly--one line to purchase a ticket from the kiosk, another line to pass through security, another line to enter the display area...and a mob of people pressing their way to see Mona Lisa.

Martha and Jerry place their 50th wedding anniversary love lock on a bridge near the Louvre, Eiffel standing stately in the background under a cloud filled sky.

Afterwards, we walk east along the Seine, gazing at treasures hidden inside the green bookseller stalls-postcards, posters, coasters, old books, magazine ads, Eiffel tower replicas...

Though it's cool and windy, the sun does intermittently make it's way around the clouds.  We sit at an outdoor cafe and watch the world roll by, while smearing cheese onto a crunchy baguette.

Later in the evening, we rush, rush, run, rush up the Metro steps and onto the Trocadero plaza.  Eiffel tower twinkles at 10PM.....but it didn't.   Eiffel tower twinkles at 10:30PM per the security officials...but it didn't.

11:00PM - finally - - -

another perspective of Paris

Need a break from my Paris ramblings....?

Here's a link written from Martha and Jerry's viewpoint regarding my Paris visit...they say such nice things and make me smile.

They are the best tour guide & tour director around!

CLICK HERE

American Church in Paris (ACP)

Sunday  8:10AM Paris

"Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise."

(For the Beauty of the Earth by Folliott S. Pierpoint  1864)

Everyone in Paris should be singing this hymn on this glorious day, as there is Sunshine in Paris!

Church bells and sounds from the trees...
Promises to be another wonderful day!

11AM worship at the American Church in Paris along the left bank of the Seine, and afterwards a leisurely walk to the Tuileries Gardens for lunch, via Alexander III

We watched a French model photography shoot along Pont Alexander III and also in the Tuileries Gardens.  The girls were tall, thin, beautiful, dressed in colorful summer dresses billowing in the breeze, and one wore shoes with 4 inch heals, which is to be expected but how she walked on the uneven ground I do not know!

Another Midnight in Paris moment- we tried to photograph the Alexander III bridge, the Eiffel tower, and the green spire of the American Church in Paris as it was shown in the movie.  Though we did attempt to recreate the picture from the correct angle, we quickly determined that the movie set camera equipment was far superior to ours. The church actually sits in front of Eiffel; however, perspective from the movie camera shot shows Eiffel in the foreground.  Walking farther away from the bridge/Eiffel/church, the perspective changes.

We enjoyed a lunch of savory crepes and sandwiches at an outdoor cafe in the Tuileries Gardens while gazing upon the beauty of the area and listening to a hum of French conversations (none of which we understood).

Consulting our trusty map, we boarded the Metro to the 7th arr and walked to Coutume Coffee.  Known for their in-house roasted beans, the shop has the feel of a local coffee house, nestled behind a doorway in a block of retail merchants. (Paris Patisseries Coutume Coffee)

High on the counter stands their glass globe and tube contraption used to brew 24 hour slow drip coffee.  We sampled the cold coffee which was smooth and flavorful.  I enjoyed a cappuccino.  And, I orded a shot of espresso.  The waitress returned with a second shot, stating that the first had been made incorrectly.  How nice of her...  I didn't know the difference; however, the first one was strong, and the second  contained half the liquid and was twice as strong. Yet, after the first sip, the natural oils from the roasted coffee beans left a smooth mouth feel.  Quite enjoyable especially after adding a little cream and raw sugar.

The companies roaster sits in the back of the store on a wooden platform.  Sadly they were not roasting on the day we visited; I would have enjoyed watching the process.

Later in the afternoon, Martha and I walked through the live bird market, and along the Seine on lle de la Cite, rested on a bench at Notre Dame de Paris, then continued on to lle St-Louis.  Though Berthillon ice cream would have been delicious, the lines were just too long.

Resting for a while, Seine in background; always a map in hand

Dinner at Glou of hamburger, duck, steak, blueberry sorbet, pistacio ice cream, and chocolate mousse ended another lovely day.

Paris Flea Market

Saturday 7:45AM
cool - overcast - gentle rainfall - birds singing and the ever present cooing of pigeons

During these long summer days, the light seems to be constant.  There's light at 11PM and light at 5:30AM.  I don't want to miss capturing any of the light, but I just must sleep and rest my tired legs for a few hours.

Today, we're headed to a street market,  Marche aux Puces (Paris-Porte de Vanves) in the 14th arrondissement which is south about an hour by metro.

It is at the corner of av Georges Lafenestre & av Marc Sangnier.  The market's full name is "Marche Aux Puces De La Porte De Vanves" 

According to one book, "The Vanves flea market is the smallest and, some say, friendliest of the markets. Av. Georges Lafenestre has lots of curios that don't quite qualify as antiques and Av Marc Sangnier is lined with stalls of new clothes, shoes, handbags, and household items"

rain... rain... rain

The street market consists of tents lined on either side of a very long sidewalk, branching to the right and left at the end of the street. Food vendors sell refreshment for shoppers, and merchants haggle with shoppers over Euro prices on mostly unpriced items. "One man's junk is another man's treasure" could be the motto of this market.  I'm taking someone's junk back to TN in the form of a little Limoges tea cup and saucer and a few small spoons.

This is not the more famous flea market in the 18th,  Porte de Clignancourt, officially called Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, but known to everyone as Les Puces (The Fleas) (info LINK HERE). 

The rain did dampen spirits a bit, both of the vendors and of the shoppers...and of me.
While reaching in my bag for an umbrella, I heard a loud thud and looked down to see camera parts lying across the concrete.

We found a dry, warm bistro, and sat and watched the rain pour down. Cappuccino and  lunch of quiche, ham and potatoes, and omelet renewed our energy to brave the water puddles and walk back to the M stop.

Since the 1st arrondissement was somewhat on our way back to the flat, we shopped on rue Montmartre at Mora-a cooks mecca. A totally different shopping experience than browsing the famous E. Dehillerin (prior visit), we found items we needed and filled our wire shopping basket.  Back on the Metro near Les Halles, we traveled back to Le Marais-home.

After requesting assistance in three camera shops, we were successful in restoring the camera to working condition.

Sunshine finally beamed through the clouds and people filled the streets, shopping, eating, and basking in the all too infrequent sun rays.

Prior to leaving for a 10 PM dinner, Martha served Kir Royales, ultra creamy cheese smeared like warm soft butter onto a crusty brown, crunchy baguette, and salted peanuts while Jerry and I worked through foreign country electronic device technical difficulties.  The Kir Royale is a beautiful drink, served in a tall champagne flute, soft pink in color and glistening with tiny bubbles rising to the surface. I will just say that one drink is enough for me, and never again on an empty stomach.

At 10PM the light looks like 3PM Memphis light, overcast somewhat with clouds.  We make our way to Au Petit Fer A Cheval (the little horseshoe) located in rue Vieille du Temple for dinner of fish, chicken, and duck, and afterwards walk to the Seine to toss coins at midnight from Pont Louis Philippe for loved ones. A stroll along Quai de Bourbon following the Midnight in Paris steps, then we turn toward home, wrapping our coats and scarves tightly to ward off the very brisk wind.

Paris midnight

looking for Hemingway at Polidor restaurant

retracing the steps of Midnight in Paris

Gazing ahead we see the Sorbonne Universite Paris
Rounding the corner we see the Pantheon
Looking behind us we see the Eiffel Tower in the distance
Walking left we see Saint-Etienne-du-Mont

and there we find 'the Steps'

Paris is magical at night.  Lights bathe centuries old buildings with a golden wash.  Padestrians stroll along the sidewalks of narrow streets, and linger in cafes until well after midnight.  Laughter, language, aromas, and the peal of bells fill the night air.

Eiffel stands guard over all with a beam of blue light.

a motor can be heard in the distance
a vehicle rounds the corner and headlights beam directly onto the steps
will the vehicle stop

It's not yet midnight

We lingered on the steps, imagining Paris of the 1920's, until just minutes prior to midnight.  As we began to make our way to the M for the journey home, Martha sounded the 12 bells.

From deep within, one must love Paris and all that affects the senses to truly embrace the City of Light.

An enchanted evening.....

M and J walk and wait (click HERE to see the YouTube video)

ageless

I saw the loveliest lady during lunch on the Champs Elysees. She displayed signs of maturity and wisdom...a life lived.

Dressed in a stylish suit skirt and jacket, fashionable low heel shoes and bag to match, she made her way down the beautiful staircase.

She was in the toilette of L'Alsae on Champs Elysees.  This was no ordinary toilette.  The walls and ceilings were lined with mirrors reflecting beautiful woodwork and flower arrangements.

She was meticulously applying mascara, lipstick, and perfume.  In addition to her wrists, she spritzed the inside of her suit jacket lapels.

She then stored all her products, delicately placed in her attractive white leather bag.

Paris is beauty at any age....


My bag, well worn and scarred, contains a camera battery......

shopping in Paris

Friday
Climbing the M steps, pushed by a gush of wind, we emerge from the Metro at Tuileries Gardens.
The gardens are breathtaking, lined with trees, sprinkled with colorful flowers, populated with people searching for peace and tranquility in a huge city of sound and sensory overload.

To the left towers the Musee de Louvre

Across rue Saint Honore  and among the stone arches stands Angelina's.

Angelina's hot chocolate and pastries attract food lovers from all over the world to the lovely mirror- walled tearoom.  One can just imagine ladies of years past dressed in lovely long gowns and matching hats, parasol in hand, sipping the hot, thick, rich chocolat chaud and eating financiers.

The sidewalks are densely populated with shoppers/admirers; we stroll at a leisurely pace along rue Saint Honore, admiring window displays and the merchandise therein. The windows are adorned with lovely French fashion, colors as vibrant as a rainbow and also as neutral as a country bread board.

A short metro ride takes us to the world famous boulevard Champs Elysees.  Tourists, serious shoppers, and outdoor cafe patrons densely populate the wide sidewalks of this massive avenue once trod by Napoleon and hundreds of others throughout history.  Fast moving small cars, bicycles, and motorcycles weave around double decker tour busses along the boulevard, horns sounding and motors revving, as they travel east to circle the Arc de Triomphe or west to circle the fountains in the  Place de la Concorde.

All the greats in the retail world fill valuable real estate on either side of the boulevard.  From the light green awning of Laduree (click the Laduree link and scroll over all the images to watch the shop come alive) to the tall building housing Louis Vuitton, to the very hip Renault Twizy showroom.

We step into Guerlain, and are swept away by aromas of French Perfumes and beautiful sales ladies, spritz bottle at hand.

A late afternoon (7PM) climb approximately 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe unfolds a 360 degree view of the city.  We watch the lights of vehicles below begin to illumine.  It's yet too early for the street lights to burn as the sky has not begun to show signs of dusk.

around Sacre Coure

Thursday
10:30 AM, two metro rides, and a walk (uphill) in a very ethnic area of Paris deposits us at the base of 262 steps leading to Sacre Coeur. Before climbing the steps, we walk into the wonderland chocolate shop of Christophe Roussel and enjoy macarons, soft in the center and paper thin crunchy on the outside, which burst alive with flavor after each bite.

Yes, we walked the steps.
Yes, we stopped as we climbed--only to take pictures...

Martha's graffiti using lipstick-marking step #262

The sky is powder blue, with a few pillowly white clouds drifting just above the top peak of the highest dome on Sacre Coeur.  I gaze upon this sight with awe as I behold the beauty.....
Though the side streets are somewhat peaceful, the square is alive with artists, restaurants, and, like me, tourists.

Lunch at Chez la Mere Catherine, in memory of Martha's mother, Catherine--snails, goat cheese salad, avacado and shrimp salad, vegetable pie which is much like a quiche

You never know when the moment will come
You look up and there it stands
Eiffel!
My first view of Eiffel came after lunch, just as we were rounding a corner to begin our decent from the church.  I smile, for this is my second Welcome Back to Paris, Gale!

We find ourselves looking for particular Paris art/graffiti.  Soon the competition emerges as we each try to be the first to spot packman tiles or Fred le Chevalier's black and white paper work. We also find Marilyn Monroe.  Paris Is Art.....everywhere.

Parting to rest before dinner, I step into Meert.

A confectionery heaven.  Danny is very helpful, for I want to taste everything!  Their famous waffle, filled with a sweet buttery vanilla bean paste is worth every calorie. The marshmallows melt in my mouth. Meert is 30 steps out my front door....I'll be back I tell Danny...

beautiful Paris morning

8:19 Thursday morning-Paris
It's beautiful here this morning.  The sun has just peaked over the corner of the apartment building

and pigeons coo in the background.  I can hardly type for wiping fresh fig and cherry juice from my fingertips---or spreading yesterday's purchase from our stroll along rue Mouffetard near the Pantheon of Androuet Gratte paille double-cream cheese on my golden brown, paper thin layer croissant.

A gentle breeze blows the white sheer curtains to the left of the antique desk-computer workstation.

Yesterday, after an 8AM flight arrival at Paris CDG airport, a somewhat slow taxi ride along the grafitti branded, congested highway, I arrived at the flat in the Marais. Martha and Jerry greeted me with open arms, flowers, gifts, fruit, cheese and pain au chocolat.

Eager to explore, we soon ventured out across the Seine (Welcome Back to Paris, Gale!) and into the Latin Quarter. Shakespeare and Company sits within view of Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris.

As we walk upon the worn ceramic tile floor and through the very narrow corridors of the English bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, we admire the wooden beams above and stacks upon stacks of crisp new and dusty old books all around, and imagine Hemmingway walking the same steps.

The Latin Quarter is a maze of narrow curving streets lined on both sides with outdoor cafes.  Small window openings offer freshly made crepes smeared with Nutella.  Centuries old churches walled with beautiful stained glass windows stand guard over the narrow streets and all those who walk thereon.

We lunched at Terroir Parisien around 3PM-- goat cheese selections, french onion soup, asparagus salad and pork/fried egg/salad

We dined at the Clown Bar a couple of doors away from the Circus around 9PM-house made pate, bone marrow, young male chicken leg, potatoes, and pork tenderloin
We walked home from the Metro along the narrow streets bathed in the last fleeting light of the day at 10:15PM, while the sidewalk cafes were alive with patrons.

A faint glow of light at 11PM shown through the bedroom window as I finally laid my head and weary body to rest after a first glorious day in Paris.

I saw first light this morning around 6AM, thought how beautiful that would be through the lens of the camera...turned over and slept a little longer.

CDG bound

CDG

preparing for Coutume Cafe

the journey is as fulfilling as arriving at the destination

Saturday morning
coffee beans weighed, then freshly ground
aroma of freshly ground coffee beans fills the kitchen

Cool water, heating to just the right temperature
Cold milk heating and frothed
A teaspoon of vanilla bean simple syrup in the bottom of my favorite Paris cup

pour, layer, stir, dust with cinnamon

enjoy!

As I make the cappuccino, I dare to imagine the taste of a professionally prepared cup at Coutume Cafe in the 7th arrondissement.....soon......very soon

Here's the LINK to the final images from Paris 2011-4

Watch this blog for (hopefully) daily posts from The City of Light!  soon....very soon

Coutume Café
47 rue de Babylone
75007 Paris

working/ daydreaming

more memories of Paris 2011 / Paris 2011-3

click HERE to see photos

I hope to post daily to this blog while I travel later this summer....stay tuned....

Gale

Memphis In May Championship BBQ Contest 2012

Pork - pork - and more pork! Beautiful weather (no storms this year) contributed to a grand time among team members and guests at the 2012 Memphis in May international BBQ Contest. The blisters on my feet were painful reminders that I should have paid closer attention to the map before setting out and also worn appropriate shoes. Regardless, I wasn't the only one trying to find my team among the 100's of contestants. I always enjoy reading the names of the teams---everything from The Pit And The Pigulum...Pork Fiction...The Other Team...Natural Born Grillers...Smoky Bones...and the list goes on. This year the festival salutes the Philippines. Tents are up, cookers smoking, music playing, and team members are pulling together to showcase their creativity and delicious cooked pork. Shoulder, Ribs and Whole Hog are the categories for judging. A few of the teams are small privateers and others are large and corporate sponsored...all with the same goal...hoping to pull off a win while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow teammates and other teams. Friday night cooking before Saturday's judging is an all night affair. Constant monitoring the grill is a necessity and can't be overlooked. Too much of a good time the night before could result in an entry's disqualification if the meat is not properly cooked. It's not going to have a good ending when a team learns their cook fell asleep and woke a few hours prior to judging...the pork is not the only thing that's going to get cooked--if you know what I mean! Since I'm not one of those who can stay up all night, I leave the park, climb the steps to the bluff and take one last look. The mighty Mississippi is upstaged briefly while in it's darkness, reflections of twinkling lights, forceable streams of music, and exhilarated merriment are contained within gentle breezes. Good Night and Good Luck to You All! Posted by Valerie

Le Palais des Thes

Soon restocking my pantry.

Click here to see another series of photos from Paris 2011-2

enjoy!