I have never felt this love affair with Paris like so many other's have. This was not my first visit, I liked it, but it did not touch me like other places I have been...that is, until this time. Springtime in Paris.. It has an energy all it's own..it grabs you and does not let you go...the air is palpable with it. It's in the people, it's in the flowers and the outside cafe's. It is in the wine, the cheese, the amazing bread and oh my, the olives..olives that smell and taste so fresh, right off the trees...and now, like so many before me, I am in Love with Paris...and apparently the love bug visits frequently and in all outside plazas.
Travel offers it own amazing gifts..in a country like France, in a city like Paris...there is so much history. I have never been a very good student when it comes to book learning but I soak it up when I travel. And later, after I've gone home, I still think of all I've seen and learned...the history of France is amazing. Our travel guide on this trip was so knowledgeable and she was able to transfer her knowledge to us in an easy manner...and we learned a bit of French from her also.. She brought Paris and the rest of France to life for us. I was like a sponge this time, taking it all in. This is the view from our room..to the left. It's a city like any other big city...separated by the the Seine River..
Directly ahead of us and within walking distance sat the Eiffel Tower. Massive when viewed up close and a Paris icon. We visited it several times while in Paris. At night they light it up...amazing to see and for 5 minutes, each hour, the lights twinkle...
Paris is a walking city. Easy to get around and by walking you don't miss anything...often you will find a musician playing on a bench. I like this guy playing the accordion. It has been awhile since I have heard one of those. It's not so popular in the states now to see someone sitting on a bench with this lovely music maker. I also loved that the people there still dress up. Men in dress pants and jackets, ladies in every kind of dress up attire and always with the heels...I think they hold onto a certain pride in their appearance. Perhaps that is part of the reason that you don't see so much obesity there. Of course the walking helps with that also...and the much smaller portion sizes. There are lessons to be learned there.
Paris really does have a spring...we have lost that here. A real spring..early April, flowers in bloom, tree's budding, some already with leaves..warmth, it felt so good. Not a sign of winter. They did have a very mild winter this year but still..to visit the open flower markets and see all the blooms and smell the fresh earth smells just filled me up. The lilacs are one of my favorite spring flowers, a throw back to when I was a kid and we had them growing in our tiny little yard...so of course I needed to share them with you today...while we wait for ours to come..where I live, that could still be a little ways off..
Meet Mr. Van Gogh..his presence is everywhere in France...Paris street artist display copies of his work..bright, vivid and an icon of a life lived with brilliance and pain. As we moved on to the South of France we were fortunate to visit where he actually lived for awhile and where his favorite cafe was...He is one of the many artistic voices of both Paris and France as a country.
Yes, I had heard about those outdoor cafe's but I had no idea how inviting they would feel...coming from winter to warm spring weather...I would have been happy to have all my meals at these wonderful cafe's.. we did have several outside and it's amazing how one feels inside their heart to be taking such a beautiful city in, while be allowed to share in one of their greatest pleasures...so many, sitting, sipping espresso, tea, wine, and tiny treats...some reading, most enjoying the company of a friend. How civilized. I'm going to be searching out more outdoor cafe's at home...and on another note, no one was in a hurry...I'm thinking about that also..
Ladies, I saved the best for last...Paris...high fashion. No where does it show more than in the shoes...it was a shoe buffet happening there and I was a goner...I love shoes to start with but theirs were so different, so stylish and youthful...so European. Yup, I was hooked on a search for my own pair of shoes from France...My tour director, Raphaele..would show up each day with another pair of "to die for shoes"...always, when I asked, she would tell me it was all about the comfort. Comfort and style, I need me some of those..She was so sweet, in one of the towns we visited in the South...she gave me specific directions to a shoe store called Camper's and that is where I got my French shoes...oh they are not high like these but they do have a bit of a little heal and the are the color of Provence...and they are COMFORTABLE..some day I will share them with you...I am keeping them forever...well unless I get back to France for another pair...
So I hope you enjoy the first of probably several tours of my trip to France...all of which is beautiful..but I do now, understands the love affair that people have with Paris...it's energy, art, food and cafe's...it's all about life and yes, love....especially in the Springtime..
Au Revoir...for today..
There is a song Paris in Springtime by Paper Moon but for the life of me I cannot get it to upload...youtube has changed their format...but if you like, check it out.