IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A PROBLEM PUBLISHING THIS POST, SO I’M TRYING IT AGAIN…
We have returned to our favorite city and are settling in like locals. Our apartment this time is in the 17th Arrondissement, near the Arc de Triomphe and close to where our friends Anne & Jeff live. We’ve been keeping very busy taking advantage of all that the city has to offer.
We, along with Anne & Jeff, attended a very interesting panel on the upcoming French presidential election at the American Library, and a lovely chamber music concert another evening featuring a string trio (piano, violin and cello). Our favorite piece was the encore, a slow tango – Milonga del Angél by Astor Piazzolla – that featured the cellist. (Click on the link to hear a lovely version on YouTube.)
We’ve so enjoyed just walking around. The weather is lovely and the Spring flowers are in bloom.
Of course, we still have touristy wanderings to do. We returned to Shakespeare & Co to buy a few English language books, and stopped at Berthillion for take-away glaces before settling in the shade to read.
We made a day trip to Château de Fontainebleau and Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, two marvelous examples of French opulence outside of Paris. Fontainebleau is larger and state-supported, while Vaux-le-Vicomte is still in private hands. According to the guide, both suffered during the French Revolution but continue to be restored and represent important parts of French history.
On the drive back into Paris, we saw field after field of yellow canola flowers…a sure sign of Spring!
I don’t often complain about my short stature, but in our current apartment it poses something of a disadvantage. In our small kitchen, the oven is located above the refrigerator necessitating the use of a stool for me to use it! Precarious cooking requires sobriety and balance…
I’ll end with picture of Rick standing amidst a rather neatly arranged array of bottles at the local glass recycling drop spot. Only a few of these are ours…
Can you get a bigger stool??
Can you define “a few”?!
reassuring that only a few of the bottles are yours!! ha ha!
take care, best, Julie and Alain
The spring flowers are wonderful. As for the oven, the situation is the same at my daughter’s apartment in Strasbourg. Interesting getting something out, and in, when reaching over your head. Definitely best done sober.
Just read about the attack on the Champs Elysee. I know you are now living in the area. Please be careful. Let us know that you are OK. Livio
The flowers are gorgeous and the pictures are great. Since you missed the election in America, seems to me you should be eligible to participate in the French elections this weekend.
In the meantime keep your heads down.
And this too shall pass.
Hi Kathy,
I couldn’t help but think of you two being in Paris. My daughter is flying there in 2 weeks to do the 500 mile ElCamino walk in parts of France and I think mostly in Spain. We, ourselves are flying into Paris in 4 weeks but mostly going to a Normandy river cruise.
It is my hope you are safe and will continue to be.
Blessings,
Pat