I am leaving the office early, but my mind ( to calm me down) is thinking of sunset over the Seine.
The Pont des Arts , a pedestrian bridge that was built at the beginning of the 19th century.
France Impressions is a blog about my travels throughout France. Travel is about embarking on journeys, discovering new places, its people, learning from others and in particular, learning about oneself. I believe travel is an art and I like to craft trips and tours around your personality, interests, desires and dreams. I undertake to open for you 'doors that are normally closed" thereby ensuring you gain access to exclusive experiences while introducing you to extraordinary personalities.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday In Paris for a Song! This Is What It's All About! NO? OUI!
Sundays in Paris are sacrosanct—slow motion mornings made for sleeping in or wandering empty Paris streets or lazily reading piles of newspapers, punctuated by coffee and croissants.
For one band of merry Parisians (seemingly straight out of central casting), Sundays are a marathon of music … and a reminder of all that is good about France.
They start at the Mouffetard market singing and dancing to Piaf and Trenet—the kind of songs that make old (and young) a bit nostalgic for yesterday. The timeless melodies and a “je ne regrette rien” credo take hold in a powerful way. Even if you don’t know the words or the tune (except perhaps osmotically from old French movies or scratchy Piaf recordings), you will find yourself humming … and smiling … and pretty soon dancing.
The group then flows uphill and takes over a Mouffetard restaurant to continue the party. They drink and eat and sing and dance some more. The accordion chords vibrate off the poster-rich wooden walls, and the dancers stretch the limits of the aisle-turned-dance floor. Everyone just plain has a good time. The group then adjourns to the quai Saint-Bernard (when the summer warmth comes) for … what else? … more singing and dancing. We should all have such a good life, n’est ce pas?
For one band of merry Parisians (seemingly straight out of central casting), Sundays are a marathon of music … and a reminder of all that is good about France.
They start at the Mouffetard market singing and dancing to Piaf and Trenet—the kind of songs that make old (and young) a bit nostalgic for yesterday. The timeless melodies and a “je ne regrette rien” credo take hold in a powerful way. Even if you don’t know the words or the tune (except perhaps osmotically from old French movies or scratchy Piaf recordings), you will find yourself humming … and smiling … and pretty soon dancing.
The group then flows uphill and takes over a Mouffetard restaurant to continue the party. They drink and eat and sing and dance some more. The accordion chords vibrate off the poster-rich wooden walls, and the dancers stretch the limits of the aisle-turned-dance floor. Everyone just plain has a good time. The group then adjourns to the quai Saint-Bernard (when the summer warmth comes) for … what else? … more singing and dancing. We should all have such a good life, n’est ce pas?
Friday, June 17, 2011
Choco Museum Now Open
Who does not like chocolate? The French consume several pounds each year. Now to the delight of everyone, The Musee Gourmand du Chocolat has opened in the 10e in Paris.
From the outside it looks small, but when you get inside, you'll change your mind.
The museum is organized in three parts.
First the history of Chocolate in the new world, then upstairs is the European history with Chocolate and then finally (the most exciting part) the tasting room. There is (for a small fee) a tasting option. Also there is a shop selling chocolate souvenirs and choco accessories.
Admission is Euro 9 for adults and Euro 6 for kids and students.
From the outside it looks small, but when you get inside, you'll change your mind.
The museum is organized in three parts.
First the history of Chocolate in the new world, then upstairs is the European history with Chocolate and then finally (the most exciting part) the tasting room. There is (for a small fee) a tasting option. Also there is a shop selling chocolate souvenirs and choco accessories.
Admission is Euro 9 for adults and Euro 6 for kids and students.