Paris in the Springtime

Last weekend, we grabbed a chance to go to Paris. Hubby had a wee bit of business to do, and then it was all play the rest of our stay. I must have brought the good weather back with me from Marrakech, because it was one of the most delightful spring days Paris had seen in some time. 

The colors of the new season were remarkable: the chairs at the sidewalk café,

the blossoms on the trees,

the flowers growing in the Luxembourg Gardens,

as well as the bountiful tulips this time of the year at the flower vendors. So cheap, and so plentiful right now.

We walked by one of my favorite shops, Au  Nom de la Rose,

past this row of apartments which we admired,

and paused to appreciate the clean, fresh facade of the St. Sulpice church which had been covered in scaffolding the last time we were there.

Hermės has opened a fascinating shop on the Left Bank,

and Ladurée is collaborating with Hello Kitty this season.

What's a trip to Paris without pastries? We bought a lemon tart (my favorite) and a chocolate eclair from 

Stohrer's, the oldest patisserie in Paris. Its heritage is interesting: in 1725, Louis XV married Marie Leszczynska,

the daughter of King Stanislas of Poland, and 

his pastry chef Stohrer followed her to Versailles and later opened his own pastry shop on Rue Montorgueil.

This little fashionista caught my eye while we were having dinner at an outdoor café. See her little scarf around her neck? This is why French women are so chic--they start out their lives in style and it becomes second nature for them.

I loved the rococo style of the boiserie (sculpted panelling) of the 18th century rooms

in the Hôtel Carnavalet, where we spent an enjoyable few hours.

And the view of the Seine was especially lovely this time of year

from the Pont des Arts bridge, where couples in love attach "love locks" carved with their initials as an expression of their love.

And what would April 1 be without  a huge selection throughout the city of the "Poissons d'Avril" or April Fish which so symbolize the day? A very common prank played by young and old is to attach a fish on to the back of an unsuspecting person who is fooled or tricked by the silliness of April Fool's Day.

I'll play along with the fun, if it means a chocolate fish is the reward!

Happy April Fool's Day everyone!

Hot Time in the City

Leaving the south of France by the speed train to Paris, we found the hottest weather of our trip. Definitely the "dog days of summer," the temperatures the week we were in Paris hit 95 degrees.

Very unusual, considering today in Paris, the high is 70 degrees and we're now into the month of August.

Parisians headed to the River Seine

doing a little sun worshipping and cooling off their feet in the flowing river.

The streets were packed with action: an impromptu jazz band,

a mobile piano inspiring Parisian girls to dance

away their troubles.

Sweet little girls and boys filled the playgrounds,

bikers took to the streets, making their way through the long lines waiting for Berthillon ice cream

at several spots on the Ile de la Cité.

Of course, a "boule" of strawberry helped cool us off,

as well as plenty of bottles of water at every food stand across the city.

Well, aren't these little shoes just as hot as they can be?

Just how do you manage the streets of Paris in those?

Open topped cars were a hit,

as well as open air buses.

And of course, summertime in Paris = tourists,

and more tourists,

and more tourists.

I'd wait till September to go, if I was you....

Cuisine With a French Flair

So to wrap up a series of blogs about Paris, I could hardly close without mentioning French cuisine. It was a dominant theme in our weekend together. Remember I told you I was there visiting a friend who had rented an apartment for 3 months? Well, here she is, enjoying her Cordon Bleu cooking class, one of her "dreams come true."

The weekend I was there, she took an all day class on fish, and we reaped the benefits that evening back at the apartment. Four courses of fish--can't beat that!

The availability of fresh food in every neighborhood is only steps away from your doorstep--the cheese shop,

the local butcher selling poultry

and fresh beef and pork.

Avoid this butcher though, unless you know what you're getting--horse meat. The first clue is a horse's head above the shop. You still see a few of them around town.

Every shop selling food makes an art of their displays.  Candy at La Cure Gourmande,

olive oil at Oliviers and Company in the Marais,

patisseries on every block,

always works of art.

Macarons of every color and flavor,

bons-bons in rainbow colors from the Japanese Patisserie Sadaharu AOKI,

and colorful-----WAIT...., how did this photo get in here? Looking like eye candy, but certainly not, this is the selection of toilet paper at the luxury toilet boutique at the Printemps department store--Point WC, it's called. New and deluxe, and certainly not free, if you want to read more about their strategy of luxury toilets at several locations in Paris, you can read more here. A whole new market to explore, with an offer of a personal shopper to make your experience more pleasurable.

How did I digress?

Printemps Loves New York

During the past month, the ever-surprising department store Printemps in Paris has been celebrating the Big Apple with a pop-up store full of Americana.

Superman reigns supreme and King Kong rules over the street entrance.

Much of this celebration goes hand in hand with the opening of the first Coach boutique in Europe, right near the front door among all the European designer big names. 

You can see a video of their grand opening here. Click twice to view full screen.

American fashion design is also being celebrated, and 15 designers, including Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg and Tony Burch, were asked to create an exclusive signature T-shirt just for this occasion.

Selected American products are also available for purchase. I found it amusing which iconic products were selected for purchase. Caesar dressing, which was offered at $12 a bottle, peanut butter for about $7 a jar,

marshmallows, and all types of syrup

including strawberry syrup.

And who really buys strawberry Fluff in America?

A small jar of Hellman's for $6 in a country that is known for its delicious homemade mayonnaise.

The very trendy Berko counter located in Printemps, added to the fun with its decorated cookies

and a yummy selection of cupcakes, which have just recently been introduced in France.

The pièces de resistance, however, were the hot dog and Obama "necklaces," I guess you could call them, which were retailing for about $225, yes $225!

Non, merci. My suitcase was not big enough for even one more souvenir, even at that very enticing price!  

Catch it quick--the promotion only lasts until October 10!