Perfect Souvenirs

 Or -

Souvenirs Parfait, as they would say in France.

A souvenir (French for 'remembrance' or 'memory'), memento, keepsake, or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. A souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the traveler as a memento of a visit. The object itself may have intrinsic value, or be a symbol of experience. Without the owner's input, the symbolic meaning is lost and cannot be articulated.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souvenir

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Souvenir (Object Lessons) Paperback – March 8, 2018

by Rolf Potts (Author)

4.4 out of

Part of: Object Lessons (103 books)

Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things.

For as long as people have traveled to distant lands, they have brought home objects to certify the journey. More than mere merchandise, these travel souvenirs take on a personal and cultural meaning that goes beyond the object itself. Drawing on several millennia of examples-from the relic-driven quests of early Christians, to the mass-produced tchotchkes that line the shelves of a Disney gift shop-travel writer Rolf Potts delves into a complicated history that explores issues of authenticity, cultural obligation, market forces, human suffering, and self-presentation. Souvenirs are shown for what they really are: not just objects, but personalized forms of folk storytelling that enable people to make sense of the world and their place in it.'

Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic.

Souvenir features illustrations by Cedar Van Tassel

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Isn't part of any trip the choosing of little tangible remembrances to bring home along with the memories?

For me - yes.

I have known people who say their trips are all about the experiences and the memories, and tend to roll their eyes at the word "souvenir."

But for me, a person who loves being surrounded by pretty things that have memories and meaning attached, souvenirs are part of the trip as well.  

Usually, my souvenirs include cheap little items from souvenir shops - a refrigerator magnet, a Christmas tree ornament - the usual typical sort of item that you expect to find in a souvenir shop.

But they also might include an original piece of art, or a nice piece of jewelry.

Being a bit of a magpie means I am definitely going to pick up something(s) that, for some reason, speak to me.

The things I brought home from my most recent trip included some good chocolate for Donald.

And an assortment of "stuff" for me.

I love shopping in French pharmacies for skin care products.

Some pastels from La Maison du Pastel, which has a fascinating history -

https://www.lamaisondupastel.com/home.php found their way to Meat Camp

As did some cards and prints from a delightful little papeterie in our hotel neighborhood.

And, my treasure of this trip.

An Hermès scarf - A l'Ombre des Boulevards (In the Shadow of the Boulevards).  A 2015 design by Virginie Jamin.

"The large boulevards... Baron Haussmann's Paris with its buildings, its doors, its inhabitants... it's up to you to find, in this richest setting, the winks made by the artist to the Paris of today."

I will remember this Paris trip with my pal Vickie whenever I wear this special, beautiful scarf.

Souvenirs Parfait

❤

Today's Poem by Mary Oliver

 Of The Empire

We will be known as a culture that feared death

and adored power, that tried to vanquish insecurity

for the few and cared little for the penury of the

many. We will be known as a culture that taught

and rewarded the amassing of things, that spoke

little if at all about the quality of life for

people (other people), for dogs, for rivers. All

the world, in our eyes, they will say, was a

commodity. And they will say that this structure

was held together politically, which it was, and

they will say also that our politics was no more

than an apparatus to accommodate the feelings of

the heart, and that the heart, in those days,

was small, and hard, and full of meanness.

© 2008 by Mary Oliver

From her 2008 collection, Red Bird

Published by Beacon Press 2008

Leaving Paris

 

Nine Days in Paris

❤

Did i love it?  Yes.

But.

This trip did not come without challenges.

Time for me to face and admit that traveling, for me, is not as easy as it once was.

Thankfully, my curiosity is still as active as ever.  My physical stamina, not so much.

Paris is a walking city.  My days of long walks, especially in this city of many stairs and inclines may be behind me.

Does this mean I'm done with traveling?  Oh hell no.

But low key, small ships, like Viking Cruises, are probably going to be my preference for future travel.  

Donald and I have a trip booked for next summer.  

Trade Routes of the Middle Ages.  "Trace medieval routes of commerce during a fascinating 15-day cruise bookended by enriching overnight stays in Bergen and Barcelona. Explore three of Europe’s most picturesque cities: Amsterdam, Bruges and Paris. Call on England from the historic ports of Portsmouth and Falmouth and admire the neoclassical gems of the wine-making city of Porto. Explore Málaga, gateway to Granada’s stunning Alhambra palace, and view the splendid Roman ruins of Cartagena."

Am I excited?  Oh hell yes.

And I have a little over a year to plan and research and dream.

I love my life.

And Paris.  Oh, how I love Paris.

Last Day in Paris

 

On our final day, April 2nd, I stuck close to our little hotel neighborhood, Vickie walked back to LePoste to mail postcards, and walked back along Rue Mouffetard where she picked up THE best rotisserie chicken, carrots and potatoes in France from Rotisserie Segar which we ate in our room while watching a peaceful protest in the Pantheon square from our window, but never figured out what they were protesting. 

We just hung out, finished our packing and set the alarm for 3 am.

Some final thoughts coming soon -

Stay Tuned

❤

Another Day in Paris

This day I took my time getting my act together while Vickie went back to Rue Monge and bought herself a pretty poppy scarf, walked to the Grand Mosque and back through Jardin des Plantes.  

I went shopping at the bookstore on Rue Soufflot near our hotel and we met up at the sweetest paper shop for a little shopping.

Then we went to the wine store for a bottle of chardonnay, some really yummy chocolate to take home to our guys, and a kitty petting session with the resident kitty.  

Stopped in a few more shops along the way back to our hotel, 

and went back to our favorite Italian restaurant, Papilla.

Vickie had risotto. 

I had affogato.

We loved this little neighborhood.

Back to our hotel and started the chore of packing for home.

More Tomorrow!

The Pantheon

 

This is the day we visited The Pantheon.

Neither of us had been before, and we both fell in love with this beautiful structure full of magnificent architecture, sculpture and artwork, the fascinating Foucault pendulum and the crypt.  "Interment in the crypt of the Panthéon is severely restricted and is allowed only by a parliamentary act for "National Heroes". "