Paris and Vickie Smith

Continuing with responses from friends who love Paris as much as I do.


When I asked Vickie Smith what she missed most, or what she might want to do when first returning to Paris, she said - 

"As the quarantine drags on, Paris calls to me. I can’t wait to sit in an open air cafe, with a local wine and a view of the Eiffel Tower. I want to shop an outdoor market for fresh breads and cheese. And most of all, I want to breathe in the beauty of the city and her people. I miss Paris."

Lesa Holstine, Lisa Butler, Me, Vickie Smith
Paris
September, 2017

The Man in the Wall

Vickie and Lesa and Lisa and I each had a list of things we wanted to do and see in Paris. Many of them were the same.

One of the things on my list was meeting The Man in the Wall.

I read about him in "Atlas Obscura," and was  immediately fascinated.  

If you're not familiar with the book, do look for it. There's also a webpage
Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations

The Man in the Wall statue is based on the story “Le Passe-Muraille” (“The Walker Through Walls) by the renowned French writer Marcel Ayme.

You can find several articles about him on the web, including this one - https://bonjourparis.com/monuments-and-sights/man-who-could-walk-through-walls-paris-nothing-wei/

The day we were walking around Montmartre we found him.

Truthfully? I doubt very seriously that I could have found him on my own. But Lisa Aiken Butler gets all kinds of gold stars and high fives for being one heck of an intrepid finder of places and reader of maps.

We were just walking along when I heard her say, "Well, here's your man in the wall, Kaye."
I could not believe it and I was over the moon happy.

Unbeknownst to me, Vickie took a very fun video of me "meeting" The Man in the Wall in Paris, which you can see if you click here.

And here's some photos.

I hope to see this guy again some day.  

Vic's Thoughts on Paris

And now, here's a few thoughts about Paris from my long-time, very dear friend and traveling companion, Vickie Fennell Smith.

Our Atlanta condo was built in 1969 and is, by local standards, “old.” What strikes me most about traveling through Europe is just how “OLD” everything is. The history, the architecture and the art, all so rich, beautiful, (in some cases creepy) and, yes, “OLD” that it takes my breath away.

Sainte-Chapelle, Lisa’s favorite of our adventures, commissioned by King Louis IX to house his collection of Passion relics, was dedicated into service in 1248. Now that’s OLD.

The Place des Vosges, built by Henri IV between 1605 and 1612, became the home of Cardinal Richelieu (and his mistress) from 1615 - 1627, as well as Victor Hugo in the early 1800’s. On this site in 1559, ill-fitting armor was blamed for the death of King Henri II who was mortally wounded in a jousting tournament.

Pont Alexandre III, the most ornate and extravagant bridge in Paris was finished in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle World’s Fair. Pont Neuf or the “New Bridge” connecting the city center to the Ile de la Cite’, is actually the oldest bridge in Paris and was built between 1578 and 1607.

In the 1770’s, the city’s underground Lutetian limestone mines were converted into an ossuary to eliminate the city’s overflowing cemeteries, and the remains of more than 6 million people were moved here mostly under the cover of night.

Musee d’Orsay, my favorite of the Paris museums, is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay railway station built between 1898 and 1900, and holds the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world. Its many rooms and halls contain the works of Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin and Van Gogh.

Ahhhh….Paris. Old. Breathtaking.

p.s. - Don't forget to check out Lesa's piece on Paris today at her place - https://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2017/10/tuesday-in-paris-sept-26.html

Paris Trip - Part Eight. Saying Goodbye to The City of Lights and Love

Saying goodbye to Paris.

And it was hard.

I have fallen completely in love with Paris, and with every Parisian I've met.

There is no one more fun than a Parisian waiter.  Believe me.  They come in all sizes, shapes and ages, and from the first one we met right up to the last, they were kind, patient, charming and funny.  

Besides seeing important art works by masters we've heard of all our lives, we saw beautiful clothes and jewelry and artwork by people we've never heard of - exquisite creativity thrives in Paris.

And that creativity seemed to pull me close.

I'll go back.

There are still places in Paris I have yet to see.  There are places I need to re-visit.  There are shops to shop in, museums and galleries to browse in.  Streets to wander.  Restaurants and cafes to sample.  People watching to be done.  Old bridges to be crossed.  Atmosphere and creativity to revel in.  Photographs to take.  Adventures to be had.

So, yes.  I'll go back.

And if I'm lucky enough to be able to stay in the very same apartment we stayed in this trip, or one as comfortable and homey, I will be a happy girl.

Which was, by the way, kind of a catch phrase started by Lisa while we were there.  "I'm happy."  Just strolling along enjoying streets and scenes and whatever happened to be in our sight line and the words "I'm happy" were just enough.

I was, I admit, getting a wee bit homesick, so I knew it was time, and I had no urges to tear up my return ticket and head off into unknown regions of France, but still - it was hard to say goodbye.

Howsomever, as my dad used to say . . . 

I have great memories which include three great friends.  I will always have those.

And I have a couple thousand photographs to look through.  And look through again.  And again . . . 

There are many ways to say goodbye in French, which I did not know . . . 

This from FluentU (https://www.fluentu.com/blog/french/say-goodbye-french/)

"Tired of saying “au revoir” (“goodbye”)?

Know your French greetings but not your French “goodbyes”?

If you’re looking for new and interesting ways to say goodbye in French, you’ve come to the right place.

10 Useful Ways to Say Goodbye in French

Here are 10 ways to take your leave, starting with the most formal to the most casual:

1. Adieu (Farewell)
Adieu is not a goodbye to be taken lightly or used often. It is highly formal, and it has a sense of finality. Steer clear of this one unless you never plan on seeing the person again or one of you is on your death bed.

2. Bonne journée / Bonne soirée (Have a nice day / Have a nice evening)
Both of these expressions are relatively formal, and the formality can be increased by adding Monsieur, Madame or Mademoiselle to the end of it. You’ll most likely also follow this up by saying “au revoir.” This is not considered to be overkill, and indeed is a requirement for polite interactions!

3. À plus tard (Until later)
In its full form, à plus tard is somewhat more formal. Note that the final “s” of plus is not pronounced, unless you are going with the shortened, and more colloquial, à plus.

4. À bientôt / À tout à l’heure (See you soon)
These expressions are very similar. À tout à l’heure, however, does suggest that you are going to see the person at some point today, whereas à bientôt could mean later in the week, for example.

5. À demain (See you tomorrow)
This one is great for those you see regularly at work or school.

6. À la prochaine (Until next time)
In the same vein as the literal translation of au revoir (until we see each other again), à la prochaine indicates that you plan on seeing them again in the future. Don’t use this one for people you would like to avoid.

7. Salut! (Bye!)
Whether you use it as a greeting or a way to jump ship, salut is a malleable expression that can be used to express your salutations in a somewhat casual manner. (And if you’re looking for casual French vocabulary, don’t miss this post on everyday French phrases and expressions.

8. Ciao! (Bye!)
I know what you’re thinking: Ciao isn’t French, it’s Italian. Those clever French aren’t above borrowing phrases from other languages, though, which is why French has many borrowed words from English. Ciao is a great way to say goodbye to friends of any language.

9. Je m’en vais (I’m outta here)
If it’s been a long night at a party with friends, and you’re heading off in your own direction, this one is a great way to make an exit.

10. Je me casse / Je me tire (I’m off )
Both of these mean the relatively the same thing, but they are more colloquial than number nine, and they may be somewhat offensive in polite company. So, user beware!

***

I was intrigued by this stairwell in our apartment building our entire stay.  I kept saying I was going to walk up and see what was up there, but never did.  If there was one thing I did too much of while in Paris, it was climb stairs!  But I do wish I'd made the effort to climb these, no matter how tired I was in the evenings when we got home.  Oh well.  Next time.

Saying good-bye to Lisa and Vickie outside No. 37 Rue de la Tombe-Issoire early in the morning on departure day was so hurried we didn't even have time for pictures!  Just a quick hug as Lesa and I took off for the airport, and Lisa and Vickie headed off to continue their adventure in Amsterdam.  I think we're all going to miss walking through our distinctively recognizable green doors while coming and going.

and walking through our courtyards, not knowing which kitty, or puppy, might be there to welcome us.

I will miss this place we called home for a week.

I even enjoyed my time at the Charles de Gaulle Airport while waiting for my flight home.

Lesa and I did a little shopping at the Duty Free store.

And a little window shopping at the rest of the stores.

Seeing this red piano in one of the eating areas made me wish I could play

Au revoir. À la prochaine, Paris.



After a very, very long flight home, it was so great to see this sweet face.





I was happy.

Annabelle, however, made it abundantly clear that she was not speaking to me.

So, I had an Arby's Jamocha Shake to ease my hurt feelings.

Once we got home, she still kept her distance until the next day.  

It's taken a few days, but we're friends again.

The toy I brought her from Paris helped a little.

And here's a few of the treasures I brought home -


A wonderfully thoughtful gift from Lisa, which I will love forever.  It perfectly captures Paris for me.






A painting by Bernard Valt.  Detail of Monet's home in Giverny

A mixed media collage by Karine Romanelli

Macarons!  Thank you, Lesa!!

A Paris souvenir scarf, but of course!





A gorgeous book that I will look through often, and remember my dream trip come true.

And this grumpy little guy.  Don't you love him?

And now that Annabelle is over being mad at me, I'll snuggle her to pieces.

Stay Tuned - More to Come.  Lesa, Lisa and Vickie will be sharing their own thoughts about Paris.


Check out Lesa's blog about Monday in Paris at her place - https://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2017/10/monday-in-paris-sept-25.html

Click Here for "Paris Trip - Part Seven "


Click Here for "Paris Trip - Part Six"

Click Here for "Paris Trip - Part Five"

Click Here for "Paris Trip - Part Four"

Click Here for "Paris Trip - Part Three"

Click Here for "Paris Trip - Part Two"

Click Here for "Paris Trip - Part One"