Des reflets pendant la nuit

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3MhQA83GCJfsXSb_7gT5M_hX1IhWNLqm-JEieeHn205krCBt_E6cZ6BgFPlejE-iQW3I-xVJBG04yG3IPUHncVL2V5wMfjvhOTKLLlHjJf5DsOusVatURQrFexSZmlK-gaVxjtRlF18/s1600/2013+Nov21+Paris+_20131121+935+DSC_2634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3MhQA83GCJfsXSb_7gT5M_hX1IhWNLqm-JEieeHn205krCBt_E6cZ6BgFPlejE-iQW3I-xVJBG04yG3IPUHncVL2V5wMfjvhOTKLLlHjJf5DsOusVatURQrFexSZmlK-gaVxjtRlF18/s1600/2013+Nov21+Paris+_20131121+935+DSC_2634.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Night Reflections</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Walking in the empty streets, <i>parapluie</i> (umbrella) in hand, </div><div style="text-align: center;">long velvet coat, warm gloves,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and holding a single red rose...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...a gift from an unknown young man</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">yes, she is definitely a French girl</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rue de la Paix</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75001, Paris</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

Des reflets pendant la nuit

Night Reflections Walking in the empty streets, parapluie (umbrella) in hand,  long velvet coat, warm gloves, and holding a single red rose...

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La Chandeleur - jour des crêpes!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxJPU-M9b_GozpicD5FXtKKaDyh8w22wfUpvedTXVntpT4hdu-8ondjK4x7SSQiN3VG5e0okn245tws8XWo19s-kfZs2g_b-p2lmQPPFgGx4jLL9_WCnLIfRUA4TlG314QvXHHkYRkFw/s1600/2012+Oct+8+Monday_135DSC_9246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxJPU-M9b_GozpicD5FXtKKaDyh8w22wfUpvedTXVntpT4hdu-8ondjK4x7SSQiN3VG5e0okn245tws8XWo19s-kfZs2g_b-p2lmQPPFgGx4jLL9_WCnLIfRUA4TlG314QvXHHkYRkFw/s1600/2012+Oct+8+Monday_135DSC_9246.jpg" width="612" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">La Chandeleur</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fête des chandelles</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Candlemas - English)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today is Candlemas, 2 February, and it is celebrated in France with crêpes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today I will be making crêpes, holding a coin in my left hand, and flipping the crêpe pan in my right.  If I can catch the crêpe, it means my family will be prosperous for the rest of the year, such is the legend.  Also, one does not eat crêpes until after 8:00pm.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This chef at <a href="http://www.creperie-plougastel.com/index.html" target="_blank">Crêperie Plougastel</a> on Rue du Montparnasse, allowed me to take some photos of him as he deftly prepared all the crêpes for the lunch crowd.  I have been here three or four times, introduced by French friend Isabelle.  They have both savory and sweet crêpes with quick service and good prices.  On a street full of crêperies, this one is always well attended.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">bon dimanche</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crêperie Plougastel</span></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">47, rue du Montparnasse</span></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75014, Paris</span></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">  </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div>

La Chandeleur - jour des crêpes!

La Chandeleur Fête des chandelles (Candlemas - English) Today is Candlemas, 2 February, and it is celebrated in France with crêpes. Today I ...

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Bûche de Noël - chez moi

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlSHkLarpffHjNN8DX0YWO9Di8QrGJICwZ7or-I2UMKPyLIMcB6lgEg1hyphenhyphenp7cB5ZlTclWSxJxJeOrKn0PPtfZ6zo1qOEGPx7kc8E1Aked6DP43x3NF9HAXoPlaSZ8Qw693BXJywZPAdE/s1600/2013+1222++222+DSC_4116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlSHkLarpffHjNN8DX0YWO9Di8QrGJICwZ7or-I2UMKPyLIMcB6lgEg1hyphenhyphenp7cB5ZlTclWSxJxJeOrKn0PPtfZ6zo1qOEGPx7kc8E1Aked6DP43x3NF9HAXoPlaSZ8Qw693BXJywZPAdE/s640/2013+1222++222+DSC_4116.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bûche de Noël</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"yule log"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Adopting another French tradition, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">we welcome Christmas with a bûche de Noël.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Using a recipe inspired by the celebrated Paris pastry shop Ladurée, the <i>bûche</i> consists of a buttercream icing, a <i>roulade</i> of fine bittersweet chocolate, and a filling of rich semisweet chocolate.  The humidity and rainstorms steered us to marzipan rather than our preferred meringue mushrooms.  Here is a <a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Buche-de-Noel" target="_blank">recipe in English</a> and another <a href="http://cuisine.journaldesfemmes.com/recette/305309-buche-de-noel" target="_blank">here in French</a>.  We used the English recipe.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This confection was a collaboration of daughter Holly, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">visiting French girl, and moi.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...sending you Christmas wishes </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(still have to make Jesus' birthday cake)</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Beyond </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Bûche de Noël - chez moi

Bûche de Noël "yule log" Adopting another French tradition,  we welcome Christmas with a bûche de Noël. Using a recipe inspired by...

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Rue de la Paix - une fille française?

<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/90442945@N06/11283227706/" title="2013 Nov21 Paris _20131121 882 DSC_2581 by Genie Paris, on Flickr"><img alt="2013 Nov21 Paris _20131121 882 DSC_2581" height="800" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/11283227706_8733d64b72_c.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Rue de la Paix</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was raining on the evening of Beaujolais Nouveau Day, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">but this chic French girl with her long black velvet coat </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and red plaid parapluie was content to stroll down Rue de la Paix </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">to window shop in Place Vendome.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The streets were almost empty and the three of us </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">enjoyed the lights, the misty rain, and the unbelievable windows.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, she is a French girl</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jaquet Droz</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(275 year old watchmaking business)</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">8, rue de la Paix</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75002, Paris</span></span></i></div>

Rue de la Paix - une fille française?

Rue de la Paix It was raining on the evening of Beaujolais Nouveau Day, but this chic French girl with her long black velvet coat  and red p...

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La Chandeleur - jour des crêpes

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TDHaVCI1alKacpIQOae0GM9r-C7956OVQwCs8hFlUbxdWJlgmJ6Sit_QQrkSUjMiMK93bbYxLY83G0i8_9gtvIzwukS6JZWm-ZITnr9uwL-IaPdDihfIZZyYA6J0d5I4s_T8qvQyNEM/s1600/2012+Oct+8+Monday_139DSC_9250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TDHaVCI1alKacpIQOae0GM9r-C7956OVQwCs8hFlUbxdWJlgmJ6Sit_QQrkSUjMiMK93bbYxLY83G0i8_9gtvIzwukS6JZWm-ZITnr9uwL-IaPdDihfIZZyYA6J0d5I4s_T8qvQyNEM/s640/2012+Oct+8+Monday_139DSC_9250.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">La Chandeleur</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fête des chandelles</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Candlemas - English)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today is Candlemas, 2 February, and it is celebrated in France with crêpes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today I will be making crêpes, holding a coin in my left hand, and flipping the crêpe pan in my right.  If I can catch the crêpe, it means my family will be prosperous for the rest of the year, such is the legend.  Also, one does not eat crêpes until after 8:00pm.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This chef at <a href="http://www.creperie-plougastel.com/index.html" target="_blank">Crêperie Plougastel</a> on Rue du Montparnasse, cheerfully allowed me to take some photos of him as he deftly prepared all the crêpes for the lunch crowd.  I have been here three or four times, introduced by French friend Isabelle.  They have both savory and sweet crêpes with quick service and good prices.  On a street full of crêperies, this one is always well attended.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crêperie Plougastel</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">47, rue du Montparnasse</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75014, Paris</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

La Chandeleur - jour des crêpes

La Chandeleur Fête des chandelles (Candlemas - English) Today is Candlemas, 2 February, and it is celebrated in France with crêpes. Today I ...

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Hôtel du Nord - IV

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyBRwPt33PZ4Au0TZ-YjoWSJskOjh4zxs4bQscKqAuskUimbC20-rkSYOXDZO7tRtCHUvulYMLfC3w0QEYLH1bq3sLJxRenQxfc1qDkuRvyJtbkOUJfbgmGcTEfHSmsGxRAJsVKeFqUI/s1600/2012+april+1+5713DSC_5869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyBRwPt33PZ4Au0TZ-YjoWSJskOjh4zxs4bQscKqAuskUimbC20-rkSYOXDZO7tRtCHUvulYMLfC3w0QEYLH1bq3sLJxRenQxfc1qDkuRvyJtbkOUJfbgmGcTEfHSmsGxRAJsVKeFqUI/s640/2012+april+1+5713DSC_5869.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hôtel du Nord is one of my favorite restaurants </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">with a neighborhood setting along Canal St. Martin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On our last night in Paris this April, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">my husband and I enjoyed the company of dear friend Janeen </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and our Paris friend Isabelle.  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Leaving Paris is bittersweet, but always holds the promise of trips to come.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Hôtel du Nord</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>102 Quai de Jemmapes</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>75010, Paris</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>

Hôtel du Nord - IV

Hôtel du Nord is one of my favorite restaurants with a neighborhood setting along Canal St. Martin. On our last night in Paris this April, m...

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A city garden

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4EtEXbuH6vKquPFZpMfGWpNkR4oYXzRsnLD36L4aixRIZJSWXNMCX-CkaVttFkvRGti_1IvAtAQ8Gm2OaIIUJIAMwfGkY3Owf_tkDvXEG9Te8J709UTqTZpnpTF_XsKm0PKnvywcTCM/s1600/2011+nov+3+DSC_0518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4EtEXbuH6vKquPFZpMfGWpNkR4oYXzRsnLD36L4aixRIZJSWXNMCX-CkaVttFkvRGti_1IvAtAQ8Gm2OaIIUJIAMwfGkY3Owf_tkDvXEG9Te8J709UTqTZpnpTF_XsKm0PKnvywcTCM/s640/2011+nov+3+DSC_0518.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When I met up with my Paris friend, Isabelle, in November, we walked to the park where she once lived.  The cloistered park cannot be seen from the main street (Rue Pernety), but had a walking trail, a playground, little garden plots, and much more which I will show you on another day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>near Place Marcel Paul</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Métro Pernety</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>75014, Paris</em></span>

A city garden

When I met up with my Paris friend, Isabelle, in November, we walked to the park where she once lived.  The cloistered park cannot be seen f...

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