THIS AND THAT

This will be short little post with a few new things I've seen/experienced in the past week or so I thought you might be interested in.

I went to my doctor yesterday just for a check of a few issues I've been having.  He checked me over (not a big deal and he didn't weigh me!!!) and suggested we do some blood work just to verify things are okay.  Fine with me.  So after fasting last night, we walked to the lab (close to the apartment).  Just a comment about healthcare here that I've experienced....everyone has been very professional and courteous (even to me an American), office space, though different from the US, is clean and sanitary looking, and procedures are quality just like my experience in the US.  Between us we were able to convey our reason for being there and respond to the receptionist's questions.   The lab tech was friendly, spoke a little English and I only felt a little prick!  Easy peasy!!!  When we paid, it came to 23 Euros (plus change)!!!!!  Are you kidding me?????   She took my Carte Vitale and filed it so we'll get a tiny bit of the 23 back but, like David said, who cares?  The US really has to get its healthcare under control...and that's my political rant for now!!!!😀

When Courtney was here, we were crossing a bridge and looked down and saw this along the Seine...

I AM going to try this!!!!

...now THIS is how I want to exercise!!!!  There aren't very many bikes..maybe 5-6 and this was the only person I saw taking advantage of them.  David and I plan to go over there sometime and "take a ride".  Obviously, along the Seine you see lots of joggers, walkers, and sometimes even a boot camp. Bicyling is an activity that won't bother my hip so I'll keep you posted if we do indeed try this.

Sunday we walked over to an area near us along the Seine David found on one of his daily walks.  It's a barge-like area with concrete blocks for sitting or laying, lots of bushes and trees and, yes, it does rock when a tour boat passes!  It was sunny and gorgeous Sunday so we took our books over and found a place to sit and soak up some sun and read.  Though there were some families with younger children, it was relatively quiet and peaceful there.  We will definitely do it again...perhaps during the week when it's even quieter (tourists are too busy "touring" to stop and enjoy something like this!) and maybe we'll take some water and a treat!!!!

How beautiful is this???  In one area there are even rope hammocks but they were all taken when we were there-

This is the road right along the Seine where there are always lots of bicyclists, joggers, walkers-you go up stairs from here to "street level" where traffic is-

Something I didn't mention from Courtney's visit was our visit to E.Dehillerin, Julia Child's kitchen supply store I have mentioned before (and shopped before!).  If you remember, Courtney's previous visit she bought some really nice wooden spoons (yes, not all wooden spoons are created equal!).  Anyway, this visit she wanted to buy a copper pot.  She had in mind what she wanted and, having just renovated their kitchen, she was ready to go.  The associate who helped us spoke pretty good English (always helpful!) and this is what we walked out with...

Copper pot from E.Dhillerin!!

I love the style she chose and may purchase one myself before we leave.  But I still want to check out the antique shop at Bayeux where David saw those copper saucepans!!!!


Another thing I saw recently that I haven't noticed before is this "fountain"....

This was in the middle of the sidewalk along a busy street

...the lady I saw using it was getting a drink from it like a drinking fountain.  However, later I saw several people washing their hands and even refilling a water bottle.  The water in Paris is very safe and drinkable so not unusual for people to get a quick drink in their walking or shopping.  I don't know how many of these are around, but I do know there are some that are very pretty...like statues.

I would never have known the purpose of this pretty statue until I saw someone using it!

Again, living in the city is very different from living in the suburbs and so these little things I find fascinating are probably just because I'm "city ignorant" having lived in the burbs all my life.

And that's it for now from our quiet little corner of Paris......😊

CHANEL

In December when Courtney and family came, we had planned to give her a Fashion Tour Walk.  Sadly, at the last minute it was cancelled when the guide got sick.  But when they decided to return in June, Courtney rebooked it for the two of us.  Paris Walks has two Fashion Tours - one is primarily Chanel and the other is a Vintage Walk.  We chose Chanel.

We met Brigette from Paris Walks at WHSmith Bookstore and were off.  Brigette was our guide on the Chocolate Tour we took when Nikki and her family were here so I knew we were in good hands.  After spending an introductory time in a Polish church getting some background information, we headed to Chanel.

Thank you, Chanel, for a wonderful visit!

There are many Chanel boutique stores in Paris.  This is the flagship store so I knew our experience would be a good one.  I've never been in any of the couture stores here (well, I did go into a Louboutin shoe store once on a visit and it was a bad experience).  It was really nice having Brigette with us because she had no hesitation or shyness and also, of course, speaks French.

It's a beautiful store and very open and spacious.  All the associates wear black and are very French looking and professional.  While it's very elegant and beautiful, we found all the people to be very warm and friendly.  And most, not surprisingly, spoke English.

We started in makeup and perfume.  That was Courtney's main focus (originally!!!).  She loves fragrance and smelled many.  I do have Chanel's Mademoiselle and love it but right now don't need any additional fragrance.  Their makeup was beautiful and both areas were so uncluttered.  You know how in the US department stores you have a million (it seems) choices with counter after counter of all the products.  Here there were two, maybe three walls, where various bottles of fragrance were exhibited.  The makeup was on a cylindrical unit away from the walls where you could see the various lip, eye, face products.   And, I have to say, I didn't find the makeup prices to be that much more than department store brands.  I know what I pay for MAC lipstick...yes, it's less but this is Chanel after all

Anyway, later we walked through shoes (be still my heart!!!) and Courtney tried to tell me I should buy a pair of Chanel flats as my "keepsake" purchase since I can't wear heels right now.  They are a classic flat and practical here (or anywhere, I suppose) but my heart belongs to heels!  Perhaps, before November, I'll check it out again to get me buy til my hip is replaced.  However, in trying to sell me Courtney sold herself on their practicality for her teacher life and ended up buying a pair of black quilted flats.

I think this is the right shoe!!!

While she was trying on shoes, Lea, our associate, was right there helping her and checking to see how they fit her foot.  We were offered champagne, coffee or water (sparkling or flat) and it was all a very relaxed, fun experience.

It ended up taking much of the day because in order to get her tax back, Courtney needed her passport which, of course, she didn't have on her.  We called the guys and David went to the apartment to get it.  What a good dad!!

While we waited for the passport, we walked to a little cafe, Mademoiselle, for a salad lunch.  It was cool and rainy, but we sat outside and had a nice lunch people watching and visiting.  Then we met up with David and got the required passport.

A quiet lunch waiting for the passport

We thought we'd just go in with the passport and they'd get the information they needed, Courtney would pay and we'd be done.  Not quite that easy.  We went from one "waiting area" to another to another.  We did, however, get offered another beverage while we were waiting to get to the "checkout" person.  Had we not been concerned about the guys with the little boys all this time, it would have been a leisurely, pampered time.

She did, by the way, get a new perfume, Chance (one of the new ones, I believe), and an eyeshadow palette that is the most beautiful packaging I've seen for eyeshadow.  And this is how it looked as we walked out of the store....

This is the shoes - camellias were Coco Chanel's favorite flower

This is the perfume

They're almost too pretty to open!!!!  I'm a sucker for packaging...it can be a little, not spectacular present but if it's wrapped fabulously, I'm in heaven.  What can I say????????

We both walked away saying what a beautiful experience it was.  Sometimes it's not as much about the item purchased but the experience of the purchase.  Kudos to Chanel!  Coco would be proud!!

PARIS WITH CHILDREN

Courtney and her family were here last week for the second time since we moved here.  They came after Christmas (great for the holiday but not especially great for activities) which was a little tough since it was cold.  This summer visit enabled us to do some things with the kids we couldn't do in December.

Early in their visit they had planned a tour of Versailles with April of aprilinparistours.  As you may remember, we've done several tours with April and think she's great.  We did the biking tour of Versailles last spring and it was so fun.  The kids chose not to do bikes, and, by the way, David and I kept the boys.  Versailles is way too much for a 7-year-old and an 11-year-old!!

We had a plan (you really need a plan with kids!!) and the first thing on the list was visiting Jardins du Luxembourg to, hopefully, do the sailboats.  We also planned a picnic so on the way to the Jardins we stopped at Marks and Spencer for food.  Because it was "fun day with Mim and Poppa", we eased up on the "not healthy for you" foods and,  actually, we ended up with pretty healthy fare!!!

We used our picnic basket, covered two sides of the park bench and pulled up chairs.  Not too shabby!!  What did we eat??  We had lots of fresh fruit (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries),  chips (of course), chocolate chip cookies (not the best I've had) and David and I each got a prepared salad.  As we were eating, we did the tell-a-story-a-sentence-at-a-time.  You know, one person starts and you go around and each person adds a sentence to the story.  We actually did it several times and it was a fun, relaxing activity.

Before we ate lunch, we sailed boats.  What fun that was!!  In fact, David wants to go back sometime and sail one himself!!!  I guess boys never completely grow up!!!

Learning how to maneuver your boat takes practice

We just didn't want Jonah to fall in!

The captains and their boats

I love bookstores and real books (I realize Kindles and other e-books serve a purpose and I do use one but I prefer to hold a book and turn pages...I feel the same way about magazines maybe  more so.  I have one magazine I receive digitally and I hate it.  Right now it's better than nothing but not much!!) and I love taking the boys to bookstores.  So we strolled over to  The Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore across from the Jardins and bought the boys a couple of books.

By this time, all of us were tired so we headed home for movie time and no walking!  But we had a good day while we didn't have parents with us!!!

Later in the week while Courtney and I went on a Fashion Walking Tour (I'll post that later), Nathan and David took the boys.  We all began at Jardins des Tuileries at Place de la Concorde.  Below is a photo journey through their day while we were "Chaneling"!!!!!

What boy (or even girl) doesn't like a trampoline??  The boys did this several different times. It burns energy!!!!!!!

Paris is full of carousels and the boys took advantage of that

Part of a playground area where the boys climbed and played

At the Palais Royal is a fenced post where you can pitch centimes (pennies) and see if you can make it land on top of this post.  It's not easy.  As you can see, Jonah got one centime on and looks like Jacob didn't get any on

The Palais Royal

A healthy lunch wasn't an option as they went to McDonalds!!  But, again, a fun boys day while the girls played (we didn't really care what or if they ate!!!!!!).

While Paris is certainly, in my opinion, not  kid friendly, there are things for children to see and do.  You just have to research it and make sure your children are up for the walking.  Even if you use buses or metros, there is still oftentimes a great deal of walking.  But for older children who are beginning to learn about French history or art, it can be a great experience.  Last visit Jacob wanted to see the Mona Lisa (arrggghhh-she's at the Louvre which is huge).  But we all went and he got to see her.  This time he wanted to go up the Eiffel Tower and they were able to do that as well.  We also did a hop-on hop-off boat which saves walking and is fun (I think).

And sometimes kids just have to suck it up and let Mom and Dad have a wonderful experience in this fabulous city!

HOW TO BECOME A PARISIAN IN ONE HOUR?

One of the things I think we've been able to do during this adventure in Paris is take advantage of "entertainment" options available to us.  Naturally, we've done much of the "museum" circuit, the well-known ones as well as some more less known spots (which I typically have enjoyed more!).  We've been to the movies several times (not a whole lot different from Plano but many fewer people), out to dinner tons, shopped, seen the tourist must-sees, eaten street food (crepes, ice cream cones and baguette sandwiches) and, of course, stopped many times for a cafe sitting outside like a Parisian.

Last night we went to a one-man comedy show in English, "How to Become a Parisian in One Hour?", being held the Theatre des Nouveautes.  Our friends, Alain and Therese, had suggested it when we called them about going to an Edith Piaf show.  Having seen other things about her recently, they suggested this show instead.  They had not seen it but had heard good things about it.  We decided on a restaurant none of us had been to and the plans were made!

I don't think it's possible to become a Parisian..you are either born one or will never be one!!

This little restaurant was located off the main street down a "passage".  There are many of these passages in Paris and most are filled with small shops and various cafes, bistros etc.  Sorry for the blurry picture, but you can see the big red arrow pointing you down the passage towards the restaurant.  The passages are one of the surprising, delightful parts of this city.

You never know what treasure you might at the end of a passage...

  Once you go into the passage, you see this...

Looks like some renovating is going on in the surrounding spaces.  But there, at the end of the passage, is this cute little restaurant, Chartier.

We decided to have dinner before the show rather than after (many Parisians eat dinner after 9pm) just another example that have not made the transition to being real Parisians.  Being early, they were able to seat us right away and the service was excellent.  Fast without us feeling rushed.  The prices are the cheapest we've seen, and Alain said it is pretty traditional French fare and it was well prepared.  As were leaving 90 minutes or so later, the place was really filling up.  Definitely a place we'd go back to.  Therese had a chocolate profiterole with vanilla ice cream, and it looked fabulous!  I'm usually the one to choose the best dessert,  but I went off the beaten path with a rice pudding.  My mom used to make rice pudding with raisins (this one didn't have raisins) that I loved so it brought back sweet memories for me.

Then it was on to the show.  The theater was small and beautiful.  Very comfortable, plush red velvet seats which were in a great location.

Our French friend, Alain

The show itself was a little interactive with Olivier asking where people were from and, during the 60-minute program, calling two different people unto participate (fortunately not us!!!).  Essentially, he spent the hour giving 8-9 examples of how Parisians differ from Americans..things like customer service when shopping, dealing with waiters in a restaurant, taxi drivers etc.  Some people were really laughing.  I found some of it humorous but not laughable.  I've decided I prefer music to comedy (which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who really knows me!),  though there are a few comics that do make me laugh.  But it was a nice, different evening with friends we haven't seen in quite a while so all was good.

Following the show, we strolled a little then stopped in a cafe and got something to drink.  This is what I chose (by the way, the weather had cooled off...just to help explain my choice!)...

...hot chocolate with whipped cream (which I had to ask for!!!!).  It was fabulous and a nice end to our evening.

p.s.  I have GOT to do something with my hair!!!!!  Arrggghhhh😖

LA BEAUTE C'EST LE POUVOIR - BEAUTY IS POWER!!!!!!

The other day when the sun finally came out, we decided to get out and stroll.  One of the cute shops we frequent (found by Nikki before her trip here in October),  La Super Marquette, has some vintage postcards Nikki wanted,  and I still have a gift card for there (thank you, Tracey!).

Love this shop and its owner!

 So we bussed/walked over there and she wasn't open yet😢!  But, it's Paris, so we decided to have a mid-morning treat at a little cafe across the street.  Since it had been a while since breakfast and it was going to be a while before lunch, I decided to splurge and have a crepe...nutella and banana, of course.

And this is what I got...

Just a little mid-morning snack!!!

...oh, my gosh!!!!  David had said he wasn't going to share it with me (he didn't order anything but a beverage), but he did share because there was no way I could (well, I COULD but I shouldn't!!!) eat the whole thing!!!!!  Delicious!!!

The shop opened, we chose cards to send Nikki,  and I still have my gift card.   But, Marie, the shop's owner, is going to look for several things I'm interested in so next time I go back, I bet my gift card will be gone and then some!!

The weather was absolutely beautiful, so we decided to go to the Musee d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaisme where they have an exhibit on Helena Rubenstein until August.

This is my favorite kind of exhibit...someone who did something extraordinary

Though her name was familiar to me, I really didn't know anything about her.  In a nutshell, she was born in Krakow, left for Vienna to escape an arranged marriage, got sent to Australia where she changed her first name from Chaja to Helena and the rest, as they say, is history.  Her mother had protected her Helena's skin from the cold Krakow winters with a facial cream made by an apothecary.  While in Australia, the wives of the farmers noticed her perfect complexion, and she extolled the virtues of the cream her mother had put in her luggage....and the dream began.  She had the idea of opening a beauty salon,  and in 1901 succeeded in finding the formula for her mother's  cream and marketed it as Valaze (not familiar to me).  A year later she opened her first salon, and in her ads she affirmed "beauty is the new power for women"!

Hands-on in the laboratory so the product meets her standard

She was the first entrepreneur, in 1902, to create both a beauty culture and industry.  She understood that beauty care had to approached scientifically and was the first to classify skin in three categories and rigorously test her creams.  In addition to the topical care of one's skin, she also recommended regular exercise and a balanced diet.  It seems to me she was well ahead of her time!!!

 Many of us of a certain age remember her name.  One item I didn't realize was hers was Heaven Sent cologne...

Ah, memories.....

I remember this fragrance...I think my mother used it.  When I saw it in a case of vintage products from the Helena Rubenstein line, I was flooded with memories of my mother using it.

Her story is really amazing to me, and I am in awe of women who are so fearless and innovative.  When she died in 1965, her brand was present in more than thirty countries and employed 32,000 people.  Colgate-Palmolive acquired the brand in 1973 who sold it to Albi International in 1980 who then sold it to L'Oreal in 1988.  I wondered if the brand still has products out there.  And, yes, L'Oreal  still owns the brand and in 2010 a cream with plant stem cells was launched.

I may have to check out the products.  It was an afternoon well spent....