Twosome Tuesday

 

A place to embrace.

 

Saint Valentine Saturday

 

Happy Saint Valentine's Day / Joyeuse Saint-Valentin 

 

Sunset Sunday

 

 

This kissing spot in Paris is pure gold. 

 

***

 

Years ago while updating USA Today's Paris city guide, I added a new subcategory, "Most romantic kissing spot in Paris." Today this Montmartre hideaway still checks all the boxes for a stratospheric smooch: an Eiffel Tower view complete with Paris rooftops from atop a plunging stairway, loads of privacy and, if timed just right, the setting sun. 

 

Getting there: At #23 Avenue Junot enter the black gate behind the lamppost and follow the cobblestone path to the troglodyte "Witches Rock" just in front of the entrance of Hôtel Particulier - where you've reserved a table? - and kiss away to your heart's desire. - BPJ

Floral Friday

 

 

Flowers peek out to watch lovers stroll by.

Wedding Wednesday

 At Paris' oldest church bells ring and love is in the air.
 

Saturday sweethearts

 

Love on a wall.

 

 

Mirror Monday

 

Glass and mirrors brighten a historic restaurant that dates to 1832.

 

L'Escargot

 38 rue Montorgueil 75001

 

 

Le Love

 - A very Happy Saint Valentine's Day 2025 -

 

💘

 

V is for Valentine

 

Arnaud Larher's scrumptious Valentine's Day chocolate chocolate cake layered with fresh blackberries.

Theme: Le Love Supreme

 💘

 

 

Sweet hearts

 Ending Valentine's week with heart tarts and pastries from Paul, rue de Seine.

 

Floral Friday

 

Winter-flowering mimosas are taking center stage at florists all over Paris.

 

Saint Valentin

 

- La fête des amoureux -

 Paris 2023

 💖

 

Sweet surprise

 

 

Delicate heart-shaped raspberry cream pastry with one rose petal.

 

 

Floral Friday

A snowy feel to a flower shop behind rue Poncelet market street.

 

Je t'aime

 ...tout simplement.

 

 ***

- Happy Valentine's Day 2022 -

 

💘 

 

*** 

Rendez-vous Paris, capital of l'art de vivre and gastronomy

First world trade expo of wines and spirits

WINE PARIS & VINEXPO PARIS 2022

February 14 - 16

Nouveautés

 

Days of books and roses

 

Yesterday was the Feast of Saint Georges in France, celebrated as a Valentine's Day in (south of the border) Catalonia and known as, La Diada de Sant Jordi, The Day of the Book and the Rose.

Surprise delivery

 

When you walk into your building and an enormous bouquet is waiting.

 

And it's not for you.

Valentime

 

 

In spite of everything bakers all over Paris are prepared for the annual onslaught of last minute amoureuses and amoureux in search of the perfect pastry for le jour de la Saint-Valentin, tomorrow.

***

- Happy Valentine's Day 2021 -

 

💘

 

•  

Flower power

In France, flowers are an integral part of life and in Paris, florists are as numerous as boulangeries. They lift spirits, add color and cheer wherever they appear, and symbolize romance, nature, optimism and the persistence of beauty. - BPJ

Love in the time of corona

 

 

Boulangeries remain open.

 
***

As countries across the globe restrict travel, close borders and put cities and towns on lockdown, most everyone will be huddling indoors for what might become a long haul, perhaps as much as four months. France is starting with two weeks, with a wait-and-see clause in reserve.

Already, on an ecological level, we are seeing what might be: satellite images show large metropolitan areas from Wuhan to New York spookily pollution free. In Venice, some claim that waters are running clear as fish return to canals, something not seen for decades. Our Montmartre apartment, thankfully on a side-street with a great choice of food shopping (not to mention a Thai takeaway) just downstairs, overlooks a quiet interior courtyard with trees, and while we usually wake up to birdsong, this morning sounded like we are living in the countryside.

For couples and families, being confined together brings its own challenges. At the end of last week, as glasses clinked one last time at our now closed local café, ideas were shared of what to do and what not to do, in the hopes that when this all blows over, we will all be better off for it.

What came up again and again: respecting each other's space - harder to do than it sounds. Obvious culprits: leaving a mess for others to clean up; high noise volume - whether loud phone chats, late night TV, Pavarotti belting out "Nessun Dorma" or thumping rap tunes with windows flung wide. We agreed that lots more cooking at home will be inevitable, and that immune-boosting soups and cutting out sugar, which lowers the immune system, made sense. It turns out that for now, meal deliveries will stay in operation - Deliveroo, Frichti, UberEats... - and will be left at the door to respect distancing.

Before/after-the-lockdown photos of thin-to-obese have been making rounds, but as France is not (yet) a country of fridge-raiding and pancakes and popcorn, this remains to be seen.

Habits to acquire: removing shoes upon entering the home, using cleaning products that disinfect surfaces, door handles, on/off switches, daily; keeping a gel soap within easy reach of sinks and of course washing hands (think Lady Macbeth) but surgeon-like, farther up the arm. Even in buildings with cleaning crews we talked about a need to take individual responsibility for wiping down banisters, elevator buttons, street door handles. It's believed that the virus clings to metal and glass surfaces - change, cellphone screens, elevators, supermarket checkout counters - for hours. And to clothing.

We see this as a chance to catch up on much - side-lined reading, projects, films (providers such as Orange are offering its customers free unlimited movies til the end of March), organizing closets, shelves and neglected caves - as well as to re-connect, cuddle, get into parlor games (chess anyone?), long talks, soul-searching. 

 

A post on Instagram said, "Your grandparents were called to war. You're being called to your couch. You can do this!" Happy hunkering. - BPJ