Un chien à Paris

   A new face has joined our small amorphous group that meets up for coffee and catch-up chats.

Above: a coup de foudre (love at first sight) moment

 

Spiraling

Ready-to-take-home Portuguese chouriça a.k.a. chorizo entices from a countertop at a local boucherie.

Over his head

 Graffiti on a Montmartre wall matches a city poubelle.

A pineapple in winter

Market stall brims with pineapples from Costa Rica.

***

If you bought me diamonds
If you bought me pearls
If you bought me roses
Like some other gents
Might bring to other girls
It couldn't please me more
Than the gift I see -
A pineapple for me.

From It Couldn't Please Me More (The Pineapple song)

Musical, "Cabaret"

 

 

Flashback Friday

Stari Most, the Old Bridge of Mostar in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

***

 Recently, sorting through some old photos a wave of memories came rushing back from a trip I took years ago to Croatia from London with daughter Danielle and British writer and explorer Michael Alexander. On our way, we made a stop in Trieste to visit the romantic Miramare Castle - once the cherished home of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian - for an article Michael was researching. The next morning, with friends waiting for us in Dubrovnik, we decided to break the journey and stop in Mostar for lunch, as it lay conveniently along our route. We walked for a bit then came across a sunny little café on a charming cobbled street, settled in for a relaxed meal, and, lingering over a final espresso before hitting the road again, Michael suddenly looked up and with a hint of annoyance in his voice said, “Barbara, where the devil is that bridge everyone keeps going on about?”

 It wasn't until we drove away and, from a distance, saw this view - Danielle exclaimed, "Look! The bridge!" - did we realize we'd been sitting on it the whole time. - BPJ

 ***

3 hours (or less) from Paris

 PARIS - DUBROVNIK

 Direct flights daily + car rental at airport

Chasing horses

A tiny dog excitedly chases after horses making their way up a Montmartre street.

The break

An espresso and smoke before getting back to work.