Rain shower

  

The sun emerges and tabletops glisten in an ancient passage where time slows down with every drop.

 

Travel Tuesday

 

Shirts, jeans and a cheeky pair of red undies sway in the breeze while a potted plant seems to cheer them on.

 

***

 

In many narrow village streets all over Italy stone buildings lean in for a gossip, as laundry hangs like a vibrant parade of flags. Below, a parked car waits patiently, resigned to a lifetime of dodging stray socks. But most are in agreement: fresh-air-dried washing is always superior to machine-dried, which explains those silk shirts flapping from the balconies of sumptuous palazzi that dot the Italian countryside.

 

As a golden sunset casts a warm glow, a neighbor wonders, isn't that red pair theirs, and could this trigger a new (laundry-inspired) friendship, or even romance? - BPJ

 

***

 

3 hours (or less) from Paris

 

PARIS - ROME

 

Direct flights (2 hrs) - 6 times daily

 

 

Macaron Monday

  

A macaron a day keeps the doldrums at bay.

 

***

 

 The cheerful macaron, born in Italy and, it is said, smuggled into France by Catherine de Medici for her royal wedding to Henry II in 1533, has become a symbol of Paris and French indulgence. Though seemingly in almost every Parisian pâtisserie, not all macarons - not "macaroons" please - are created equal. These two-bite wonders (the originals were larger) with their vibrant hues and crisp chewy texture are, in fact, tiny almond meringue sandwiches, each filled with a silky ganache or creamy buttercream, a delicate dance of texture and flavor. 

For my tastes Pierre Hermé still leads the pack: he goes easy on the sugar and pairs creative and at times eyebrow-raising fillings (olive oil/lime; white truffle/hazelnut) that evoke Marie-Antoinette closing her eyes to daintily savor a slow nibble rather than a quick chomp. When choosing, keep in mind that the best macarons balance depth with sophistication, and will leave you craving just one more. - BPJ

 

 

Pierre Hermé

Montmartre boutique

27 rue des Abbesses 75018 

 

 

 

 

Easter Sunset

 

 

 Joyeuses Pâques 2025

 

🐣

 

Floral Friday

 

Vibrant bouquets brighten a historic covered passage.

Morning meditation

 Quiet time as the city of Paris sprawls below in the distance.

***

Atop Montmartre in the tender embrace of dawn, Paris stirs. Cobblestones gleam with the first light's kiss and the air, crisp and full of promise, carries the scent of blooming trees as the city stretches beneath a sapphire sky. An empty bench to pause and reflect, a lone streetlamp and shuttered storefronts brace in anticipation of the day's bustle. In the distance, Paris shimmers, a silent witness to its awakening streets. - BPJ

 

Window Wednesday

 

 

From one window to another:

A small café across from a bookshop on a 19th century covered passage.