29 June 2026

Museum Monday

 
 
Came for the AC, stayed for the art.

Above: Raoul Dufy's epic mural
 
 
 
 Check for current exhibitions
11 Avenue du Président Wilson 75116
 
*** 

A summer the likes of which I had never seen and never believed possible in our temperate climate: days when the thermometer in the shade rose to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit), not a single blade of grass, not a single flower by the 1st of July, the trees turning yellow and losing their leaves, the earth cracking open as if to bury us, the terror of running out of water from one day to the next… - George Sand's description of the heatwave in France in September 1870, in her book Le Journal d’un voyageur pendant la guerre ("The Journal of a Traveler During the War") - the Franco-Prussian War - part of a hot dry summer.  - BPJ

 

23 June 2026

Travel Tuesday

 
 
Beating the heat.

Above: hiking in the French Alps

 ***

 Reprint from "Some like it hot" 7/26/2019

Some tips for keeping your cool in Paris:
Sip water throughout the day (skip ice-cold and sugary drinks), take cool showers, avoid caffeine, heavy physical activity, and the métro. Uber and G7 taxis are your friends - they usually have AC. Get your errands and sightseeing done early while it’s still fresh out, stay out of direct sunlight, and if possible, nap during hottest hours (in other words, copy cats). More: libraries, parks, gardens, churches - search: air-conditioned spaces open to the public Paris. Come evening, treat yourself to a tall cool one.
 
Pro tips: The city’s many chocolate shops, larger movie theaters and supermarkets (Carrefour, Champion, G20, Franprix etc.) all have strong AC - sometimes so strong the cashiers are wearing sweaters. Keep shutters and windows closed during the day to block out the heat. Or, if you can, head to the mountains. - BPJ
 
***

Fans / ventilateurs
  Space air conditioners / climatiseurs available at:

Darty, Castorama, Conforama, BHV, Bricorama, Mr. Bricolage, Leroy Merlin
 

21 June 2026

Seine-side Sunday


 
 
Browsing bouquiniste stalls as Notre Dame Cathedral gleams across the river.
 
Bonne Fête des Pères / Happy Father's Day 
 

19 June 2026

Floral Friday

 
 
Fresh flowers add a fresh touch to a market on Place Saint-Sulpice.

17 June 2026

Wine shop Wednesday


Delectables in a small room at the back of a small wine shop.
 
La Cave des Abbesses
43 rue des Abbesses 75018