Chez Vincent

Passersby at #54 rue Lepic where Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh lived for two years with his brother Théo, an art dealer, usually have to be satisfied with the small plaque on the wall outside.

Above: a peek inside

 

Musique en fête

 

This year's fête de la musique was especially high-spirited after over a year of on/off lockdowns.

 Above: almost every square, street corner and café terrace in Montmartre had its music

Moon Monday

 

 

Return to Paris and a June moon on the first day of summer.

- Tomorrow -

 

 La Fête de la Musique

 

A Paris escape #7

Our trip ended here, in the village of Salers. Then it was back to Paris.

 Above: from a café table 

Below: side street; lakeside lunch; inside tiny commune Le Falgoux; one last cup w/soaring views 

 

 

s

A Paris escape #5

 

 

   

- Tomorrow: Le Cantal -

A Paris escape #4

 

 

From the Aubrac, it was a 2-hour scenic drive to Quercy with a stop in medieval Belcastel.

Above: view from our breakfast table; Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, jewel of the region

Below: market day in Figeac; rainbow after a flash storm

 

 

  

A Paris escape #3

 

 

Above: vistas

Below: a garden lunch; chez des amis, Estaing

 

(click photos to enlarge)

 

- Tomorrow: Quercy -

A Paris escape

No need to head to Switzerland to escape a heatwave when La Belle France has more than enough mountains to go around.

Next week: where we (accidentally) dodged Paris' latest canicule

Pastry perfect

Perfect pastry on a perfect afternoon.

Masks off!

 

 

Starting today wearing face masks outdoors won't be compulsory in France.

Complementary

Yellow door purple wall.

There's a light

 A welcoming lamp guides visitors to the top of the butte to fresh coffee and viennoiseries

Gin juleps

The French-inspired mint julep of The Old South - originally sipped from silver goblets - just in time for this week's coming heatwave.

 Above: gin replaces traditional rum or cognac

 ***

Gin

Perrier or soda water

 Freshly-squeezed lime juice

Mint

Ice

Street band

 An impromptu group plays jazz outside a metro station.

Floral Friday

Flowering potted trees outside a Marais boutique.

Fashion touch

 Red rubber gloves decorate the back door of a small Left Bank boutique.

Riding Rivoli

 Scooters and bicycles have this usually congested main street all to themsselves.

Old standby

 

Old habits die hard as neighbors continue to meet up for coffee, standing, despite the recent re-opening of terrace seating.

 

Street terrace

A narrow Montmartre back street as an outdoor café terrace.

L'apéro du jeudi

Radishes are back in season.

 Above: w/bacon-wrapped prunes, piment d'espelette chips, AOC French cheeses

Drinks: kirs bretons (crème de cassis + chilled apple cider)

 ***

 Today is National Cheese Day (March 27 in France) 

The cheese snuggled into its tiny box (below) is Le Petit Gaugry, a delectable raw milk discovery I made years ago staying in a village in Burgundy. Despite its size, it packs a punch, possessing all the character of the region's heady Époisses, but ripened for weeks in Marc de Bourgogne, an eau de vie distilled in oak vats, giving it an amber hue. - BPJ

 

Cat on a ledge

 A cat relaxes on a June morning.

Evening view

View over Paris rooftops as the Eiffel Tower beams in the distance.

Merci Sylvie