Provence calls

I can’t sit still these days. Arles called my name and I answered. See you next week!

Another Parisian streetwalker

Pont des Arts at night

About once a week, I’ll journey over to the Left Bank for lunch, if only to have the excuse to cross the Pont des Arts. With views of l’Institute de France going there, and the Louvre coming back, plus the Seine, Ile de la Cité, the d’Orsay, Eiffel Tower all around, it’s nothing short of dreamy.


But I’ve never really crossed the pedestrian bridge at night—or hung out on it, which is apparently all the rage.

It's mostly kids and tourists, painting, playing music, drinking wine, eating cheese... you know all those clichés that are true.

All those little things that make us love Paris.

French word of the day: des miettes

Def: crumbs

As in those giant, flaky sheaves of crust that fall from a croissant when you bite into it. Or those moist sponge-like morsels from une tranche de moelleux chocolat that are left on the plate and can be picked up with your fork. Or the dry little pebbly pieces that are left behind when everyone has visited the cookie plate.

You call this summer?

The song is “Summer Day” but the refrain is “Rain on Me”.

Hmmm. Paris, Summer 2010.

Picnicking Parisians

Parisians might even have New Yorkers beat when it comes to la joie de picnicking. Give ‘em a little sunlight (yes, we got a sliver on Sunday and Monday), a stage for musicians or movies, the banks of a river or canal, a bottle of rosé, a crunchy baguette, stinky cheese et voila—everyone is happy.



Pick your top spot, and don't forget the essentials: a good blanket and an even better book; wine opener and folding knife; cloth napkins (don't be so disposable, mes amis!) and joie, joie, joie.

French word of the day: Aoûtiens

Def: the Frenchies who take their vacation in August (août)

This word comes grace à the Americans in France newsletter. I’d never heard it before and quite like it.

This is the time of year that France gets divided into two groups - Juillettistes or Aoûtiens. Juillettiste are those that go on vacation in juillet - July and Aoûtiens are those that go on vacation in août – August. The French have 5 weeks of paid vacation a year, many have more. Most people don’t take their 5 weeks all at once. Many take three to four weeks in the summer and it seems, all in one month - July or August.

My Vegan Mondays

I know I eat a lot. But I really don’t feel like I’ve been that excessive lately. And I’ve been exercising. Even so, my Comptoir de Cottoniers jeans are getting a wee bit tight. Sigh.

It’s for this reason, and many others, that I can’t help but cheer Tara on in her awesome quest to lose “piggy pounds” through a vegan diet. Go, Tara, go!

Morning
Coffee with soy milk
Cantaloupe
Two bananas

Afternoon
Salad bar! (Drum roll, s’il te plait… voila, your photo, ladies!)

Green beans, broccoli, zucchini, tomatoes a couple potatoes and there’s some couscous and lentils hiding under there
Dried figs

Evening
The mixed salad I’ve been loving lately... (encore, le drum roll!)

Mixed greens with carrots, cukes, avocado, tomatoes and sundried tomatoes

(The photos are admittedly underwhelming. Check these out instead.)