Events, History, Ile-de-France, Life in Paris & France

Paris Seine Flooding Routine and the Statue

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Image of le Zouave statue, Pont de l'Alma and the Eiffel Tower during Paris Seine flooding

An image on the front page of a Spanish newspaper showed the Seine flooding. This prompted a reader planning a Paris visit to inquire about the situation. Looking back at my photos from 2016, I had some evidence of the river a couple of days after its peak. Each year the Seine’s waters rise, usually as snow melts and reservoirs flood. This year, the Seine seems to be flooding a bit early from heavy rains. The last record for flooding was in June 2016. Le Zouave statue on the Pont de l’Alma is one of the gauges used. Legend says: “When the Zouave’s feet are under water, the Seine is flooded”. Authorities predict the Paris portion of the River Seine could reach 6,20 m by Saturday, January 27. The recent Paris Seine record is 2016 at 6,05-6,10 m.

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Chocolate, Sweets & Bakeries, Life in Paris & France

Saying Goodbye to Icons in the Bastille Neighborhood

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painting of à la Petite Fabrique

Living in a small neighborhood of the Bastille, the hardest phrases to hear over the last year have been: “We’re closing and retiring” and “They have sold the shop for their retirement”: Holmes, the stationery store, and now à la Petite Fabrique, the chocolate factory. Holmes was transformed into an upscale Italian restaurant and word is that Alain Ducasse is buying the Petite Fabrique…. The neighborhood in the area of Hugo’s Les Miserables and the French Revolution has gone upscale.

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Christmas, Life in Paris & France, Music

Notre-Dame de Paris, Swedish Music and Candlelight

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Adèle Söderberg (1880-1915), Sankta Lucia postcard, God Jul - Merry ChristmasWikimedia Commons

To get you into the holiday spirit a special Swedish-style musical event is held in Paris. The event is always held at the Swedish Church (Svenska kyrkan) and most years at a large church in Paris; Paroisse de la Madeleine, Notre-Dame de Paris. The event is a musical Swedish tradition celebrating lightness during the winter darkness.

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Children and Teens, Children French Activities, Christmas

Time to Write to the North Pole – Père Noël is Back in Business

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Pere Noel and La Poste Secretariat opens today November 9 for letters to Santa

Don’t complain about a full email inbox. Last year, Père Noël (Santa Claus) received around 91,000 emails once the season opened. And it is that time again. Madame and Père Noël’s post office opened November 9. This year, you can email or send a colourful paper letter. Get out the crayons and colourful ideas. The secretariat is part of la Poste France. The elves are working in Libourne in the Gironde region. According a LaDepche.fr, 1.2 million children from over 140 countries wrote paper wish letters addressed to Père Noël”.

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Christmas, Shopping

Champs Elysées Christmas Market No More

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Chalets along Champs-Elysées for Christmas Market and Santa Claus Pere Noel

Two events will effect somebody this latter part of 2017. Planning on the Champs-Elysées Christmas market? Stuck in traffic? It’s like a soap opera or a custody fight in a divorce. Whose side will you be on?
Every year Christmas markets attract 30 million people visitors in France. Fifteen million of those visit one or more of the 250 chalets along the Champs-Elysées for the Paris Christmas market. If you are stuck in traffic this week, the carnival operators are conducting an “escargot” (snail) slowing down and blocking traffic with their semi trucks on the expressways. They want to set up their chalets on the Champs-Elysées.

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Events, Exhibitions, Life in Paris & France, Shopping

Art de la Table and On the Wall at M&O

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Maison&Objet 2017 Liisu Arro Arro Keraamika

A chance Estonian Internet encounter in table arts gave me an idea: Visit a professional trade show for the first time. Arro Keraamika arranged a pass for me and off to the exhibition halls in Paris Nord Villepinte I went. Originally my quest was to find all the products Made in France. In eight giant halls that was a bit too overwhelming a task! I changed my focus to tableware that you keep on your wall as art, use it for dining, put it in the dishwasher and then back up on the wall.

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Book Reviews, Books & Guides & Writing, Food, Drink & Health

David Downie’s Parisian Love Affair with Food

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David Downie's latest book comes out September 26, 2017

“A Taste of Paris, A History of the Parisian Love Affair with Food” is a fun book in David’s style. David combines history, travelogue and a personal quest. David’s quest this time: “What is it about the history of Paris that has made it a food lover’s paradise?” You can follow his Paris food seduction from 53 BC to the present. Bringing Paris food history alive, David presents lots of written culinary activity between the 1300s and 1792 (end of the Ancien Régime) with all the King Louis’s, their chefs and the chefs’ cookbooks. David takes us back to the barbarian Parisiis squatting, eating with no tableware and demonstrates how the Romans were the more elegant diners and knew how to entertain and cook refined meals. In “Taste” food origin myths are dispelled.

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Books & Guides & Writing, Children and Teens, Food, Drink & Health, Shopping, Specialty

Bring France Home with Designer Souvenirs

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Image of Nathalie and Mathilde Bring France Home Paris Designer Souvenirs Made in France in front of the Eiffel Tower holding their Eiffel Tower souvenir

Bring Home France on rue de Birague in the Marais offers unique Paris and French souvenirs designed by a street artist, graphic designers, fashion and home designers. Some products are made by long-standing French firms in Gien, Limoges, by Duralex and Laulhère-France.
In the store and for shopping online they have a wide selection of products ranging from gastronomy and jewels to fashion, decoration and toys. Nathalie Crouzet tells you some stories and legends behind some of the souvenirs in my first video story.

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