Monday, February 26, 2007



This mention of Paris and being in Paris is troublesome because it is I who should be in Paris, having dinner in St Germaine at this very moment. Instead, I am at home, consulting with the Chow Nation over the details of Easter, which they are furiously planning. They say they didn't enjoy being home alone last year for Easter and this year they are really going to live it up.

But if I were in Paris, here's what I would do tomorrow:

I would stay in St Germaine and stroll down the Boulevard St-Germaine to the Institut de Monde Arabe to wander the exhibition, rendering me open mouthed and amazed every time.

I would cross the bridge into Ile de la Cite to the little yarn shop and see how they are getting along there, the proprietress and her cat. I'd check out the new luggage at Mandarina Duck a few doors down and then turn and keep going until I hit the Marais. I'd stop for a wonderful lunch, anywhere, with anyone. I would have a tomato and cheese sandwich on white bread and frothy light beer. I'd eavesdrop on the conversations around me, fast and furious French and wonder if I got all the details just right. I'd hit the African Art Gallery then, the linen shop, the bead place and go over to Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, to brontibay. I'd pick out one, only one, handbag and have it wrapped to take with. I would get over to the Hotel et Musee Carnavalet in time to have a decent browse before it closes. I would argue it's the best museum in Paris.

I'd then walk back up towards La Madeleine on the Rue de Rivoli, pausing to gape again at the Hotel de Ville; I'd cut over to St-Honore to stroll past the Palais de Elysee, the American Embassy and the hotel where the Arabs and their harems and children stay. I hope for a glimpse of the royal family on the sidewalk and a whiff of their wives as they slipped into the string of limos waiting at the curb-- heavenly perfumed and coiffed women with silent big-eyed children.

I'd get to Laduree in time for an early dinner, although not completely hungry. I would have what else? roast chicken, sauted mushrooms and spinach, and whatever the recommendation was for dessert. a wonderful crisp chardonnary and delicious dark cofffee afterward. I would take a small box of macroons to go and slip into the night, and the stars, and walk toward Pont Neuf, and pause at the bridge. Although the wind picks up on the river, I would decide to walk it all the way home, crossing and following the river all the way back to the little street where my key fits into the little red door.

My fresh bed would be ready and the hot shower would take me to sleep, sleep, sleep until the church bells rang....


JBelle
Bellemaison
The 'Kan EWA

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow, a month away and i can't wait!

Leon's current assignment said...

(smiling at you)

You know me, I'd go for the single-malt. Perhaps you and the lad can raise one or two in my honor?

Blessings and grace, all in a day's hard work. Ride it like you always do, Chief.

Good on ya.


---

JBelle said...

Mel, let's go to your nephew's place ourselves! we'll get a few of our buddies, our maties, and do it up right.

scrabble and wine, long walks along the road with a different team cooking every night. and laugh? oh my.

oh MY.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Mel, let's all go to your nephew's place. Count me in on that trip, ladies! That and the hot-air-ballooning. September? And whenever I go to Paris, I'm going to pay JBelle's way to have her come along as my tour guide! 'k?

Really JBelle, when you retire, you could write the new guidebook series "Europe through the Red Door" (or the Best doors, or the Shop doors) or something -- you'd be the charming, witty, wise alternative to Rick Steves. We'll all watch you on PBS and say we knew you before you were a TV star! The Chows, Lad/CC, and Pup can all make appearances too. Even that Montana guy if he's not camera shy. (If you do this, I want at least a lifetime supply of free donor DVDs, ok?)

JBelle said...

Shelley, Can I call you every morning at 7:30 for a visit? If you were still sleepy, you could just read me this. And I'll take you anywhere you want to go, anytime.

And I don't travel with just anyone. ;)

xo

Carla said...

Now you've really done it. I just can't get there fast enough. What to do? What to do? The day couldn't get much more perfect than you described it.

Anonymous said...

Indeed, I am starting to save my $$ now for my empty-nest traveling days. My 18-year-old tells me he plans to move out "within a year". Now, I think his vision may be a little ambitious (he's yet to have his first paying job or start to drive, and while graduation is on the calendar for June, there are many hoops for him to jump through still to make it happen).

Still I know the day will come when my house is empty save for 3 cats.. and perhaps at least my part-time partner, but I'm not counting on anything these days. And though I can easily fill my time with work and projects, I plan to also fill it with travels and adventures.

Now as for that TV show, I think "Joie de Vivre with JBelle" has a nice ring, oui? As a gifted multi-tasking female, you can expand far beyond the Steves guy and not just do European travel, but also do gardening, arts & culture, shopping, collecting, chows, sacred living, mothering with consciousness through all the stages of life, inspiring people to their highest potential through love and acceptance... you know, just take your blog live on TV for the unblogged masses! You can invite all your commenters to be guests too. "Don't miss Monday's show, when JBelle visits with the Psycho Therapist, Marmite Toasty, and her own Southwark Lad." Really, you'll be a star, trust me on this... (Oh, well, I mean a bigger one than you are now!)

Anonymous said...

What a marvellous itinerary you have outlined, Jbelle.

Quite inspirational. If only I could tear myself from its seedy underbelly, I would see Paris as perhaps it should be, just as you so splendidly describe.

Though the seedy underbelly too has its delights... :)

The Fool said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Fool said...

JBelle: If you don't just gloss the words this post just "sounds" good.

And do you mean to tell me that when I spit off the Empire State Building as a tyke it didn't hit anyone? Durn. You bubblebuster.

;)

M-Toasty: I've got my boots on and I'm harnessing the dog team for the trek...

MarmiteToasty said...

OK :) ya have to realise I aint seen this nephew for at least 14 years lol......... when I first got married, me sister went to live in Brunei in Borneo with her soon to be second hubby...he was an oil bloke 'mega loaded' by my standards ... she took one of her sons with her and put one in a boarding school about 10 miles from me..... he hated it..... so me being the person I am :) use to go and help him escape EVERY weekend, so he would come and stay with us, even the first weekend after we got married, we had this 10 year old living with us...... that went on for about 2 years.....he would always be running away and cos me sister was miles away from this well posh school, and it was up to me to sort stuff out...... I was USED a little, but oh well..... he was me nephew that I loved and she me sister....... anyways...... he has the most beautiful of places over in france with his wifey now and 2 kids.... which I aint never met.....

I would LOVE to go there to stay, and that was the plan /sigh..... and it would be lovely for someone to book up and me just turn up and see if he knew who I was..... lol

ok here is the link....... Im well impressed......they have done a grand job of doing it up....

http://www.lotvalleygite.com/index.shtml

Fool :) be they them proper huskey dogs ..... or do ya mean ya have a couple of poodles LOL hahahah hehehehe sorry I just couldnt help it...

MarmiteToasty said...

ps....... oh oh oh .... the Empire State thingy is one of the places I soooooooo wanna go to..... do you know..... and dont take the mickey...... I aint NEVER been in a building higher then about the 7th floor lol except for the Eiffel Tower but thats different...

And Fool........ if ya want it to land then you have to draw one of them big heavy thick greenies from way down deep - they drop like a stone LOL - cant believe I just said that...... boys I blame me boys lol........

x

The Fool said...

M-Toasty...poodles are not dogs.

And thanks for reinstating my bubble...it was one of "them big heavy thick greenies from way down deep." Good.

Sorry, JBelle. The post is certainly lovely.

;)

JBelle said...

Mel, I think we would be less than civilized human beings if we did not pay a call to your family in the south of France, sooner, rather than later. Shelley totally agrees with me on this. And anytime either of you wants to go to the Empire State Building, I shall take you in hand and give you a tour, followed by hot pastrami on rye at Katz Delicatessen OR caesar salad and spaghetti at Carmine's, either guaranteed to put you in an elevated glycemic state. But you'll come to in a couple of days.

And lissen O Foolish One, you are welcome here 24/7. Red and Yellow, Green and White, They are precious in his sight....