Category: Travel

Paris: May 16, 2019

Back where I belong in Le Marais. I’m getting my daily essentials — bread, butter, flowers, friends, walking, Paris-energy. The grand dame’s (Notre Dame) reconstructive surgery is in progress. I returned to my Sunday writers group and got a collective “She’s Back” that warmed my soul. After our literary stimulation, we repair to a classic pub for libations. During the week, I’m writing in a grand bibliothéque (library) in the Hotel de Ville. The internet is bad there so very few distractions from the task at hand. I’ve seen 5 movies and met the director of one. I’m recognized at my gym. It’s the season for peonies, my favorite flower, and I am here long enough to get a different color bouquet every week at my favorite neighborhood street market (Richard Lenoir on Thursdays) which is where I also get my weekly rations of salmon, veggies, cheese, olives and these great little caramel pastries from Breton. The guy who sells sea salt is a comedian. Life is good.

New York City – December 2018

A Christmas trip to my 2nd favorite spot in North American, New York City, became necessary to fact check some writings. I had to make sure you could see the Empire State Building from 5th Avenue (you can), record details of decor in the Algonquin Hotel’s Blue Bar and determine an ideal spot to meet at Penn Station. In the midst of this “grueling” research I had wonderful meals with lots of good friends, checked out the holiday scene at Rockefeller Center, saw My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center (I was still humming the tunes a week later), saw a breathtaking Alvin Ailey show and was continually wowed by the “only-in-NYC” cityscapes. It’s amazing how much a walk through Central Park and two Nathan’s hot dogs can mitigate the cold.

 

Paris: October 1, 2018

I’ve been walking around grinning at the thrill of it all. After 2 1/2 months, and just a week to go…I was invited to the semi-private (no obvious signs on the door) dinner club owned (I think) by the Swedish consulate, to hear vocalist Leslie Lewis and her trio.****
I finally made it to the Picasso Musée and discovered that I like his least known lithographs the most.****I attended a jazz jam session where many of the expat American jazz musicians who have lived and played in Paris for decades performed in tribute to legendary bassist Wayne Dockery. ****I lucked up and was invited to attend a Paris, evening wear, runway show during Paris Fashion Week. The Kardashians weren’t there, but I didn’t miss them and I got a swag bag!****As I usually do on my wind-down, I walked aimlessly for hours, down unfamiliar streets, taking in all of the surprising delights for the eye that meet you at every turn.

St. Malo, Brittany, France 2018

I wanted some sea time, so I took a train to St. Malo in Brittany on the Atlantic coast. I stayed overnight at a wonderful hotel with a room overlooking the beach, walked the boardwalk at high and low tide, watched surfers ride the waves, saw a glorious sunset, had a great fresh lobster lunch when I got there, but stayed in my room in the evening with pizza and wine to listen to the storm out on the ocean…And then, on the 2+ hour train ride home made a new friend — a beautiful young woman who was born in Senegal, raised in Paris, spent 10 years in Atlanta and now lives in Brittany. She invited me to come visit when I return next year. I’m going to try to do that.

Paris: September 15, 2018

Best-buds Cronan and Sebastian were there for my 3rd SpokenWord reading. Girlfriend and jazz singer extraordinaire, Joan Minor (Google her if you’re into jazz) and her husband Paul, hosted a lovely dinner party. Then, after agreeing that cathedrals get old if you’ve seen too many, Cronan and I took the train to Chartres. We lucked up (big time) because 85 year old world renowned Chartres Cathedral historian Malcolm Miller was giving a tour. I learned more in 2 hours through his interpretation of biblical stories portrayed in stained-glass windows dating back more than 1000 years, than I have in a lifetime of going to church. And to top off the week, I got into the Sorbonne on one of only 2 days every year it is open to the public. It was phenomenal! One of my most valued privileges has been a good education, and this is where the most privileged have been educated for centuries. Even knowing I wouldn’t have been allowed in until recently, being in such a beautiful place of learning brought tears to my eyes.

Semur En Auxois, France September 2018

Magical Weekend in Semur — As soon as we crested the hill in Burgundy, where Semur En Auxois appears on the horizon, I started grinning. With Thomas, my French tutor, his girlfriend Stephanie and the fascinating artists, musicians and artisans I met, this weekend trip was extra icing on the cake that is my life these days. I stayed with Jacqueline and Gerrard in their hilltop home overlooking the fortified medieval town, walked lots of cobbled streets and alleys thick with flora, had more French lessons in a garden besides the rapids of a river and enjoyed wine in the town square late at night after an outdoor cinema music party hosted by a French film director.

Paris: September 7, 2018

Museums and Rock & Roll — I visited and ate lunch at the anthropologically focused Musée de L’Homme which has some fantastic views of Paris from inside and out. Then, just because I thought it would be fun, I went to a Janelle Monae concert (I’m more familiar with her acting than singing) at this huge venue, where I mixed with all her, mostly, younger fans. She is fascinating and puts on a good show, but half way through the concert, after 3 hours of standing like a sweaty sardine packed in a can, I cut out and headed to the bar for an adult beverage. Today I saw a high-fashion photo shoot taking place on the banks of the Seine that made me think of Audrey Hepburn, as I made my way to the Petit Palace museum which has a lovely collection of art, sculpture and artifacts.

Paris: September 4, 2018

More City of Light 2018

I usually cook at home in Paris, but because of my “foodie” friend Karen, from Japan, I’ve eaten delicious food in a number of elegant settings, including saffron risotto at the Prince De Gaulle Patio Bar followed by coffees (practically the only thing we could afford) at the Four Seasons George V where the weekly flower bill could send five students to college. For a few days I walked home from the gym right at sunset and caught a particularly spectacular one with the Eiffel Tower in the background. The City of Light shows its luminescence in many ways. My PAA buddies Holly and Sebastian came out to hear my second reading at Au Chat Noir.