Blog by VONNIE DAVIS -- International, Award-Winning Romance Author: Adventurous...Humorous...Amorous.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Things I DID see in Paris by Vonnie Davis

I've already shared things I didn't see while in Paris. So, it's only fair I show some of what I did see and, of course, with my odd take on life, strange things caught my eye. As I've said so often, Paris is a feast for the senses.

CAFE TABLES ~ They're everywhere! Some are so small they barely hold two cups of coffee or two glasses of wine. The one pictured is one of the larger café tables at a sidewalk café at the corner of our street. This was our first cappuccino after our arrival. My journal is there, waiting for me to fill with thoughts and impressions.


TINY ELEVATORS ~ We rented a small apartment this time around instead of staying at a hotel. Much of Europe is known for small elevators installed in centuries old buildings. Here's the elevator in "our" apartment building on rue Bertholett. By counting the tiles on the floor, the elevator was 1.5 feet wide by 2 feet deep. We carried our luggage up in multiple trips. When I pushed our largest suitcase into the elevator, there was no room left for me to stand. So I sat on it, pulled my knees to my chest and reached for the button. Folks, I hadn't been in that position since giving birth to my youngest child. As the elevator slowly ascended, I prayed no poor schmuck would be waiting at the other end and get an eyeful of American ass. Calvin and I both tried squeezing into it once and I quipped, "Is that your flashlight or are you glad to see me?" We'd been shopping for some groceries and were holding the bags over our heads at the time. The door to the elevator is here.

 
SCARVES ~ I saw them on men and women everywhere. The French have a love affair with scarves, wrapping them artfully around their necks. Just to blend, I bought a few and practiced my scarf swing.
 

 
OPEN WINDOWS ~ Lots of open windows with no screens. And why not? There are no flies or bugs to buzz in. Don't ask me why. There just aren't.
 

COUPLES KISSING ~ The French are not afraid of PDA's (public displays of affection). Kissing--long, involved kissing--is done on the sidewalks, in the cafes and in the parks. We watched this couple in a little park across the Seine from the Notre Dame Cathedral while we sat on a bench, chatting with two women from Alberta, Canada.


COUPLES ARGUING ~ Oddly enough, I have a photo of another young couple arguing, taken on the same corner when we were there five years ago. Tears running down this girl's cheeks snagged the attention of this romance writer, my creative mind writing various scenarios of what made her cry.

MULTIPLE JAPANESE NUPTUALS ~ There were six Japanese couples married in front of the Louvre on a Sunday afternoon. I don't know why they chose that spot, but their exuberance and happiness charmed me. I stopped and watched their last minute preparations, at a distance, of course.


GORGEOUS ARCHITECTURE ~ I've always been a nut for pretty buildings. I found this one along the Champs Elysee.

 
 
ONE OF THE LOCATIONS FOR MY FUTURE BOOK ~ This plaque marks the location of the original Shakespeare and Company run by Sylvia Beach from 1920 until the Nazi's approached Paris. This narrow shop, painted red now, was the happening place for writers, poets, artists and musicians of The Lost Generation. I have an American jazz musician, a saxophone player, who meets a lovely French writer in this shop...ohhhh, the possibilities....
 
 

14 comments:

Liz Flaherty said...

Great pictures, Vonnie!

Barbara Edwards said...

Loved your photos.

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your photos, Vonnie. Glad to hear you had a good time and got lots of inspiration.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks, Liz. We had such a good time.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks, Barb, for stopping by and taking a look.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Paris is full of inspiration, Charlotte.

Patricia said...

This is so totally cool, Vonnie. Thanks so much for telling us about your Paris vacation and your wonderful pictures.
Patti

Angela Adams said...

Thanks for the pictures...I'm still in awe of the small table.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

I love sharing, Patricia. I'd enjoy everyone falling in love with Paris the way I have.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Oh, Angela, I have a few pictures of our eating French onion soup at even smaller tables. It's amazing how they crowd things together.

Alison Henderson said...

I've loved ALL your pictures and memories of Paris. It's been almost as good as taking a trip back myself. I have to laugh at that elevator. I remember some small ones but nothing as tiny as that. I can just picture you and Calvin and your groceries!

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Oh, Alison, I forgot to include the really funny part of the elevator scene. After we'd crowded together, holding the groceries over our head, neither one of us could reach the button to start the darn thing. I got the giggles. Calvin got a touch of claustrophobia. Thank goodness for elbows...snort.

Lisa A. Olech said...

Vonnie, My sweet DH surprised me with a trip to Paris for our 25th anniversary. (When he said he'd like to take me on a trip, I thought he meant to Maine!) I am not a city girl, but I lost my heart to Paris! I LOVED that city. What struck me, too, was the open windows with their beautiful wrought-iron balconies and the long, sheer white curtains billowing out and waving to me as I passed. I was enchanted with all the stone carvings in around the city, and started to take photographs of all the angelic faces I could find. *sigh* I can't wait to go back!! Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us.
Lisa A. Olech

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Paris is a siren of souls, Lisa. She calls to people to love her. There is so much to see and enjoy. Yay to your DH for taking you there. What a sweet gesture, one to be cherished.