Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Are You Thinking Noel/Xmas?

 

Usually after I do a PARIS LETTER run 🏃‍♂️ to la poste 📬 I’m allowed to wonder aimlessly🤸🏾‍♀️ Yesterday I wondered into the Dutch concept store HEMA looking for Halloween stuff. They’re already thinking Xmas🎄/Christmas/Noel & ginger cookies! Somehow I resisted 🫣

Are you already thinking ahead for Xmas holidays? Should I put up Christmas 🎄 letters for ‘Future thinkers’? Do tell PBers 🙏

I kept on walking & passed a crowd waiting to get into La MEP. I joined, flashed my press card & waltzed in ☺️

Why not? 

A lot of guests were speaking Dutch…

It was a first retrospective, PHOSPHOR: Art & Fashion 1990-2023 bringing together more than 200 works

Of Dutch artist Viviane Sassen

From her early years in design school.

Interesting. Maybe not my cup of Ko-Fi ☕️

Meanwhile I’d like to see the Antony Gormley show. It opened yesterday at Rodin museum.

Meanwhile at Hotel de Ville, they set up a palm court 🌴 

And lounge chairs for no particular reason 🙄 Or is it future thinking?

Across the street, department store BHV is thinking in the present of Halloween with 🎃 pumpkin/potiron scented candles from Diptyque

I noticed they are future thinking with an Advent Calendar from Diptyque. It’s not even November. Then I reconsidered when I saw the price tag - 25€ 🤸🏾‍♀️

I look closer. It was 425€ 😟

Mariage Frères has 64 teas to taste in their Advent Calendar for a more palatable 62€ if you’re a tea fan (at BHV tea counter).

Me, I’m drinking the same tisane (David Lebovitz says,’
although another tip is that herb tea isn’t called tea in France, it’s called tisane or infusion, which is why you might get a confused look* if you order camomile or lemon verbena tea’, Cotterley Infusion Réglisse Menthe for 13 years, since I discovered it in the town of Montmorillon. It’s a House brand of supermarché InterMarché (24 bags 0,90€) 🤣

Lately I add in Cotterley (ah..the cachet of a  British name) Bio Thé Vert for extra morning oomph 🤸🏾‍♀️


No matter how many fancy teas I buy, with the best of intentions, I still end up drinking licorice mint 🙄 Does that happen to you?

Not to suggest for one minute you should miss out visiting Paris’ fabulous tea shops,

Whatever your tea preference, leaf or teabag. Dammann Freres at Place des Vosges is a beautiful shop.

Visiting Paris tea salons is an absolute must-do 👍

Walking home, I passed a barge restaurant next to Pont Marie (
all lit up), Les Macquereau Tonight they’re celebrating the second La Grande Fête de la Moules Rain ☔️ is predicted all day. I did briefly think about doing a moules letter… 
Meanwhile I’m still working away at my Paris cup ☕️ letter
                           Please share with a friend ☺️
                            Stop in my Etsy Shop
                          ☕️BUY ME A KO-FI☕️
                           ❤️BON Wednesday PBers❤️


22 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:02 AM

    Certainly, as the festive season 🎄approaches, many of us will start contemplating perfect gifts 🎁 T.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous4:46 AM

    Those koekjes cookies look delish…and they perch on the edge of your tea cup! Could you work them into your tea cup watercolors?? ❤️ Dorrance

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:37 AM

    Glad you mentioned the show at MEP. My husband and I were going to go this weekend. After seeing your photos and noting your opinion, we have crossed it off our itinerary. There are better ways to spend our time in Paris.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:05 AM

      It’s kind of for esoteric tastes imho
      Not my cup of tea ☕️

      Delete
  4. Guilty as charged!!! I purchased some clear lights to string on my balcony! My cup of tea is boring...Lipton tea bag & lemon. Is that a bottle of red nail polish I spy on your painting table?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:08 AM

      Not nail polish..I wish. It’s Pentex Correcteur Blanc - good for covering up mistakes

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:04 PM

      It's wander, not wonder, when you amble through a street or shop.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:29 PM

      THANK YOU ❤️ I didn’t know that ☺️

      Delete
  5. sukicart12:34 PM

    I brought home teas from both Mariage Freres and Dammann Freres as gifts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:25 PM

      Excellent choices Suki 👍

      Delete
  6. Anonymous1:02 PM

    A press card!! How lovely... Enjoy your autumn; in my area it is brief, but so appreciated!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:27 PM

      Automne in Paris is better represented in the shops (mushrooms, pumpkins, chocolate etc.) than on colorful trees 🍁

      Delete
  7. Christmas stuff -- TOO SOON! (Except for ginger cookies -- never too soon.) At Lowes and Home Depot they look like a Christmas wonderland and Halloween was stuck on a single wall. No one seems to respect the turkey anymore. Ah well... I walk right on by.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:52 AM

      No Thanksgiving in France so they get on it as quickly as possible!
      Usually November 5 when the Christmas windows are unveiled.
      The Swedish are always good for ginger cookies…though I miss the MOLASSES GINGER COOKIES I grew up with…Very big at Halloween those big boxes were…can still imagine them.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous7:49 PM

    I love the verveine thé which I buy every time I go to France. In Casino supermarché or Carrefour it is very cheap and delicious and reminds me of France

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:48 AM

      The supermarchés in France seem to have very nice house brand tea ☕️

      Delete
  9. Bonnie L8:47 PM

    It’s so nice you found your own ‘signature’ tea! Personally, I prefer Mariage Frères Paris Breakfast 😉. But not for everyday, just for Sundays…it makes the day feel special.

    I really envy all of the exhibits you’ve been going to. And, with a Press Pass no less! Paris always has something going on. ❤️

    Ooh, I’m coveting that Diptyque pumpkin candle. Do you think they will still have them in November?? 🎃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:46 AM

      When next you come you can have my PB tea leaves. I save it only for the tin.
      Which by the way I think they names after PB 🤔
      I used to write about them a lot early days.
      Suddenly there’s a Paris Breakfast Tea!
      Gimmeabreak

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3:47 AM

      PS I found the Potiron candle completely lacking in pumpkinish aroma 😟 Triste

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:36 PM

      I saw this illustration, and immediately thought of you.
      Thank you so much for the wonderful way you always bring Paris to us.


      https://www.amazon.com/Caspari-Snowy-Owl-Wreath-Christmas/dp/B07GKW4YQJ/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2LM64TNAQXNUP&keywords=Amazon+Christmas+Wreath+Advent+Calendar&qid=1697728523&sprefix=amazon+christmas+wreath+advent+calendar%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-10 Mary

      Delete
  10. I’m not in Christmas mode yet at all, even the start of November is too early. We get 25 days of December to build up to it.
    Thanks for sharing your favorite tea. I have Yorkshire Tea for regular tea bag tea. For weekends I like a pot of loose leaf tea, I have two Marriage Freres teas that were a present (Paris Breakfast and French Breakfast) but for a nice strong loose leaf black tea I have this great tea from Melbourne called Tram Tracker!
    Mint tea I buy loose at the markets - it’s good combining with green tea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:43 AM

      Kirra, Noel starts officially when the Xmas windows are unveiled in Paris
      NOV 5!
      It’s a shock for me too but I have adjusted ☺️
      SALON DU CHOCOLAT starts October 28 = and Christmas shopping begins !

      Delete

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