Passing out in Hermes

  

I was supposed to meet Solli at Entrance 8 at Place de la Concorde

For the Olympics Parc Urbain . 

What is Parc Urbain? A sort of open playground holding 25,000 people at a time (online QR code tickets 24€)with breakdancing, basketball, free style biking, skating, etc. “All with great ambience. It was beautiful how they  created these places around the fountains and the obélisque!” Sollie’s words. I didn’t make it.

The Metro only goes to Palais Royale during the Olympics. Then a 18 minute walk which turned into an hour walking up rue Saint-Honoré. It was HOT 🥵 90s

I took a selfie so Solli could find me among the possible thousands in line.

Look at the line outside Goyard luggage 🧳 shop with the major domo in long waistcoat, keeping impatient shoppers calm 🙄

Police blockades everywhere. You could not enter. I made so many mistakes trying to get to &#@ ENTRANCE 8. Tickets are not transferable with a time limit (7:00 PM). Les flic kept saying walk up one block more and then go right. But you couldn’t. Blockaded.

By the time I reached the Elysées Palace I was feeling clammy & yucky 🤢 I looked across the street (24, rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré) and there was my savior - HERMES 🙏

Hermes’ window display were full 

Of cool, insouciant looking dogs

 

Inside I got out my fan and sat down. AC Hurray🤸‍♂️ I told Solli, forget about me. Meanwhile the guard was keeping a close eye 👁️

Everyone looked like an Olympics athlete with sturdy legs. 

I was almost ready to ask for first aid ⛑️/ le premiers secours. Instead I chilled for half an hour.

I remembered Hermes had an art gallery on the top floor. No longer. Just women’s clothing. I was escorted to the encenser/elevator. Attractive horsey decor inside. 

Upstairs I wandered at leisure.

A lovely faux pool display…just what everyone needs during these hot days ☺️

 A casually dressed customer was walking around talking on her phone 📱 I looked down at her shoes, since I used to be a shoe designer. What looked like plain ole brown Birkenstocks sandals but with a big gold DIOR logo (990€) 🤔 Bringing your bandana retriever 🐶 is OK in Hermes shoe department 👍

Are ridding boots de rigueur?

No wonder all the doggy art..

A bevy of hunting hounds 🐕 over the balcony!

By animal painter,Alfred de Dreux.

In fact Hermes is a veritable museum of horsey 🐎 artworks.

I fell instantly in love with Phillip Dumas’ (a favorite sketch artist)balcony murals. Forget the diamonds and Birkin bags. I’ll take the art 🖼️ 

I was feeling horsey today and re-sketched one of the figures on horseback..

You all have the perfect excuse to enter Hermes now 👍 besides feeling faint…

Are you into coaches? I waltzed out of Hermes feeling much, much better and went in search of refreshment.

At Madeleine 

I stopped in Ladurée 

For a cold Alain Milliat framboise nectar. Hit the spot ☺️

Further refreshments 🍦 to make it back to metro Palais Royale. La la la la la 🎵 

When traveling, sometimes you set out to do one thing and something else happens. C’est la vie. I can hear 👂 the cheers of game attendees out my window 🪟 

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I mail out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. 

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Thanks for reading PB ❤️

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Parisians are back sitting along the Seine 👏