Paris Bouquets

I tend to see a 'rash' of things in Paris.

Everyone sees Parisiens carrying baguettes - it's unavoidable.

Last time in Paris I saw a ton of people walking around carrying bouquets.

This bouquet-carrier, perhaps a flower delivery girl looks both ways before crossing.

I would too if I had such a lush bouquet in my arms.

I wonder if she makes trans-Atlantic deliveries - like right now, today.

Waiting in a Paris bus shelter in case of rain on your bouquet is wise.

It's also wise to wear colors that co-ordinate with your immediate surroundings, whilst carrying a bouquet.

Or not.

Very tall orchids on rue Cler.

I wasn't the only one seeing a plethora of bouquets.

Designer Kenzo filled his windows with them with matching scarves and skirts.

One thing Parisiens really get.

Is take-away/emporter floral bouquets.

They are available EVERYWHERE.

Who would not love to get a Paris bouquet delivered to their door today, please raise their hands.

This weather is the pits.
Or pop a bouquet on your head as a hat.

Who needs an umbrella?

BONJOUR PARIS BOUQUETS

Fete de la Fleur, Bordeaux

Every 2 years a huge international wine exposition takes place in Bordeaux

VINEXPO

The crowning event at the end of the expo is a grande soiree,
La Fete de la Fleur

Only the creme de la creme in the wine trade attend:

chateau owners, distributors, celebrities etc.

Each year it's held at a different grand chateau in the Medoc..
The year I went, it was at the lovely Chateau Cantenac-Brown.
I wrangled an invite by suggesting I should take photographs

for Wine Enthusiast magazine. A tradition at the Fete is the prestigious awarding of new memberships intoLe Commanderie du Bon temps du MedocNew and old members get to parade about in claret red velvet robes..

Hugh Grant was a recipient, but alas, I did not get his picture. Here are the St. Emilion Bon Temps members parading.After Champagne and hors d'oeuvre on the grounds

there's a grand dinner inside. In 1997 it was held inside a tent in case of rain. Between courses there was Cirque du Soleil-style entertainment. Performers on stilts dressed up as Bon temps members paraded.

Acrobats decked out as corks flew through the air to keep us amused.

I did this party doodle after the Fete.

The dinner menu served was quite simple - just 5 courses.
After all there were 1500 guests attending!
But I was amazed to see the cheese course/fromages served to each guest individually by special cheese servers, rather than 6 cheese chunks sitting on a plate.
The piece de resistance was of course, the wine menu shown here.
13 wines served to go with the 5 courses!
I noticed while sitting at the Wine Enthusiast table,

quite a bit of tipping of the waiter to get very large glasses refilled

with some of the world's finest wines.

Hmmmm...
Here is the sad secret that has kept me from following in Ms. P. Hilton's footsteps. My alcoholic capacity is about 2 THIMBLES FULL.

THAT IS IT!

Anymore than my quota, say 3 thimbles full

and I am known to become dangerously flagrant or fall asleep a table.

Plus I suffer massive hangovers.

So I did not get to leave the soiree drunk and disorderly.

But I did get a very nice claret red umbrella (it started to rain)

with the insignia of Le Bon Temps Commanderie on it!

And the truly amazing fact is

I still have this umbrella 10 years later!