paris breakfasts: Palais Royale

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Napoleon Map, Les Drapeaux de France

Drum 🥁 roll The Napoléon Paris map is done & shipping out Monday📮. On Friday I was supposed to go on a press trip to the chateau at Auver-sur-oise, but ADHD, dyslexia and karmic destiny stepped in. After searching for 1,Bd. Gouvion St. Cyr instead of 81😳 I realized my error. By that time the bus had gone. What to do? Go to Giverny or Champs-Elysées and browse Galleries Lafayette?

On the metro I got off at Palais Royale. I haven't been in a year. Didn’t Napoleon dine at Le Grand Vefour (with Josephine) on the edge of the park. Time to research 🔍

Heading into the park, I spotted a toy shop to the left of famous Cafe Nemours. Les Drapeaux des France (AKA Boutique Noxa) is at #1 Place de Colette, 75001.

Inside a plethora of Napoleonic tin figurines 👏 Perfect for map research. Who doesn’t love tiny things?

Napoléon on horseback, wearing as always on campaign, his grey greatcoat that fashion houses still copy. One of his 21 nicknames was ‘Redingote Grise’.

Le Drapeaux is an intimate L-shaped shop, first opened in 1949, though it feels more like 1849. It’s a lovely step back in time.

If you look up you’ll see the original owner’s handy work who specialized in tin flags/drapeaux 🇫🇷 of all countries.

The shop owner, Benjamin Zerbib, explained how tin figures are made (all over Europe) by pouring tin onto stone molds. A single figure can have 8 arms later to be cut off. Many of the figures are painted onsite. They also resell collections.

It is not just for tin soldiers collectors. If you love Alice or Tin Tin or The Tour de France, Boutique Noxa have it. Plus lovely little metal-framed glass boxes to hold your treasures and keep them safe from babies and hungry hounds.

Did you know Bonaparte commissioned 15 fountains in 1806 so citizens could have free, clean water? He also created canals Saint Jean and Orque. It’s embarrassing to admit I’m a blank slate 🤔as far as Napoléon goes. You can’t love ❤️France without acquainting yourself with his story. I’ve been in deep immersion since the exhibition.

‘Boney’(his British nickname) was more than the 60 battles he won. Most Paris’ monuments we take for granted - Arc de Triomphe, Place Vendôme, la Madeleine, were created to commemorate his soldiers fallen in various battles. Who knew? My friend Louise, NYC knew Nappy invented camping ⛺️ furniture.