Tous Léger = Spring, musée Luxembourg

 

Monday afternoon I went to a preview of a joyous new exhibit

TOUS LÉGER - full of color, light & wit.

Bonjour Paris, SNCF, Travel Experiences

 

I came back to Paris Sunday Afternoon. 

Bonjour Notre Dame 👋 Very warm with lots of pleasure boats on the Seine.

Frida Kahlo, beyond appearances, Palais Galliera

 

Palais Galliera celebrates Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), one of the most recognized and influential artists of the 20th century. I was going to post on Frida on Thursday. Then I fell down the rabbit hole of Paris chocolates and fashion windows. 

The Kahlo exhibition is the first in Paris to focus more on her image and clothing collections and their influence than her paintings. It’s a way to understand how she built an identity by how she presented herself and represented herself in her own paintings.

Riviera Colors

By popular request more Riviera this and that for hungry travelers 🧳 I loved this huge watermelon 🍉 umbrella in the Cannes pedestrian shopping area.

Tomato red umbrellas in a Nice cafe..so jolly.

Carolyn’s lunch at Le Safari in Nice. We tried the mozza with tomatoes everywhere we went but none topped those at Cafe Hoche in Cannes. Its like that when you travel isn’t it 😊 You keep trying out a particular dish over and over and its never quite as good.

The colors and patterns reminded me of these big paper cutouts in the Matisse museum on the ground floor.

Carolyn wanted a vrai salade Niçoise and it came in a bowl at Le Safari with a big leek on top! Is that allowed? I happily ate her anchovies. I am always available to help out with anchovies.

A small greeny park in Cannes.

Ladurée greens on rue Antibes in Cannes.

I would have loved to go into this Citrons of Menton shop in Cannes but Carolyn was looking for lounge dresses…

Ballerina shop, Repetto in Cannes on rue Antibes.

Tarte Tropezienne is all over the Riviera (originated in Saint Tropez) and not really a tarte but a giant, flat cream puffy thing.

The best sardines in France. Also the priciest but worth it if you’re into sardines. I am.

An essential ‘online’ map of the shuttle train coastline. No longer available in print, so save this for your next trip.

A look in Van Cleef and Arpels window. I coveted the copies in the cheapie shops. Who’s going to know?Carolyn vetoed that idea 🤔

Lovely figure painting at the Matisse museum and a photo of the same scalloped chair in his house.

An older gal sitting next to us at le Safari (not wearing polka dots). I’m off to a preview at the Paris Louvre soon. I almost said the Met. Guess where I am?If you'd like Parisbreakfast letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox, do take a look in my shop. 

Bon Tuesday PBers🥂🍾☕️🥐Happy Riviera breakfast

What to wear in Cannes

 

Fashion cannot be ignored when you travel. You’d miss out on a lot of fun. local fashion reveals just as much as local museums and food in my opinion. Do you check what ppl are wearing and the windows when you travel?

I didn’t see one strong dominant color on the Riviera, but lots of oversized white shirts. So much for the after Labor Day rule..

Icall this the ‘yoga look’

Like you just walked out of class…

Minus yr mat (on the right).

Nice, cool blue cotton striped dress perfect for Riviera 🌴heat

Loved this kaki green long dress seen in Nice. Note the smidge of classic Southern France straw bag she’s carrying.

Straw is always IN. Audrey’s little basket of 50+ years ago is still on sale in the marché.

Audrey-Holly’s updo hair will always be IN…the ‘French twist’.

I LOVED ❤️ our cafe waitress’ polka-dotty red dress. So 30’s 

So reminiscent of Marcel Pagnol’s La Trilogie Marseillaise de Marcel Pagnol : Marius -Fanny - César. You can still watch the restored originals on Youtube.

Here’s the trick - if you want Fr subtitles, hit the 3 dots in upper right corner for the dropdown menu. If its Vogue’s  visit Paris apartment series they offer 2-3+ languages. Some videos offer zero. Still useful to know!

So here’s the thing. Are polka dots only for older gals? I’m leaning a lot towards going dotty lately :()

In the Cannes marché I found a good look-alike pair for my new fancy sunglasses(5€). Thinking ahead to when I lose the new Jimmy Fairlys which could be any day now😬

Sooo… Anonymous said...Thank you for sharing your time off and sharing with us. Wondering when we can go back and explore more of Paris.

Hmmm..I still have that Riviera feeling. There are 2746 mostly Paris posts on PB. You could revisit them. What about you? Do you want more Coté Sud/Riviera/Cannes etc? Do tell ❤️ If you'd like Parisbreakfast letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox, do take a look in my shop. Bonne Monday PBers

Cannes, les chaises bleu

 

Sorry to say Audrey would not have stayed in my so-called ‘Audrey’ room. Carolyn’s ‘Sophia’ room was somewhat better. C’est la vie. Our big problem was the train back to Paris departed at 4:24pm, but the hotel wouldn’t keep our bags after 1:00 pm 😬 No amount of pleading or flashing of € helped. NO meant no. We were stuck dragging our wheelies around town.

A stroke of luck!🍀  Essential when you travel. I had booked us lunch at Fouquet’s at 5-star grand hotel,  Majestic🌴

We arrived a tad early and the valet service at the door immediately offered to take our bags and hold them until whenever! Instant love👏💋❤️

Lunch was set outdoors among lush palm trees beside the pool under red awnings. 

Everyone looked in the pink.

We got the Formule (35€) a main, dessert, coffee.

I forgot to shoot the main course - chicken with lemon/supreme de volaille fermiere. Petit épeautre parmesan. Pâte de citron aux olives verte (extrêmement delish).

But I did remember to shoot dessert tray . The selection was delectable. I chose the fig and raspberry tarte with cream. Then we waited while they made it up with freshly-cut figs. Yum

Cannes 

I’d seen a sign for a fun exhibit going on up in the hills at Villa Domergue. Carolyn wanted to relax in the hotel and time was running short. 

So I went to explore the beach.

And put my toes in the water = Daina says I will be sure to return to Cannes. Yes please🌴🤸🏾‍♀️🥂

And people-watch along la Croisette in a shady spot under a tall palm in a chaise bleu. 

The blue-striped shirt is a new addition from the morning marché at Gambetta (a 5er) TMI..

Cannes blue chairs /le chaises bleu have their own special story like the Luxembourg chairs.

The armchair was redesigned many times over the years. For example, the 1950 model was reinforced with lower crossbars, TRCC bolts (round head glued square) in A2 stainless steel, cataphoresis paint with polyester lacquer, etc.

 

Watch the charming video, even if it is in French.

Of course I had to paint those blue chairs 🪑 and the gorgeous palm trees 🌴 Please take a look while I pretend I’m still on the Riviera 🌴💋❤️🥂🍾 

Bon Dimanche