Eiffel Tower Nori

 

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   Yesterday I had the insane idea to take my Eiffel Tower letters up to the actual Tower to get some onsite pictures. Ha! Not so easily done. 

Metro 6 takes you in front of le Bistro de la Tour cafe.

Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris is right there. Maybe, I’m thinking inside their gift shop window, I can take a shot without asking anyone to hold up the picture?

Instead of course, I started browsing. Is this the little pig 🐖 I need in my life as a friendly reminder?

Instead I bought Nori seaweed which is supposed to be extremely healthy, full of much needed minerals and iodine etc. And a packet of Furikake Ume seed stuff which David Lebovitz says is healthy and adds flavor to anything. The pig 🐖 will have to wait.

Of course they have a complicated DIY Eiffel tower paper cutout thing.

Of course they have socks that look like sushi when rolled up.

Of course I fell instantly in love with this stunning red iron tetsubin tea pot.

In the main hall an exquisite Ikebana exhibit.

I went up for a quick glance at the Arts de Beauté exhibit. 

More lovely reds, a favorite color (aka) of the Japanese. Mine too.

After much dawdling, I left to do the task at hand. Asking an unknown French person in broken French is not easy. You’re invading their space, no matter how many “bonjours” you toss out.

Finally the Eiffel tower sellers took pity on me and offered to help. They were utterly charming. 

Plus giving me their opinions on my artwork etc.☺️

                   Do take a look at the Eiffel Towers 🍒

And you can add to your Eiffel🌸tower collection. So nice to see the Bateaux mouche on the Seine again. I saw one on Friday. A  maiden voyage? It was covered with balloons and everyone shouting and singing☺️ Parisians are so happy things are getting back to normal.

❤️🐻🐖🐝☺️Happy Sunday dear PBers☺️🐝🐖🐻❤️

Citron Tarte Doodles

 

Last Saturday I ran out to buy envelopes💌…

Somehow I ended up inside Carl Marletti’s excellent patisserie. There are ropes outside to control unruly crowds. So far no security guards or bouncers. Notice the Napoleonic tricorne hat dividers on the counter top! 

Of course I got his prize-winning tarte au citron meringuée. Was there a choice? Painting these tartes is like eating it again vicariously.

While researching Luxembourg garden chairs (I added new chair watercolors in my shop) I peeked into the newish Angelina cafe near the museum. 

They create special concept pastries to co-ordinate with the exhibits. 

Natch I fell for the lemon triangle. 

I shared the excessive sablé/shortbread crust with Saint Sulpice pigeons while sitting on a bench. The pigeons were happy as clams and would never neglect pie crust like some people😳

On Sunday the marzipan pink pigs acted as a swift deterrent from entering Gerard Mulot and indulging👏👏🤸🏾‍♀️ Maybe I need to carry a pig 🐖 with me at all times as a gentle reminder?

On Monday’s stamp run I only browsed and did not fall victim🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️

Its not easy in this town. You’re accosted with constant temptation 😳 like the fraise de bois ice cream sundae from Berthillon seen on instagram.

I am thinking a tarte citron map 🗺 may be my next venture. Oui o non/yes or no PBers? 

Hmm…this Frenchie is not such a frequenter of patisseries me thinks…

News Alert! I have a new blog email service. In future 🇫🇷Paris posts will be arriving faster into your inbox🤸🏾‍♀️Like 30 minutes instead of 6-12 hrs! *If you havent confirmed your blog subscription, please go over to Parisbreakfast and re-sign up. If you received this email you are OK!

Big Merci to Bonnie for sending this lovely pic of her recent letter purchases in my etsy shop 👏👏👏Please send me pictures of your letters/watercolors

                   ❤️☺️🐻Bonny Weekend PBers🐻☺️❤️

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. 

The story is told in detail on the grilles of la Madeleine how Napoleon beautified Paris. 

The Napoléon map awaits you on Etsy unless you’re a Paris letter subscriber. 

Luxembourg chairs are at Palais Royale. A few are left in my etsy shop. 

        🇫🇷 🐻 💋 🐝 BON DIMANCHE dear PBers 🐝 💋 🐻 🇫🇷 

Sunday in the Park, Luxembourg Chairs

 

Luxembourg Chairs

Alison of Glasgow asked, 

“Could you please do more maps with Luxembourg garden chairs besides Paris Parcs map? I tried to take one home last visit but they are too heavy for the plane”.

Next day as I went to buy letter paper..et voila. The Fermob shop was next door. Alison’s chair was in the window. My life is one karmic destiny after another.

Cafe City

 

Old habits die hard they say. Parisians were out in droves on Sunday eating, drinking, baking in the sun, whatev.  I finally got to the pool🏊‍♀️

Post-pool I went immediately for an ice cream naturally. Grom was nearbyish. While I was thinking ice cream, toute Paris was thinking ‘Cafes’. It was positively buzzing. And not with Napoleonic bees. 

I wanted to tell people “It is not summer yet! Stop this nonsense with the sandals, the off the shoulder sun dresses, the floral prints!” 

No one is listening. People simply want to be outdoors, eating and drinking anything and wearing as little as possible. They don’t care. 

They seem to be joyously happy. You can’t complain about that☺️ 

Paris has become wildly innovative creating outdoor cafes. One near La Poste put an extended platform beside a church across the street. There appear to no limits what you can do. I love the seafood resto near my pool who put up the blue picket fence with beach signs. 

Fou de Patisserie has a darling terrasse they put in the street. 

I was busy inside doing research. I got the framboise croissant. 

Parisians ❤️ their Apéro Spritzes on every table.  

If you’re wondering what to wear when you come over you can’t go wrong with anything animal prints.

Leopard is preferred. Head-to-toe is fine.

Did you know Napoleon had a leopard tapis/carpet under is his camp bed on the battlefields? Its true. The man loved luxury among many other things. For a more detailed review of the Napoleon Expo please read Laure’s exhibition review. She’s French and grew up learning all the pertinent facts.

Bear is very thrilled with the fuss being made of Napoleon. There are still some Boney letters in my shop. You would think it was Bastille day around here. 

The ‘landscape of the day’ has to be an abandoned cafe table. 🐻🐝🥐☕️💋