My name is Meredith ... and I'm a parade addict. From the Techno parade to Gay Pride, from Fête Nationale to Chinese New Year—I'm swept into whatever the cause or celebration.
It's easy to love Fête des Vendages because it's a fête that celebrates the harvest. The harvest of the tiny vineyard in Montmartre, the harvest of grapes throughout France, the harvest of leaves and fruit and flowers. You might even call it a "harvest of friendship," since everyone has a great time (especially if you're smart enough take a parade position behind the "Les Amis des Brouilly" wine barrel, glass in hand).
Everyone's a star in the parade. There are big chested, head wrapped, wooden shoed growers of the north, who jingle when they walk because of the large bells on their costumes. There are caped and furred sommeliers who stride with dignity, their silver tasting cups peeking out coyly from the velvet robes, glinting every now and then as they reflect a random sunbeam. There are jovial alpine fellows whose graceful horns make music so haunting and deep it seems to vibrate all the way back to the mountains of another time. And then, there is wine ... and more wine.
After the great parade (and subsequent tastings), I had to follow my shoes home, hoping they would keep walking in the right direction (without the benefit of a sober mind). Merci Les Amis des Brouilly.
Meredith Mullins is an internationally exhibited American photographer, currently living in Paris. Visit www.meredithmullins.artspan.com to see more of the Paris images. Her award-winning book, In A Paris Moment (click here to order), and her 2009 Paris Calendar can be ordered online or in bookstores throughout the U.S. Original photographs are available directly through the artist. Meredith will be teaching photography workshops in December 2008 and in 2009. Please contact her for information at [email protected].
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
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