My good friend and writer/blogger Tracey Jackson from New York has one of the sharpest wits I know. Tracey was originally a tour client of mine and travels to Paris frequently. I thought it would be fun for each of us to write a guest blog for each other about the five unique things each city has to offer. Here is Tracey’s Paris list. Click here to read mine.
My friend and fellow blogger Richard Nahem EYEPREFERPARIS and I decided we would each write a blog (it was Richard’s idea – so credit where it is due) and post it on each other’s site. Summer blogging gets a little slow and you need something to kick start you some days.
As well as coming up with the idea, Richard came up with the topic, since he lives in Paris, duh, thus the title of his blog, but harkens from New York, he said “Let’s write find the five things we each prefer about the other one’s city.”
OK – Why not?
1-In Paris you can take your dog out to dine in a restaurant. I just love that people can sit at the table of any type of restaurant with Fido, Fifi or Sophie and toss a morsel of entrecote their way. For me it remains a double fantasy, as I don’t possess a dog I could actually take out for meal. The dog I would want to take that would be the most French is my French Bulldog Ramu Gupta, but his manners are so atrocious, even the French would toss him out I fear.
2- It’s not original, it might be on everyone’s list up there with seeing the Eiffel Tower, but I love Café Society. I adore the fact that in the middle of the day you can plop yourself in a seat in a café and order anything from a coffee to a glass of wine, sit by yourself and do absolutely nothing for as long as you want and nobody will pass judgment. They will not say you are lazy, out of work, depressed, a drunk. They won’t say why are you not reading, jogging, soul cycling, mediating, and working in a soup kitchen. The fact is you are just being and watching and enjoying life and you can do it alone publically.
3-The streets of Paris, the doors, the windows, the people watching and just the physical streets themselves. I can’t think of any streets in the world I love walking on as much as I do the streets of Paris.
4-They are unapologetic about eating dessert. Their total lack of diet conciseness. “I will have the floating island, the lemon tart, and the profiteroles with extra chocolate.” They say it with glee and it’s never followed with the American ‘I never do this.” “I will take two Barry’s Boot Camp Classes tomorrow to work it off.” “I didn’t eat all day.” It’s their right as citizens of the planet earth to eat and enjoy dessert. EVERY DAY!
5- Rudeness is an acceptable form of behavior. Now this might be a tad controversial as it sounds like I’m endorsing rudeness, which I’m not. But, the French just accept being rude as part of the human condition, much like the consumption of dessert or admitting the company of a dog is more pleasant than the company of many people. People are rude, can be rude and sometimes even set about being rude on purpose. Big deal. But the flip side is it is the self-admitted city of love. The city for lovers, most people would say the most romantic city in the world. A city full of beauty and contradictions.
New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.
Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
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.
Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. 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
Is it the French that are considered rude or the Parisians?
Posted by: Heather | August 30, 2012 at 06:23 AM