Today has special meaning for me, 12 years ago I lost someone very close, I guess you could say my hero. Whilst of course I miss my dad there are so many memories that last forever and he will always be in my heart.
He was one of those people that lit up the room with just a smile and always encouraged and helped everyone.
My thought for the day;
“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody”
– Kid President
When I think of places to just sit and relax I immediately think of Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th Arrondissement on the left bank of the River Seine. Looking back, my first visit was on a beautiful sunny day in September. Entering through the gates from Boulevard Saint-Michel, with my chocolate macaroon recently purchased from the nearby patisserie Dalloyau, I sat on one of the sage green metal chairs scattered amongst the trees. Like many other Parisians a little time to savour on the taste of glorious chocolate whilst watching the world go by. The 23 hectares of garden has so much to offer and is a backdrop to the majestic Palais du Luxembourg built for Marie de Médicis in the 1620s. 
There is much to enjoy from the neatly manicured flower borders and formal terraces ………
to simply walking through the tree – lined gravel paths, with horse power or for perhaps the more adventurous, a little jogging.
The bandstand is always there for a bit of music in the afternoon.
Whilst there are many other parks and gardens in Paris , I think that this will always be my favourite. It is a place that has inspired many and was a regular haunt of Ernest Hemingway as he walked to his favourite Cafes to write.
I know that I am a marketing man’s dream. I am attracted to bright and beautiful pictures, photographs, interesting reviews and I always find myself singing out loud as an advert appears on the television. There are of course certain things that I am more attracted to than others, but books and photographs are high on the agenda after the obligatory woman’s fetish for shoes and bags. The latter I believe is hereditary by the way, well that is my excuse as I get challenged with ‘is that new?’.
Anyway, as I am always looking for new places to explore in the Paris, and of course inspiration for writing posts for my blog, I do enjoy my forays in to the local book shop. There is nothing more enjoyable than holding a book in your hand and turning the pages and wondering what will be next. For the last couple of months I have been drawn to a large book on the top shelf in the travel section. The beautiful hardback green cover of the book, with illustrations that exude style and elegance and that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’, mesmerised me. It was a little reminiscent of ‘Vogue’ fashion drawings of another era. Taking it down from the shelf, which was no mean feat as someone who is vertically challenged, my curiosity got the better of me and I bought it.
Unpeeling the cover I was like a small child opening a Christmas present. There was something very exciting about turning the first page. I know, I really need to get out more. The book, split into three sections, has wonderful photographs that bring each location to life and the author, Dr Angelika Taschen, shares her recommendations on bars, restaurants, shops and hotels in the ‘City of Lights’. There are luxury hotels with beautiful architecture and plush interiors for those special occasions, to the chic shops that are synonymous with Paris, to the more unusual like the ‘Grande Herboristerie de la Place Clichy’. There is plenty to explore.
It is not a book that I can take with me on my travels, unless I want to pay for excess baggage charges, but it is a beautiful reference book with lots of ideas and practical tips. As I plan my next trip to Paris in the spring, I have lots of food for thought.
Amis! c’est donc Rouen, la ville aux vieilles rues, Aux vieilles tours, débris des races disparues
Les Feuilles d’automne – Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo once described Rouen as the City of a hundred steeples and the gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen stands proud having the tallest spire in France. Whilst visiting cathedrals may not be everybody’s cup of tea there are many things to admire and for me it is often just a quiet place for calm and contemplation. For those who enjoy the Impressionist painters like myself, the cathedral is immortalised in a series of paintings that can be seen in the Musée d’Orsay by Claude Monet.
Behind the cathedral there are characteristic medieval half-timbered houses, quaint streets, beautiful boutiques,salon de thés and patisseries (of course) to peruse and try.
Walking from the Cathedral towards the Place du Vieux-Marché the Gros Horloge is set in an arch above your head as you walk down the street with the same name.
In the Place du Vieux-Marché I found myself standing in front of the modern church of Saint Joan d’Arc, the large cross marking the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431.
There are many other things to see in Rouen but I was only there for a short while. Even so, looking at photographs of Rouen brings back wonderful memories for me, from relaxing with friends in a café on the corner of Rue d’Amiens, to walking along the River Seine, to eating my first escargot. If you are ever in the North of France or visiting Paris it is worth a visit.
Pour l'amour de ........... 