My new book “Midlife Solo” will be published by Mosaic Press later this year. Stay tuned!

Beth Kaplan logo

Sunday night

I am slowing down a bit, dear bloggees – not only in my sightseeing, but in writing about it. As my stay here approaches its end, I want more and more not to go to museums or monuments but just to walk around savouring the day and buying lettuce – and by the way, the lettuce I bought at the Monge market was superb.

On Friday night, I went out to the apartment building in Gentilly, a Paris suburb, where we lived in 1964-65, to have dinner with old friends who still live there – or at least, Henriette does; Dad’s friend Jacques died in 1989, a year after Dad.  Their two sons were little kids when I knew them and are now the fathers of grown children. It was particularly interesting to see Francois, who was six then, a cute little boy, and is now a graphic artist just like his dad, 50-years old and dressed in a trendy jean suit. Anyway, old times, old times.
On Saturday morning I went to the Vanves flea market. Interesting and fun – stall after stall of junk and treasure. There was a lot of quite good art for sale, material and lace, pottery, jewellry, furniture, books including very old ones, posters, everything.  The Japanese, for some reason, are preoccupied by vintage buttons. I was looking for women’s fashion magazines from 64-65 and didn’t find a single one, though I did buy a ’65 Paris Match full of cheerful ads for cigarettes and pesticides. I also saw one of my favourite books from childhood, Tiger’s Adventures, exactly the same except it was called Les Aventures de Tigre. Didn’t buy it. 
I just got home before the rain and settled in to work when I got an email from Diego, the designer of this website, a talented artist who came up with the idea of the handwritten links, and how to display the pencils. He and his fiancée were passing through Paris, would I like to meet them for a drink? We met under the baroque fountain on the Boulevard St. Michel and had a few beer at a café on the Boulevard St. Germain, watching the hoards stream by and talking about France.  I realised that Paris is enjoyable no matter how you approach it – here I am fussing about the way to avoid lines and when best to see things and how to see everything important, whereas Diego and Bernadette went to the Louvre and the Champs-Elysees and Notre Dame and hoped to go up the Eiffel Tower and that was about it. And were loving every minute.
This morning, I went to my local Rue Mouffetard market – and if there were one thing I would like to take you all to, right now, it would be that market on Sunday morning. The narrow cobbled street crowded, a bit touristey, but there are lots of locals buying their Sunday dinner, line-ups at the cheese store, the butcher, the bakery, the flower store, the wine store. There are so many produce stands those have no line-ups. Big news: melons have arrived, and they’re delicious. I staggered home with my groceries, salivating, as usual.
Then, back in tourist mode – off to Sacré Coeur, hoping again to get there and back before the promised rain, which today, unlike yesterday, did not in the end arrive. I didn’t last long in Montmartre, which was jammed. It was like a Disney attraction called Parisland. Or maybe Artland. When you climb up the very steep hill, you arrive in the square where ten thousand tourists are having their pictures drawn and are sitting cheek by jowl to eat. I squeezed through, took a peek at the Basilica itself and walked back down the hill. Another sight scratched off my list.
Maybe, despite all this raving and ecstasy, I’m a bit homesick. As a peanut butter addict, I brought a pot with me but have hardly touched it. Tonight I had peanut butter toast for the first time in ages. It tasted like home – only the bread was Frencher. 

Share

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin

23 Responses to “Sunday night”

  1. Don Diego says:

    Hi Beth, was so nice to see you. Small world! Continue to enjoy your trip, see back in Toronto soon. Take care. Diego.

  2. Anonymous says:

    There are various kids birthday party games that it is possible
    to play with your kids and your guests. So if you
    plan one, here are few more birthday games ideas for
    different themes of birthday parties. Place a different sticker on the back of each
    guest.

    my webpage … 18th birthday party ideas

  3. Anonymous says:

    – Exorphins: Anti-nutrient found in dairy products and wheat.
    The fact is, most grains are quite high in glycemic index, meaning that they
    make your blood sugar go up rapidly, and send you crashing down soon thereafter.
    Always check your physician before making any changes to your daily habits.

    Also visit my web site … Paleo diet and pregnancy

  4. Anonymous says:

    This is usually considered a fun and effective learning method in general.
    — Chord Symbol: Dm. Once you know these scales, in all
    twelve keys, then you have a very solid foundation on which to learn
    how to play piano chords.

    Also visit my webpage – piano chords and notes with lyrics

  5. Anonymous says:

    The decor on the inside of the restaurant is absolutely beautiful.

    * Team answer sheets – Basically a grid lined A4 type sheet with answer write in numbered boxes and a line on top for the team name.
    The decline of the East side blues scene was disheartening, but,
    it also gave rise to the need for a fresh start, which came in the form of the next blues-only venue,
    Antone's, founded by the late Clifford Antone, during the summer of 1975.

    Stop by my web site; brainstormer pub quiz answers

  6. Anonymous says:

    One quick and important note: make sure you know the
    requirements and can get them all accomplished for your out-of-state or out-of-country wedding.
    Meredith's mother suffered from Alzheimer's in prior seasons.
    4.

    Here is my web blog :: free wedding website advertising

  7. Anonymous says:

    Natural remedies are deemed highly efficient,
    cost effective, and significantly safe to use. Nylon underclothing may also cause an allergic reaction in some woman.
    Get the answers you're looking for.

    Here is my site how to treat yeast infection after hysterectomy
    Also see my site > yeast infection and diabetes in children

  8. Anonymous says:

    Well with the internet the world has suddenly become
    the customer base of many businesses, especially Facebook.
    If it is a new product, a gift, the introduction of
    a new group or even the details of the products and services, Facebook provides an easy field of advertising.
    It gives you info such as fan interaction and visitor demographics but it is
    limited and can't provide info on sources of traffic, keyword data and other sophisticated data.

    Feel free to visit my web blog :: get Google Plus One Votes

  9. Anonymous says:

    The decor on the inside of the restaurant is absolutely beautiful.
    Brazenhead is a great place to go with your family or for a business lunch or dinner,
    but if you are looking for a party atmosphere, this
    isn't it. Theme Format: It is almost like standard format of the pub quiz.

    Look into my website … pub quiz amsterdam

  10. Anonymous says:

    In this article I will teach you the basics
    of how to have fun learning your chords by playing out
    of a Fake Book. — Notes: Bb D F. Best Regards.

    my blog; piano chords amazing grace

  11. Anonymous says:

    Thus, through these strategies, marketers without doing extra work get success results to
    buy You – Tube views,buy Twitter followers and Facebook likes.

    In order for you to Buy You – Tube Views you have to access some web-sites and to ask the guys who
    work there if they can help you. It has to be checked and ensured that the fans and
    followers on Facebook and Twitter respectively
    are active.

    Here is my website; Get Youtube Views

  12. Anonymous says:

    Wrap it in gauze and put it in the infected area.
    Include about three to 4 tablespoons of vinegar to
    a bathtub stuffed with a tiny sum of warm h2o and only bathe in it for fifteen to twenty
    minutes. Seek medical or professional help.

    Feel free to visit my website – male yeast infection antibiotics

  13. Anonymous says:

    What You Can Gain. Obesity is an epidemic in our society.
    – Lecithin.

    Visit my web site :: paleo diet alcoholic drinks

  14. Anonymous says:

    Natural remedies are deemed highly efficient, cost effective, and significantly safe to use.
    Are you looking to get rid of troublesome yeast infections.
    If you apply Aloe Vera gel on the affected areas it can help reduce the itching and burning caused by the infection.

    My web-site; vaginal yeast infection and antibiotics
    Also see my website :: recurrent yeast infection after period

  15. Anonymous says:

    Wrap it in gauze and put it in the infected area.
    Implementing these changes in your life, will be effective remedies against recurrent yeast infections,
    when undertaken with a holistic yeast infection treatment program
    that will kill the yeast infection from the inside
    out. If you apply Aloe Vera gel on the affected areas it can help reduce the itching and
    burning caused by the infection.

    My weblog; persistent yeast infection and diabetes

  16. Anonymous says:

    Only 1 address, while. Bond With Your Dog Through Play. 435-896-1737 Annabella, Utah
    Trainers: Chris and Julie Holt.

    Here is my web blog – dog training accessories

  17. Anonymous says:

    Will they be fed, watered, and cared for properly.
    Bond With Your Dog Through Play. Research states that more dog trainers and owners are deciding on the dog training collar.

    Here is my page :: dog training and boarding houston

  18. Anonymous says:

    Despite the fact that planning a event, make sure you take
    your partner's tastes into account. There are tons of places online that will help you in this regard. Traditional board games like musical chairs relay, dancing paper, and many others.

    Here is my page – 10th Birthday party ideas

  19. Anonymous says:

    It is through urine and feces that we purge our body of
    infection. Include about three to 4 tablespoons of vinegar to a bathtub stuffed with a tiny sum of warm
    h2o and only bathe in it for fifteen to twenty minutes.

    Seek medical or professional help.

    My webpage; yeast infection and yogurt and tampon

  20. Anonymous says:

    Password protection is an ideal way to protect sensitive information you prefer only those authorized have access to.
    Instead of sending your scanned invitation, it would be great if you create your own wedding website and invite your friends
    and relatives. If necessary, place a polite reminder on your sign-in page that this is not an
    informal website, and that distasteful comments will be removed.

    Also visit my blog post – wedding website announcements

  21. Anonymous says:

    I will be most certainly of the perception a magic formula so
    that you can Doggie Behavior is top-notch level item that
    supplies a large number involving quality info for a surprisingly low value.
    Another tip is to start with the basic skills. Research states that more dog trainers
    and owners are deciding on the dog training collar.

    my web page: narcotic dog training aids
    Also see my web sitefree dog training advice

  22. Anonymous says:

    Keep the sacrifices they've made in mind, and take the time to embrace the understanding of how much these people must love you to have traveled so far for your wedding. Many styles of flowers are available at the marketplace especially doomed for ornamentation prospect. So even though it's been annoying
    at times that I've had to do most of the planning of this wedding myself, it's been good for the same
    person to have an understanding of everything that's going on.

    my web page … wedding website and invitations

  23. Anonymous says:

    DJ spins out on Saturday nights. I believe my exact words were "I don't want to be your dirty little secret. The food is decent and the drink specials on Tuesdays include $2.

    Also visit my web page … funny pub quiz names

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Beth

I began keeping a journal at the age of nine. Nearly fifty years later, I started this online journal, sharing reflections, reviews, updates, and the occasional secret.

Some Blogs I Follow

Chris Walks
This blog evolves. It once was about travels. Now it’s a reason to be at the keyboard that I value.

Theresa Kishkan
Theresa Kishkan is a writer living on the Sechelt Peninsula on the west coast of Canada.

Juliet in Paris
I came to Paris in the 1990s. Decades later I’m still here. Come with me while I roam the city, the country, and beyond.

Walking Woman
I walk on. With my feet, and in my mind as well.

Carrie Snyder
Wherever you’ve come from, wherever you’re going, consider this space a place for reflection and pause.

Archives

Coming soon

A new book by Beth Kaplan, published by Mosaic Press – “Midlife Solo”

Join the mailing list to stay up to date on this and other exciting news.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.