The Sweet Life in Paris

A couple of weeks ago I finished reading a book that a friend had given me, called The Sweet Life in Paris.  It's by David Lebovitz and based on his blog found at davidlebovitz.com and subtitled "living the sweet life in Paris."  It was really interesting!  Lebovitz is a chef and writes about various aspects of life in Paris.  The book also included a bunch of recipes that look really great.  I'll let you know if I get around to trying any.  Or maybe I'll just have to go to Paris to experience the food firsthand.  (Our Paris experience was a 10-hour layover, so the only food we had was a baguette sandwich on the street outside the Louvre--delicious--and a macaron at the airport--also delicious.)

Happy Birthday, Eiffel Tower!

The Eiffel Tower is 125 today!  Here's a picture that I took when we were there two years ago.  En printemps, il fait beau! 

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Islay's Terrace

I saw this Paris print on the front page of Etsy the other day.  Isn't it lovely?  I love the movie Sabrina, and this quote is so true.  Islay's Terrace is an Etsy shop that features cute prints and fun embroidery.

Friday Featured Art: Stamen Maps

I think I found this on Pinterest...  Stamen's web site allows you to type in a place and then select a beautiful watercolor image of a map to print.  This is Paris.

Friday Featured Art: The Lacemaker

I enjoyed seeing two pieces by Vermeer at the Louvre. The Lacemaker is a beautiful, small painting. I really love the intricate frame. My Dutch grandfather would make pictures by cutting different shades of wood and piecing them together - so I thought it was neat to see the flower designs inlaid in this wood frame.

Friday Featured Art: Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss

Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss was one of the first famous pieces that we saw at the Louvre. It's very beautiful. You can find out more about it by visiting the Louvre's special site here.

Birds

Have you ever thought about keeping a bird? We saw these ones for sale on a street in Paris. Their colors and patterns were so incredible. I would love to have one, but I think it would make me too sad to keep it in a cage.

Baguette!

You always hear about how great French food is - baguettes, cheese, macaroons, etc. In our short time in Paris we only really had time for lunch. We bought sandwiches from a street stand near the Place de la Concorde. They looked like this (I found this picture via Google) - baguettes with Emmental Swiss cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and mayo (that tasted like it was freshly made). They were fabulous.

Friday Featured Art: Winged Victory of Samothrace

During our time in Paris, I came face to face with my favorite work of art of all time: Winged Victory of Samothrace. It is so incredible. It stands at the top of a staircase in the Louvre. I really loved seeing it.

Spring Break

We returned Saturday from our spring break trip to Istanbul. On the way there we had a 10-hour layover in Paris. Then we spent 4 and a half days in Istanbul. It was all a really great experience for us. I'll have some fun things to share in the days to come...