Happy [Almost] Bastille Day!

In honor of the about-to-come Bastille Day, I offer you the photo here of the Bastille column, and the following quote by Jean Gabin:

"Vive la liberte, surtout la mienne."

("Long live freedom, especially mine.")

Movie: "Shall We Kiss?"

I recently saw and enjoyed this new release of a 2007 French movie, written and directed by, also starring, Emmanuel Mouret. A Parisienne (Julie Mayet) visiting another town on business, meets a kind stranger (Michael Cohen) when she asks him about taxis. He offers her a ride, then invites her to dinner. She spends most of the movie telling him why she isn't going to kiss him: a cautionary tale about her friend Judith (Virginie Ledoyen) and an ill-advised kiss that changed forever her long-term platonic friendship with Nicolas (Mouret). This is romantic in that the movie gives more thought to an as-yet unbestowed kiss, than do most movies in recent decades about all-out sex. Other good performances: Stefano Accorsi as Judith's partner Claudio, and Frederique Bel as the ex-girlfriend Nicolas and Judith try to fix up with him. The only disappointments in the whole thing: it doesn't show much of Paris, and Emilie doesn't say which of Judith's exes she married. On the whole, I enjoyed it immensely!

"Chateau" by Rita St.Claire

I'm mentioning this here because (a) the author is one of my best friends, and (b) this story, published in the March/April issue of New Love Stories, available in Borders stores, is set in France and therefore is not without relevance to this blog. Any ending that involves an apartment in Paris - and one with good plumbing at that! - is a happy ending.
Congratulations, Rita!

There wasn't a "diem" we didn't "carp" the hell out of!

I didn't post for months because the camera had me so discouraged, but here's a quick rundown of our joyous week "chez nous."

Tuesday: Arrived, went to Galeries Lafayette, back to our "home" stop and dinner at Le Bosquet.
Wednesday: Musee Jacquemart-Andre for the Van Dyck show, Bon Marche, Passage Choiseul, dinner with Antonia at Chartier...and visits to the Virgin Megastore with her both before and after dinner.
Thursday: Rue de Rivoli (lunch at Angelina), the stamp market, Champs-Elysees, dinner in Montmartre at La Mere Catherine.
Friday: Met Antonia at Shakespeare & Co., lunch on the Ile St. Louis at Cafe Med, shops along St. Louis en L'Ile. After Antonia went home we went to Gibert Joseph on Boul' Mich, and had dinner in our neighborhood at Cafe du Marche.
Saturday: Lunch in Montmartre at Le Ronsard, shops and the Funiculaire, the Pompidou Centre area for the record/DVD shops, dinner at Le Procope.
Sunday: Met Antonia at Metro St. Paul, brunch at Pitchi-Poi, walked around the Marais and Place des Vosges. After Antonia went home we went to dinner at Le Boeuf sur le Toit.
Monday: St. Germain for lunch at Les Deux Magots and shopping at L'Ecume des Pages, Palais Royal, Rue de Rivoli, dinner at Le Bosquet.
Tuesday: Back to New York.

A bientot!

Merci a tous!

Nous sommes en New York encore, et voulons remercier tous nos amis a L'Hotel La Bourdonnais: Christian, Julie, Masilamany, Sandrine, Sophie, Sylvie, Xavier et leur equipe entier pour toute leur aide pendant notre visite (qui a fini trop tot!) et pour les fleurs belles.

Merci! A la prochaine fois!

Tiffany & Bernard

Pinch me -- We got here!

Just a quick note because I'm running out of time at the hotel's computer. We're actually here, much to my amazement after months of anticipation. Make that a YEAR -- after our last return to New York. Much to my surprise, Xavier here at the hotel desk handed me a package from my friend Rita in California: an early -- by a day -- birthday present! Does it GET happier than this?

Paris-Phile

Do you love Paris? Live for your next trip? Are you lucky enough to already live there?

I'm going back (from New York) November 3rd. It's only for a week, but better than nothing. Any recommendations? Suggestions? Advice?

For starters, here are a few of my favorite places:

Hotel La Bourdonnais - 111 Avenue de la Bourdonnais (7e)

Le Bosquet - Avenue Bosquet & Champ de Mars (7e)
Comptoir du 7e - Avenue LaMotte-Picaquet (7e)
Cafe du Marche - Rue Cler (7e)
Le Ronsard - Rue Steinquerque (18e)
La Mere Catherine - Rue Norvins (18e)

I love other places outside the 7th but don't know offhand which arrondissements they're in:

Chartier - 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre
Le Procope - 13 Rue de l'Ancienne Comedie
Sannine (Lebanese) - Rue du Faubourg Montmartre
Angelina - Rue de Rivoli

W. H. Smith - Rue de Rivoli & } these two are
Shakespeare & Co. - 37 Rue de la Bucherie } not restaurants, but favorites of mine

For whatever information, leads, merci beaucoup!

Tiffany Holmes