100 Layers of Paris

It's a red letter day for The Paris Effect Blog.
  This marks our 100th on-line rhapsody about all things Paris.
  One hundred declarations of devotion exalting the
symphony of this unparalleled city, forever confident
There's No Such Thing as Too Much Paris.

Paris is shameless in her outright beauty, the ability to bring countless
visitors to their knees, inciting many of us to dream with our eyes
wide open about the chance to return again and again.

Not that you Paris lovers need any reminders of why you love this city.
It's just our way of saying merci to our readers:
Just a few reasons we are wept off our feet by
The Paris Effect.

1. What ever is on my plate or in my glass.  Period.
2. The nearly empty courtyard of The Louvre, lit up at night or in the dusky early a.m.
3. The royal gallery of queens in the splendiferous Luxembourg Gardens.
4. La Grande Epicurie's ultra-sophisticated displays of the season's best edibles.
5. Hot Chocolate at Jacques Genin -- forgive me, Father, for I have sinned....

6.  Bored faces on the Metro -- metro, boulot, dodo syndrome.
7.  Lamb with prunes at Le Bistro d'Henri -- an unforgettable taste of french Africa.
8.  Pressing my nose to the window at Cartier with unhealthy lust for a tank watch.
9.  The hidden gardens and corners of green in Montparnasse.
10. High & low street fashion -- whether classic or outrageous, it's always fun.

11. 300+ steps of Montmartre -- and the ease with which the locals climb them.
12. A full glass of champagne at any of the grand old cafés.
13. Cemetery markers with pebbles carefully arranged on top to honor the deceased.
14. Rolling shopping carts filled to the brim at the roving marché.
15. Baguettes, boules, ficelles on parade -- snatched up fresh daily, sometimes twice.

16. Retro lingerie at Princesse Tam Tam -- dainty boxers & pointy bras included.
17. Getting a glimpse of George at Shakespeare & Co. (may he rest in peace).
18. Le Tour de France -- flash-whiz-bang ---- 3,500 kilometers of French thrills & spills.
19. Diverse musicians in the Metro -- you never know who or what you'll hear.
20. Morning coffee sipped ever so slowly at my local café.

21. The Burghers of Calais in Rodin's garden -- heart-stopping emotion in bronze.
22. Church bells ringing in the early morning.
23. Musée Carnavalet, M. de l'Art Moderne, Petit Palais for starters, all with free entry.
24. Unexpected view of la Tour Eiffel from Passy Cemetery & Musée de l'Architecture.
25. Mouth-watering window display at Gerard Mulot -- political ad for Pavlov's dog.

26. Perfume -- unforgettable, beautiful, a way of life -- never leave home without it.
27. Paris pets -- sophisticated, cultured, well-groomed, and well-behaved.
28. Wall gardens -- vertical works of art surprise and delight.
29. Carousels -- sure to bring a smile -- who expects to see a dodo bird in Paris?
30. Sandwich au saucisson -- baguette, butter, thinly sliced salami -- better than sex.

31. Statue of Captain Dreyfus in front of the Jewish Museum -- a feeling of déja vu.
32. Oysters & Sancerre paired together any time of the day.
33. Eavesdropping on students from Sciences Po engaged in heated political debate.
34. Sainte-Chapelle's light & shadow dancing through the prism of stained glass.
35. Getting to be a kid in a candy store again at Le BonBon au Palais.

36. Doors, beautifully carved and colored on every street, in every neighborhood.
37. Black & White at Palais Royale -- stunning masterpiece of architectural harmony.
38. 50 Shades of Le Metro -- a reflection of the diversity of neighborhoods.
39. Contemporary sculpture in Tuileries gardens, particularly those of Aristide Maillot.
40. Cheese - hundreds & hundreds of earthy, nutty, sometimes funky taste of France.

.41. Bookstores and folks reading real books everywhere you turn.
42. Beekeepers in Luxembourg Gardens -- brave caretakers of nature's bounty.
43. A sandbox filled with smiling children at Place des Vosges.
44. Enduring the Memorial de la Shoah -- repeat after me, Never Again .....
45. Honoring the Wall of of the Righteous, for those angels who tried to help ....

46. Cats performing death-defying stunts on balconies and roofs.
47. Adults riding kid-style scooters to work.
48. Saxe-Breteuil -- an open air market with a view.
49. Waiters wearing traditional garb -- never pestering, always knowledgeable.
50. Muscular "ladies" on parade across from the heights of the Promenade Plantée.

51. The polished right foot of Montaigne's statue in the Latin Quarter.
52. Victor Noir's well-tended anatomy in Père Lachaise Cemetery -- PDA Paris-style.
53. Carillon bells ringing in the bell-tower near Saint-Germain-L'Auxerrois.
54. La Pagode Cinema -- one-of-a-kind movie theater boasts garden and lavish detail.
55. Attending a monthly meeting of Adrian Leed's Parler Paris Après-Midi.

56. The "ghosts" of rue Saint-Jaques -- pilgrims trekking to St. James de Campostela.
57. Raspberry-rose sorbet at Berthillon -- really, any of their premier scoops of Paris.
58. Hearing "oui, madame" instead of "yes, ma'am" -- for which I am beyond grateful.
59. A mile-high souffle -- or two --  dining alfresco at La Cigale Recamier.
60. Upon arrival, your first metro ride/cup of coffee/glass of wine/peek at the E.Tower.

61. Dancing with the locals on Bastille Day.
62. Admiring the ominous skyline from Pompidou Center as a storm approaches.
63. Seven Swans a-swimming at Parc Montsouris.
64. The crazy clutter & confusion at BHV -- annoying and awesome at the same time.
65. Discovering a cool new street like rue Cremieux or Cour-du-Commerce-St-Andre.

66. Admiring the locals as they honor the tradition of Sunday lunch.
67. Bastille Day Parade -- the thrilling formation of a military plane fly-over.
68. Secret streets just off the beaten path in Montmartre.
69. Hector Guimard's synagogue on rue Pavée and Castel Beranger on rue Fontaine.
70. Deyrolle's unrivaled butterfly collection -- too pretty to be creepy.

71. Three -- the number of pastries I ate in one day (oui, I was très mal au ventre).
72. Catching a film crew at work -- dramatic slap included.
73. Easily finding the WC because a pee still life hangs above the door.
74. Having an Amelie moment at least once a day.
75. Watching cars park impossibly close together -- WTF.

76. Relishing delicious full fat yogurt every morning -- America, are you listening?
77. A condom machine outside every pharmacy -- because sometimes love can't wait.
78. Classy tea salons I swear I'll try one day as soon as I get my fill of wine ....
79. Despairing over the Val d'Hiver monument that would melt a snowman's heart.
80. New exhibit every season at the Palais Galliera -- putting trendy fashion to shame.

81. Crazy-wonderful view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe -- my beating heart.
82. Tranquility on Place von Furstemburg -- vintage postcard perfection.
83. Gobsmacked at Serge Gainesbourg's gloriously graffitied house on rue Verneuil.
84. Musée Baccarat -- the mansion, the chandeliers, the romance of sparkly stuff.
85. Tearing up at General Lafayette's graveside in Picpus Cemetery.

86. Toasty-warm 6-layer wrap -- Napoleon's gorgeous memorial tomb at Les Invalides.
87. Girl Power in The Pantheon where Marie Curie & Sophie Berthelot are laid to rest.
88. More Pantheon Girl Power --  as French Resistance heroines will soon R.I.P.
89. Enchanting charm of classic bistros such as Benoit & A la Biche au Bois.
90. Buzzing with music that booms through big audio cathedrals like Saint-Sulpice.

91. Scared witless in Marie Antoinette's cell in The Conciergerie.
92. Enjoying a slow ramble on the rolling green hills of Parc des Buttes Chaumont.
93. Relishing a family dinner with a french family (double lucky!).
94. Eavesdropping on a failed romance and tragic breakup at the local café.
95. Entering the security code in your very own apartment rental -- priceless.

96. Realizing the baker recognizes you from daily visits -- as does your bartender.
97. Stopping in for a quick cup of java at the very first cafe, Le Procope, born in 1686.
98. Suddenly realizing Ben Franklin, T. Jefferson and N. Bonaparte drank there, too.
99. Remembering the exact moment you saw Place Dauphine for the first time.
100 Contemplating all the ghosts who have walked the same momentous boulevards.

I just realized this was far too easy.

100 layers of Paris is too narrow for such a magnificent city.
I should have held off until my 1,000th blog --
because -- it should come as no surprise --
it's a piece of cake to find 900 more layers of Paris.

Thanks for sharing in the joy of The Paris Effect.