Category: The-paris-effect

Paris Pipe Dream

9/21/2014

"I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine
the same things that lunatics imagine when awake."
Rene Descartes

I'm not a French philosopher, but will humbly admit the great French
philosopher and I are on the same page when it comes to dreams.

Half the time, I don't remember my dreams -- mostly made up of
mundane activities and people I barely know.
Those dreams are easily forgotten, but others -- particularly
those of Paris -- give me fresh inspiration in the light of morning.
Sometimes I think surely they're just daydreams, wishful thinking
plain and simple, a yearning for my beloved city.

Dreams count for something.
They're often the spark, the madness,
that keep us motivated to return again and again.

To prepare your mind for GOOD dreams, here's a short list
guaranteed to smooth the way for enchanted imaginings
in full Paris color night after night.

Mr. Sandman, listen up!

Begin each dream with the thought:
"On my next trip to Paris, I'll have enough time to....."

-Try every single pastry at Gerard Mulot, starting with the chocolate tart in the
top left hand corner and ending with a coffee macaron.

-See everything in the Louvre. Everything.

-Master the language or at least be able to take part in a typical student
debate about the difference between 1968 political unrest and today.....

- Identify every French king in the order of his reign.

- Write a deep and absorbing novel at the Café Le Select.

-Taste every single flavor of Berthillon ice cream.

- Take the Metro every day for a year without needing to change
at Châtelet or Gare du Nord.

- Vélib' fearlessly, never stressing over the threat of instantaneous death.

- Schlep every single bridge - at least twice.

- Enjoy leisurely walks in all 20 arrondissements, forming an
opinion on the best local wine shop, florist and fromagerie in each.

- Figure out how to get inside the Hotel de Ville
(most people have figured this out but I can't seem to crack the code).

Other dreams range from the improbable to the outrageous:

- Inherit enough €€ to buy a wardrobe of outrageous undies from Cadole.

- Fly a jet over the Champs-Elysées during the Bastille Day Parade.

- Purchase a 1-bedroom apartment in The Elegance of the Hedgehog building.

- Win a $10,000 gift card from La Dernier Goutte wine store.

- Sing at The Opera, then boogie the banana dance at the Folies Bergere.

- Swim in a tub of chocolat chaud from Jacques Genin.

- Catherine Deneuve calls to ask "Who does your hair?"

- Throw an intimate little dinner party -- and only
Jean Dujardin, Romain Duris and Gilles Marini show up.

- Draw a crowd at a book signing at Shakespeare & Company.

- Rollerblade on Friday night - fast, faster, fastest - with the pros.

- Beam as Eric Kayser launches a new sandwich -- named after me.

- Remember to kiss from left to right (or is it right to left?)

- Demonstrate how to tie a scarf at Hermès.

- Climb to the top of Notre Dame to enjoy coffee with the hunchback.

- Get locked up overnight in a chocolate shop.

- Get locked up overnight in a cheese shop.

- Woody Allen calls to ask if I can replace Scarlett Johansson
in his next Paris-based movie.

- Win the final stage of the Tour de France,
beating all the sprinters on the Champs-Elysées.

Then there are the truly silly, cockeyed dreams -- usually involving time travel -- and maybe too much Calvados.....

- Have lunch with Napoleon & Josephine at Le Grand Véfour. He pays.

- Tell Picasso he got it all wrong in his 'blue' period.

- Sip coffee with Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson at Cafe Procope where I convince them to write a letter to the future Tea Party to clear up their apparent confusion over The American Dream.

- Do the cancan at the Moulin Rouge where
Toulouse-Lautrec BEGS to paint me.

- Twirl Salvador Dali's moustache.

- Ride in a jeep with General Omar Bradley to review the troops
before celebrating the liberation of Paris at the Victory Parade.

- Teach Julia Child how to make a proper omelet.

- Tell jokes and curse with abandon with Hemingway and Buchwald.

- Wipe Cole Porter's tears as he confesses he penned
"It's de-lovely" - for me.

- Cast in gold, I sit alongside Jean d'Arc at Place des Pyramides.

- At the end of my long & fruitful Parisian life, I am buried
in the Pantheon as adoring onlookers sob.

Roy Orbison had it right when he sang Johnny Mercer tune:

Dream, when you're feeling blue
Dream, that's the thing to do
Just watch the smoke rings rise in the air
You'll find your share of memories there

So dream, when the day is through
Dream, and they might come true
Things never are as bad as they seem
So dream, dream, dream

Dream, when the day is through
Dream, and they might come true
Things never are as bad as they seem
So dream, dream, dream

Read more: Roy Orbison - Dream Lyrics | MetroLyrics

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Personalizing Paris

9/6/2014

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Coco Chanel once said,
"The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive."
She could have been talking about Paris.

Paris is an expensive city, no doubt about that.
Some of us scrimp and save to get there.
So why in the world do we follow a borrowed formula for what to do in Paris?

Following a guidebook is like wearing a suit that doesn't quite fit.
I'm all in favor of professional travel guides -- but the key word is guide.
Tailor your trip to your own frame. Adjust the line, let out the seams.

It takes some work to personalize a trip.
Start with time and budget parameters, consider bucket-list must-sees.
Think about how you can get the most out of your time, money & walking shoes.

Don't just stick to the big themes . Do stuff you'd never do at home. Go rogue.

Don't do what's expected.
Confuse the well-ordered, follow directions side of you and go for broke.
Use both the Left Bank and the Right Bank of your brain.
Listen to your inner voice.

A personalized trip to Paris always begins with good planning.
Making a list is good but remember it's just a road map.
Just because it says 'use red here' doesn't mean you can't use purple.

Vacation isn't meant to be a competition.
Don't try to outdo your neighbor's five star vacation.
Better to hit the bulls-eye on your own heart than throw the dart
at a board that someone else brought.
It's your party.

Fearless exploration is fun. Get lost. Forget about the photo op. Let it happen.
Whatever keeps you awake at night is there -- waiting.
Sweat a little.

Your personal Paris is going to be a delicious mix of Paris-discovery and self-discovery.
Paris is expensive but your options for free and cheap are endless.
The list of museums that offer free entry are mind-blowing.
Musée Carnavalet, Le Petit Palais, Musée Bourdelle just to name a few.
Parks are free and you won't find a better place to count your blessings.
You can sit at a café for hours, nursing one cup of coffee.
Cemeteries will make you feel more alive.
Flea markets, Tati, and vintage stores offer inexpensive entertainment.
Free concerts, free festivals, bookshops, Friday Night roller-blading, it all fits into not just cheap or free but into the real Paris, the Paris as locals enjoy it.
Put your own stamp on it.

I'm one of the millions of baby-boomers who flew the coop from corporate life.
I miss the paycheck .... but not much more.
When I said au revoir to that chapter, I knew from the get-go what I wanted to do.

I wanted to travel, to see the world.

Dictionary.com's definition of travel:
"the act of visiting and seeing places and objects of interest."

Dullsville. Definitely not what I had in mind.

I want to be equal parts Indiana Jones / Ferris Bueller / Tina Fey.

Less than perfect, what a relief!
Real life is silly enough.
And too short not to pay attention to the voice in your head that says
THIS IS MY TRIP.
THIS IS FOR ME.

I call it Paris Time.
Time to re-invent yourself.
Confuse your friends, make them wonder what you're up to.

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." - Confucius

Paris is an antioxidant, a serving of kale and a martini all wrapped up in one pretty package. It's good for your soul, bad for your pocketbook and worth every effort to get there.
Thank you, Paris, for showing the way.

Paris was made for you and me.
Except that I prefer it my way. And I hope you get it your way.
Make it personal.
BON VOYAGE!

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Paris Beyond the First Blush

8/29/2014

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Le Passe-Muraille by Marcel Aymé is freaky fun just off the beaten path in Montmartre

That first glimpse of Paris left me breathless.

As a young girl, I didn't know what to expect.
The big monuments like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are my first memory
and I still remember how curious it felt to look at people, so stylish and elegant,
as far from my Midwestern roots as you could get.

It was as close to an out-of-body experience as I'll probably ever realize.

The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin

But after that first blush of Paris, it's always been about the little things.
The window of temptations at Gerard Mulot, brimming with sticky tarts and seductive cakes.
That first taste of vin ordinaire you order at lunch, so surprisingly good.
A sneaky peek into a hidden courtyard or an open door.
Posters in the Metro that are both sexy and smart.
The surprising wallop of a tiny sprig of parsley - remarkably memorable.
Lovers cuddling closely on a bench in Parc Monceau.
A well-behaved dog happily ensconced under a table at his master's feet.

Once, as I sat at a café table, a large dog came running around the corner.
The mustachioed Gallic waiter greeted him and offered a very large bone from the bistro
platter he carried, abruptly turned and went back inside as the dog happily returned "home".
It was as if they met every day at the same time and place.
It was exactly 3pm.
No need for the standard "Vous avez choisi?"

French children are adorable.
Oh sure, all kids are cute but seriously, les enfants are spectacular.
I do miss the old days when schoolchildren sported tabliers (smocks) to protect
their good clothes. Today you're more likely to see Nike shoes and ballcaps.
But still, they already have that "something-something" that sets them apart.
Sweet little voices and appealing accents trigger a pause and
a much needed time-out from sightseeing activities.

Art museums, galleries, street art, unpredictable little touches of artistic
ingenuity grab you every time you turn around.
Every neighborhood seems to have its own special flavor.

The first time I stood in front of Rodin's Burghers of Calais I wept.
He captured emotion like I've never seen before. And in bronze!
It made the blood pulse through my veins.
That's what Paris brings to the table.
Just open your eyes and let it in.

Speaking of the table, la cuisine francaise isn't a myth.
They don't mess around. Good food is expected.
My favorite meals usually involve simple fresh food or a hint of grandma's cooking.
So many choices, there's never enough time for it all.
You can flirt with every cuisine around the world -- It's all in Paris.
Do you want couscous or banh mi today?

The pairing of food and wine is taken seriously in Paris and all of France.
In proper French dining etiquette, you're supposed to choose your food first, then the wine.

Why?
It just makes sense.

How can you choose your wine before the meal
when you don't know what food you're having?
The food and wine should be complimentary
like a horse & carriage, not putting the cart before the horse.
That's why you're asked if you'd like an aperitif before your meal.
It's not meant to accompany the feast.
It's meant to bait your taste buds and invite your appetite to dinner.

In Paris we're able to dance with kings, embrace an emperor and paint the masters.
We can discover our inner poet, political firebrand or wandering minstrel. Which ever brand
you choose, I'll wager you'll end up embracing the romance of your new imaginary self.
Go ahead, scratch your itch.
After all, who isn't better after visiting the capitol of France?

Paris is for fun people.
You know, the kind that like to sneak off to have a smoke when the boss isn't looking.
The ones who can tell a good joke at a party.
Or who aren't too scared to backpack through Europe.

I'm not brave. Not even a little. But when I'm in Paris, I feel like a rock star.
Without question, I'm way more fun than the grownup who lives in Nashville.
I can stay awake until the wee hours, I can drink more, I'm able to eat more and still feel good.
When I'm in Paris, I notice everything around me, no sleepwalking allowed.
I'm a pirate and a princess.

Naturally, it was a Frenchman, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry of Le Petit Prince fame,
who sagely wrote "We see well only with the heart."
So true, so true, our hearts are full of Paris moments.

American transplant Josephine Baker said it well in her hit "J'ai Deux Amours"
(written by Vincent Scotto, Georges Koger & Henri Varna, loosely translated to English below)

I Have Two Loves

It is said that above the seas,
Over there under the clear sky,
Exists a city, where the stay is enchanted,
And under the big black trees,
Every evening,
Towards it tend all my hopes.

I have two loves
My country and Paris.
By them always
Is my heart ravished.
My savannah* is beautiful,
But why deny that
what puts a spell on me is Paris,
Paris in its entirety.

Seeing it one day
Is my pretty dream.
I have two loves,
My country and Paris.

When at the distant shore
I sometimes see a ship depart
To him I extend my arms
And heart beating with excitement,
Whisper softly, I say, “Take me!”

I have two loves…

*In Madeleine Peyroux's version, she substituted Manhattan for my savannah.

Oh yes, it's all in that song -- "my heart ravished by Paris."
If you want to live life to the fullest, go to Paris.
End that dull old routine. Search for a plot twist --- the good kind.
Two loves may well be better than one.

After that first blush of Paris, you're in for the full body rosy-tinted look of love.

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Serendipity-Doo-Dah

8/22/2014

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Serendipity

1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident

2. good fortune: luck

Source: Dictionary.com

I believe in serendipity.
You can find "it" all over Paris.

Wandering down any street, you're likely to run
smack dab into a magical moment.

It might be the welcome smell of a new boulangerie.
Or the sight of an ancient door newly painted a bright hue.
Perhaps you'll hear a young man performing a classic tune on his harp.
Or stumble upon the perfect photo op.
Or get hit with the sudden inspiration to write a novel.
Yes, it seems there's good fortune to be found around every bend in Paris.

From my favorite Robert Doisneau print -- Truly a Parisian moment.

Sometimes those moments are quiet and unassuming.
A little glass of vin rouge enjoyed with your favorite friend can make you
feel like you've hit the jackpot right when you really need it.

Watching the world go by when you have nowhere better to go than
your café chair / park bench / balcony is really pretty special.

Occasionally all you have to do is show up and there it is.
Cherish that Paris moment.

At times the sky seems to be aligned in your direction.
Lucky star or just plain luck, it doesn't matter;
when you're in Paris, you expect good things.
Good, better, best; it's your story.

Sometimes I'm accused of seeing the glass half-full.
That's never been the case in the City of Light.
My glass overflows.

"Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder."
From the Disney Movie "Song of the South"; lyrics by Ray Gilbert

A single smile can turn your day into an even better one.

Even a so-called haughty Parisian might loosen
his armor if you give him a little smile.

Those hard-working magicians of the city's tourist trade
deserve a smile from you as well -- and you'll earn good karma.

The only time I don't practice my own smile medicine is when I'm leaving the city.
I try to remember Dr. Seuss' famous wisdom:
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

When you waltz down the streets of Paris, let it all go.
The blah of yesterday. The worries about tomorrow.
Paris is the place to hope, to dream, to expect better things for the future.

How many people get the opportunity to be in this glamorous city
even once in their lifetime?
Embrace it. Trip over your own good fortune.

And if you're an arm-chair traveler, that's serendipitous, too.
There are enough books, movies, songs and photographs to keep your
Paris-on for a lifetime of good feelings.

Paris is like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates.
You never know what you're gonna get.
Except that it's all good.

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In the Moment, Paris Style

8/11/2014

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It's really pretty simple. Peace & Tranquility. Thrills & Chills.
I want both in equal measure.

Need my head examined? Maybe.
But here's a thought.
Life is complicated enough ..... and boring enough......if we allow it.
Say no to too much nothing. Say yes to sensation, feeling, doing.
Slow down the craziness but ramp up the adventure.

Sure, it's nice to hang out and eat bonbons.
But better to fly over the rainbow and discover a new world.
France is that place that for me, bringing fireworks & inspiration plus the contrast
of relaxation, letting go, and peaceful meditation --- all in a day's stroll.

I speak of The Paris Effect. That moniker refers to the magic it brings to my life,
all the little things that add volume and depth to my existence.
I look forward to finding that magic year after year.
Paris makes me laugh. Paris makes me cry.
Paris defines me.

A country that offers over 400 different types of cheese is not prudent.
I like that. I can be cautious at home.
There's a reason this enterprising city is the top tourist destination year after year.

Travel can bring dimension to anyone's life.
I know a few timid souls who, for lack of trying, have barely left their own front door.
We all need to be pushed out the door from time to time,
both literally and figuratively.
And when we do finally get the nerve, we soar.

Remember when Dorothy said, "Oh, you're the best friends anybody ever had.
And it's funny, but I feel as if I'd known you all the time. But I couldn't have, could I?" From the movie The Wizard of Oz.

That's how I felt the first time I "met" Paris. I couldn't put my finger on it but there was something familiar along with something completely new. That's the magic. That's The Paris Effect.
And I want some more.

March to your own beat. Strike up the band in your head & your heart.
Try a new taste. Walk down an unknown boulevard. Make a new friend.
Paris has something for everyone.

I don't want all-Versailles-all-the-time.
Variety and contrast are so much more enlightening.
Caviar & champagne on Monday.
Mac & cheese with vin ordinaire on Tuesday.

Uncover your Paris brain.
Get a little whooped-up-crazy-exhilarated-relaxed-peace-of-mind-serenity.

It does exist.

The Paris Effect

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Paris Pipe Dream

Personalizing Paris

Paris Beyond the First Blush

Serendipity-Doo-Dah

In the Moment, Paris Style

AUTHOR
MICHELLE MOGGIO
Thanks for visiting my blog!

Archives

Categories

Paris Pipe Dream

Personalizing Paris

Paris Beyond the First Blush

Serendipity-Doo-Dah

In the Moment, Paris Style

AUTHORMICHELLE MOGGIOThanks for visiting my blog!

Archives

Categories

AUTHOR
MICHELLE MOGGIO
Thanks for visiting my blog!