“Paris Is Always A Good Idea”*

Published on by Liz

Hub and I recently took a trip to Paris. It was long over due – we were last there 10 years ago for my 40th birthday. So with the next ‘big birthday’ arriving this year, it seemed a fitting time to return.

There was also a particularly important reason for being in France this November. Hub had discovered through some genealogical research that 17 November 2017 was the 100th anniversary of the death of his Great Grandfather, Albert Richmond, who died of his wounds after the battle of Passchendaele. Hub will be writing more about this aspect of our trip in a future post. In the meantime, let me pay tribute to Albert and the many thousands of other men and women who gave their lives in battle. We will remember them.

The Military Cemetery, Étaples:

 

The headstone of Hub’s Great Grandfather:

 

In Paris itself, we had fun revisiting some of our favourite haunts and discovering some new ones too. Here are two shots taken in the famous Jardin des Tuileries:

 

I love the light and sense of movement in the top of these two photos in particular.  It reminds me of a painting and I have been racking my brains to remember which one. It is possible that I am thinking of this one by John Singer Sargent (In the Luxembourg Gardens), which I have seen in a couple of exhibitions….

…but this is clearly an image of a different part of Paris. So I trawled through a number of exhibition catalogues which I have gathered over the years…..

 

I could not find what I think I might have been looking for (if you see what I mean!). So if you have any ideas about the painting I might have in mind, I would welcome your thoughts.

Meanwhile, Paris was gorgeous. We spent a lot of time just wandering around, soaking up the atmosphere. I love all the architecture and, simply, the very French-ness of the city:

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There was plenty of Christmassy fun and opulence on show:

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And we forced ourselves regularly to adopt French customs (rude not to, and all that):

 

 

In my next couple of posts, I’ll be sharing more photos taken at various exhibitions we visited while in Paris.

It was a wonderful trip and I am already looking forward to going back some time. Thank you to Hub for a very memorable birthday present.

 

*title quote: Audrey Hepburn as Sabrina Fairchild in Sabrina (1954)

29 thoughts on ““Paris Is Always A Good Idea”*”

  2. Paris is always worth a visit. It has been longer than 10 years since I have been there. You are right your picture looks like a painting, beautiful. Should really go there for a weekend….. a romantic weekend perhaps…. I shall ask ‘him’. 🙂

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  5. Wow–that view does look familiar–I can’t think what painting it would be from, though. The photos are all great and inviting. I’ve not been to France at all and it’s one more place I should make more of an effort to visit!

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  7. Pingback: “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.”* – LEAPING LIFE
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  13. I remember you mentioning this trip months ago, I am glad I am back blogging in time to read about it. It must have been extremely moving to go to the cemetary as you did but such a rewarding trip. Paris looks wonderful, I am jealous of your experience but loved reading about it!

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    1. Yes, the Étaples experience was deeply moving and we will definitely return at some point. It was lovely to be back in Paris after too long away – I’m glad this came across in the post. 🙂

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