tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288767892011-07-28T23:56:11.576+02:00At once elegant and refined, yet also simple and a bit bohemian, these reviews explore a a bit of life in Paris. I enjoy great food, a glass of wine, wonderful friends and outdoor cafes -- you'll find many of my favorites here (along with a few to be avoided!).k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.comBlogger511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-53633667297437721862009-10-09T19:38:00.000+02:002009-10-13T14:01:18.774+02:00

One of my favorite nights out in Paris isn't actually very French at all. At number 5, rue Mouffetard (a great street for walking and exploring on the Left Bank), you will find a bit of Spain tucked into the Heart of Paris! The restaurant is named Casa Pepe and it is a quiet, unassuming storefront with a big heart.The tables are generally fairly close together, but with the jovial attitude that

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-81358769492405257602009-09-22T12:58:00.002+02:002009-09-22T13:01:20.450+02:00

Each bridge that crosses the Seine in Paris has a story to tell-- and has held the weight of the world's stories through time. As noted by everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Audrey Hepburn, people come here to reflect, write, and listen. This photograph takes you on a "walk" past 6 of the bridges. Enjoy...

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-45271401869211430382009-08-04T17:34:00.008+02:002009-08-04T19:15:24.474+02:00

The movie "Somethings Gotta Give" entered the American scene in 2003 as a fun romantic comedy starring Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. What the title lacked in creativity, the film seemed to make up for in star power and character development. At one point in the film Diane Keaton goes to Paris for her birthday and has dinner at a great little restaurant, her "favorite" restaurant. Enter: stage

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-87126179991963575902009-07-25T09:23:00.006+02:002009-07-26T08:46:09.941+02:00

Someone kindly mentioned the other day that my blog is missing something: the Paris markets! Given my theory that you can't truly understand a culture until you understand how it interacts with food, they couldn't have been more right.Paris has fresh food available in amazing quantities and, unlike the U.S., almost all of it is grown/harvested domestically. The fish come in from the north, the

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-24249340015945517722009-07-24T12:09:00.006+02:002009-07-24T12:58:31.197+02:00

Awhile ago I watched a Martha Stewart episode in which she travels to Paris to meet the owner of the Poilane bakeries. They talked at length about his family, the shops, and (naturally) the breads. After nearly 5 minutes of discussion, she noted that he speaks of bread like it is an art to which he emphatically responded "But it is!"The Poilane breads are a perfect illustration for how things--

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-42031144419411555112009-07-11T18:01:00.006+02:002009-07-11T18:41:06.894+02:00

Tucked away on a quiet side street not far from the Opera Garnier, lies a gem of a restaurant bustling with activity and overflowing with flavor. This Alain Ducasse-run bistro is everything a classic bistro should be- vivacious, charming, and busy-- but with quality presented in every detail.The staff are helpful and attentive, which is important because my only complaint about the restaurant is

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-69502626283885560962009-07-05T21:31:00.005+02:002009-07-05T22:05:53.081+02:00

I had seen it written up as several things. First of all, it is always called "modern." Now, I can be modern: I like modern art, modern architecture (occasionally) and certainly modern fashion, but modern food somehow conjures up images of over-priced raw vegetables artfully arranged on a plate. Now why isn't that appealing?I had also seen it called a sushi bar. I like sushi. In fact, I've been

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-86457135326062158662009-05-28T15:43:00.012+02:002009-07-26T08:49:24.516+02:00

The centrally-located Menagerie at the Jardin des Plantes is worth a stop as you make your way across the left bank, especially if you have children in tow. Housed within the walls of the Jardin des Plantes, the Menagerie dates back to 1789 (making it the oldest continually-operating zoo in the world) when it was founded as a home for Marie Antoinette's unusual collection of animals after the

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-40893934049541945202009-05-18T14:27:00.009+02:002009-07-05T21:22:44.215+02:00

There are a few places in Paris where time and space seem to merge into an idyllic, sepia-toned postcard. It seems it is often a combination of natural beauty, complementary architecture, and a perfect balance of activities and open space. The Jardin du Luxembourg is one of these places. This large garden on Paris' left bank is so-well landscaped that one must search to find all of the things

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-27532516022244760592009-05-12T12:05:00.004+02:002009-06-29T22:43:02.834+02:00

This "City of Children" as it's called contains a wide variety of child-focused activities- cinemas, parks, a science museum, a mini aquarium, and even a concert venue. Like most family venues in Paris, you buy a separate ticket to each activity, though they do coordinate it so you only need pay once. The highlight for the under 12s is the Cite des Enfants, a hands-on science museum where various

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-13779067068134120102009-05-04T14:58:00.004+02:002009-05-04T15:23:00.582+02:00

I am generally not one to subscribe to the idea of a guidebook. I find that my ideas/tastes are sometimes different than those of the writers and I end up spending my precious time in a new location discovering someone else's idea of what is interesting. In addition, the guidebooks generally present much more information than I have time-- or desire-- to read (I don't have that much information

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-84113333666367410242009-03-25T07:57:00.007+01:002009-07-25T12:12:13.985+02:00

The Opera Garnier is famous for many things. It is stunningly beautiful-- a tribute to the arts in every possible way. It's beauty is captured in paintings by artists like Degas (who used to attend regularly). Somewhat lesser known is that the story "Phantom of the Opera" is set here because the building sits atop a small reservoir. Even lesser known is that the Opera is home to a school of trout

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-49703892880306768702009-03-25T07:20:00.007+01:002009-03-29T09:18:30.301+02:00

Walking in to the controversial exhibition in a private gallery space in Paris, I was curious as to what I would find inside. The exhibition is posted on buses and billboards throughout the city, and at this point, the basic concept is fairly well known. The exhibition features the human body-- using actual human bodies-- to show the inner workings and intricate systems we use everyday but never

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-40549463172051735012009-02-26T09:48:00.008+01:002009-07-26T08:50:34.865+02:00

I'd all but given up on this Republique-area find. I walked by a couple times and could find no sign of the well-recommended restaurant. I decided it had closed and (sadly) went on my way. However, a couple days later, as I was going somewhere else, I happened to walk by during business hours (which are quite strict) and discovered it still exists!Walking into this bustling, no-frills restaurant,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-82722643010894610492009-02-10T13:49:00.006+01:002009-02-17T10:30:28.422+01:00

As a whole, the French tend to be a fairly philosophical people. Long ago, once the traditional past time of drinking wine in the afternoon was replaced with drinking coffee, there was apparently a national awakening of sorts. Take away a mild sedative, replace it with a stimulant and- voila!- The Enlightenment! Coffee has now been an integral part of French culture for nearly 350 years. Having

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-62111394681879845162009-02-02T18:26:00.012+01:002009-07-26T08:51:45.301+02:00

As everyone who has traveled with kids knows, one of the greatest challenges is finding activities to keep everyone happy. While a 10-16 year old may be interested in a tour of the sewers (yes, they exist!), all the 2-6 year olds want is space to run and play-- leaving the parents to pacify the toddlers at one stop and the teen at the next.The first time I walked into the CineAqua in Paris, I was

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-31260474610346113872009-02-02T18:02:00.009+01:002009-02-05T14:20:35.022+01:00

I visited the famous Jardin d'Acclimation with the kids on Sunday. It is listed in every guide book, every website, every blog that explores things to do with kids in Paris. I've long wanted to go, yet never had the opportunity until some friends suggested it last Sunday.Remember it is January-- and nothing is beautiful in January-- but this park has the makings of something out of a storybook.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-14929658325587873752009-02-02T10:11:00.006+01:002009-07-26T09:00:01.930+02:00

There aren't many reasons to visit Paris in January-- even February and March can be overcast and rainy-- but January can be quite cold, actually. There is only one reason I can think of to visit this outdoor city during the indoor season: the sales!!Americans are generally well-versed in the Black Friday sales and the steep discounts the day after Christmas, but the French save it up for one

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-85279106218409208552009-01-24T14:07:00.004+01:002009-02-05T13:11:15.636+01:00

My husband and I are fairly equal partners in this challenge of everyday life. We both clean, care for the children and house, and divide-and-conquer as necessary. We have a mutual respect that is helpful (until we have differing ideas, of course). The point is there aren't many tasks that I would be surprised to see him doing, nor vice versa.For dinner last night, we sat down at one of our old (

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-37178112688320952262009-01-24T13:49:00.005+01:002009-07-26T09:00:59.228+02:00

I arrived in Paris for our sabbatical just last week and one of the places on my list to return to tout de suite was the Brasserie Balzar. This famous, left-bank bistrot is one of my favorites-- they have a wonderful combination of a warm ambiance, friendly staff and a great location. During our last sabbatical, we visited a handful of times in various forms- my husband and I alone, with children

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-30916901364950334142009-01-21T21:05:00.016+01:002009-02-05T13:30:58.032+01:00

I like to learn-- I always have. I like to find out what people think, their ideas on politics and even religion-- if nothing else, it's a fresh perspective but I generally walk away with something more to reflect on. In much the same manner as new ideas, I love to get recommendations from people-- what are their favorite websites, restaurants, vacation sites, etc.?A couple days ago I found

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-84535245759152137752007-11-09T16:41:00.007+01:002009-05-12T16:55:13.497+02:00

Larger than life seems to be an American expression-- things in France are much more understated and, in theory, more refined. The one place this seems to dissolve is in the Natural History Museum (Grande Galerie de l'Evolution). Located on the left bank, inside the walls of the Jardin des Plantes, this newly-renovated museum is awe-inspiring as soon as you walk in the door. This ode to taxidermy

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-43889802979614926172007-10-30T10:03:00.001+01:002009-01-30T11:05:07.646+01:00

American writer Gertrude Stein once said, "America is my country, but Paris is my home town." Having lived there twice and been a tourist several times in between, I couldn't agree more. It's one of the cities that captures your heart in a very real and personal way.While I tend to be somewhat opinionated, and perhaps outspoken at times, I try to make a point of expressing myself without

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1158703354309306372006-09-19T23:55:00.000+02:002006-09-27T15:45:26.346+02:00

I often wish I could bottle my children’s passion for living. When they are excited, every ounce of their bodies seems to shake with glee; when they are sad, you would think the whole world had crumbled at their feet. Perhaps as adults, we can’t get that excited because we simply can't get that depressed— we’re supposed to achieve some level of perspective, but the happy part doesn’t sound so

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1157984452636861112006-09-11T15:37:00.002+02:002009-07-26T09:03:09.114+02:00

They say Curiosity Killed the Cat and, if so, I probably should have died a good half-dozen times by now. My deep curiosity seems to land me in some... precarious situations. It recently landed me in Paris' Museum of Curiosity and Magic. What could be more perfect?The guidebook said it was great for kids- there was a show and lots to see. Given my quest to find the best activities for toddlers,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1157721059161763032006-09-08T14:58:00.000+02:002007-10-30T19:45:42.917+01:00

Having toddlers around means sometimes doing things you would never otherwise do. I occasionally swing on swings, read board books and I’ve been known to attend imaginary tea parties. I know the names of all the Thomas trains and can sing at least a dozen Laurie Berkner songs by heart. Having young children not only gives you the opportunity to do these things, it actually gives you license to

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1155507913985743802006-08-14T00:15:00.000+02:002006-08-15T09:15:56.636+02:00

Considering that we all have toddlers and aren’t very good penpals (virtual or otherwise), my girlfriends and I have done a surprisingly good job of staying in touch while we’ve been apart these past few months. Still, nothing beats quality time together and I’ve been longing for a night out with the girls. Last week, for better or worse, my wish came true!Three of my best friends—all strong,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1155105553742567392006-08-09T07:55:00.000+02:002006-08-09T18:24:23.596+02:00

I live on a mostly pedestrian street in Paris, which means there are people walking on it at nearly every moment of the day and night. Occasionally street musicians wander up the street, filling our apartment with old Edith Piaf and Louis Armstrong tunes.A few days ago, after several near 100 degree days, I was snapped out of a good book by a loud, random sound- like someone repeatedly slamming

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1154897239760957512006-08-06T22:13:00.000+02:002006-08-06T22:49:23.423+02:00

When we brought our toddlers to France nearly 6 months ago, it was with very careful planning and a well-rehearsed mantra of "this too will pass." It actually didn't go too badly and, as it is summer travel season, I thought I'd give a list of the top 10 things that saved us- or, perhaps more to the point, saved me- from a complete meltdown at 30,000 feet.1. Tide-to-go: Bless the Mom who came up

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1154674761766587222006-08-04T07:48:00.000+02:002006-08-04T08:59:22.716+02:00

A few weeks ago, I visited a castle with my children just outside Strasbourg. I noticed that while the castle had been recently renovated (truly- it was amazing), the new-and-improved castle came without the safety features that would be required in the U.S. On the drawbridge, one missed step would have landed my 3 year old squarely in the (now waterless) moat. When we later reached the top of

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1153842907625364612006-07-25T17:49:00.000+02:002006-08-02T17:03:35.473+02:00

As a good, Midwestern girl, I’m not supposed to do anything too big, flashy or revealing. We Scandinavians are a quiet, subtle people— have you ever heard of “Minnesota nice” or Garrison Keillor? I like to think that my world is a bit bigger and perhaps a little more sophisticated than the stereotype suggests but, as the saying goes, “Old habits die hard.”It is not by coincidence that the private

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1153747417092494032006-07-24T14:37:00.000+02:002006-07-24T15:24:39.363+02:00

I spent this morning at an art fair in Montparnasse. More than 100 artists had their creativity on display- an incredible pool of personalities, colors and talent. There were painters , sculptors, jewelry designers and still others I could not begin to define, but they all had a passion for perfection that impressed me.It occurred to me that while we can`t all be artists, there is something to be

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1152738351989491632006-07-12T22:53:00.000+02:002006-07-24T14:36:39.210+02:00

The French are known for having a lovely language. When I took French in high school, I remember people asking me to say something just so they could listen to the beautiful sounds (and remember this is high school—my French was anything but beautiful). The French also have a wonderfully extensive, colorful vocabulary. In fact, I always find it rather ironic when the French/English movie

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1151961120280001432006-07-03T23:10:00.000+02:002006-07-03T23:12:00.290+02:00

One of my most beloved pastimes in this country is “people watching.” It is perhaps more enjoyable here because there is a certain ambiance associated with it—you sit at a café, sip an espresso and watch the world go by. From young to old, presidents to paupers and great aunt Mimi to Kate Moss, you see it all.Since I’ve been here for awhile now, I’ve gotten to know a few of the local

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1151529225288076722006-06-28T23:09:00.000+02:002006-06-28T23:29:22.906+02:00

The other reason I disagree with researchers regarding the lack of French obesity is that the French do eat more! The French tend to eat all three meals (unlike Americans) and also tend to eat three courses at mealtime—the entrée, main course and dessert. American meals always, naturally, have a main course, but the entrée is optional and dessert is almost, ironically perhaps, a faux pas.When a

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1151528979230417042006-06-28T23:04:00.000+02:002006-06-28T23:26:44.986+02:00

I recently read an advertisement for the book “French Women Don’t Get Fat.” It said (loosely translated):Yes; yes. They are talking about us. You didn’t know it, but the French have a reputation for staying thin. Seriously, they didn’t know it? The whole world knows it— how could the French be the ones who were in the dark? Even academia has gotten in on it— I recently read the results of a

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1151252920515037162006-06-25T17:32:00.000+02:002006-07-03T08:56:09.790+02:00

I wonder what I'll remember about today 20 years from now. Will it be the look on her face when we bought her first necklace, or watching her mouth contort at lunch as she tried to eat the large penne noodles? Perhaps I will remember watching the ice cream drip down her hand as she gleefully ate a single scoop of real French Vanilla. The thing I know I'll never forget, though, is the sensation of

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1150928400874459842006-06-21T23:44:00.000+02:002006-06-26T07:54:41.120+02:00

I recently attended a lecture by Adam Gopnik, a New Yorker staff member who writes about Paris. He published the New York Times Bestseller Paris to the Moon a few years ago and his lecture, entitled "Americans in Paris," focused on the love affair Amerians have with the city.In short, he believes Americans are not in love with the city of Paris, but rather an illusion of Paris. He also believes a

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1150644149990614792006-06-18T17:18:00.000+02:002006-06-26T07:50:01.430+02:00

I am not a wine connoisseur by any extent of the imagination, but I feel like I know my way around a wine list with some sense of dignity. I was rather humbled, however, when I recently read a description of wines so informative and yet so obvious, I was left scrambling. In short it stated that American wines are generally classified by the grape (such as Chardonnay or Pinot Noir), whereas French

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1150638203802935222006-06-18T14:52:00.001+02:002009-01-24T13:44:30.858+01:00

Sippy cups are, at least to my way of thinking, one of the finest inventions of the past century. They are durable, efficient and user-friendly, and they save me from an almost inevitable daily disaster in my home.It is amazing to me then, that France—a country whose homes are filled with beautiful wood floors and priceless antiques- does not have them. I have asked multiple people in various

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1150461937401885852006-06-16T14:32:00.000+02:002006-07-13T08:03:43.210+02:00

One of my favorite walks in Paris is from the Louvre to Le Madrigal, a café on the Champs Elysees. It begins at the Louvre’s glass pyramid (recently of Da Vinci Code fame), passes through the Tuileries Gardens, past the Hotel de Crillon and the Palais d’Elysees (the French White House). There are beautiful gardens, sidewalk crepe stands and several amazing buildings. The one that has always

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1150299347562614322006-06-14T17:34:00.000+02:002006-06-19T19:49:51.243+02:00

I have just committed one of the most grave sins a daughter-in-law can commit. I screwed up my in-laws’ hotel reservation for their upcoming visit. I didn’t do it on purpose, of course, and it wasn’t even subconscious (I really like my in-laws), but nonetheless, the deed was done.I informed them by email (sin #2) because of the time change and the fact that they were leaving for France shortly

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1150063847417639582006-06-12T00:09:00.000+02:002006-06-26T07:41:46.906+02:00

My husband and I wanted to throw a party—a nice, simple garden party for a few friends. I was rather uncomfortable when he first mentioned the idea. For a while in our “bachelor” days (that is to say our child-free days), we hosted a monthly party. We actually got pretty good at it, but neither of us had ever thrown a party in France, and throwing a party where your guests are experts on a few of

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1150062188236176332006-06-11T23:42:00.000+02:002006-06-19T19:41:20.953+02:00

Just in Time was intended, I believe, to be a manufacturing philosophy. In short it states that in order to save storage space and therefore money, one should buy basic supplies just before they are used. Today, it is hard to envision modern life without Just in Time. I buy groceries online for delivery the following day. I glean parenting tips from the Internet only when a problem arises. And,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1149548958294485202006-06-06T00:59:00.000+02:002006-06-06T22:05:02.040+02:00

I have to admit to being a “do it yourself” kind of girl. Thanks to Martha Stewart, Oprah, Home Depot and Nigella Lawson, I’ve found I can do almost anything. I rather enjoy getting my hands dirty—or, rather, I enjoyed getting my hands dirty.Shortly after saying adieu to American life, I remembered why I like it so much; In the U.S., it's easy to keep my hands clean because everything is so

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1149548231687907432006-06-06T00:53:00.000+02:002006-06-06T01:17:44.056+02:00

Finding English reading material in France is sometimes easier said than done, so the books on my nightstand are actually being read (at least occassionally). Here they are, in no particular order:1. French-English dictionary2. Things I Want My Daughters to Know, by Alexandra Stoddard3. Under the Tuscan Sun, by Frances Mayes4. French Cheese5. Essential Ayurveda, by S. Krishan6. O Magazine’s

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1149547447784627982006-06-06T00:42:00.000+02:002006-06-06T22:09:17.136+02:00

We are spending most of our sabbatical in Strasbourg, a city about 4 hours east of Paris near the Swiss and German borders. It is a city with a fascinating history, a truly unique architecture and good public transit.In the third week of our stay, on the twelfth consecutive cold and rainy day, I went online to the tourism office to try to figure out what people do in a city where you can never be

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1149547277708349512006-06-06T00:31:00.000+02:002006-06-14T18:40:37.373+02:00

To be fair, I don’t really know it was a lie—I’m just not sure it was the whole truth. It was Mother’s Day in France (which, coincidentally, is not the same day as Mother’s Day in the U.S.). My husband had organized a lovely day for me. Suddenly, my 3 year old sent forth a blood-curdling scream. I ran into his room to find him in bed, in obvious pain. It was his ear.Of course it was his ear. His

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1148849710491576642006-05-28T22:54:00.000+02:002006-06-03T13:49:56.460+02:00

The drawback to traveling anywhere with toddlers is, in order to keep everyone happy, it is necessary to go to children’s museums, McDonald’s and parks—in other words, to do the same things you would do at home. Why would you torture yourself by traveling half way around the world to do the exact same things? They are the same things, but they are not the same. Taking the kids to play in the

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1148829572812502562006-05-28T16:10:00.000+02:002006-05-28T17:46:42.553+02:00

Flying around the world with toddlers is not for the faint-of-heart. It requires great planning, an abundance of patience and a large quantity of sedatives, if available. I spent a fair amount of time planning; I brought their favorite toys, their blankies, special in-flight surprises and, in case all else failed, Baby Benadryl. I bought car seats to confine them and then hired our babysitter to

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28876789.post-1148825319342578992006-05-28T15:48:00.000+02:002006-06-01T00:14:42.876+02:00

Settling the affairs of one's life is actually, ironically perhpas, a bit unsettling. It feels like the type of thing that should only be done once you have departed this Earth and- to that end- it should only done by other people. Going on sabbatical, however, requires you to do so. It requires that you tie up the loose ends and, generally, put everything on hold while you start over... at

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07319494414919290921noreply@blogger.com0