Bonjour Paris

Paris is a city made for walking!  There are both Grand Boulevards and narrow streets that were once cart paths, 

each equally enchanting to stroll.

With 2 extra days to visit Paris, we headed from home base of Versailles, by train into the heart of Paris, arriving at the Gare St Lazare.  That is the perfect starting point.

With my niece Victoria

Upon arrival, it stated raining, so walked quickly over to the department store 'Galleries Lafayette', which is an architectural wonder!  The main building has a colourful dome, 

which attracts many visitors.

Even better is the view from the rooptop!

As you can see, rain was in order for the day!

With umbrellas in hand, we headed to the Jardin du Palais Royale.
  Its canopy of trees must have shaded many royal courtiers

 

I just loved the juxtaposition of the old and  new with this 'water art'

Still looking for cover from the rain, we found this lovely little passage that had charming boutiques, with many tempting bottles!

Time for a lunch break... We found a lovely little cafe called 'La Bombe' near the Bourse.  The first clue that this is a place where the locals eat and not meant for tourists, is that the menu is all in french, and very limited.

Open faced ham and tomato

Steak tartare

Lovely Aunt Shirley

The clouds started dissipating, which allowed more outdoor visiting.

 Time to head back to the train, but not before admiring the very creative shop windows!

It isn't always about TIME....

.....but someone thought it was!

Another day in Paris tomorrow....... 

Paris in the Spring

Many years ago, I used to live in Paris.

It was a time in my life when I had no obligations, so taking a year to study, work a little and have some fun was great a start to adulthood.  

Paris in the spring can't be duplicated....the fresh cool breezes gently wafting over the spring gardens evokes a calming comfort.

My father was born and raised in Paris and we knew from an early age, after he immigrated to Canada, that he wanted it to be his last resting place.  To honour his wishes, many branches of the family gathered in Paris to say our final goodbyes.

 The gods were on our side as we were able to connect with family back in Canada through SKYPE, so they could be with us.

Dad would have been extremely pleased with the sweet and emotional send off to be with my mother.

Good bye Dad....you are forever in our hearts!

Honouring my Father

When you lose one parent, it hurts and you feel overwhelmed with grief.  When you lose your last parent, it sends you into another realm of disbelief and denial.  They are the people you have known the longest and made you feel that

 you were the best thing that ever happened to them.

My family was shocked last week with the untimely death of my father.

He loved clowning for the camera

 His 4 daughters, 1 son-in-law and 2 of his grandchildren arrived in Victoria, from around the globe, to bid him 'bon voyage' for his next journey to meet all his loved ones who left before him...

My father loved the good life, so food and drink were one of the highlights of his day.

What better way to honour him

 than by feasting for a few days and toasting him.

We even were treated to

 a home cooked Korean meal fit for royalty!

All washed down with fine wines from Dad's cellar!

With our final goodbyes said, a rejuvenating walk in Beacon Hill park with the wildlife was in order....

...followed by a crisp walk on the beach.

Good-bye Dad....you lived a fabulous life!

You are loved and will be greatly missed!

Dining in Toronto

Having left Toronto over 20 years ago, it is always with mixed emotions that I go back for a visit.  I love my laid back life in the country, but miss my friends and some aspects of the life a big city can offer.

Although my new home town has many fine restaurants, the dining experience in Toronto is not to be missed.  Thanks to my friend Nancy T, I took an express elevator to the 54th floor of the TD Tower to spend a few hours feasting on an extraordinary lunch at Canoe Restaurant

One of the added bonuses is the breathtaking view.  Alas, the weather gods were not with us that day and these views from the ground showed the pea soup outside our 'supposedly' fabulous vista.

 The view did not stop us from enjoying our superb lunch!

We both started with the 'northern woods mushroom soup'.

Nancy opted for the 'West coast halibut, with summer squash, Swiss chard, fresh wasabi mayo + crispy brandade fritters'

Although I am trying very hard to cut back on meat, my European background yearns for dishes I grew up with.  One of those was satisfied with 'steak tartare, applewood smoked bacon, foraged flavours + pretzel toast'

 Again, my upbringing moved me to have cheese instead of a sweet desert and I was not disappointed with a choice of '14 arpents' which is a pasteurized cow’s milk, washed with salt water twice daily for 90 days, from Fromagerie Médard, Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec

 Not one to be beaten by weather, the following day, during the lull between lunch and dinner, I rode the elevator back up to the 54th floor, strode into Canoe and asked the M'aitre D if I could take a few pictures of the view I was denied the day before....

 

 This was after meeting my oldest friend who I have known since we were both 6 years old for a catch up lunch at Bannock Restaurant,

that specializes in 'comfort food'.  As we are both originally 'Quebecers', we couldn't pass up the 'poutine pizza with curds, fries, caramelized onions and duck confit'

  Walking back through the downtown, even the concrete jungle tries to bring a little 'country to the city'

 Visits are great....but heading home, enjoying the turn of the season, always warms my heart.

 Thank you Nancy T. and and Wanda L. for wonderful visit.