Flânerie

Flâneur (pronounced: [flɑnœʁ]), from the French noun flâneur, means "stroller", "lounger", "saunterer", or "loafer". Flânerie refers to the act of strolling, with all of its accompanying associations. The flâneur was, first of all, a literary type from 19th century France, essential to any picture of the streets of Paris. It carried a set of rich associations: the man of leisure, the idler, the urban explorer, the connoisseur of the street. Honore de Balzac described flânerie as "the gastronomy of the eye".[3] Anaïs Bazin wrote that "the only, the true sovereign of Paris is the flâneur."

Yesterday, I played the 'flâneur' and took a stroll around the Tuileries Gardens and backstreets behind the Louvre, up to Les Halles. I was meant to be seeing a Frida Kahlo / Diego Rivera exhibition in the Musee de l'Orangerie in the Tuileries, but of course many of Paris' big museums are closed on a Tuesday. On your Paris adventures, make sure you check ahead, (unlike me) to avoid last minute disappointment! 

Not a cloud in the sky- whilst "The Great Storm" 'rages' in Britain, Paris is experiencing an indian summer!

One of my favourite things to do in Paris is simply to walk around to the rhythms of this great city. I am so unbelievably lucky to have been given the chance to live here, and sometimes when I'm walking I get this feeling of desperation that I won't have enough time to appreciate every little thing. What if I miss out a street, or never go into a shop or round a certain corner and see a certain view?! When I've been so blessed, it seems wasteful not to step out and try to embrace and gather up every last sight, sound and memory. I take some of my favourite pictures whilst walking - it's free, it's healthy and I think it's good for the heart!

 

The day wasn't wasted, however, as instead we headed through the gardens and enjoyed a free impromptu al fresco exhibition, as, as if by magic, large sculptures had grown majestically out of the dirt paths of the jardins and settled themselves ostentatiously on the lawns. Quelle chance !

Can anyone solve the mystery of the glowing left hand in the picture above - I've been imbued with some kind of mystical power ( /the light is shining on my hand) !

In the afternoon, I met a friend for what was going to be my first sushi experience (she couldn't believe I'd never really tried it!) but the restaurant, again, was closed! Something tells me I need to do better planning in the future. Instead we wound up in a cute cafe-cum-restaurant called 'Le Loir dans La Theiere'.

     

I had an amazing goats cheese and onion tart and my friend was really happy with her paella. We both agreed we'd have to return for their amazing cakes, as, trying to keep down costs, we were only able to feast our eyes on them.

Today is a study day as I plough through 'Ruy Blas' by Victor Hugo & knuckle down to writing my first 'Commentaire', before my Mum arrives on Tuesday!

So excited!

À Bientôt !

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