Paris Parfait

Adventures in Amsterdam

Wire mesh globe light in Amsterdam shop, with the city's 17th-century buildings reflected in the glass.

What can I tell you about Amsterdam? Such a charming city, with beautiful art and architecture, great style, friendly people and good food! Before last week, I hadn't been there in 20 years. As you might expect, it's changed - mostly for the better, I think.

Shall I tell you about the lovely hotel that's comprised of 25 restored 17th-and-18th-century canal houses put together? Or about the historic restaurant in the Jordaan we found by chance, where we were the only non-Dutch people there (always a good sign) for dinner?

Or perhaps you'd like to hear about a superb six-course meal in an Italian restaurant, where we had a private dining room overlooking the kitchen and could watch the chefs' preparations? We were bombarded with attention until the last course, when they seemed to forget about us - and suddenly all that heat from the kitchen rose to the top, making the temperature stifling! I couldn't wait to leave (we'd been there over three hours)!

Or what about the art, oh the art! Rembrandt's Night Watch and his other stunning chiaroscuro paintings at the Rijks Museum show such incredible interplay of light and dark. The lines were too long for the Van Gogh Museum, but we did see the magnificent brocades, satins, furs and uniforms from Czar Nicolas and the Russian aristocracy at the Hermitage Amsterdam.

Then there was the fantastic World Press Photo exhibition at the Oude Kerk, the oldest church in Amsterdam. And an exhibit of abstract landscape photographs at the Huis Marseille Foundation for Photography. It's in a beautiful canal house, complete with a library (containing a huge ornate stove, original to the house), a landscaped garden centered with a statue of Mercury and even a little studio beyond the garden.

Double Dutch bicycle chained to a bridge railing, Amsterdam.

The Foam Museum of Photography also had several ongoing exhibits, including Massimo Vitali's World Press Photo prize-winning beach series and Guy Tillim's extraordinary documentary photos of once-grand cities and buildings in Africa, reduced to ruin.

The Anne Frank House was as emotionally moving as ever; by visiting late in the day, we avoided the crowds. We walked miles and miles along the canals and stopped in little shops and galleries. A canal boat ride, Pia Jane Bijkerk's book signing at Spui Square and a visit to the textile-laden Westerstraat Market in Jordaan were all punctuated with shooting photos. And we ate way too many stroopwaffles!

We also peered at property listings in estate agents' windows. Yes, we like Amsterdam so much, there's a chance we'll live there post-Paris. Check back later for more photos from our little adventure in Amsterdam.

Red geraniums and bicycles on a canal bridge.

Canal, Jordaan.

Canal at 10:05 p.m. June 28, 2009.

Tribute

Tribute to Michael Jackson, Amsterdam.

Back soon with stories and photos from Amsterdam. First, I have to finish a big project, due Friday!

Paris: Made by Hand

Pia Jane Bijkerk, June 27, 2009, Amsterdam.

Just back from Amsterdam an hour ago and can't wait to tell you about our fantastic time there! For now, here are photos of the fabulous Pia Jane Bijkerk, author, stylist and blogger extraordinaire. I took these photos Saturday afternoon at the book-signing in Spui Square for Pia's new book Paris: Made by Hand.

If you love Paris, you'll adore this book! It's brimming with insider tips about more than 50 Paris shops and studios that feature hand-made or unique goods. I've lived in Paris for more than eight years and thought I knew my way around many of the hidden gems and treasure haunts. Thanks to Pia, I've learned about some new must-visit places. Her experience as a stylist and her eye as a photographer combine for a must-have guide for your next shopping excursion.

Read Pia's account of her first book-signing here.

Pia decorated an American Book Center vitrine with a DIY (Do It Yourself) theme. Alas, these photos don't do her creative work justice. It was a bright, sunny day and I had only a telephoto lens with me.

Check back Tuesday for more photos and stories from Amsterdam.

Merci Paris

A little red Fiat loaded with plants in the courtyard at Merci, 111 Bd. Beaumarchais, Paris. My lovely friend Di Overton and I visited Merci and were struck by its intriguing mix of merchandise and innovative design.

Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, founders of the children's clothing boutique Bonpoint, decided to put their retail skills to good use, while raising funds for charity. Proceeds from sales at Merci go to aid poor women and children in Madagascar.

The view from the second floor.

The store's main entranceway. The large loops on either side of the door are radiators, from the building's days as a factory.

A book-filled cafe.

A tall stack of paperback books.

Red chairs.

Bottles made of recycled glass.

Chandelier constructed of wire and clay beads.

Vintage crystal chandelier.

Painted wooden tables, with paper-covered tops.

Vintage grocery sign.

Mid-century folding webbed fabric and metal chaises.

Lawn chairs from the '50s and '60s.

An antique iron garden chair.

Old steel school lockers.

A wirework birdcage filled with pigeon lights.

A child's bed on a ledge.

A clothesline displaying summer essentials.

Merci spelled in twigs and wire. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Take the metro to Saint Sébastien Froissard.

P.S. I am in Amsterdam for a few days. Back soon with photos and stories.

La vie en rose

The famous Berthillon ice cream and a pink car, Ile Saint-Louis, Paris.

La Charlotte de l'isle, a chocolate shop on Ile Saint-Louis. Vintage chocolate moulds are on display.

Purple shoes at Shakespeare & Co. "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple..."

Searching for bargains at the popular bookstore across the street from Notre Dame.

Tourists taking a break at Shakespeare & Co.

Complex flower.

Pink rose.

Weekend guests

On Friday, the daughter of a long-time friend came to spend the weekend with us. Sarah is a smart, funny and engaging linguistics student, currently studying French in Nantes. On Saturday, we met the delightful Jeanie, visiting from Michigan, for a trek to the flea market at Vanves. All three of us bought some lovely things.

For me, the find of the day was a bound set of The Studio for 100 euros. Last week I saw The Studio books, filled with illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley and other Art Nouveau artists, at an Arts & Crafts exhibit in London. The books were priced at £400 each! To get an entire set for 100 euros was incredible; I think the dealer didn't realise their value.

I also found two more aqua opaline Hermes wine glasses to add to my collection; they're so rare, I come across maybe one per year. Saturday, I was doubly lucky.

Jeanie and her friend Jerry came to our apartment for dinner Saturday night, Thanks to my husband the chef, we had delicious food. We also had a lot of fun! Jeanie brought lovely treats from the US, including a beautiful set of her handmade collaged cards. Plus she brought gifts from two other Michigan girls, Judy Winter and Jane Rosemont. Judy sent a signed copy of her book Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs, while Jane sent cards and a magnet featuring her gorgeous photography. For me, it was just like Christmas! Many thanks to the three Js!

On Sunday afternoon, I took Sarah to the train station. Along the way, we saw well-dressed senior citizens rummaging through the garbage near a grocery store, looking for discarded vegetables. So sad. We often see older people looking through too-ripe or damaged fruit and vegetables that vendors throw out on market days.

I was so exhausted from racing around for three days, I completely forgot about a brocante at Parc des Princes - in my own neighborhood! The weekend was also Fete de la Musique in Paris, so we listened to noise music from across the street in the Bois de Boulogne until early this morning.

Solidays

Beginning this Friday, it's Solidays in the Bois, the annual three-day music festival which raises funds for AIDS charities. We're going to skip impossible-to-sleep-due-to-booming-bass-from-bands-performing-on-three- stages Solidays and spend four days in Amsterdam.

Nattering neocons

If only the nattering neocons would take off their rose-colored glasses and stop talking! Their aversion to reality is pathetic, not to mention their numerous attempts to rewrite history.

Temporary technical glitches

Jigsaw windows, High Street Kensington, London. These photos were taken during London Underground's transit strike last week. You'll notice an abundance of bus, bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian traffic reflected in the background.

For a few hours earlier today, you may have noticed a "strike" of sorts with my blog. To some readers, Paris Parfait appeared in garbled form; others were treated to a raw version of my upcoming photography website. Somehow among the domain name host, the website host and Typepad, "wires" got crossed. Thankfully, the talented tech guy who's designing my website got Paris Parfait back up and running. Meanwhile, we're working to finish the photography site design, load content, etc. to launch soon.

Thanks for all your emails about the problems today in accessing Paris Parfait. I appreciate your patience.

Besides these issues, I've spent the entire day copying files from my HP laptop, before sending it off for repair. Oh and did I mention a guest arrives tomorrow morning - probably to general chaos? Check back later for another post.

Mirror images

Three-way mirrors, fourth floor, Liberty, London.

Stack of painted wooden chairs, Liberty.

Like all big cities, Paris struggles with issues related to globalisation and immigration. The latest issue of the online magazine Triple Canopy explores the phenomenon of monoactivite: Chinese textile wholesalers taking over the Sedaine-Popincourt neighbourhood.

Local residents, angered by the displacement of boulangeries, bistros and longtime businesses, want the Chinese businesses gone. The French government is trying to further regulate the Chinese wholesalers, who sell garments only in bulk and block streets with trucks loading and unloading merchandise.

Chinese employers operate sweatshops behind elegant facades, piecing together goods arriving from China in partially-finished condition and adding “Made in France” labels. The goods are then shipped to developing markets. Jules Treneer, an Oberkamp resident, writes about Parisians' views on French culture and their ambivalence towards immigration and the global marketplace.

Human trafficking

It just boggles the mind that modern-day slavery - also known as human trafficking - is so widespread. Read Megan Butel's eye-opening blog post "Stop! Where are you going with this?"

Who's afraid of a book?

Think book-banning and book-burning is a relic of another era? Not in West Bend, Wisconsin, where a few dunces are determined to censor their local library's selection of books. Read Laura Miller's piece about the groups fearful of Francesca Lia Block's book Baby Be-Bop.

I find it infuriating that a small group of ignorant and judgmental people try to impose their narrow views on everyone else, never mind if civil liberties are violated in the process!

Liberty

"Liberty Man" at Liberty, London. Where have all the heroes gone?

"...War will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destory their civil and political rights. To be more safe, they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free." - Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, No. 8

Shades of The Green Lantern. Click the words below for links to articles.

Scary. Shocking. Sad. Sickening.

Superb. Splendid. Soothing.

London crawling

Back from London a bit early; chaos created by the transit strike meant I spent most of my time on buses trying to get places, rather than accomplishing what I'd planned. I love London, but is it any wonder it failed to make even the top 50 of the world's most livable cities? Crowded, noisy, polluted, expensive.

Buses galore, cars, bikes and walking were the only modes of transport available Wednesday and Thursday during the London Underground strike. Hundreds of people were lined up at every stop, waiting to board already over-crowded double-deckers. After waiting in pouring rain nearly an hour for a bus - while several empty ones passed with "Not in service" signs - I paid £25 to hop on a Big Bus Company tourist bus on Gloucester Road. It took more than two hours in heavy traffic to reach Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum on Baker Street. From there I walked to my appointment on Harley Street.

A bus from Regent Street took three hours to reach Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park. The driver then announced he was told he'd worked too many hours (due to the excessive traffic) and passengers would have to depart at the next stop. I got out and walked to my hotel in South Kensington, just glad to be off the bus!

Unfortunately the strike meant I couldn't schedule any meet-ups with friends. But I did visit The Photographers' Gallery and my favourite store Liberty, where an Arts & Crafts exhibit was underway (check back later for photos). I also bought a new laptop. At the computer store, I refused the salesperson's entreaties to consider Dell, due to the large sums the company's founder contributed to Republicans in the 2008 presidential election. (I bought a Sony lightweight laptop with a huge memory, to go along with my HP laptop and Samsung netbook)

I thought this Nike ad on Oxford Street was appropriate for the day, considering the thousands of people streaming by in sneakers or walking shoes.

The harm in hate

Recently I was alarmed to note someone from a dangerous neo-Nazi group in the US was reading my site. Right-wing ignorance and hatred is spreading: witness European elections this week and right-wingers gaining seats in the European Parliament.

In the UK, the British National Party won two seats in the European Parliament. At a press conference, the group's figurehead was pelted with eggs. On London television, a commenter joked, "He was upset because the egg-throwers didn't separate the whites." Another commenter suggested those with ethnic backgrounds living in the BNP constituencies show up at their surgeries (regularly scheduled to hear constituents' concerns) in groups, forcing the racist leader to deal with non-whites.

It appears the white supremacist suspected of killing a security guard at the Holocaust Museum in Washington has links to the BNP.

If you read nothing else today, these articles are worth your time:

The Big Hate

From Hate to Hurt

Can right-wing hate talk lead to murder?

The wrong story

On Eurostar to London, I read Siri Hustvedt's book "The Sorrows of an American." While the book was interesting, I found some of the sidebars distracting, with characters that didn't seem relevant to the plot.

But I am glad I read the book. Three phrases in particular struck a chord. In one passage,the author compared the current rash of television reality shows to the equivalent of people gathering at the gallows to watch a public hanging. A succinct analogy, I think.

And these two lines resonate:

"We found the wrong story. We were looking for one story and ran into another one."

"Maybe you've kept a secret in your heart that you've felt, in all its joy or pain was too precious to share with anyone."

What about you? Did you find the wrong story or are you happily ensconced in a modern-day fairytale? Do you hold a secret close; one so powerful you don't dare whisper it to another?

"London crawling" is a tongue-in-cheek reference to "London calling," the BBC World Service's station identification: "This is London calling," used during World War II in broadcasts to other countries.

Anges et Demons encore

Hand-written sheet music at Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons stand at the 32nd Foire aux Antiquaires at Saint-Sulpice, Paris. Take Metro Line 10 to Mabillon, then walk to Place Saint-Sulpice. The brocante continues from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through June 15th.

Histoire de Paris tomes and a heavy iron door knocker.

An antique writing desk, frames and curiosities.

A tableau of decorative items.

Sculptures, urns and plaster medallions.

A painted pillar and candlestick.

---------------------------------------------------

Am off to London, just in time for the Tube strike! Will catch up with you at the weekend.

Anges et Demons at Saint-Sulpice

Aqua verre, a marble sculpture and a plaster medallion at the extraordinary Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons stand at the 32nd Foire aux Antiquaires at Saint-Sulpice, Paris. The event continues daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through June 15th. Take Metro Line 10 to Mabillion and walk two blocks to Place Saint-Sulpice.

Aqua glass candle or flower hanging goblets and 18th-century documents.

An 18th-century wooden plaque from a ship, an antique urn and 19th-century pharmacy glass.

A tablet of vintage glass, candlesticks and a father-and-child sculpture.

An antique writing desk, decorative boxes and lamps.

Vintage boxes and cylinders and an embroidered band of ribbon.

Amber etched-glass goblets.

A vintage wooden ship, cricket balls, fish plates, shells and framed illustrations.

Two chairs with needlepoint seats.

Le petit maison.

A surprisingly-comfortable 19th-century Swedish daybed and an oil painting.

Check back Monday for more photos from Anges et Demons and other curiosities at Saint-Sulpice.

Yes, we Caen!

A pop art take on Barack Obama's presidential campaign rallying cry "Yes, we can!" in a shop window.

To honour President Obama's visit to Normandy for D-Day ceremonies this weekend, the City of Caen has changed its road signs and town banners to read "Yes, we Caen!"

Agape special sale

Today my friend Gabrielle and I went to Agape's vente emphemere at La Biscuiterie de France. Alas, there were so many enthusiastic shoppers, I couldn't take a photo without someone stepping into the shot. These photos were taken in May when Di Overton and I went to Agape.

Tableaus at Julie Isore's Agape.

If you're in Paris, Agape's special sale continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 6 on Sunday. La Biscuiterie's entrance is at 60, rue de Billancourt in Boulogne-Billancourt. Take Metro Line 10 to Jean-Jaures or Pont de Saint-Cloud.

Saint-Sulpice, Normandy and Guantanamo Bay

French 18th-century satin slippers at Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons.

If you're in Paris, you might enjoy browsing for antiques and collectibles at the 32nd Foire aux Antiquaires at Place Saint-Sulpice. Beginning Thursday, June 4, the brocante is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through June 15. Tomorrow night only, antique dealers will keep their stalls open until 10 p.m. Admission is free.

Stop by and see Sophie Pretelat's amazing antiques and collectibles at Anges et Demons, Stand K8. Sophie's great style and flair for display alone is worth a visit. Nathalie Cottier - who usually has wonderful Guignol puppet theatres on hand, among other offerings - will be at Stand A10.

Normandy banner

Regular readers are aware that I routinely rotate Paris Parfait mastheads. The current banner contains my photos of beaches at Normandy, France, where American, British and Canadian troops landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The large background photo is of Pont du Hoc, the steep cliff that American troops scaled, only to be met by German fire. The smaller photos are of driftwood on Utah Beach; a steel sculpture on Omaha Beach created by French sculptress Anilore Banon to honour American troops; trotter horses training at low tide on Utah Beach and a canal in the town centre of Bayeux.

President Barack Obama will join French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Britain's Prince Charles and others this weekend to mark the D-Day anniversary.

Another suicide at Guantanamo Bay

On a somber note, the constitutional lawyer and columnist Glenn Greenwald has an excellent piece at Salon about the latest suicide at Guantanamo Bay and the government's complicity. Can you imagine what a nightmare it would be,locked in a cell for seven years without charge? It's no wonder prisoners are driven to despair. So much for our so-called democracy's respect for human rights!

Both Republicans and Democrats - even those who called loudly for its closure during the Bush administration - are now blocking Obama from immediately closing Guantanamo Bay. How? In a shameful abdication of responsibility, they've refused to approve needed funding. These "not in my back yard" politicians are also balking at accepting current prisoners for trial within the United States, as though they are some sort of terrible monsters, not human beings.

Most prisoners at Guantanamo haven't even been charged and well may be innocent victims of gross miscarriages of justice. It defies belief that those elected to represent us are being obstructive in the rule of law. Meanwhile, those men in Guantanamo remain prisoners for what reasons, exactly??!!

"We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." - John F. Kennedy

Stuck in a time warp?

"I'm a guy who sees nothing good having come from the Internet. Period." - Michael Lynton,
CEO of Sony Pictures

It seems Michael Lynton has been spending too much time at the movies and not enough paying attention to the way communications are evolving.

Lawsuit seeks justice for children in Mississippi

The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a federal class action suit to stop the "shockingly inhumane" treatment of children at a juvenile detention center. The lawsuit seeks to force officials to provide sanitary facilities and mental health treatment to young people confined there.

The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of a 17-year-old boy. While in the facility, the boy attempted suicide, yet has received no mental health treatment. He has been subjected to physical abuse and filthy conditions,forced to sleep on the floor in an overcrowded, insect-infested cell.

The Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center in Biloxi, Miss., has been operated by a private corporation, the Mississippi Security Police, for more than nine years at an annual cost of $1.6 million. "It is a travesty that the county has chosen to let a private company profit by neglecting and abusing our children," said Vanessa Carroll, a staff attorney for the SPLC's Mississippi Youth Justice Project and counsel for the children.

Most children confined at the facility have not been found guilty of any crime and are awaiting court hearings. Many are there for minor offenses like truancy.

The lawsuit describes how the county has failed to provide the most basic, constitutionally-required services to the plaintiff, known in the suit as D.W. "Toilets and walls are covered with mold, rust and excrement," the lawsuit says. "Insects have infested the facility and the smell of human excrement permeates the entire building. Children frequently have to sleep on thin mats that smell of urine and mold. Defendants do not provide children with adequate personal hygiene items."

Children who have been confined there describe assaults by guards, being locked in their cells for 23 hours every day, inadequate medical and mental health care and widespread infections caused by filthy conditions. Marlon, 17, said children are treated like animals at the facility. "I've seen the guards slam kids, mace them and do things they wouldn't even do to their own dog, let alone a human."

Photos at Merci, Paris.

Maroc in Paris

Sign in an old doorframe, Merci, Paris.

Thank you for your lovely comments about my Moroccan-themed window reflections posts. Some readers apparently skimmed the posts too quickly and had the mistaken impression the photos were taken during an actual journey to Maroc. While I have been to Morocco, I was not there last week! The series of photos were taken at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

In my Ready for Adventure? post, I offered a prize from Morocco and a prize from France, the latter worth 200 euros. The winners drawn from le chapeau are Maia (Morocco) and Leau (France). Felicitations to both of you! Please email me your mailing addresses and I'll get your packages off toute de suite via La Poste.

Scroll down the page for an additional post today.

Les fleurs de Mai

Bouquet of roses, Merci, Paris.

Piviones and assorted flowers, Merci.

A single blossom, Merci.

Flower boxes in a courtyard, Merci.

Lavender allium, Hotel de Ville, Boulogne-Billancourt.

Window boxes for Claudia's Flowerbox Faceoff, 3rd arrondissement, Paris.

Peony in a teacup, my apartment.

Today the Cannes Film Festival will announce its 2009 prize winners. And the French Open tennis championship begins at Roland Garros, Paris.

A suggestion of something more

Vitrine, Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

This is my favorite photo of this week's Moroccan-themed series. I focused the camera lens on the signed art depicting a traditional tribal costume. But the reflection of arched windows and a wrought iron balcony across the street hints at the ambience of a Moroccan city, rich with history. In my view, the reflection lends an element of imagination that didn't exist in the costume drawing. But some readers may prefer photos without the distraction of reflections. What do you think?

For another post today, read Distorting the View.

Distorting the view

Vitrine, Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

Notice how this Islamic pattern overlay distorts the view through a plate glass window? You may be interested in these three examples of efforts to "change the view:"

A fascinating 100-second video at Talking Points Memo: Dueling speeches.

Joan Walsh's Wild Dick Cheney at the Neocon Corral. I ask again, why is anybody listening to the former vice president, as he continues to tout the failed policies of the Bush administration??!!

Glenn Greenwald's excellent article about the sometimes contradictory statements in Obama's civil liberties speech.

La magie du Maroc

Oh the dazzling sights and sounds of Maroc!

A little girl peers into a shop window.

Tree branches holding lanterns and candles.

Decorative birdcages are popular...

...whether or not one keeps a bird.

...or three or four.

An assortment of silver, brass and glass candlesticks of various styles and heights.

A globe light fixture by Yahya, who sells his work in a boutique at 61 rue de Yougoslavie, Passage Ghandouri, in the heart of Gueliz, Marrakech.

A traditional costume.

Perhaps a walk and browsing in bookstores?

Wall of mirrors.

Golden bougeoirs.

After carrying all those heavy parcels, shall we visit the hammam?

Would you like some cool and refreshing cucumber water with mint?

Tea, then more sightseeing and shopping?

After all that shopping, sightseeing and exploring, have you worked up an appetite?

Let's have dinner at a restaurant featuring these beautiful place settings created by Myriam Mourabit.

Hmmm, spicy chicken couscous! Bon appetit!

Tea after dinner?

Photo of birds in a cage at Merci, Paris.
Photos of cucumber water and spicy chicken couscous at my home in Paris.
All other photos, vitrines, Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

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Did you hear about this New Zealand bank's mistake? When living in Jordan, I was expecting a transfer of funds from my employer in the UK. The accountant, who was converting dinars into pounds into dollars, mistakenly sent $210,000, rather than $21,000. As it was deposited into my personal account, technically the money was mine to keep.

I phoned my boss, who was traveling and left a message saying, "I knew you were pleased with my work and planning to give me a bonus, but I never expected anything like this!" About an hour later, he phoned me from Spain, desperately charming, to make sure I returned the money. Of course I did! But in the week of bureaucrarcy required to transfer funds back to the UK, I made about $1000 in interest and got a big bonus. And I received two marriage proposals. Ha ha!

Ready for adventure?

Passports ready? Don't forget your bag.

Let's load up the caravan.

We'll need comfortable, yet stylish clothes for warm temperatures: nothing too exposed; modesty is a plus in this Islamic nation.

Have you guessed where we're headed? In this country, the cities are colourful, noisy and crowded, but vast expanses of land are occupied by undulating sand dunes of the Western Sahara.

Many Moroccans believe that jinns play a role in everyday life. Morocco moves to its own multi-cultural rhythm, with strong influences from the Moors, Africa, Spain, Europe and the Middle East.

Seeing stars, in the cobalt blue colour predominant throughout Morocco.

Lanterns in various Islamic shapes and sizes are found in virtually every corner of Morocco.

You can never have too many lanterns.

It's been a long journey. Shall we accept an invitation for tea?

What a selection of tea glasses! Maybe we can take some home?

Oh, my head is spinning with all her suggestions of what to see, where to eat, what to do! I'm thinking we need a month, just to hit the highlights!

Isn't it charming to see a child dressed in a traditional costume?

Hmmm, after our busy day, perhaps it's time to take a break. Let's meet back here later to discuss what to see next. Meanwhile, leave a note (in the comments section) for a chance to win a prize from Morocco PLUS a special prize from France worth 200 euros!

Suggested reading: The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca and In Arabian Nights - A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams, both by Tahir Shah; The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles and La Prisonniere by Malika Oufkir.

Photos, vitrines at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

L'invitation au voyage

Come with me on a magic carpet ride. Can you imagine our destination?

If you are contemplating packing a caravan full of clothing and supplies, we can take a nomadic route.

Get your passport and travel essentials together. I'll meet you back here later!

Photos, vitrines at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

Gunnar Pettersson's collection of treasures

Black Forest bears from Germany at Gunnar Pettersson's stand #514 at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille. The brocante ends at 7 p.m. today.

More Black Forest examples. If you missed the opportunity to visit Monsieur Pettersen's stand at Bastille, you'll have another chance at brocantes at Chatou in September and Bastille again in November.

A Morrocan bust on a wooden base.

Scientific and mathematical instruments and decorative frames.

"Vaseline" glass.

Hand-painted wooden boxes.

Souvenir treen from various regions of France.

More wooden treen, originally used primarily to hold toiletries.

Provencal pots for storing duck fat.

These little volumes are actually flashlights.

Seashell frame on an antique mercury glass mirror.

A shell-encrusted box.

A decorative beaded glass frame, mercury glass candlesticks and cranberry glass.

A porcelain menu placard for dinner parties.

An assortment of enameled objets d'art behind glass.

Frames galore in a glass case.

A handpainted wooden frame.

Decorative trays with vintage glassware.

The way we live

Paris apartment, May 16, 2009.

This is the first of a series of vignettes of everyday life.

Weighing the balance

Louis-Phillipe scales with the original weights used to measure gold (more weights are in a small compartment beneath the wood piece on the right). I purchased this rare example from Gunnar Pettersson at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, as an anniversary present for my husband. Visit Monsieur Pettersson at Stand 514 for many intriguing finds, daily through Sunday, May 17th at Place de la Bastille.

Since returning to Paris, I've been trying to catch up with deadlines and email. Am still feeling very much in the breakdown/breakthrough mode I wrote about recently. So please bear with me, as I try to get back on track. I'm also bothered by a carpal tunnel issue in my left hand, so any posts will be brief.

Meanwhile, some news of note:

The bright and light

The Cannes Film Festival opened and French television has full-blown coverage, with virtually non-stop interviews and photo ops.

Is the "French Elvis" really bidding adieu to his fans?

The dark

Blame the victim. This is just wrong, on so many levels.

A humanitarian disaster is brewing in Sri Lanka.

President Obama, what are you thinking??!! Surely you learned what NOT to do from your predecessor's bad judgment!!

And why is anybody listening to that torture-loving and fear-mongering former vice-president Dick Cheney? Seriously: enough is enough!

Industrial charm at Bastille

Remember the American folk song " I've Been Working on the Railroad?" As children, we learned it in music class.

Industrial furnishings at Cedric Grare's Art Atypique stand at Bastille.

Specimens, both from nature and hand-forged.

An iron star on a stand against a backdrop of 19th-century gilt mirrors and frames.

Painted driftwood sculptures remind me of Native American feathers.

A 1960s jukebox in good working order.

I was captivated by two identical oeil de boeuf leaded-glass windows at Nina Nattaf's Les Impedimenta stand at Bastille. Iron cross bars help support the glass in each window, which - despite their age - have sustained only one tiny crack. The wood frames encasing the 19th-century treasures are four or five inches thick. The windows came from a chateau in Burgundy, France.

Check back Thursday for more photos of the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, currently underway. The event is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday, May 17th. Get your tickets for eight euros each at the main entrance on Place de la Bastille. The brocante extends along both sides of the picturesque Canal St. Martin.

Anges et Démons at Bastille

The inimitable Sophie Pretalat's Anges et Démons stand at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille is filled with precious and rare objects, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Mme. Pretalat's unique style and her amazing collection of antiques have been featured in numerous books and magazines in France.

Visit Anges et Démons at Stand 403 along the Canal St. Martin, facing Place de la Bastille. The brocante continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday, May 17th. Tickets are available at the main entrance at Place de la Bastille. Take the Metro Line 1 to Bastille or Metro 5 or 8 to Bastille or Quai de la Rapee. Bus lines 76, 86 and 91 go to Bastille and parking is available at the Opera.

I brought home a couple of 19th-century mercury glass candlesticks to replace some that were shattered. Last October a guest accidentally knocked five antique mercury glass candlesticks and a painting to the floor. Two candlesticks survived the incident; thankfully, the painting sustained only minor damage.

Check back later for more photos of the brocante at Bastille.

Wedding photos

My daughter Jordana Noelle is pictured just before walking down the aisle on Saturday, May 2 at her friends' home in Savannah, Georgia.

Jordana's stepfather David escorted her down the aisle. Here he steps aside, as the marriage vows begin.

Jordana and Keith recite their marriage vows, including a poem by Kahlil Gibran.

The happy couple. Jordana designed her own dress, made of dotted Swiss bought in New York. Her espadrilles are Christian Louboutin.

A private moment.

Jordana's friend Alisa pours champagne brought from Paris into French crystal champagne flutes, a gift from the bride's parents.

Jordana takes a break after the initial wedding festivities.

Evening in Savannah, with Spanish moss dripping from the trees.

Chinese lanterns illuminate the wedding celebration.

Even a decorative birdcage is lit with votive candles. Jordana's friend Sarah, who is in charge of creative displays for a popular retail store in Madison, Wisconsin, decorated the birdcage and draped the wooden arch with tulle and lights. The groom's stepfather built the arch. He presented it to Jordana's friends, as thanks for hosting the wedding.

The guestbook with handmade paper from Paris, enhanced with flecks of gold and glitter and an 18th-century French tulle and satin jewelry pillow.

First dance, as the disc jockey plays Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic."

Cutting the cake.

The cake is from Florida; assorted cupcakes are from a bakery in Savannah and napkins are from Paris. Tables were decorated with colorful floral tablecloths from Anthropologie and centered with bouquets of purple tulips, Jordana's favourite flower. About 50 friends and family members from all across the United States (and France) joined in the wedding celebration, including two of Jordana's former classmates at the American School of Paris.

Jordana and their dog, wearing a bowtie for the occasion.

Thank you all for your warm wishes for Jordana and Keith!

Update Saturday, May 9: And a special thank you to David (pictured with his trusty Nikon) who has been a wonderful father to Jordana. He has been very supportive of her accomplishments. He also helped me keep my sanity in the flurry of last-minute wedding preparations and travel arrangements.

While in Savannah, David made a few side trips for bird-watching and has some fantastic photos of birds and alligators (!), that I'll be posting next week.

And seven years ago today, we got married in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Tonight, we'll celebrate at dinner with champagne, a 1998 Chateau de Chantegrive Bordeaux and duck with sour cherries, cooked by the resident Chef, of course! And he brought me white roses, my favourite.

In search of the unusual

A quirky industrial lamp at Cedric Grare's Art Atypique stand at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, Paris. I would have snapped this up for my desk, if not for the 950 euros price tag!

This was Opening Day for the popular Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, Paris. It was lovely to see some old friends, as well as beautiful antiques and collectibles. I have some unusual finds to show you, but it will take time to post all the photos.

Haven't had a chance yet to go through all Jordana's wedding photos; hope to do that later tonight and post more on Friday. Thank you all for your lovely comments for the previous post, featuring Jordana in her wedding dress. Both Jordana and I really appreciate your felicitations and good wishes.

The Antiquites Brocante at Bastille continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through May 17th. Stands positively bursting with fabulous treasures and conversation pieces extend along both sides of the Canal St. Martin. Tickets for eight euros each are available at the main entrance on Place de la Bastille.

Savannah: la belle mariée

The beautiful bride: My daughter Jordana Noelle, wearing the dress she designed. She is pictured just before her wedding on Saturday, May 2 in Savannah, Georgia.

Check back later for more photos of the happy occasion and of Savannah. Meanwhile, a coat Jordana designed is featured in a full-page advertisement for SCAD in the May issue of In Style magazine (page 34, American edition).

And my photograph of melting snow droplets on a pine tree is on the cover of It's for Your Benefit magazine in Alberta, Canada. It's my first cover, so I was thrilled to find a copy of the magazine waiting in my mailbox.

Coveted curiosities

Antiques and vintage musical instruments, Salmagundi West, Gastown, Vancouver, B.C.

Miscellaneous items, Salmagundi West, 321 West Cordova Street, Vancouver.

Antique puppet, Maison d'Etre, Oakland, California.

Plush toys, Maison d'Etre.

"Dear John" vitrine, Shop SCAD, Savannah.

Vintage library card catalogue, The Paris Market, Savannah.

Antique safe deposit boxes, The Ballastone Inn, Savannah.

Timeless Treasures, San Francisco.

Grooves Records, San Francisco.

Tara Bradford is traveling. In her absence, timed posts should appear.

Do it for you

Frida Kahlo image in tiles, Mexican restaurant, The Mission, San Francisco.

"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration." - Frida Kahlo, 1907-1954.

Cape inspired by Frida Kahlo, Fibers Exhibition, the Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Ga.

Tara Bradford is traveling. In her absence, timed posts should appear.

April fools amidst signs of spring

A vintage Indian sari, The Paris Market, Savannah, Georgia.

Backpacks filled with flowers, Les Passages, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, snapped with my pocket camera.

Another flower-stuffed backpack at a store entrance.

Window display, Les Passages.

Giant Easter eggs, birds and birdhouses in a chocolate shop vitrine in my neighbourhood.

April fools

It doesn't look as though Miss Universe will choose a career in diplomacy.

And Avigdor Lieberman certainly is starting off on the wrong foot in his role as Israel's new foreign minister.

On the eve of the G20 Summit in London, most protests have been organised and peaceful. But live news feeds showed a group of 30 to 40 hooded and masked guys shouting obsenities and deliberately trying to provoke police in a cordoned-off area near the Bank of England. Some of these "protesters," - who weren't carrying any signs, so appeared to be just thugs and troublemakers - were brandishing sticks and throwing smoke bombs; one young man even bashed a police officer in the head. Still, the police showed admirable restraint, refusing to rise to the bait.

Other "protesters" smashed windows of the Royal Bank of Scotland and entered the building.

Scroll down the page for an additional post today.

In the pink

More spring blossoms, Paris.

1970s redux, thrift store, Savannah, Georgia.

Window display, The Paris Market, Savannah.

Silly rabbits, (this and three photos below), @Home Vintage General, Savannah.

Spools of satin ribbons.

Vintage cabinet, retro laundry sign and numbered bottles.

Candy pink candlesticks.

Thoughts for the weekend

Pamper yourself. Really. You deserve it!

Sit for a spell, as we say in the South. Read; write; play a game; chat. Or just sit and think.

Relax and stop worrying about things you can't control.

Take your time; stop racing around as though your hair's on fire, as Condoleeza would say.

Think about it: Life is too short not to indulge yourself once in a while!

All vignettes are from the uber-talented and utterly charming Joan O'Connor at her fabulous store Timeless Treasures in San Francisco. More photos from Joan's incredible selection of treasures coming soon.

I am anxious to get back to San Francisco to see what Joan has come up with lately, as her shop is constantly-evolving with delightful curiosities old and new! If you're in San Francisco, stop in and say hello. Joan and/or her talented staff will make you feel very welcome. And you'll find it difficult to resist the tempting treats on offer!

Scroll down the page for another post today.

Last chance for Chatou

If you're in Paris today or tomorrow, it's your last opportunity to visit the 78th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites a la Brocante et aux Jambons at Ile de Chatou. Alas, my eye inflammation has thus far prevented me from attending.

If you have the chance, don't miss Chatou for some fabulous antiques and collectibles. It's open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and tomorrow. Tickets are available at the gate. And if you can't make this brocante, there's another "ham fair" in September at Chatou.

Stop by 4 rue Pele and see my friend M. Pettersson (pictured here at a brocante at Bastille); 10 rue de la Gaite to see the lovely Blandine Bavoux and 7 rue du Chemin Vert to visit the charming Nathalie Cottier. All three antiques dealers have beautiful, high-quality items for sale for reasonable prices.

If you miss Chatou this time around, you'll have another opportunity to visit M. Pettersson's stand at the Square des Batignolles Brocante beginning March 20th. The brocante in the 17th arrondisement is open from 10 to 7 p.m. daily through March 29th. Take the metro to Brochant or Rome and walk a couple of blocks to Square des Batignolles. You'll find M. Pettersson at Stand 100.

Miscellaneous items on offer at M. Pettersson's stand at 5 rue Pele, Chatou.

Asian influence.

Black forest wood creatures.

A French chandelier accented with amber crystals.

One very lucky Friday the 13th

Ode to Apple, Printemps, Paris.

For a Friday the 13th, this has been one very fortunate day! Three incredible opportunities have appeared in my inbox, out of the blue - but very welcome. More about all that soon.

Meanwhile, won't you pop over to Apartment Therapy and see Julie's bright and cheery Denmark kitchen? Visit Julie's blog here.

Read Jen Lemen's words of hope.

And grab a cup of tea and savor Judy's powerful Visual Anthologies.

Hope your Friday the 13th is proving lucky!

Always an adventure

Seeking adventure; will travel. Photo at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.” - Helen Keller

I am delighted to be guest blogger at the lovely Relyn's place. Won't you join me for a chat about adventures and perhaps a hint or two about my upcoming novel? I'd love to hear about your memorable adventures. And I've saved a seat just for you!

Don't squeeze the toothpaste tube

"Chandelier" comprised of silver tubes in various sizes suspended from slender light cords in a Paris vitrine.

A Native American headdress and assorted wigs are among the attractions at a party supply and toy store.

Star Wars characters and space-age gear in a travel agent's window. Tickets on a space shuttle, perhaps? More likely, an airport shuttle.

A tongue-in-cheek reference to the French president? That's the joke around town. But it's really a children's book series.

A favourite William Shakespeare quote over the doorway of Antiquarian Books at Shakespeare & Co., Paris. Notre Dame is reflected in the window.

Feu et lumières

I've got the world on a string.

Home is where the heart is.

Hearts on fire.

All photos, Paris, March 4, 2009. Back soon with stories of Napoleon and Egypt; film-making; friends; food and a rare find. See my friend Di's photos of today's outings here.

The Pyramid in Paris

The Pyramid reflected in a pool of water at the Louvre, Paris. Designed in 1984 by architect I. M. Pei, the structure is made of glass segments, steel rods and cables. The Pyramid stands 20.6 meters (about 70 feet) high; its square base has sides of 35 meters (115 ft). The Pyramid was inaugurated in October, 1988 and opened to the public in 1989.

The Pyamid provides the entrance to the Louvre.

In this photo, the Louvre Palace appears to be leaning towards the main Pyramid. Two smaller inverted pyramids flank the large one. As always, click photos to enlarge.

The spiral staircase within the Pyramid, leading to the Louvre entrance.

Fountain at the Louvre.

Sunset, February 28, 2009.

Shadows form a triangular Pyramid shape in the reflecting pools.