Quiet Please!

One of the side effects of the smoking ban in cafés and restaurants is that smokers feel compelled to go outside in the street to have their shoot fix. And what happens when they are outside altogether? They talk, laugh, chuckle... drop their cigarette ends on the ground and trigger much anger from the neighbors! The problem has become so important that the town hall had to react and launched a massive campaign. The photo I took shows one of the posters you can now find outside many places. It says "Outside, let's talk quietly" and the little shoeshine box on the left is, in fact, a portable ashtray that is provide for free to cafés and restaurants so that they can give them to their customers.

Le Zinc!

Here is another typical Paris scene! We often call the bar that can be found in cafés, "Le zinc", after the name of the metallic chemical element (even though, and I'm sure it will be a surprise to all my French readers, I found out that no bars have ever been made out of Zinc!). The little red and white napkin under the glasses is also very French: the red and white motive (which can also be green or blue) is called "Le Vichy" because it was originally made in Vichy (in the South center of France) - It was Brigitte Bardot who made it famous when she got married in a Vichy style dress in 1959!

Everybody's welcome!

To prove to you that Paris is such an open-minded city, I wanted to show you this woman and her dog who decided to take a stroll between the revelers of happy hour one evening. I realize that for some of you, you'll be disappointed to notice that it's not a "French poodle", but therein lies our diversity. We welcome most any animal and their owner when it comes to sharing mojitos in the 2nd arrondissement!

Garçon !

One job I've never done and I'm quite sure that I wouldn't be very good at, is that of a waiter. I took this shot at the Häagen-Dazs off the Champs-Elysées (see it in video here then click on Champs-Elysées) where this hard working garçon was doing a great job. Perhaps he is in training for the annual Course des garçons de café (et des serveuses) which is held in Paris and in many other cities around the world.

Have a drink!

Wow, "ça chauffe sur PDP!" (I'm talking about yesterday's photo comments!). Let me buy you all a drink to cool off a little. And don't start commenting about me advertising for Cuba and the Castros (Fidel and Raùl!), I just like the colors of this photo. Besides, I understand Havana Club is a brand owned by Pernod Ricard (the company that makes Pastis a very French drink that you find mostly in the south) and yes, also by the Cuban State. Have a nice Sunday.

Living the French Dream

What would you say about opening a little Coffee shop (well rather a tea shop..) in Paris? That's what Aimee (on the right in the photo - the other young lady is called Louisa) was dreaming of, in her native Kansas... And she did! Just six months 2 weeks ago, on the Butte aux Cailles, a pretty trendy area in the 13th arrondissement. "I love everything about France [including her French hubby!], she said, except that I'm far away from my family and that it's hard to get peanut butter and Blue cheese dressing in Paris!". Do pay her a visit (1, rue Jean-Marie-Jégo) if you're into tea and want to see a typical, yet not so touristy part of Paris. Update: Aimee also has a blog.

Christmas Eve in Paris

I know this café looks like it was especially designed for a set in a movie (even the light looks like it originates from a projector!). And though, I swear I took it this morning close to the Notre Dame de Lorette church! I thought it was perfect for a Christmas eve photo. I'm on my way to Trouville (Normandy) for a family gathering but I'll be back soon - very soon! Have a nice Christmas dinner - if you celebrate Christmas of course - I, myself, will be eating oysters and foie gras, I'm sure...