Quelques jours à Paris (quatre)

The first time I visited Paris was when I was studying

in pulsating, energetic, colourful, vibrant London.

I remember being so taken aback by suddenly finding myself 

in such a bright, white, pale city,

with wide streets and plenty of room to breathe.

Of course Paris has many sides,

but it's that pale and luminous feel

that fills my senses every time.

x

P.S. One more Paris-related post to go,
then it's on to other things, promise :) 

Quelques jours à Paris (troi, vert)

A rather enticing marriage of looming clouds hanging over our heads   

and all that green lusciousness... 

(From now on,

 I am so serving water  flavoured with sprigs of fresh mint.)

Quelques jours à Paris (deux, on the dark side)

We ate mussels, snails and crepes,

bought a few luxuries to take home, 

peered into hundreds of perspex boxes at the Palais de Tokyo, 

walked, walked and walked some more... 

x

Quelques jours à Paris (un)

Paris was grey and chilly,

but with pleasures at every corner

(why is it that just saying that makes me think of 

all those little jack russells & pugs, 

westies&French bulldogs,

without a leash, faithfully following their owners, 

cute little tales wagging away?)

And despite only a couple of days,

the city seemed to embrace with open arms,

inviting into the lull of time just for oneself

& time to catch up with someone who feels so close,

but happens to live on the opposite end of the planet.

I think we put the world to rights

and will just pick up from we left off next time... 

x

... then a postcard from Paris

Dropping by quickly to say that I'm back

from a little escapade in Paris...

The trip was more about catching up with my sister-in-law,

who lives on the other side of the world,

and not so much about focusing on the camera.

I did snap a few, though,

so I'll be back with some more

when I've had a chance to go through my batch. 

(Loving those Paris zincs and greys.) 

Bon weekend! 

A postcard from Porvoo

I think my daughter and I drew the longer straw, 

as we jumped on the bus to Porvoo, 

leaving the boys behind to get on with the painting in the hallway.

Lunch, a browse through whichever little shops happened to be open on Ascension Day, 

coffee, basking in the sunshine

& goodies to take home. 

x

A home to love

I find this Japanese home with its Parisian touches 

so effortless and appealing...

This lovely, sunny space is home to Hitoshi Uchida-San 

(owner of J'Antiques Tokyo) and his family, in Kamakura, Japan. 

More photos: The Selby