Week 5 - Paris in July

In the past 4 weeks I have truly had a virtual tour of Paris through the many books reviews, a few movie reviews, reviews on Maps, music from Paris, memories of trips to Paris, recipes of French food, and just being treated to the passion of the Paris in July participants. And here it is, our final week, and there's still so much more of Parisian and French culture to celebrate.
I know I had a few other big post ideas for Paris in July, but I think I will need to post them as Paris in July Encore! maybe in August.

During the 'lockdown' globally, many of us turned to 'virtual' experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed a classical guitar concept from my back deck one sunday afternoon. I joined online market events to support my local artists, and I went to virtual events help by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

So this week I dont have a music clip to share, but I do want to encourage you to visit this post, Solo Sophie has compiled what I was intending to do, and that is a collection of virtual tours you can do in Paris. I've done the Musee D'Osay just this morning before breakfast - what a treat!

So here's the last week of Paris in July 2020 - and I do promise to post a celebratory wrap up at the end because this has, indeed, been a year to celebrate our online community. Thank you for participating, and I cant wait to see what this week has in store!

Tour de France - off the course

2020, the wierdest year ever.... saw the Tour de France postponed to many fans greatest sadness.

But memories are still very real

In Australia, SBS is our free to air TV channel that every year brings the Tour to our lounge rooms. 

this year, SBS ran a whole week of Cadel Memories... 

and here's some of mine...

 in 2011 I had the pure joy and unforgettable experience of being in France for the Tour! 

it just happened to be the year Aussie, Cadel Evens won... which probably made it one of the best ever Tours in the past 10 years! 

 While the Tour de France is all about cycling, and team tactics, 

there's actually so much more about the Tour... 

its all about what happens around the race. 

 and each day of the Tour, when you're on the side of the race, you're treated to

the Caravan

which is the parade of the sponsors

where they throw their marketing trinkets and toys at you from their cars...

and you feel like a child again! 

 One of the treats of being on an organised tour, for the Tour, 

is that you can be booked into the same hotel as the teams. 

On this particular day, my room was just over the courtyard

where the race leader for the day was outside signing flags

this year, Thomas Voeckler, of Europcar, held the lead for 10 days out of 21! 

 Of course, we were riding our bikes for parts of the trip too. 

And I can declare, I made it to the top of 

Col de Tourmelet

Alpe d'huez

and Mt Ventoux! 

(not many people would guess that of me!) 

 especially in the mountain areas, 

these campervans are seen on every spare section of the race track where they can squeeze in. 

This one cheering for our Cadel! 

 Our tour itinerary, planned months in advance, made the ultimate decision in where to celebrate our final diner for the the Tour that Cadel won! 

We celebrated in style at 

Le Train Bleu at Gare de Lyon. 

 The experience was just exquisite. 

(sorry my photo's aren't great, but it was just beautiful!) 

 and we watched the sunset over Paris through these gorgeous windows! 

And how better to end the tour, celebrating the win of a great Australian Cyclist, 

than to enjoy some beautiful Parisian sweets. 

Happy Memories indeed. 

And it culminated with this moment (which brings me tears even tonight, 9 years later)

Week 4 - Paris in July

This is beautiful.
For those who don't know, L'Arche is a worldwide federation of people, with and without intellectual disabilities, working together for a world where all belong.

My research on elegance this week - from LoveXStyleXLife, by Garance Dore.

Knowing her style means knowing what she loves today, she'll love forever. Knowing her style also means that once she has it down, she can stop thinking about fashion. Because fashion fades. ... But style.... it's a big yes, forever. 

Thank you for all your posts, throughout the past week - we've had posts on Coco Chanel, Music at Les Jardins du Luxembourg, Bastille Day, and many more. So many of us are really enjoying this virtual tour, and it's made fun by all the participation. Please continue to post links to your Paris in July here.

Week 3 for Paris in July 2020

 This is mid way through our Paris in July blogging event, and also my favourite week of the event - because its the week of Bastille Day or La Qartorze Julliet. Every year I learn something new about this significant date in the life and history of the French. I believe la qartorze Julliet is such a complicated day that those of us who are not French may never know what it truly means. This year, I look forward to more insights...  and if nothing else, I'll be keen to find some patisserie pour mon pleasure! How will you be marking the occasion? please share if you're reading, watching, cooking, remembering, drinking, listening or what ever....

I've been sharing some of my favourite french music each week, and this is where my true love lies.


But the real purpose of this post is to launch Week 3 Sign in post - and I'm so looking learning more, understanding you more, and loving Paris more.

My Paris in July 2020 - hopes

Three books I'm hoping to read for Paris in July 2020. I'm not an avid reader - I'm Ok with reading as long as I'm interested enough, and I'm learning things. This years selection of reading is inspired by my personal Paris in July theme "In search of Elegance".

Flaneur is one book that when I found it I couldn't let it go. An inspiring book for Flaneurs and Paris Lovers. The subtext is - the art of wandering the streets of Paris. What could be elegant that wandering the streets of Paris. Even the prologue is elegant.

This book teachers how to wander aimlessly, how to get lost in the city. it is dedicated to those who are never sated, those incessantly amazed by the beauty of the world. Reading these pages will initiate you into Flanerie: you will learn how to transform a simple walk through the streets of Paris into an exciting and memorable experience. 

Love, Style and Life by Garance Dore is apparently a fashion A-lister, beloved by top fashion editors and arpiring fashionistas alike. I was attracted to this because it is part visual diary, part style guide, and partly an intimate look into Garance Dore's lessons in Fashion. i'm sure Paris-like elegance will forever evade me, but these something intriguing in trying to obtain it....

French Lessons: the art of living and loving well is more fiction than guide, but I think I will find some inspiration in my search for elegance. Gabrielle is the French godmother we wish we all had... and she's giving life lessons to Suzanne in style and self-esteem.

I'll revisit the theme of elegance during my own Paris in July posts, and hopefully, share my insights as I progress. For now, I like this definition from Merriam-webster

dignified gracefulness or restrained beauty of style

Week 2 of Paris in July 2020 - WOW!

Merci a tous!! Our first week for Paris in July has been inspirational and mind blowing, somewhat overwhelming...... this year, celebrating our 10th anniversary, we're celebrating Paris virtually - because we just cant be there..

My job as host involves several responsibilities and right now I'm apologetic. Firstly my job is to ensure you have a place to post your links, and this week I'm late. Secondly, I would like to review the past weeks contributions, and (again) I'm late on that too.. So for week 2, I'm going to pick up my game....

One thing that I want to do each week is to feature some French music... and I just love this one... I hope it brings a smile to your week:




From the posts I've had the opportunity to read and review, I'm loving the themes...

• coffee - what is more Parisian than Coffee and Croissants!
• maps - who hasn't taken home a souvenir map from Paris? 
• Claris, the chicest mouse in Paris - Claris makes regular visits to this blogging event - it's nice to have her back.. 
• Picasso postcard - an image representative of what we love of France... 

Dont worry if you haven't started yet... you can join Paris in July when ever you can. I myself, haven't got one of my posts up yet either....I have plans to get involved too.. I'll post my plans up soon. 

Please remember, when you post your link below,  can you please share the link to your actual Paris in July Post. Also, put the name of your post in the widget, so people know what to expect.