I loved Shakespeare and Co as well...went on a walking tour which told stories of all the cafes and hangouts of the famous writers...it was wonderful to walk the streets and drink coffee and imagine the conversations. Thanks, Jan, for bringing back fond memories...
We all are elderly ghosts mumbling to ourselves under our breath at digital dolts who also have a penchant for waking across streets glued to a smartphone screen, protected however from chaos or immanent danger because..well, because what deranged force on earth would have the gall to interrupt or harm a mill-around-their lattes Gen Y-er. Maybe you need to tote an umbrella like an old elderly ghost used to do here, even when it wasn’t raining, and just indiscriminately whack passersby on the shins….perhaps channeling those flappers in Gulliver’s Travels who used bladders on a stick to awaken their comatose masters back into reality. Now.. about that bookstore experience of tears …and fears of being a weeping ninny… I might have been tempted to let’’em flow….and soon, standing beside you, handing you a Kleenex, would appear young Mia. Well…. Curious about your fascination with Vincent, I did write a poem about HIS ghost…and started a screenplay, centred in part - is that an oxymoron? - on the alleged maiden to whom he allegedly gifted his no longer attached ear. My working title is ‘Vinnie’s Ear - The Director’s Cut’. We could do a co-write! 😀
Oh my….how is it possible for you to describe my sheer frustration of those damn cell phones at the Musee? I was having an emotional breakdown in front of Vincent’s self portrait….and no one saw this moment of beauty. My friend travelling with me, did in fact take out her cell phone, but more to capture the moment of pure joy happening on my face….I too had a pilgrimage to Shakespeare and company. Wow. We are tandem travellers! Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing…love it all.
I was with you at the D’Orsay and the Little Shakespeare Book Store. Gaugin fills me with joy! Van Gogh envelops me and then your descriptions of the rain, thunder, lightening, the tree transformed into a horse galloping, the golden colour of fall light, I’m loving its abundance right here, not always so vibrant. The cottage is the keeper of autumn in its full glory. Xxxx
I loved Shakespeare and Co as well...went on a walking tour which told stories of all the cafes and hangouts of the famous writers...it was wonderful to walk the streets and drink coffee and imagine the conversations. Thanks, Jan, for bringing back fond memories...
We all are elderly ghosts mumbling to ourselves under our breath at digital dolts who also have a penchant for waking across streets glued to a smartphone screen, protected however from chaos or immanent danger because..well, because what deranged force on earth would have the gall to interrupt or harm a mill-around-their lattes Gen Y-er. Maybe you need to tote an umbrella like an old elderly ghost used to do here, even when it wasn’t raining, and just indiscriminately whack passersby on the shins….perhaps channeling those flappers in Gulliver’s Travels who used bladders on a stick to awaken their comatose masters back into reality. Now.. about that bookstore experience of tears …and fears of being a weeping ninny… I might have been tempted to let’’em flow….and soon, standing beside you, handing you a Kleenex, would appear young Mia. Well…. Curious about your fascination with Vincent, I did write a poem about HIS ghost…and started a screenplay, centred in part - is that an oxymoron? - on the alleged maiden to whom he allegedly gifted his no longer attached ear. My working title is ‘Vinnie’s Ear - The Director’s Cut’. We could do a co-write! 😀
The smokestacks painting is terrific. B xo
Oh my….how is it possible for you to describe my sheer frustration of those damn cell phones at the Musee? I was having an emotional breakdown in front of Vincent’s self portrait….and no one saw this moment of beauty. My friend travelling with me, did in fact take out her cell phone, but more to capture the moment of pure joy happening on my face….I too had a pilgrimage to Shakespeare and company. Wow. We are tandem travellers! Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing…love it all.
Hi Caprice, you and I might share more than a few opinions! I look forward to reading you.
Nice to connect with you!
I was with you at the D’Orsay and the Little Shakespeare Book Store. Gaugin fills me with joy! Van Gogh envelops me and then your descriptions of the rain, thunder, lightening, the tree transformed into a horse galloping, the golden colour of fall light, I’m loving its abundance right here, not always so vibrant. The cottage is the keeper of autumn in its full glory. Xxxx
Yes, Van's autumn is slow and subtle - but its spring! Cherry blossoms!
Spring just bursts here, and it starts early!
Your smokestack painting stopped my mind! So very powerful and not what I was expecting, which should not surprise me 😆 No sign of Monet there!
It appeared completely as a surprise to me.
Jan thank you for sharing your dispatch of your own “Paris Journal “ and reflections since you return- look forward to more - and your new book!
It is very interesting to read Flanner's cool descriptions of a city recovering from war.
Thank for your dispatch on the life of Jan. I so look forward to reading it every week. Love the painting xo
Thanks dearheart! Made me think of that orange bridge by Si (?) that mum loved.