French Friday: Île Saint-Louis

January 27, 2017 (027/365)

“Les îles sont de petits continents en abrégé.” ~ Bernardin de Saint-Pierre 

L'Île Saint-Louis is the smaller of two natural islands in the Seine. While I've visited Notre Dame, la Sainte Chapelle, la Conciergerie, and Place Dauphine on the Île de la Cité several times, I really haven't explored the Île Saint-Louis. Sure, I've ogled the $4 million apartments from a Bateau Mouche.  Of course, I've crossed the Pont Saint-Louis to enjoy an ice cream at Bertillon. I've walked along the quais before crossing the Pont Louis-Philippe or the Pont Marie on my way to the Marais, but I've never really strolled though this oasis of narrow streets and hôtels particuliers dating from the 17th and 18th Centuries. This time it's on my list!

Francophone friends, enjoy this video tour of L'Île Saint-Louis

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Cleanse

January 26, 2017 (026/365)

"Snow isn't just pretty. It also cleanses our world and our senses, not just of the soot and grime...but also of a kind of weary familiarity, a taken-for-granted quality to which our eyes are all too susceptible." - John Burnside

Tree Hugger

January 25, 2017 (025/365)

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”

- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass

Blue Monday

January 23, 2017 (023/365)

"How does it feel...?" - New Order, Blue Monday

Am I blue? Well, it's Monday, it's dreary, and the Packers lost -- all valid reasons; yet seriously, today really is Blue Monday (aka Black Monday). The third Monday of January is reported to be the most depressing day of the year. Since 2005, several formulae containing variables such as weather conditions, debt level after the holidays, time since Christmas, time since failing our New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels, and feeling the need for change and action have been devised, although none is conclusive. Suffice to say, a combination of any of the above, compounded by an abysmal NFC championship game seem to add up.

Maybe a pick-me-up of flowers & music will help. By the way, the officially happiest day of the year coincides with the summer solstice -- only 150 days from now. Things can only get better!

A River Runs Through It

January 22, 2017 (022/366)

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.” - Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It