Extraordinary Women Blog #10 – Bonjour Paris
I’ve never been in Paris the last week of August as it welcomes la rentrée.
I arrived on a Sunday morning and the city was quiet. So quiet, it felt weird. Everything was closed. I was craving a café and a nice fresh croissant. Stumbling around my neighborhood with jetlag, I realized I was going to have to plug in my Nespresso for a café and the only place I could find a croissant was from the tourist obsessed gluten-free café on rue de Grenelle. (The French don’t mention gluten issues- it might just be a difference in our flour.)
Back in my apartment, ready to meet my cravings. My Nespresso hummed along, and my pretty croissant was waiting for a first bite. All I can say is a gluten-free croissant is sort of like a croissant meatball. Yikes, I would need significant gluten issues to eat that doughball! Obviously, I purchased the wrong item.
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Monday wasn’t much different. My favorite café, boulangerie, and shops were still closed. Again, it was just me and groups of tourists. I now fully expected this was going to be the scene until the first of September. I was wrong!
On Tuesday morning, off I went to Henry & June, my hairdresser on rue du bac. I was sure they wouldn’t be open because I had made that appointment months ago, not realizing the closing dates can be a bit fluid. But yes!
In one day, the energy in Paris had changed!! My hairdressers’ shop door was open as was every other shop, pharmacy, café and even a few boulangeries. French people were everywhere!!
Sitting in the hairdresser’s chair, I watched the constant stream of visitors stopping in to say hello to Jolene and Zadia. Trips were discussed, outfits were admired, weight loss showcased. Kisses and hugs were exchanged, treats were dropped off, one woman even stayed long enough to share the goûter and café and even danced a little in the salon. It resembled a loving family reunion. Everyone looked incredibly relaxed, happy, and tan…. really tan. In contrast I look like a vampire who hadn’t seen the sun for decades.
It was adorable. I have never seen anything like it. Suddenly I felt like I was inside a private Parisian party!
Back at my apartment, my concierge arrived at my door, and we almost hugged. Almost. For solo gals like myself who live in condo buildings, we grow to view the staff as our closest neighbors. Neighbors who watch our homes when we’re not there and seem happy to see us when we return.
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Off to Amsterdam for the start of a river cruise with my good college friend and her husband. Time for this gal to solidify all the upcoming plans for Extraordinary Women that I can’t wait to share with you.
The October issue of the Extraordinary Women Magazine will be arriving soon. Two years after coming up with the audacious idea of launching an online magazine for women like you and me, we are celebrating and always brainstorming ways to make the EW offerings even better.
We want to be THE magazine for women who want to make their next season, next chapter, next dream be realized and one of joy, purpose, and fabulousness.
A bientôt!
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