I was recently asked to review two books about Paris. One about Patisseries, one about Wine Bars and Shops. Both are published by The Little Bookroom in New York. I love looking at books so this was a pleasure for me.

The first one is called Patisseries of Paris written by Jamie Cahill with photos by Alison Harris. One of the first things people think of after visiting Paris are the incredible desserts, sweets, chocolates and breads found there. There is a reason they are all world famous. This little book, full of lovely photos, splits up various shops and patesseries into arrondissements and lists not only the best of the best but also what each shop specializes in. I love information like this. It can be overwhelming when walking into a shop and wondering not only what to chose but what many of the items are. I’ve been in Paris quite a while now and I’m thrilled to have this book so I can try new to me pastries and have a look at some of the charming places mentioned. Not only is information given on famous treats, such as Tarte Tartin and eclairs, but some places for picnics are also listed. With the small size of the book, you can easily tuck it into a bag and pull it out when exploring a new arrondissement.

The second book is The Best Wine Bars and Shops of Paris by Pierrick Jegu with photos by Caroline Rose. The fifty cavistes mentioned in this book are also split up into arrondissements. This isn’t a book about the history of French wine in Paris but a contemporary look at Parisian wine cellars, many the most unusual in Paris. I know from personal experience that most people arriving in France for the first time are, for the most part, fairly clueless about French wines and what to try. Several of the shops mentioned here not only give wine tastings but serve food, a good way to learn about French wines, as well as a few others from around the world. Some of the shops only sell wine but are worth a look for their interiors. A good book for those wanting a guide of where to look for French wine while in Paris, also small enough to tuck in a bag.

Does it get any cuter than this? Of course, 3 minutes later they were fighting over a boat. I, of course, miss them. We are back in Provence where I have many weeds awaiting me and I have to get my vegetable garden planted, thus the short posting.

Sideroads of Europe

It has been a long time since I have washed so many loads of laundry, cooked so many meals, washed so many dishes, read so many children’s books, kissed so many boo boos, hugged so many little boys, picked so many cherries, pulled so many weeds and just listened to so many stories from my grandsons. It has been lots of fun but we are ready to head back to Provence to recover. Luckily, they will be coming to visit us in July sometime. The newest little grandson-my two year old grandson calls him Thanyo-seems to have changed already. I think he is going to be blond like the rest. Right now his eyes look like they may be blue but none of the others have them so the chances are slim, not that it matters.
Up above the house is a church that I see the steeple of everyday and hear its bells. I’m not an expert but it sounds like they are being rung by people, not on some sort of automatic system.

Not the view I usually have.

Aren’t these cyprus trees great? I usually see them in cemeteries in France. These are in front of the church.

An angel on the church.

I liked this rustic watering can hanging on a nearby wall.

Sideroads of Europe

My new grandson, Nathaniel Luke, arrived on May 20th. He is healthy and, of course, cute. The experience of having a baby in Switzerland seemed to have been pretty much the same for my daughter in law as her other three in the States. She had a doctor who spoke English and who pretty much just observed the nurse delivering the baby, even taking videos for my son at one point as he cut the cord. The nurse spoke perfect English and was very nice. In the photo I saw of her she is wearing the scrubs nurses wear along with a string of pearls around her neck. They wanted my daughter in law to stay in the hospital for 5 days if you can believe that. She just stayed two nights. Since this was her fourth baby they figured she pretty much knew how to do everything. On the whole she said the staff was very relaxed about the whole thing. Not only will my son get a nice tax break on having four children in Switzerland with its negative birth rate, but money every month-I guess they are hoping to encourage the Swiss to have more babies. They get lots of looks from the Swiss along the lines of “What are you doing with so many children?”. The Italians are more like, “Way to go!”
I walked my two oldest grandsons to school each day. They are in an Swiss public school and, of course, the main language is Italian. My oldest grandson is frustrated with his lack of Italian and his understanding of it. His four year old brother is less concerned. They are both going to an all day local soccer club this summer, all in Italian, and I think they will be fluent after that. Their two year old brother can already rattle off a little Italian with a perfect accent. When you walk into the school there are little slots where the kids take off their street shoes and put on rubber shoes that can’t be worn outside. They also have light little cotton shoes to wear for physical education. They have to have little shirts for art, the four year old has a bib to keep his clothes clean during a gourmet, three course lunch. The school next door for older kids where my oldest grandson will go next year also has a place to change their shoes. In the class right now there is a difficult student who apparantly hits the other kids and is so awful that the teacher actually physically pins him down to the floor and puts her hand over his mouth. We know this because my grandson drew a picture of it. Can you imagine this happening in the States? Lawsuit time.
A few photos we took today on a walk:

As you can see, the area is very rural. This is a little farm that sells fresh produce.

A little chapel in the neighborhood. The doors are always unlocked and everytime I have looked in there have been candles lit. The whole area all around Lugano is packed with churches and the bells ring all of the time.

The interior of the little chapel.

Little framed hearts on either side of the statue of Mary.

The tiny bell tower. Most of the churches here seem to have those round wheels on each bell.

Sideroads of Europe

The baby still hasn’t arrived but his mother is now in the hospital in labor so it shouldn’t be too much longer now. She was told that the nurses can be cranky at the hospital but as she doesn’t speak Italian yet, she won’t understand what they are saying anyway but expressions say a lot. So I should have a new grandson sometime today, I hope. I am here now, in charge of three grandsons which can be a lot of work. I feel like I can’t relax a minute with them in my care. The two year old does really well until his four year old brother “helps”. I just wish I had their energy.

A short way from their house is Lake Lugano. We walked down to a nearby village and saw this lovely building. I think it is a private home.

A closeup. Looks like frosting decorating a cake.

A look at the lake and a village nearby. You’d never guess that this little place was here. There has been a lot of rain in the last couple days and the lake is full of water and debry.

Little boys love finding earthwarms. They want to take them to try and catch some fish.

Sideroads of Europe

I am writing this from Lugano, Switzerland which is in a section of the country called Ticino, right across the border from Italy. Everyone here looks Italian and speaks Italian, along with some French and no English that I can find. I am waiting for my next Grandson to arrive. He was due two days ago. They are going to name him Nathanial if he ever gets here. My son and his wife are also waiting for their furniture so we are living a very simple life but, as my daughter in law says, you learn how little you really need to carry on in life. My grandchildren are amazing, not having many toys, but managing to keep so busy with their imaginations and each other that they never say they are bored.
In any case, here are a few photos I took of some early poppies before we left Provence. I imagine they are in their full array right now.

Deep in the heart of a poppy

A dandelion in Lugano