Just a quick look over our extended summer sabbatical in Paris…enjoy!
i could stare at this building all day…check out it’s history here: AU ROCHER DE CANCALE
a street market by the Bon Marche… shiny olives!
oldie but goodie
sausage and bread…yes
endless bowls of things i cannot pronounce…and we ate it all
window to the Loire–Chateau du Portail
fascination with the metro…in search of the ghosts
date with a fairy tale
Yes, it’s been a while since our last blog. Life seems to throw you in really far flung places at times. The “Pear” wasn’t just flung, but hurled from the pages of our Paris fairy tale back to into the wilds of a Texas drama. It was somewhat a path we decided on while still in Paris, but once we arrived the little monsters of this story book came out to give us quite a scare.
As our Paris and Texas family knew, we had returned to begin what we thought might be and does still have the potential to be, a viable business opportunity, however that door quickly slammed shut when the realities of yet again–LIFE–decided to play its hand.
Also, thrown into the mix, the devastation of death. Our precious buddy of 11 years suddenly and unexpectedly decided his time here on earth was through, and left us one early morning in October just 11days after we returned and coincidentally 218 years to the day my dearest Marie Antoinette’s life ended…interesting? I like to think she’s watching over him for me and showering him with hugs and kisses, as she too loved small dogs. The passing of our Bailey boy left a hole so big in our hearts, that even father time might not be able to fix it.
So to pass the time and heartache of losing our friend and the life we left in Paris, we decided enough planning, let’s just begin living and see what happens. We took trips to see friends we hadn’t seen in years, spent quality time with family, helped with various projects, sampled some wonderful Texas food, all the while thinking about our next move.
Passing through Central Texas
Without plans, or rather–jobs–it’s amazing to think how many possibilities are really out there. Never before have we been in the position to just GO. There’s one thing that the Chef is amazingly good at besides cooking and that’s being positive when life throws really nasty spitballs!
Enchanted Rock
So while we’re passing through the somewhat dim halls of life, dodging little monsters, waiting for the next door to open (a metaphor from our Paris mom Zabie) we’re keeping busy. The Chef has returned to his Bohemian roots and is now making Kolaches to those who are interested in a sweet treat. He’s also landed a cool position in The Woodlands. I’m also thinking of how Paris and I can one day dance again…Maybe my own travel/tours to Versailles, I’ll never tire of her beauty and intrigue…and I’ve got the connections.
Versailles--I shall return...
Baker's Dozen $12
While the Chef and I might have said goodbye to France exactly 222 years to the day after Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette said goodbye to Versailles, we have no doubt we’ll see her again–and no, our heads aren’t going to roll. The Chef and I look at signs in life such as these with wonderment and think…is there a larger picture to see? Instead of planning life down to the T, we’re taking each day and reading the signs instead flying on the autopilot we had programmed.
We would like to thank our family and friends who have not only supported our endeavors in life, but encouraged us to live our dreams. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Our life in Paris was a dream that we can say was fulfilled–now its on to another!
This blog is dedicated to Bailey Villines Shaw–our boogie boy…you’ll be in our hearts forever, until we meet again.
Bisous XOXO
July 30, 2000--October 17, 2011
Loire Valley for only 2 days–of course that’s not long enough to discover all the beauty of the area, but it was the refresh we needed and a trip of inspiration…
So here’s a look at our 2 days of enjoyment. Staying overnight at a quaint B&B–Chateau du Portail. It was an experience in itself–friendly and inviting from the gourmet dinner, cozy rooms, sweet and gracious staff to it’s picturesque setting.
Chateau du Portail...a gem of B&B
Chef's favorite part of the stay...
a new friend
And then we jumped on the bikes…
Château de Chaumont
It ended all too soon…
Here’s a little look into the secret world of Versailles’ cozy nooks, closets, apartments and attics….where the last great mistresses of the reign of Louis XV laid their heads, sipped hot chocolate and champagne, batted their eyes, whispered sweet nothings and encouraged alliances.
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (1721-1764) was Louis XV official mistress from the time she was 25 until her death at age 42. Very intelligent, artistic and passionate woman. She was extremely fond of the Enlightenment, Voltaire and the Encyclopédie. Born into the high middle class, her role as mistress was scandalous for the time. Over their 20 year relationship she became more of Louis XV’s best-friend than his lover. She was directly involved in the building of the place Louis XV in Paris, the present place de la Concorde and the Petit Trianon as well as the establishment of the porcelain factory at Sèvres.
Madame de Pompadour also played a role in the alliance of Austria and France with the marriage of Marie Antoinette to the dauphin, Louis Auguste, Louis XV’s grandson. She died of tuberculosis on 15th of April 1764 at Versailles–another great testament to her position. After her funeral she was laid to rest in a convent in Paris, which didn’t survive the redesign of Paris by Haussmann. Currently, it is theorized that her tomb lay underneath rue de la Paix near Place Vendome. More specifically #3 rue de la Paix. It pains me to think she’s covered over with asphalt and cement!
Madame de Pompadour’s rooms are more intimate and cozy. It shows another dimension to Versailles. She owned many other properties in France due to her high middle class background and personal wealth. One being-the Elysee Palace, now home to the presidents of France. Located on the top floor under the attic these rooms are quite agreeable. The windows look out on the north gardens of Versailles and one can see from her dining room a small property she owned in the town of Versailles. Before her death she relocated to the ground floor apartments, which I hope will one day be accessible.
Bedroom
Most beautiful couches and chairs I’ve seen at Versailles
de Pompadour’s maid quarters–the maid even had her own maid!! Notice the little bed in the corner–that’s the maid’s maid’s bed. Make sense?
Comtesse du Barry…Madame du Barry (1743-1793) was the last mistress of Louis XV before his death in 1774. Unlike Madame du Pompadour, du Barry came from a lower class of society. Before her role as official mistress, du Barry was known to work the streets of Paris selling small trinket like items, its speculated that she may have worked in prostitution–but not solely. She took on the role of actress, model–an overall fun loving girl. She had a very sweet nature and loved all things pretty and sparkly–especially diamonds! She was known for her beauty–golden hair and almond blue eyes. Very pleasing lady, no wonder Louis XV found her enchanting. Marie Antoinette’s arrival in 1770 proved difficult for du Barry–as she was never accepted by the dauphine. Marie Antoinette felt she was not worthy of court and that her upbringing was revolting. The only words uttered to du Barry came on New Year’s day 1772 when Marie Antoinette was forced to speak to du Barry (her mother’s iron fist from Vienna came slamming down). It was either offend the King or live a somewhat pleasant existence at Versailles–the latter was the obvious choice. Marie Antoinette walked up to du Barry during the New Year’s ball and uttered less than 10 words “”There are many people at Versailles today.”
After Louis XV came down with small pox in 1774 du Barry was sent away from Versailles to live out her life first at the Abbey du Pont-aux-Dames and later her country chateau of Château de Louveciennes . She later came under the protection of the Duc de Brissac. Both Brissac and du Barry met their end with the Revolution. Brissac being killed by a mob in Versailles and du Barry suffered the same fate of Marie Antoinette. She climbed the steps of the guillotine just a month and half after Marie Antoinette. Her body and head was buried in the Madeleine Cemetery in Paris along with all the other unfortunate aristocrats.
Marie Antoinette would never approve of this bed being in Madame du Barry’s apartments–this was her bed from Trianon.
Bathroom
Dining Room of Madame du Barry–however these are Princess Lamballe’s chairs–Marie Antoinette’s best friend.
Next to the painting of Madame du Barry and behind the door that is open was a cupboard where Louis XV would make his own coffee.
One Louis XV’s libraries–without restoration done.
Beautiful window that overlooks marble courtyard
Louis XV’s toilet and bidet..Louis XVI had indoor plumbing and toilets that flushed …technology is fabulous!
And finally–the view from the roof tops of Versailles–looking out the same widow these high ladies once glanced…down on the marble courtyard of Versailles…priceless!
Haha..all you tourist have no idea what Versailles really looks like!
And then for a stroll through the sweet aromatic rose gardens…
same colors in Madame de Pompadour’s apartments!
rose water
i sniffed these until I accidentally gave myself a headache…they were so amazing!
I think they make a cute couple
Traveling by foot is the main mode of transport for the Chef and I… not because we don’t like mass transit (my new infatuation is the metro…I used to loathe it–but more on that in another post) however when hoofing it you can see sooo much more. You can stop and gaze in wonderment.
My second newest intrigue besides the metro–neon signs (yeah really), are the signs that make you think, make you look and say..hmm. Usually they are pretty straightforward–others are puzzling. Here are a few we captured on our walk yesterday. Can you guess the store associated with each? One’s a little tricky.
New frames?
Haircut, internet, make a phone call and get your bike worked on or buy one!
woof woof…
I have no clue…I was looking at the sign and not the store!
thetravelingpear.com 