The Last Time I Saw Paris - Part 1

Pictures from a Winter Break

A view fit for a King - or a Queen: The Tuileries Garden from an upper window of the Louvre, January, 2025.

(Note: This is one part of three. Click to find Part 2 and Part 3.)

We've been away on a winter break in Paris, so no writing this week. Instead, a few photos of the City of Light, during a few days in this season when the daylight hours are at their shortest, and the weather can be cold and drizzly - and still Paris manages to delight.

Starting with the view above, fit for a King - or a Queen: the Tuileries Garden from an upper window of the Louvre, in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. We saw many amazing things there, including Christofle, a Brilliant Story, a history of the silver maker, where I thought I might do a little shopping. Turns out there wasn’t a thing in my price range.

Another iconic view, below. Still some scaffolding, so not yet quite finished.

Then on to one that has been long finished: Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, the favorite Paris Church of Houston Artist, Emma Richardson Cherry (1859-1954), one that I’ve visited many times, including my very first time in Paris, in 1973.

Saint-Étienne is just a block from our hotel, Hôtel des Grandes Écoles, and once again it did not disappoint. We’ve been staying since 1997. (I’d tell you our favorite room, but then you might be in it instead of us the next time we want to go - so selfishly, I won’t!). This is Hemingway territory. He lived right across the street when he first got to Paris - a few years before we got there, but still, our neighbor. And also, James Joyce, who lived three doors down. Even the resident cat remembered us - though she tried not to let on.

Just up the street is our current favorite spot for croissants - though it has gotten a little crowded lately, since right the other direction is Emily’s apartment building. (Oh, admit it, you DO know what I’m talking about!)

This is also the neighborhood of the Pantheon (still decked out for the holidays) and the Sorbonne University, and any number of other monumental Parisian institutions - including Le Soufflot, where I got my café crème and tartine every morning on that first residence in Paris, those many years ago. Some things, it seems, are eternal, even in Paris - thank goodness.

And a little further on, at the foot of Rue Soufflot, is the Jardin du Luxembourg, and the always comforting Médicis Fountain, where there were plenty of available chairs for contemplation and daydreams in January.

I was as delighted with it all as the fellow below - clearly very underdressed for the cold winter drizzle, but still delighted, it appears. He’s been frolicking in the Jardin since long before my first visit. Inspired by him, I did a few steps of my own, but unfortunately no one took a picture!

Clearly I’m going to have to do a Part 2 of this Paris winter break. I haven’t even gotten to the FOOD yet - and what is a trip to Paris without food?