🇫🇷 💌 The Paris Love Letter

FOUND IN PARIS
Fun & Useful Links

➡️ Shopping for Beauty Products in Paris: As many of you noted in our recent poll, beauty accessories and products hold a special allure when they're from Paris. But where to start? From parisjetaime.com, here's a curated guide to beauty shopping in Paris, from chic boutiques to iconic French products you'll want to make room for in your suitcase.

➡️ Origins and Construction of The Eiffel Tower: Ever wonder about the history behind the Eiffel Tower? Built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle and initially slated for demolition, its usefulness saved it as a radio antenna. Officially declared a historical monument in 1964, it's become a timeless symbol of Paris. Dive into the fascinating journey of this architectural marvel.

READER POLL
The Results From Last Week

Last week, we asked you what Paris-themed items you love the most. Well, the results are in! 'Paris-themed artwork' took the top spot — music to my ears, given that we offer photo prints capturing the essence of this magical city. Following closely behind were 'fashion accessories or beauty products,' embodying the ever-stylish spirit of Paris. In a surprising twist, French cheese managed to outclass French wine! Your preferences provide delightful insights into the Parisian elements that resonate with you, and we can't wait to incorporate them into future issues.

CAFÉ CULTURE
Café vs. Bistro vs. Brasserie: What's the Difference, and Why Does It Matter?

The Parisian Café: Your Second Living Room

Ah, the Parisian café. This is where you get your morning jolt of espresso, people-watch from a terrace, and enjoy a relaxed conversation with friends. The atmosphere is unhurried, and you're more than welcome to stay for hours with just a single coffee. Open from morning to night, the café is versatile. Expect anything from croissants and coffee to wine and simple snacks. But don't come expecting a full meal; that's not its primary purpose. The café is essentially your second living room, a Parisian sanctuary open to all but catering to the individual's desire for solitude or camaraderie.

The Bistro: Home-cooked Comfort

If the café is your second living room, the bistro is like your grandma's kitchen. Expect home-cooked meals, a cozy atmosphere, and a compact space. Originating as small taverns serving simple meals, today's bistros offer a limited but hearty menu that screams comfort food—think beef bourguignon or coq au vin. Bistros are typically family-owned, imbuing them with a personal touch that's noticeably absent in larger establishments. The bistro is where you come for nourishment of both the belly and the soul.

The Brasserie: A Bustling Social Hub

Imagine the brasserie as the extroverted cousin of the café and bistro. The word itself comes from the French for "brewery," and true to its roots, a brasserie offers an extensive selection of beer and other spirits. Open longer hours than bistros and even some cafés, brasseries are the energetic, bustling epicenters where people from all walks of life cross paths. With a more extensive menu than a bistro and a focus on quicker service, the brasserie is ideal for a larger meal, a business lunch, or a late-night feast.

Why the Distinction Matters

Understanding these differences isn't just semantics; it's about savoring the culture, the food, and the Parisian way of life. Although the lines between these establishments are blurrier these days, if you saunter into a traditional café expecting a three-course meal, you may be disappointed. Equally, popping into a bistro for just a coffee misses the essence of what it offers. As you navigate Paris, knowing where to go depending on your mood, company, or cravings enriches your experience, helping you live Paris like a local, not like a tourist flipping through a guidebook.

HIDDEN GEMS
A La Mère de Famille: A Sweet Escape in the Heart of Paris

Imagine a place where time has stood still, where the aroma of cocoa wafts through the air, and where every corner holds a sugary surprise. Welcome to A La Mère de Famille, the oldest chocolaterie in Paris, with history dating back to 1761.

Walking Into History

As you step over the threshold, you're greeted by vintage wooden shelves that have more than likely witnessed the same scene for centuries. Original drawings and antique décor transport you back in time—no DeLorean needed.

A Symphony of Flavors

This isn’t just chocolate; this is an orchestra of dark, milk, and white symphonies that have been perfected over generations. The marzipan fruits, artisanal jellies, and heavenly caramels are just supporting acts in this mesmerizing play.

A Team of Craftsmen

It's worth noting that a cadre of chocolatiers and artisans contribute to the magic. Each piece is handcrafted, and you can tell—the taste is the sort of thing that would make Willy Wonka pack up shop out of sheer inferiority.

Custom Creations: The Gift of Choice

What’s more French than a sense of personalization? A La Mère de Famille offers the ability to create your own assortment boxes. Whether it's nougats for Nana or orangettes for Olivier, you get to curate the love.

Parisian Chic Meets Comfort Food

Nestled in the 9th arrondissement, A La Mère de Famille is more than just a chocolaterie; it's an epitome of Parisian elegance. Yet, despite its upmarket appeal, the essence of the place is comfortingly nostalgic.

A Cup of Tradition

And for those who can’t leave without a quick sip, their hot chocolate is legendary. No powdered nonsense; this is a cup made from real chocolate bars. It's like a liquid hug, and in the Parisian winter, there's nothing better.

ART & LITERATURE
Surrealism and The City: Where Dalí Met the Streets

Surrealism! An artistic revolt against reason, a dive into the unconscious, and a rejection of traditional artistic norms. It was more than just melting clocks and bizarre landscapes; it was a whole new lens through which to view the world, and Paris was its playground. Surrealism was an explosion of the avant-garde, and the City of Lights was its canvas.

The Surrealist Hotspots

The movement found its footing in Montparnasse, where cafes like La Coupole and Le Select welcomed the likes of Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, and André Breton, the father of Surrealism. These joints were the intellectual petri dishes where dreamscapes materialized over smoky discussions and rounds of absinthe.

Galerie Gradiva: A Portal to the Unconscious

Named after Freud's essay "Delusion and Dream in Jensen's Gradiva," this gallery was the Surrealist sanctuary. Founded by André Breton, the space displayed works that defied reality, challenging visitors to question the line between dream and waking life.

Sainte-Chapelle: A Surrealist's Cathedral

You wouldn't typically link a 13th-century chapel with Surrealism, but hear me out. The jaw-dropping stained glass work of Sainte-Chapelle, intricate and otherworldly, was highly admired by the Surrealists, who saw in its labyrinthine designs an echo of the intricate maze of the human psyche.

The Flea Markets of Saint-Ouen

The surrealists were obsessed with objects that defied logic, and what better place to find these than the flea markets of Saint-Ouen? These chaotic marketplaces, brimming with antiques, oddities, and relics of all sorts, were akin to physical manifestations of a Surrealist painting.

Your Surrealist Adventure

Venturing into the surreal corners of Paris is like stepping into a living dream. Visit the aforementioned places, let yourself drift in the oddities they offer, and who knows, you might have a Surrealist experience of your own. But even if you don't, you'll see Paris in a way most tourists never do.

A PEEK INTO HISTORY
Montmartre's Windmills: A Tale of Art, Bread, and Revolution

A Stroll Beyond the Sacré-Cœur

For those who dare to wander beyond the Sacré-Cœur and the selfie-stick laden crowds of Place du Tertre, a different Montmartre awaits. Pass by Square Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, once the site of yet another windmill named 'Moulin de Turlure.' Venture onto rue Lepic, a gem of a street that birthed the Renault car and serves as a haven for independent shoppers. This is where Montmartre begins to share its secrets, and what better secrets to start with than the windmills known as 'Moulin de la Galette'?

Two Windmills, One Iconic Name

As you walk down rue Lepic, you'll encounter two legendary windmills: Moulin Radet and Moulin de Blute-Fin, collectively known as 'Moulin de la Galette.' These structures are more than mere monuments; they’re storied characters in Montmartre’s rich narrative. Le Moulin Radet now flaunts its wooden sails as the chic façade of a restaurant, while Moulin de Blute-Fin plays hard-to-get, hiding behind leafy trees most of the year.

From Galettes to Cabaret

Purchased by the Debray family in the early 19th-century, the windmills were originally in the business of milling flour and making brown bread known as 'galettes.' Sold with a glass of milk, it was a quick, hearty snack of the time. Nearby, Château des Lys once sold milk by the glass before it transformed into today's club for libertines. The winds of change blew again in the 1830s as Montmartre shifted its focus from milk to wine, and the windmills transformed into a cabaret—a metamorphosis immortalized by Renoir's masterpiece "Bal du moulin de la Galette," now housed in the Musée d'Orsay.

A Self-Guided Tour of Hidden Treasures

These windmills are best experienced on foot, and a self-guided walking tour is the way to go. Get lost in the charming 18th arrondissement and find Moulin Blute-Fin from rue Tholozé, a street that also bursts into a purple sea of wisteria in the spring. Moulin Radet, which moved to the corner of rue Girardon and rue Lepic in 1934, is now part of a French restaurant where a three-course meal can run you under €40—a small price to pay for a slice of history.

Your Invitation

Why not take a break from the usual Parisian hotspots and lose yourself in the Montmartre that exists beyond the guidebooks? Listen to the whispering winds that speak of revolutions, art, and bread. And hey, if you find yourself at Le Moulin de la Galette Restaurant, lift a glass to the Debray family and the incredible journey of these windmills.

PARISIAN MUSINGS
The Bewildering Beauty of "Paris Syndrome"

So, you've landed in Paris. You step out of Charles de Gaulle airport, ready to be swept off your feet by the "City of Lights," to sip champagne under the Eiffel Tower, and to find romance on cobblestone streets. But wait, reality check. What's that smell? Why are people pushing past you on the Metro? Where is this so-called "Paris magic"?

Let's talk about "Paris Syndrome," a term I first heard and laughed off as another internet urban legend. However, it's a bona fide psychological condition. You heard that right—there's an actual term for the disillusionment many tourists face when their rose-tinted Parisian dreams meet the city's often-grittier reality. But should this phenomenon deter you from packing your bags? No. In fact, I find it an enthralling facet of what makes Paris, well, Paris.

The Myth vs. The Reality

Paris, with its legendary art, history, and gastronomy, is often sold as a dream. Think of Audrey Hepburn's quip, "Paris is always a good idea," or countless movies that portray the French capital as nothing short of a fairy tale. But let's get real for a moment. Paris, like any other city, has its ups and downs. It's not a 24/7 romantic movie set but a bustling metropolis where people work, struggle, love, and live.

The Syndrome and Its Symptoms

The syndrome reportedly affects a small number of tourists, mainly from Japan, and manifests as a kind of extreme culture shock. Symptoms range from acute delusions and hallucinations to feelings of persecution. There's even an emergency hotline run by the Japanese Embassy to help affected tourists. Now, you might be chuckling at the absurdity of it, but it does make you wonder—what power does the myth of this city hold to affect people so profoundly?

A Balanced View

Don't get me wrong; I absolutely adore Paris. From the smell of freshly baked croissants wafting from a corner boulangerie to the captivating views from Montmartre, there's so much to love. I've been romanced by its architecture, charmed by its cafes, and inspired by its artistic soul. And yet, even I can admit that Paris isn't perfect.

The Silver Lining

The beauty of the "Paris Syndrome" is that it forces us to peel back the layers of an overly romanticized narrative, making way for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the city. You see, falling out of love with an idealized Paris is the first step to falling in real love with the real Paris—a city that's breathtaking, challenging, frustrating, and enchanting all at the same time.

In the end, Paris is much like a complex wine. Sure, you might be taken aback at the first sip, but give it time, let it breathe, and soon enough, you'll be intoxicated by its unique blend of qualities, imperfections, and all.

There you have it, my two cents on the intriguing, perplexing, and utterly fascinating world of "Paris Syndrome." I encourage you to come to Paris with an open heart and mind. Be prepared for an actual city with real people, and I promise the experience will be all the more rewarding.

FRENCH SONG OF THE WEEK
“Quelque Chose” by Carla Bruni

"Quelque Chose" by Carla Bruni is a delicate and soulful tribute to the complexities of love and life. Bruni's velvety voice carries the listener through emotional nuances, offering warmth and intimacy. The song is a testament to her ability to encapsulate vast emotions in simple words, a skill that has made her one of France's beloved contemporary artists. Known for her elegance and beauty, Carla Bruni also gained international attention as the wife of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and she has often been described as one of the prettiest First Ladies France has seen. This song, like much of her work, showcases her artistic depth and the sophistication she brings to modern French music.