If it weren't for Fifi asking if I would like to post about Paris...I wouldn't have spent the morning taking a wistful journey down memory Lane...getting to know me...26 years ago. How soon we forget!
I spent 4 months going to University in Paris (Exchange through the Sorbonne). I found my dusty and faded journal stuffed with pictures, metro passes, wine labels...and a much younger handwriting and outlook. The eternal optimism of youth.
We had to find our own housing, a new friend and I found a quaint and once beautiful place in the 17th arrondisement to lease.We shared it with a tortured young art student. It smelled of oil paint and varnish. The land lady was eccentric.We boarders made her nervous.
'...The tiny kitchen has no refrigerator, her food sits outside in a shoebox on the windowsill to keep cold. A broken gas hot-plate needs the urging of a match to work. Crouched between the kitchen and the livingroom is a tiny bathroom...consisting of a small stained sink and a temperamental toilet with a broken seat. She leaves us notes taped to the wall, shakily written in black felt tip pen. Cette lavabo est casse. N'pas utiliser s.v.p'
We shared a room with a large shuttered window that overlooked bustling market street of rue de Levi.
In the early evenings you could buy everything you needed ~ from chickens, and deer to bread cheese and pâtisseries and flowers. While no street lights, the lights of the shops lit the way home.
I studied the social and economic system of France. Travelled by metro to the furthest corner of the city to study French language. 
I remember being amazed by their politics...which helped me to understand ours better. I met intriguing people. I was brave...not at all cautious. I inhaled Paris.
Paris...Intense, inscrutable, ingrown~Sometimes infuriating. Always intriguing...
It was an amazing experience...One of my last pages held a quote by Hemingway.
"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."
Thank you for this month long moveable feast Fifi...it has been a beautiful Journey!
___________________________________________
Thank you Linda for sharing your school days with us and some beautiful OUTDOOR shots of Paris... and thanks to you taking over for moi... I was able to sit in an outdoor cafe ...
and paint flowers...
and more flowers...
Now... we must run off to visit Susan and her Outdoor Wednesday participants!
ALL paintings are AVAILABLE in My Etsy Store!
Tomorrow... join me for a FAREWELL TO APRIL IN PARIS Tablescape Thursday... and I will have a GIVEAWAY!!!
42 comments:
Bonjour Fifi! What a fun post. I was just reminiscing about my trip to Paris years ago. It was January, not April like the song, and everything was gray outside. I'm so glad I was able to head indooors to see paintings and scultures and architecture come to life. I'd love to travel to Paris again, but next time I'll go some time between April and August!
Thanks again!
~Arleen
What a great post -- I feel as if I have been to Paris -- what a great opportunity. How I wished I had lived in Paris in my youth!
Girl, you were roughing it!
Ooooh Fifi...what beautiful paintings you were able to whip up! Lovely cafe you painted!
Thanks so much for inviting me to reminesce and be a part of your Paris Month!!
Thanks for visiting Glorious Rooms! I have followed you for a while, and love your art.
My son lives in LA. I visited a couple of years ago, and cannot wait to come back.
Scribbler
Great site, saw it on Lime & Cocunut......will check back soon,
Leslie
Ahhh...Paris. Someday I will get there. The markets of Paris looks so wonderful. Thank you for bringing a small piece of it to all of us today. Amy
What a lovely post today. How fun to go back in time with someone elses memories of Paris.
Lovely paintings to. What a fun month this has ben visiting Paris virtually with everyone who has been. Thank you all.
What a wonderful post! Thank you Linda and Fifi!!
LOVE the photos that Linda posted of Paris....fabulous!
Fifi, I love the new paintings...fabulous, too!
Hugs,
Donna
Oh Fifi and Linda!!! De-Lovely!!! My only trip to Paris...I am ever so happy it was with you. **blows kisses** Deborah
sounds completely romantic and adventurous...love the photos...
chasity
Thanks for sharing your memories..., and wow, you kept them all neatly wrapped up.
Very fun post, Fifi & Linda! How great that you lived there for awhile, Linda. I have visited Paris & it is truly spectacular, a wonderful experience.
Every time I visit Fifi I get the urge to travel far away to some lovely foreign city and just walk and enjoy all the sights and sounds...Beautiful Fifi. Happy O.W. to you...
Nice of Linda to share her memoirs with us...Paris is simply unforgettable!
-marie
What a nice thing to read!
I certainly enjoyed your post...and your artwork is wonderful...
Wonderful pictures make for a great post and a walk down memory lane.
What a great post, thanks for the memories!!! In Franc'e.
Katie
I can't wait to go to FRANCE! You did an excellent job of being a tour guide! Thank you! I am so glad you came by to visit me for Outdoor Wednesday. Have a great week.
I loved Linda's walk down memory lane, xv.
What a wonderful post. Loved the pics and the trip down memory lane.
Fifi paint away my friend as you sit outside the cafe.
Linda this is a wonderful post. I learned something new about you! I love the sketches in your journal too.
Hugs and kisses to you both! xoxo
gorgeous paintings - so beautiful
Bonjour Linda and Fifi,
Thanks for sharing your memoirs of Paris. I was going to post Paris pictures today, but computer not feeling well. Instead I got to enjoy yours:)
Fifi, what beautiful paintings of Paris. Thanks for doing these posts, they just take me right back to the streets of Paris.
Thanks for sharing!
Crystal
Thank you for sharing Linda and Miss Fifiness for the fresh paingings! I have only been to Paris a couple of times, a lovely place to visit!
What wonderful memories that you have shared with us today,Your paintings are so beautiful, thank you for sharing, and thank you for coming by.
Sue
It occurred to me while viewing this post that I am clearly not an artist. I have many journals but I have never drawn in them. Why not? I have no idea. Maybe it is because my artistic bone is so small that it doesn't inspire impromptu sketching.
How fun! I loved this post--Linda is one of my favorite bloggers. That must've been amazing to spend 4 months at the University of Paris!
What a fun post! I love that it came from her journal. And as alwats, Fifi, great paintings!
Very nice pictures as always Fifi... and the paintings to go with them!
i enjoyed this post very much.
hemingway was right.
xx
As a former Parisian, I am especially moved by this post...
Hi Fifi. Thanks for swinging by my blog today and for the kind words. I'm off to look around your pretty blog somemore. Hope you are doing well. Hugs!
I love your Paris pictures and paintings! A very enjoyable post :)
Wonderful post, Ms. Fifi! Lovely artwork as usual.
Thanks for getting back to me, I'll hopefully get some answers soon.
Bonjour Fifi and Linda,
I enjoyed reading about your memoirs of school days in Paris.
I loved the photos and your beautiful flower paintings.
Hugs
Carolyn
ps. I am going to miss your Paris posts, they have been so lovely.
Oh I adore that Hemingway quote.
Beautiful site you have here...happy that Linda led me over and I am able to view Paris through Linda's eyes.
What a delightful post! To have one of my favorite bloggers writing about my favorite city - c'est magnifique!
Sorry I am late getting around to visit... I hope you had a Happy Outdoor Wednesday....and that you will participate again soon! Thanks for sharing your photos.~ Susan
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