Day 21 ~ May 11

Day 20 ~ May 10

...early morning before anyone else was up. I set my alarm, grabbed a free bike, and made my way across town...

Day 19 ~ May 9

While in London for about 40 hours, I saw some of the usual suspects–Westminster Hall, Buckingham Palace, the River Thames, had fish and chips in a pub with a pint, etc....

Day 15 ~ May 5

I got lost. Hopelessly, wonderfully, nowhere in particular-ly lost. I did start out my day with a planned visit to a museum (a later topic), but once I left it I just got wanderlust, for the next eight hours. It sounds frightening, but no, it’s delightful. My friend back home, Benedicte, is from here and it’s still her favorite thing to do in Paris. I can understand why. Every corner I go around has another little strip of charming stores, grand statues, festive cafés, gardens, architecture, flowers or monuments to behold. With no phone, and limited email access, being unplugged is giving me the freedom to go out for these aimless excursions whenever writing hits a wall, or my curiosity gets the best of me. My favorite spots are the really small, short streets that wind together in a jumbled, crooked mess. There, the traffic noise is reduced significantly, the shopkeepers are a bit more friendly and their wares more unique, and cafés are quieter. It’s there that Paris feels more like Paris. In my meandering I ended up on the Champs Elysées yesterday, and within about 5 minutes, I grabbed a bicycle (another later topic) and escaped it. I didn’t come to Paris to see tourists eating fast-food and buying American designer clothing. Let’s just say, it’s not the romantic boulevard it was in Joni Mitchell’s day when she sang about it. However, her other lines from the same song felt very true to me as I sauntered from street to street. “I was a free man in Paris, I felt unfettered and alive. There was nobody calling me up for favors, and no one’s future to decide…”

Day 13 ~ May 4

Don’t worry if you trip and fall while touring Paris, because you’ll land on a loaf of bread... {More to come in Bonjour40, the book!}

Day 11 ~ May 1

I’ve been searching for the perfect word to sum up the French markets I’ve visited... The sights! The color! The sounds! The smells! The food! ...  The smell of buttered chickens roasting to perfection combines with hand-milled lavender soaps, and grilling garlic, so that the dogs at your feet drool and whimper along with you. {More on markets, food and the French version of fitness in Bonjour 40}

Day 10 ~ April 30

Day 8 ~ April 28

It was raining today, and yet I saw the most impeccable outfit. Knee-length trench flopping lightly open, a navy cashmere sweater, a light gray scarf knotted around the neck, tailored black jeans, and the most glorious pair of (what had to be) Italian pointy, patent black shoes.  It was on a man... {order the book Bonjour40 in October to read the full text...}

Day 6 ~ April 26 ~ Arrival

Day 5 ~ April 25 ~ Departure

Day 3 ~ April 23 ~ Packing, two days before departure

Day 2 ~ March 25 ~ One month before departure

On Paris, there simply are not enough guidebooks, maps, language lessons, recipes, stories or tips for me. (As you can see in this photo, my friends, neighbors, and the bookstore have loaded me up.) {Now in the book, Bonjour 40, is this full original entry, plus a longer piece about travel.}

Day 1 ~ My birthday

Last year, I was asked if I was going to do anything special when I turned 40. Barely a day into my 39th birthday, and 40 comes up? What?! Many women dread this, I know. I’m not the type to be in denial or in the fetal position over it, but if I absolutely had to turn 40, then I needed to figure out how best to do it. Or, better yet, “where.” So for the last year I’ve planned and saved, and next month I leave for Paris. I’ll live there for almost 40 days–something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl.

Today marks my actual 40th birthday. But quite frankly 40 feels a lot like 39. Which honestly felt a lot like 29 except with more money, more experience, and certainly better choices. Even though my age is 40, I can sincerely say there is a spirit in me that is still 29 or 19 or even 9. Perhaps it’s because I’m giving that little girl in me the gift she’s always wanted. A grand adventure. So to this birthday I say, Bonjour 40! I’m here. Let’s begin… 

{Next posting is March 25th. Follow my blog to receive notices of new entries…}