Paris Insights An Anthology

Why do travelers find Paris such a compelling city? This is a question that cannot easily be answered, for the French capital possesses an air of mystery that cannot be easily defined. Yet this mystery is precisely what Paris Insights – An Anthology, a newly-released collection of essays about Paris, strives to resolve in a personal, lively style that is both revealing and inspiring.

While many books are published about Paris every year, I believe that mine takes a truly different look at the City of Light. The anthology of essays might be comparable to a collection of Janet Flanner’s “Letter from Paris”, written for the New Yorker for over 40 years during the 20th century. Of my book, Peter Greenberg, travel editor of NBC News declares, “…[Paris Insights – An Anthology] is the antidote to typical tourism hyperbole…It’s a true insider’s guide to one of my most favorite cities in the world, written by someone who has lived the special experiences you’ll never find in a guide book.” High praise indeed, coming from this no-nonsense, seasoned traveler!

When Bonjour Paris asked me to write about how I created this volume, I was initially at a loss to adequately describe the process. But I will attempt to do so here, with reference to several of the essays in the book.

The essays were selected from the newsletters that my wife and I have published since the year 2000 on our web site Discover Paris!. After the (seemingly) millionth time that a family member or loyal reader suggested that we create a book from our collection of newsletters, I decided to take up the challenge.

I organized the book into five sections:

Life in Paris – The chapter entitled “La Vie Parisienne” presents several unique slices of daily Parisian life. For example, while many articles on dogs in Paris focus on the fact that their owners are not always responsible when it comes to picking up after their animals, our article “A Dog’s Life, A Good Life” presents the story of the care and attention that three Parisian dog owners lavish on their pets. The average dog on the streets of Paris appears well groomed and well trained. The dogs of these three owners are no exception, and the thoughtfulness and concern that their owners display toward them is touching. On another subject, guest writer Melanie Moss presents her view of café- and bar-hopping in Paris. In her essay, “Prendre un Café, Prendre un Verre or How to Be a Young Parisian” she gives tips to the young and the young-at-heart on where to find cafés and bars in Paris where one may mix with the locals.

Americans in Paris – Many of our readers dream about living in Paris someday, so over the years I have introduced the stories of a number of Americans who came to Paris and stayed. In the interview entitled “Wining and Dining with Juan Sánchez”, Miamian Juan gives a detailed account on his decision to open first a wine shop, La Dernière Goûtte, then a restaurant that serves Mediterranean food, Fish. Because I have dined at his eatery numerous times and can personally vouch for the quality of the food and service there, I was inspired to ask him to tell his story. In another essay, entitled “Copying the Masters”, I write about Jane, who hails from Seattle and now works as a copyist at the Louvre. What is a copyist, you ask? In Jane’s words, “A copyist makes reproductions of the paintings of the masters.” And why would anybody want a copy of a masterpiece? Jane’s reply: “Because they can’t afford the masterpiece!”

Churches and Cathedrals – Parisian churches have timeless allure and historic interest. The church of Val-de-Grâce is a good example. It was built in the 17th century by Queen Anne of Austria, consort of Louis XIII, in an area that lay outside of Paris at the time of its construction. Even today, though city boundaries have expanded beyond, the church lies off the tourist circuit. This is why I chose to write about it in this chapter. The interior is beautiful and sumptuous and first-time visitors will not fail to feel a sense of exultation upon entering its sanctuary. I try to give the reader a coherent sense of the architectural elements that form the façade and interior of the church while simultaneously conjuring up a vision of its awe-inspiring splendor.

Tasty Treats – Because French cuisine holds an undeniable fascination for those who like to eat, I write about different aspects of food and dining in Paris in this chapter. One essay gives insight on what one who is unfamiliar with the French dining customs is likely to encounter in a Parisian restaurant – the formality of the waiters in Paris restaurants, the care given to the presentation of each dish, and the deliciously prepared food itself that culminate in a dining experience that is always absorbing. Another essay lovingly describes a dessert introduced from Italy and refined by the French – the macaron. Unlike American-style macaroons, the macaron is a “double-decker” affair, with a layer of flavored cream placed between two single pastries. Yum! And no chapter on food would be complete without information about wine. In “Wine Pairing for Your Christmas Feast”, readers get a course-by-course lesson on how to select wines for this all-important holiday meal.

Paris, Past and Present – O.K, so the title is not so original. But this rubric permits me to write about anything that does not fit neatly into the abovementioned sections. Entries in this chapter include portrayals of a real guillotine that stands in a bar in Paris, a comically fearsome dragon made out of recycled materials that was displayed for a time in the Jardin des Plantes, and the oldest street sign in the city. These are some of the features that add character to the still indefinable mystique of the city.

And so, then, why is Paris such a compelling city? Because it possesses a unique combination of history, architecture, cuisine and lifestyles that can be found nowhere else on the planet. But this is just a partial – and admittedly unsatisfactory – answer. The full answer can never be written, because Paris draws inexorably upon its past and evolves as it moves into the future.

What I have tried to convey through Paris Insights – An Anthology is the passion that I feel for this magnificent city and its people, citizens and visitors alike. As time progresses and as I experience its subtly changing physical and cultural landscape year by year, I may be compelled to write a sequel to the book!

Tom Reeves is president of Discover Paris! He will give a presentation entitled “Ile Saint-Louis: History, Architecture and Epicurean Delights” at the Alliance Française of San Francisco on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. A preview of Paris Insights – An Anthology is available at the following link: www.discoverparis.net/premium.html