It was the third time that I did NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). This time I wrote a memoir of what was happening for the real me in Paris. It was an easy subject because everyday something was happening!
I also took the opportunity to get out and about and write in some different cafés. I would have loved to go everyday to a different café but since it rained for most of November, it became an impossible plan.. instead here I will share some pictorial memories of Paris in November 2023.
Not a glamorous start on November 1! A 1 euro soft serve (in French, une glace italienne) and a coffee from IKEA
A black sesame latte and a traditional Hong Kong style egg tart from Bing Sutt
Matcha with red beans from Au Matcha, a very cosy Japanese matcha café in the 15th
We visited one of the classic literary cafés...
...Les Deux Magots
A rare moment of sunshine in gloomy November, along the Seine
This is a piece of flan with a twist - black sesame flavour! from Boulangerie Mille & Un which just won an award for its traditional flan. The pastry was excellent and the filling was impossibly smooth and rich in sesame flavour. They deserve the prize for flan, I think!
A random view of the river and a pretty bridge in Lyon
Who doesn't love a carousel after dark? with S' friends in Lyon
A matcha at home, from some fancy matcha that came from Japan to Australia to Italy to France. There are 5 sachets in the box and I'm planning to save them for homesick emergencies!
Our local bistro, one evening
Another rare sunny moment in Place des Vosges
On the way to French school
A wonderful tree in the Albert Kahn museum, one of the most wonderful places I have been to in Paris
Another literary café outing, this time to Cafe de Flore
Like its neighbour Les Deux Magots, it was absolutely packed with tourists who were willing to cough up for the eyewatering prices. We did see a French man writing cards with a fountain pen though, he must have been going there for ages!
How I love autumn.. here, leaves at a friend's house
Another wonderful treat from Cyril Lignac
The first Australian coffee I've had since moving to Paris, at O Coffee
Finishing the month of writing at Mamie Gateaux just up the street from us, a cute tea room with a selection of "anglo" cakes like carrot cake and cheesecake.
Your Paris cafés are like fantasies of connection to the past and also connection to the very trendy present. I'd love to be there, and have hopes for a visit to Paris in the spring. What lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteDecember is a very foodie month in Paris where even neighborhood shops offer astronomically priced fois gras and truffles -- at least that is my memory. I hope you continue documenting your life and coffees.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I loved reading this and seeing all of the wonderful photos of your outings in Paris.
ReplyDeletesuch wonderful photos. that black sesame tart looks the business! and les deux magots looks marvellous.
ReplyDeletefrom Johanna @ https://gggiraffe.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteLove the paris pictures - especially the literary cafes. Glad NaNoWriMo worked for you - would be so nice to hang out in paris cafes writing.