Lovely read Hannah, plus it's great to actually get to this on Monday this week and have a sense of normality that feels like six months ago in my early days on Substack :)
I travelled to Paris for a conference in June 2019 (via a trip to the UK to see family and the Eurostar from London) and I also remember arriving at the station and thinking "oh yes, that's right, Paris is like any major city and can feel a bit rough and rundown in places" but once we were out and about I settled into the cosiness of the cafe culture and bustling streets and late-night eating and felt whisked into the magical realm that my brain had reassured me it would be. I had no idea that Paris Syndrome was a real thing, though.
Enjoy the time in Hounslow!
Appreciate the info on holidays from your first post! Your observations on the British attitude is so spot on. The French have their priorities straight. I'd say Aussies are a sort of mix of the two. Things are far more relaxed here, but work can still feel like British office chatter far too often.
It is so funny that you mentioned Paris smelling of pee; yesterday I wrote to Anne Kadet to give her an idea for her crazy newsletter. I told her to survey people to find the spots in New York City that most smell like pee. It was because someone had mentioned New York City having that "summer pee smell."
On a more uplifting note, for sure I would stay at the Hotel Juana if I were on the French Riviera. I would stay on the 5th floor so I had a view of the sea. I'm a sucker for Art Deco.
If you are looking for a similar place in the States, I had the very good fortune to stay at the hotel, L' Auberge, on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific, in Del Mar, California. It was at a time when drug companies had money to burn and they hosted me and a few of my coworkers to an all expense paid long weekend while they wined and dined us in order to entice us to use a new IV system at our Hospital. I doubt that I can stay at another hotel in my life that would be better.
Go in the summer when the horses are running at the Del Mar race track; that's where the Hollywood stars like Bing Crosby would hang out in the 1940's and on. https://www.laubergedelmar.com/
Wonderful almost tactile Pen friend this week.one of lifes greatest pleasures for me is travel I enjoy even the twenty one miles to our loval town of Dunoon. Its mainly a winding road from our house along a freshwater loch with mountains on one side and rocks with fat camoflagued seals roadside. Its rather hard to keep ones eyes on the road ,but although they are mainly empty occasionally a huge lorry will appear hurtling around the blind bends so unfortunately its essential.
To get the shops to buy clothing books or DIY. Pet food e tc. It requires to park up by the Clyde and take the twenty minute foot ferry , often there are Dolphins baluga whales, fat fat seals with their wonderful black eyes and more seabirds than I can identify.
Almost a mini holiday in itself just to do some shopping!
My main holiday ventures are visiting Paris to see Kate and Lauren and their little dog Gary.
Like you, I find your home ex quisite, sometimes Rude always stunning. Humourous and a little wild and feral if one wanders off piste. I would challenge any city full of folk NOT to smell of Pee
Much depends on where one wanders. It seems to me a particularly modern malady to have " expectations" of any where let alone require a Psychiatrist to pander to our over entitled " syndrome" at not having some romantic idealization which exists only in ones mind, imet to ones exact re quirements!
( Try two weeks in Margate , on a wet cold Summer in a caravan with one toilet and squabbling bored rellies! )
On reflection, perhaps we Brits should find a happy balance of not grumbling about relaxing in a wonderful cafe, taking it slowly and people watching. Savouring exquisite food and wine, absorbing the magical Antiques and Artwork on sale in the many shops.. go in and just look at the wonders on offer, you dont have to buy and you certainly wont get any vulgar sales pitch.
Take one of Hannahs well loved Pastries into the Tuilleries and sit on the lovely grass enjoying the truly artistic flower designs and gorgeous trees.. there may be a rat and her litle family lurking in the hedges, but rats live here too and if you sit and watch them they are really sweet,
Oops! Rambling on now as always Hannah, your Pen friends lead me up the road of my own thoughts.
The mark of a true writer! Lots of love to you Biko and Babs xxx
Lovely read Hannah, plus it's great to actually get to this on Monday this week and have a sense of normality that feels like six months ago in my early days on Substack :)
I travelled to Paris for a conference in June 2019 (via a trip to the UK to see family and the Eurostar from London) and I also remember arriving at the station and thinking "oh yes, that's right, Paris is like any major city and can feel a bit rough and rundown in places" but once we were out and about I settled into the cosiness of the cafe culture and bustling streets and late-night eating and felt whisked into the magical realm that my brain had reassured me it would be. I had no idea that Paris Syndrome was a real thing, though.
Enjoy the time in Hounslow!
Appreciate the info on holidays from your first post! Your observations on the British attitude is so spot on. The French have their priorities straight. I'd say Aussies are a sort of mix of the two. Things are far more relaxed here, but work can still feel like British office chatter far too often.
It is so funny that you mentioned Paris smelling of pee; yesterday I wrote to Anne Kadet to give her an idea for her crazy newsletter. I told her to survey people to find the spots in New York City that most smell like pee. It was because someone had mentioned New York City having that "summer pee smell."
On a more uplifting note, for sure I would stay at the Hotel Juana if I were on the French Riviera. I would stay on the 5th floor so I had a view of the sea. I'm a sucker for Art Deco.
If you are looking for a similar place in the States, I had the very good fortune to stay at the hotel, L' Auberge, on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific, in Del Mar, California. It was at a time when drug companies had money to burn and they hosted me and a few of my coworkers to an all expense paid long weekend while they wined and dined us in order to entice us to use a new IV system at our Hospital. I doubt that I can stay at another hotel in my life that would be better.
Go in the summer when the horses are running at the Del Mar race track; that's where the Hollywood stars like Bing Crosby would hang out in the 1940's and on. https://www.laubergedelmar.com/
Me, 31 years ago waking up at L' Auberge. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n-jMkRv2aLE_DWkzhy1GTRf9HCFXLsP8/view?usp=drivesdk
Love this! Such a great reminder of how to summer like the French :)
Hi Darling Hannah!
Wonderful almost tactile Pen friend this week.one of lifes greatest pleasures for me is travel I enjoy even the twenty one miles to our loval town of Dunoon. Its mainly a winding road from our house along a freshwater loch with mountains on one side and rocks with fat camoflagued seals roadside. Its rather hard to keep ones eyes on the road ,but although they are mainly empty occasionally a huge lorry will appear hurtling around the blind bends so unfortunately its essential.
To get the shops to buy clothing books or DIY. Pet food e tc. It requires to park up by the Clyde and take the twenty minute foot ferry , often there are Dolphins baluga whales, fat fat seals with their wonderful black eyes and more seabirds than I can identify.
Almost a mini holiday in itself just to do some shopping!
My main holiday ventures are visiting Paris to see Kate and Lauren and their little dog Gary.
Like you, I find your home ex quisite, sometimes Rude always stunning. Humourous and a little wild and feral if one wanders off piste. I would challenge any city full of folk NOT to smell of Pee
Much depends on where one wanders. It seems to me a particularly modern malady to have " expectations" of any where let alone require a Psychiatrist to pander to our over entitled " syndrome" at not having some romantic idealization which exists only in ones mind, imet to ones exact re quirements!
( Try two weeks in Margate , on a wet cold Summer in a caravan with one toilet and squabbling bored rellies! )
On reflection, perhaps we Brits should find a happy balance of not grumbling about relaxing in a wonderful cafe, taking it slowly and people watching. Savouring exquisite food and wine, absorbing the magical Antiques and Artwork on sale in the many shops.. go in and just look at the wonders on offer, you dont have to buy and you certainly wont get any vulgar sales pitch.
Take one of Hannahs well loved Pastries into the Tuilleries and sit on the lovely grass enjoying the truly artistic flower designs and gorgeous trees.. there may be a rat and her litle family lurking in the hedges, but rats live here too and if you sit and watch them they are really sweet,
Oops! Rambling on now as always Hannah, your Pen friends lead me up the road of my own thoughts.
The mark of a true writer! Lots of love to you Biko and Babs xxx
Hahaha!
Yes Judge , its a sobering experience indeed! Going home was the very best part!
Hope you are keeping very well.