Monday, June 22, 2020

Coffee in Paris: Looking Forward to Paris in July

Coffee in a cup marked with the brand "Cafes Richard" --
breakfast at a café in Paris some years ago.
"Paris in July" is an amusing blogger event hosted each year by Tamara at https://thyme-for-tea.blogspot.com/ -- she's really a great sport to do this again for 2020. This year more than ever I wish I could be in Paris instead of locked down at home in Michigan, where we are trying to avoid the pandemic. But that's how it is. For all these months, I've been trying to live in the present, and not pine for what I can't have and where I can't be.

Now it's time to think about past trips to Paris, isn't it?

A set of hand-made coffee cups displayed at an outdoor ceramics fair near Saint Sulpice.

For my first thoughts about far-away Paris this year, I've looked through past blog posts for images of coffee in Paris. Sitting in a café having coffee and a croissant for breakfast -- what a dream! Looking in shop windows or art exhibits to see old and new-style coffee cups -- how divine that would be!

Breakfast coffee
Coffee and pastry on signature china at the very famous restaurant
Le Dome. (Hemingway ate here)
Long before coffee: medieval cups, flask, and pitchers at Musee de Cluny.

Outdoor lunch dessert: my indulgent sorbet dwarfs Len's little cup of coffee 
Another cup of coffee for breakfast near our hotel
Breakfast near an outdoor market.
Croissant, juice, and morning coffee.
Afternoon coffee with a crepe at the famous Josselin Creperie.
I'm also linking this post with Altered Book Lover's virtual party called T is for Tuesday, where many bloggers share images of beverages along with other thoughts, especially about art and creative work.

Window-shopping: a souvenir item I did not buy -- a Mona Lisa coffee cup.
French cup and saucer, about 1785. Sèvres Manufactory. (Detroit Inst. of Arts)
Photos copyright © 2013-2020 mae sander. Blog post © 2020.

37 comments:

Jeanie said...

I'm so looking forward to Paris in July this year. You're right -- all the sweeter when we know going to Paris right now isn't even an option!

crackercrumblife said...

I am excited to start Paris in July again this year - it's only my second year participating but I had such a good time last year. I would so love to visit Paris one day, but for this year I guess I will be content with what I can manage around my house..not quite the same.... :)

These are wonderful photos of your memories and time spent in Paris! Thank you for sharing!

Catalyst said...

Your post reminded me of a coffee lesson we had once, but not in Paris, in San Remo, Italy. A debonair gentleman who had befriended us on a train happened to be at the same cafe one morning and he taught us that if we took our tiny glass of espresso standing up the price was much less than if we sat at one of the small tables outside. That "lesson" has stayed with me for 35 years since we were there.

Mae Travels said...

When you sit down in a café in Paris, the extra cost of the coffee has always seemed to us to be a payment for rent on the tables, and well worth the price. It's not just about a beverage! It's always been that way...

Eileen Bergen said...

You have me pining for Paris, Mae, ... and I've never even been there.

Happy T-Day! Eileen xx

kathyinozarks said...

I have never been out of the states-so a cafe visit in Paris sounds wonderful! Enjoyed all of your photos too-Happy T hugs Kathy

My name is Erika. said...

Even if I couldn't be in Paris this July, I would like to be someplace. Missing my summer trip. But no sense pining over it. I will just save the cash and go again when it is good.

My name is Erika. said...

And I forget to say happy T day Mae.

Linda Kunsman said...

oh, now you have me really reminiscing about the years I spent in Paris in June, July , or August for a day or a few days before taking a train to see family in other parts of France. How I do miss those cafés, the croissants,well, all the food!! And yes, the window shopping and museums, chateaux too...
happy to have photos and such happy memories, and also blessed to have had the opportunities as well. Thanks for sharing, and happy T day!

Kate Yetter said...

What a wonderful trip to look back on. The food looks delicious and reminds me of all the food on the Great British Baking Show. Hopefully, when this is all over, you can go back to Paris.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I always follow Jeanie to Paris every year, so this is a fun concept for me. I had no idea you did the same blog hop each year, too. How wonderful. Now I have two people I can visit in sharing memories of Paris this year.

You have a ton of examples of drinks (mostly coffee) you had in Paris. These were amazing photos and you take incredible shots, too. I really like the overhead ones you often share. Thanks for sharing these incredible looks at coffee in Paris and your lovely photos from there with us for T this almost Tuesday, Mae.

Tandy | Lavender and Lime (http://tandysinclair.com) said...

Our next visit will include a visit to Sèvres as we have a few pages from them that we want looked at. I wish I could be in Paris right now and wish the same for you! Tandy I Lavender and Lime | https://tandysinclair.com

Valerie-Jael said...

It's always good to sit outside and enjoy coffee, in Paris and wherever you are. Happy T Day, Valerie

Iris Flavia said...

Oh, it´s 31 years ago now that I´ve been in Paris. Guess it has changed a lot.
Hmmmm, do I crave a croissant now! Coffee sadly not so much... A happy T-day to you, yay for sweet memories these days!

Meggymay said...

Yes Paris is a dream destination for many of us, I really liked seeing the photos you shared today, to sit and have a relaxing coffee anywhere sounds good to me just now.
Happy T day wishes .
Yvonne xx

Dianne said...

you are so right, a coffee in an outdoor cafe in Paris sounds wonderful! thanks for the virtual trip...I adore the handmade ceramics! Happy T day!

Karen said...

SOOO yummy! great outdoor cafe shots ~ Beautiful china as well. Cheers to traveling again in the future. Enjoy your week!

Divers and Sundry said...

The Paris in July event sounds like fun. I've only been once and it was many years ago. When I think of Paris my mind turns to film.

I love your cups/saucers. Such a variety! Happy T Tuesday!

Pam said...

I love Paris! And loved the coffee and croissants and everything, except that Eiffel Tower was closed because of pickpockets they said. Love all the outdoor cafés there, and the china here!

Let's Art Journal said...

Such a beautiful Paris post! It was nice to look back with you and all those treats look so yummy 😀. Wishing you a wonderful week and a Happy T Day! Take care! Hugs Jo x

Lisca said...

Oh to be in Paris.....! Thank you for taking us to Paris, even if it was only virtually. Those breakfasts etc made my mouth water. Stick bread with butter, yumm.
The chine you showed is beautiful and sometimes interesting. (signature china and medieval china).
Happy T-Day,
Hugs,
Lisca

Caty said...

Paris may be a fantastique town to visit, I´m sure you enjoyed it. Your coffees with those delicious croissants are great... I particulary love the éclairs au café, or with chocolate, delicious too the petites tartes aux fruits, and the crêpes are the best of all, really! Sure you´ll taste them next time you go to Paris. Have a great T-day !!
and big hugs, Caty

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Great photos. Oh, to be in Paris is right. I'm still treating Connecticut like we're in the Full Lock Down, because the small changes they've made to re-open things aren't going to get me to do them (i.e. 50% allowed to dine inside restaurants, etc.). Happy T-Day!

DVArtist said...

Wow! Really wonderful photos. Coffee in Paris, wouldn't that be nice.

Halle said...

It was nice seeing some older photos of times past out and about enjoying life. Soon hopefully things will begin to feel normal for our new normal.
Happy T day!

pearshapedcrafting said...

There really can't be a better place to drink coffee, especially at breakfast time, than Paris! We had to cancel our usual April trip this year! July in Paris (and other parts of France) in June/July last year was HOT and we forsook our coffee occasionally for citron presses! Some of the places where you drank your coffee look fabulous! Belated Happy T Day! Chrisx

Stevenson Q said...

Oh dearest Mae! This is so nice of you to take me back to Paris! I wasn't able to see much of the city as I was planning to because if the Transport Trike during the whole duration of my trip but now, it feels like I've also had a croissant experience at a beautiful cafe! I can see how flaky and warm and delicious those croissants are! Plus love drinking coffee in fine china!

Thank you so much for joining Timeless Thursdays dear Mae! I am so happy to see you link up this week! Hope to see you again next week :)

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I'm obsessed with Paris and I'm obsessed with coffee, so this is the post for me. Oddly, though I've visited Paris three times, I've never drunk coffee at an outdoor cafe. In fact, I've never bought coffee in Paris, except for the ground coffee my sister and I bought to make coffee in our apartment each morning last winter. Now isn't that odd? I think I was under the impression that coffee in France was not good...

Marg said...

I am so looking forward to Paris in July this year! We were supposed to Paris in May and so I had big plans about using my trip as my base for the event, but obviously I am going to have to rethink this!

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

Mae,
How fun to go back and relive your previous trips to Paris! I know when I look at photos from our travels, it makes me feel so happy and peaceful.

shelleyrae @ book'd out said...

I hope you find joy in your virtual trip to Paris!

Wishing you a great reading week

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

We haven't ventured out to sit in cafes yet, though we have ordered food on a take-out basis. I pine for a coffee date. Maybe next year? That vaccine can't get here soon enough! My Sunday Salon is full of good news

Girl Who Reads said...

A blogger I visited yesterday was also all set for Paris in July. She had French puzzles, brushing up on her French language skills, cooking French food, watch French movies, and of course reading French books. I thought that was a fun way to "vacation" this summer. I'm pretending I'm at the beach with beach reads and actually this is better than going to the beach because I don't like the sand.

Brona said...

During this time of pandemic shut downs and lock outs, we are so fortunate to have these wonderful memories of earlier holidays to keep us warm.

My last time in Paris was in 1991, so its starting to feel a bit vague and another lifetime ago. So your more recent pics are a delightful refresh and give me hope that one day I will be able to return.

Thanks for sharing :-)

Lisbeth said...

This year we can only dream of Paris. Nice photos and nice food. I especially like the croissant or pain du chocolate for breakfast. Sitting in a nice Paris café. It is good sharing our memories, especially this year.

Mel u said...

Wonderful pics. I look Forward to Reading everyone’s posts.

Carola Bartz said...

You captured the essence of that cup of coffee in Paris, sitting in a street café and watching people.