Paris Parfait

Talking heads

18th-century millinery forms, Val d'Loire, France.

Today I've been having fascinating conversations about some upcoming projects and a visit soon from a lovely artist and blogger. My favourite Gypsy Girl is featured in a Nine to Five magazine piece. And please take a few quiet moments to read my fellow adventurer Gillian's enchanting essay.

As if all that isn't enough to spark your creativity, check out the inimitable Vanessa Valencia's latest whimsical creations - guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

News of note

A rather intriguing conversation took place between the United States and Iran, on the sidelines of a meeting at the Hague. Both countries were participating in the meeting about aid for Afghanistan. Dialogue is always a positive step, in my opinion.

But before the G20 Summit Thursday in London even begins, France is threatening to walk over disagreements about stricter financial regulation. Not exactly a helpful way to approach a summit designed to address the global recession.

Meanwhile the Paris-based Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has warned that the UK lacks ample funds to fuel its faltering economy.

As for Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai is playing dangerous political games with womens' rights. Karzai apparently is trying to curry favour with voters by backing a law the UN Development Fund for Women claims legalises rape within marriage. Further, the law bans wives from leaving home without their husbands' permission and would grant custody of children only to fathers and grandfathers. Where is the justice in that equation??!!

More antique millinery forms.

In the pink

More spring blossoms, Paris.

1970s redux, thrift store, Savannah, Georgia.

Window display, The Paris Market, Savannah.

Silly rabbits, (this and three photos below), @Home Vintage General, Savannah.

Spools of satin ribbons.

Vintage cabinet, retro laundry sign and numbered bottles.

Candy pink candlesticks.

Picture hope

Curiosities at Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons in Val d'Loire, France. Today Europe moved its clocks forward one hour for Daylight Savings Time.

 
"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." - The Dalai Lama.

It appears China has been using its technology for sinister purposes. Why is such a huge, powerful nation so afraid of the Dalai Lama and his influence over Tibet? Read Tracking GhostNet and get more information  here, here and here.

Meanwhile, Spain is considering trying a court case involving alleged abuses by six former Bush administration officials.

On a brighter note, Shutter Sisters Jen Lemen and Stephanie Roberts are vying for their dream assignment, Picture Hope.  Register here, then cast your vote here. It takes only a few seconds and can help push their dream closer to reality.

From Stephanie's website: "Jen Lemen and I, supported by our Shutter Sisters, are on a mission to find hope in unlikely places. Our dream assignment will take a community of dreamers on a journey to five continents to find the essence of hope – that elusive quality that makes it possible to believe this is not the end of your story no matter how simple your stress or profound your tragedy. We'll search for hope in the lives of the very people who have had every reason to abandon hope as nothing more than wishful thinking. We'll begin in northeastern Rwanda in a quiet village where two young girls wait to be reunited with a mother they've been missing for over three years. Our journey ends in the hills of Nepal where an American teenager became the mother of twenty orphans when she decided to follow her heart."

At present, Picture Hope is in third place in the Name Your Dream Assignment competition. Please help it spring forward by casting your vote today. Thank you!

Let's take the hint

Spring blossoms caught between rain showers, Paris. As always, click photo to enlarge.

"How many times it thundered before Franklin took the hint! How many apples fell on Newton's head before he took the hint! Nature is always hinting at us. It hints over and over again. And suddenly, we take the hint." - Robert Frost, 1874-1963

Millions of people around the world are taking the hint and turning their lights off for an hour this evening. If you'd like to participate in Earth Hour, simply switch your lights off from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The annual event is a reminder that we all need to play our part in conserving energy every day.

US President Barack Obama has invited leaders of the world's 16 major economies to a climate change summit April 27-28 in Washington. The summit will center on topics including supplying clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Seeking serenity

A series of arched entranceways, Cathedral de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Today I am hoping for calm, peace, safety and justice and reason. Please spare a few moments for Fatima's story and view her extraordinary photographs.

Ludwig Bemelmans' post-war Paris

Ludwig Bemelmans' illustration of St. Germain, Paris.

Last week I was thrilled to receive a surprise package from the lovely Patricia Kessler of Abyssal Plain. It contained a 1948 edition of The Best of Times, An Account of Europe Revisited, with 160 illustrations by Ludwig Belmelmans of Madeline fame. Merci bien, Patricia. Such a delightful book!

Bemelmans writes, "There are other pleasures in Paris and the best of them, for me, is the street scene. A good place to watch it is from the small tables of the sidewalk cafe that is called the Deux Magots. This cafe is on a square and faces the old church of St. Germain and two rows of old houses (Ed. note: Offices, shops and a hotel have replaced the old houses Bemelmans describes).

"The traffic conditions are very bad in Paris now on account of the lack of automobiles, which allows every driver to go as fast as his machine (bicycle) will go. This causes frequent accidents which, by the grace of God, never seem to call for an ambulance or undertaker, but result in great arguments and exhibitions of temper, addresses to bystanders and back talk to the police. The gendarmes throw back their short blue capes and after licking the points of pencil stubs write essays of several pages on what happened. Expressions such as "Sunday chaffeur" or "head of veal" cut the air, as the participants in this sport point at bicycle wheels bent into the shapes of pretzels and at scratched fenders.

"The slightest accident holds up all traffic, as nobody pulls over to the side and the whole thing is enacted exactly in the middle of the street or square where the collision took place. At the end, the policemen, who now are all young, stow their books away, go back to their beats and resume saluting the citizen who asks for directions and saluting him again after he has received them, which is a nice habit of the police of Paris."

How little has changed! French bureaucracy continues to thrive - those "essays of several pages" - but now such accidents involve both voitures and bicycles. Usually, it's best to take the Paris Metro!

A competition among various fire departments from towns outside Paris.

An anti-Twitter stream of consciousness

A corner of my cabinet d'curiosities, Paris.

Update March 26: Read Di Overton's take on the subject: "Twitter away, I'm not playing."

Lately, I've been feeling completely overwhelmed by the tasks at hand. Book rewrites that are taking longer than expected, forcing me to revisit old wounds; an apartment that feels claustrophobic, after spending too many hours at the computer; a family situation that's made me realise how little control we really have in this life.

So today, instead of doing what I was supposed to, I went for a walk. I had tabouleh and coucous and yoghurt with cucumber and olive foccacia for lunch. I wondered if having breast-reduction surgery might make it easier to carry heavy camera gear around - but when would I have the time? Of course, the real reason to consider that surgery is back pain from being top-heavy. Can you imagine what it's like to live in a city filled with glamorous lingerie, but all the bras are the sizes we wore as teenagers? Sigh. But I am very reluctant to undergo surgery that requires anesthesia, unless absolutely necessary. Have you had this surgery? Were you pleased with the results?

OK, that was an unexpected diversion in this stream-of-consciousness post. And here's another: Why are girls still being force-fed in Mauritania? This is child abuse, not to mention barbaric!

Last night I watched the DVD of The Tudors until 3 a.m. (and slept in today). All that palace intrigue - thank goodness women no longer are subjected to having their children housed elsewhere, at the whim of their husbands.

I also edited some photos for a magazine piece and played with my camera. I talked to my husband, who's in Vienna for a conference; then answered some email. Why do companies keep emailing about "unique partnership opportunities with Paris Parfait," which really means they want me to link to their company, without them paying for a text ad? Do you get such requests?

I read the news with skepticism, dismay and delight and curiosity. And I am still hopeful - really hopeful - that things will improve for us all.

But don't ask me to Twitter - I get lots of those emails too - because if you've waded through this post, that's pretty much like a day's worth of Twitter feeds. I don't have the time for Twitter - and how do YOU find the time? And who really cares about the minutia of my life? Isn't that just too much information?

I was at a BlogHer seminar in San Francisco last July and the girl next to me spent 90 minutes "twittering" to her friends about buying clothes online. I wondered why she bothered to attend the session, as she obviously wasn't interested in the subject. But all you Twitter followers, don't let me dampen your enthusiasm. Twitter away! If you find the time, please tell me why you find the Twitter trend so appealing.

P.S. Some of my dearest friends have enthusiastically embraced Twitter; please don't take my opinion as a personal affront. It's not you, it's Twitter!

South Africa chooses commerce over human rights

Follow the leader, courtyard, Cathedral de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Breaking news 1 p.m.: The peace conference has been called off, due to South Africa blocking the Dalai Lama from attending, BBC News reports.

Both South Africa and Tibet have suffered for decades at the hands of brutal oppressors. So it is with considerable dismay that the world witnesses a defiant South Africa choosing commerce over human rights, much like its government during the dark decades of apartheid. During that time, South Africa suffered organised boycotts and was ostracised by the international community.

The current South African government is apparently willing to accept its new indentured servitude - this time, to China. The government's action certainly doesn't bode well for it hosting the 2010 World Cup.

South Africa is bowing to Chinese demands to refuse entry to the Dalai Lama for a peace conference beginning Friday, March 27th. Both Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former South African President F.W. de Klerk have announced they will boycott the event, if the Dalai Lama is forbidden from attending.

Yet the South African government persists in its unprincipled stance, while the Chinese government freely admits it pressured South Africa to exclude the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. Further, the Chinese government has announced it will oppose any nation's overtures to meet with the Dalai Lama.

They've forgotten their history,
this ignorant new government
struck blind by greed.
Unaccustomed to power
after decades of none,
they close their eyes
to the consequences
and agree to all terms
and conditions spelled out
by the lenders and investors.

This fledgling government,
still unused to the ways of politics,
stifles any thought of the oppressed
and risks its reputation
for a brand new bank and ongoing servitude
to a demanding Chinese host
who exports injustice, along with investment,
denying human rights to one nation,
while insisting others do the same,
lest the coffers slam shut.

An afternoon in the Bois de Boulogne

Windmill in the Bois de Boulogne. As always, click photos to enlarge.

The moat surrounding the windmill and a caretaker's cottage.

The caretaker's cottage and steps leading to the windmill on its little island.

A glimpse of the windmill through the trees.

Trees reflected in the moat leading towards Hippodrome de Longchamp, Europe's largest flat-racing course. The spring season at Longchamp begins on April 2.

Buds on trees and a small creek and dilapidated fence in the Bois.

A willow blowing in the fierce March winds along the bank of a pond.

Scroll down the page for another post today.

South Africa forgets its lessons of apartheid; blocks the Dalai Lama from attending peace conference

More prayer manuscripts from a Buddhist temple, Tibet, 18th-century.

It seems South Africa has forgotten its painful lessons of apartheid. Apparently bowing to pressure from China, the South African government has blocked the Dalai Lama from attending a peace conference. The Dalai Lama was to have joined Nobel Peace Prize laureates Desmond Tutu, Martti Ahtisaari and FW de Klerk, as well as Norway’s Nobel Peace Committee, at a conference March 27th.

Both Tutu and de Klerk have indicated they'll boycott the conference, if the Dalai Lama is not permitted to attend. Dai Bing, speaking for the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria, told reporters his government appealed to the South African government to prevent the Dalai Lama from entering the country, as "this would harm bilateral relations."

Is China attempting to perpetuate its own disregard for human rights within South Africa? Read more of the shameful story here and here.

Fragile

Both fragility and strength lie in these intertwining branches, Parc de Edmond de Rothschild, Boulogne-Billancourt.

Remember the Sting song "Fragile?" After reading the latest installment of Australian artist Judy Wilkenfeld's Visual Anthologies, I was reminded that despite our fragility, we also carry vast hidden reserves of strength. And when necessary, we can summon that strength to push us forward through difficult challenges.

Judy's work is truly stunning, artfully blending beauty, humanity and history. Go here to see her thoughtful creations.

Jeanne Magnin's Greek-inspired sketches

French artist Jeanne Magnin's Greek and Byzantine-inspired drawings are from her 1916-1917 sketchbook, found at a brocante. See her Egyptian-inspired drawings here and her Roman-inspired sketches here. For more of Magnin's work, visit Le Musee Magnin in Dijon, France.

Murder in Gaza and other crimes

Exhibition poster, Paris metro.

Israeli army vets admit killing innocent civilians in Gaza

Read Donald McIntyre's piece in The Independent about the appalling litany of war crimes in Gaza. Read more about the soldiers' admissions at Haaretz.

"Journalists" defend the indefensible

The pathetic lack of objectivity among some "journalists" in the mainstream media is amplified by stupid rhetoric about Dick Cheney. The former vice president - who openly advocated torture, among other human rights violations - continues to make false and misleading statements about the current administration. Read Glenn Greenwald's insightful article in Salon.

Iranian blogger dies in prison

Human rights campaigners call for justice after an Iranian blogger dies in prison.

Newspapers continue their struggle

The Columbia Journalism Review writes about the challenges for the few remaining two-newspaper towns.

Keep calm and carry on

The World War II Keep Calm and Carry On posters are doing a brisk business in Britain, as a "stiff upper lip" reaction to the faltering economy. I have a poster from Barter Books and two tote-bags bearing the Keep Calm and Carry On slogan from the Victoria & Albert Museum gift shop in London. My daughter also has a totebag and my husband has a poster in his office.

Making every moment count

18th-century Italian angel in my cabinet d' curiosities, Paris.

 

"As a tale, so is life; not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters." - Seneca.

Remembering Natasha Richardson, 1963-2009.

Jeanne Magnin's Roman-inspired sketches

French artist Jeanne Magnin's drawings from her sketchbook found at a brocante. To see more of her work, visit Le Musee Magnin in Dijon, France.

These sketches reflect Magnin's interpretation of the Roman style. See her Egyptian-inspired sketches here. And check back later for Magnin's Greek-inspired drawings, as well as her Byzantine sketches.

Sony 2009 World Photography Awards winners

Go here to see the photographs - both professional and amateur - awarded prizes.

Sad, sad news

Update 1 a.m. Thursday Paris time: Natasha Richardson has died from her injuries, it has been announced.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic news that the actress Natasha Richardson has suffered a life-threatening head injury. Her family has gathered at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York to say their goodbyes.

Vanessa Redgrave was particularly kind to my daughter on her eighth birthday, when we met in London through a mutual friend. Faced with losing her child, I can only imagine the pain Miss Redgrave must be enduring. And of course Natasha's husband Liam Neeson and their two sons are devastated by such an enormous loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the Redgraves and the Neesons.

Jeanne Magnin's Documente de Style 1916 - 1917

Last night I watched a BBC production about Egypt, in which the French Egyptologist and explorer Jean-François Champollion (1790 - 1832) was featured. It made me want to grab my passport and camera and jump on a plane to Cairo. Since that's not possible at the moment, I'll head for the Egyptian wing of the Louvre. But before I do that, here's a special brocante find, with some Egyptian-influenced drawings:

Last spring at the brocante at Chatou, I visited Geraldine Michaelis of Une Chanson Douce. This plain brown wrapper concealed an artist's dream.

Inside were the French painter and art critic Jeanne Magnin's 1916 - 1917 sketches of Egyptian, Roman and Greek styles. Check back later for more of her fantastic work.

Magnin was the author of Le paysage français, published in 1928 and Un cabinet d'amateur parisien en 1922. For more of her work, visit Le Musee Magnin in Dijon, France.

Children's playroom at La Pedrera

Dollhouse, La Pedrera, Barcelona, Spain. Isn't this late 19th-century dollhouse at Casa Mila exquisite - complete with its own chapel? Such elegance and attention to detail! As always, click photos to enlarge.

Furniture miniatures in the Art Nouveau style, early 20th-century. The pieces are a fitting accompaniment to Antoni Gaudi's Art Nouveau architecture and furniture at La Pedrera on Passeig de Gracia, as well as other innovative buildings in Barcelona. La Pedrera, or Casa Mila, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Early 20th-century games in the children's playroom at La Pedrera.

More games, a train and model car.

A Guignol puppet theatre and a porcelain doll in a Bentwood rocker. She looks a little shell-shocked, doesn't she?

News, views and a recipe

For all you Francophiles, here is a fascinating article about France's revisionist history and Nicolas Sarkozy's attempts to correct it and rejoin NATO.

If you visit any of the villages in Normandy or other parts of Northern France, chances are you'll find monuments in the town square dedicated to the Americans. Most of these tributes are maintained by the local mayor and town council, with funds from their own coffers.

French sculptor Anilore Banon produced a gorgeous sculpture, Les Braves, which rises from the waters off Omaha Beach (2006 photo at left). Banon created it as a tribute to the American soldiers who died defending France's freedom. Read more here.

Kudos for Jon Stewart

America cheers as satirist delivers knockout blow to TV finance gurus.

Chavez turns up the heat on multi-nationals

Coca-Cola is the latest multi-national company under pressure amidst Hugo Chavez's "reforms."

And I've stopped drinking "Coca-Light" as the French call Diet Coke and Coke Zero, after reading this scary warning about aspartame's side effects.

Isabel Allende's tales of passion

Isabel Allende is one of my favourite writers; I have all her books, including a couple in Spanish. Watch her tell tales of passion here.

From Allende's book Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses, a simple and delicious recipe for Gazpacho, the cold tomato soup typical of Spain:

Ingredients:

4 large ripe tomatoes, peeled and seeded
1 small can tomato juice
1 pickle
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 rounded tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon vinegar
Salt, paprika and garlic powder to taste
2 tablespoons mincled cilantro
1 hard-boiled egg, diced

Preparation:

Place all the ingredients - except the cilantro and egg - in a food processor and blend. Cool in the refrigerator until it is time to serve. Garnish with the cilantro and egg.

Les beaux bébés

I couldn't resist posting another photo of the engaging Princesses Emily and Sophie:

Thoughts for the weekend

Pamper yourself. Really. You deserve it!

Sit for a spell, as we say in the South. Read; write; play a game; chat. Or just sit and think.

Relax and stop worrying about things you can't control.

Take your time; stop racing around as though your hair's on fire, as Condoleeza would say.

Think about it: Life is too short not to indulge yourself once in a while!

All vignettes are from the uber-talented and utterly charming Joan O'Connor at her fabulous store Timeless Treasures in San Francisco. More photos from Joan's incredible selection of treasures coming soon.

I am anxious to get back to San Francisco to see what Joan has come up with lately, as her shop is constantly-evolving with delightful curiosities old and new! If you're in San Francisco, stop in and say hello. Joan and/or her talented staff will make you feel very welcome. And you'll find it difficult to resist the tempting treats on offer!

Scroll down the page for another post today.

Last chance for Chatou

If you're in Paris today or tomorrow, it's your last opportunity to visit the 78th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites a la Brocante et aux Jambons at Ile de Chatou. Alas, my eye inflammation has thus far prevented me from attending.

If you have the chance, don't miss Chatou for some fabulous antiques and collectibles. It's open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and tomorrow. Tickets are available at the gate. And if you can't make this brocante, there's another "ham fair" in September at Chatou.

Stop by 4 rue Pele and see my friend M. Pettersson (pictured here at a brocante at Bastille); 10 rue de la Gaite to see the lovely Blandine Bavoux and 7 rue du Chemin Vert to visit the charming Nathalie Cottier. All three antiques dealers have beautiful, high-quality items for sale for reasonable prices.

If you miss Chatou this time around, you'll have another opportunity to visit M. Pettersson's stand at the Square des Batignolles Brocante beginning March 20th. The brocante in the 17th arrondisement is open from 10 to 7 p.m. daily through March 29th. Take the metro to Brochant or Rome and walk a couple of blocks to Square des Batignolles. You'll find M. Pettersson at Stand 100.

Miscellaneous items on offer at M. Pettersson's stand at 5 rue Pele, Chatou.

Asian influence.

Black forest wood creatures.

A French chandelier accented with amber crystals.

One very lucky Friday the 13th

Ode to Apple, Printemps, Paris.

For a Friday the 13th, this has been one very fortunate day! Three incredible opportunities have appeared in my inbox, out of the blue - but very welcome. More about all that soon.

Meanwhile, won't you pop over to Apartment Therapy and see Julie's bright and cheery Denmark kitchen? Visit Julie's blog here.

Read Jen Lemen's words of hope.

And grab a cup of tea and savor Judy's powerful Visual Anthologies.

Hope your Friday the 13th is proving lucky!

Burning up the headlines

Flowers in an Art Nouveau vase at La Pedrera, Barcelona, Spain.

This week I've been preoccupied with an uncomfortable inflammation of my left eye, writing deadlines and planning a trip West. Haven't been spending much time at the computer, due to the eye problem (on Wednesday, the opthamalogist prescribed eyedrops, rest and more sleep). But I can't resist comment about certain news events:

Iraqi jailed for Bush shoe attack

Three years??!! Isn't that a bit excessive, considering the crime? Particularly in a lawless place like Iraq, where murderers walk around free.

Now here's a guy that has caused real problems; yet remains defiant about his reckless disregard for the Constitution and the Fourth Amendment. I'd like to know why UC-Berkeley gave this calculating charlatan tenure.

Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff is finally sent to jail to await sentencing for fraud, perjury and money-laundering.

The Mississippi legislature honors an event hosted by a white supremecist. I am reminded of President Obama's words, "The world has changed and we must change with it."

An off-duty New York cop is part of a racist attack on a Long Island black man.

Seattle's best newspaper joins the list of city stalwarts forced to fold.

And BBC reporter James Reynolds writes of the whisper of a single monk in Tibet.

Always an adventure

Seeking adventure; will travel. Photo at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.” - Helen Keller

I am delighted to be guest blogger at the lovely Relyn's place. Won't you join me for a chat about adventures and perhaps a hint or two about my upcoming novel? I'd love to hear about your memorable adventures. And I've saved a seat just for you!

Pillars of strength

Paris mosque photo by Jordana Shalhoub.

Thinking of Tibet:

"Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom and dignity. It is not enough, as communist systems have assumed, merely to provide people with food, shelter and clothing. Human nature needs to breathe the precious air of liberty." - The Dalai Lama

Read Columbia University Professor Robert Thurman's article about the 50th Anniversary of the Lhasa uprising here.

Remembering the Tibetan uprising

Tibetan prayer wheel, 19th-century.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule - which forced the Dalai Lama into exile - unrest continues. Explosions and clashes are reported between police and local residents in Qinghai Province. Read more here:

Blasts ahead of Tibet anniversary

China tightens security in Tibet

China's Hu demands wall of stability in Tibet

News from Tibet

The Dalai Lama

Five decades of Chinese rule have caused "untold suffering," Tibet's exiled spiritual leader said in an anniversary speech. The Dalai Lama accused Beijing of creating a climate of fear. He also repeated his demand for Tibet's "legitimate and meaningful autonomy." Read his full statement here.

Buddhist temple manuscripts, 18th-century.

"Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. He who has given up both victory and defeat, he, the contented, is happy." - The Way of the Buddha

It's all in the journey

Group of aqua seltzer bottles collected from various regions of France.

 
"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” - Martin Buber

Lately I have benefitted from some happy accidents, both in my photography and in my writing. I have one camera that is so sharp and clear - 24.60 megapixels - that it captures details I may not notice when taking the shot.

With my little Konica-Minolta pocket camera, often I am walking around the city, or in another country, when suddenly I see a certain image begging to be shared. Later, when I upload that image on my laptop, I notice some quirky aspect of the scene that may be even more interesting than the vision I'd first glimpsed.

"One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller

It's exactly the same in writing. The poem or the post;  the article or the book I start out writing is markedly different from the finished product. It's the journey - with all its unexpected detours - that informs the creative process, just as it's the journey of our lives and the choices we make along the way that define who we are as individuals.

What unexpected delights are you discovering along your creative journey? Do you find your original ideas evolving, as you work? Are you sometimes surprised by the results?

Of course there are times when results need to be predictable and precise, i.e. in a business proposal or document related to government, education or the corporate world. But more often than not, our work doesn't have to be so tightly controlled, does it?  Sometimes it's good just to relax and see where the journey takes us. Walking with an open heart and mind along a path without destination can yield surprising rewards.

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day. Read here about commemorations and celebrations going on around the world. And take a moment to reflect on what you and other women do to help make the world a better, kinder and more peaceful place.

Don't squeeze the toothpaste tube

"Chandelier" comprised of silver tubes in various sizes suspended from slender light cords in a Paris vitrine.

A Native American headdress and assorted wigs are among the attractions at a party supply and toy store.

Star Wars characters and space-age gear in a travel agent's window. Tickets on a space shuttle, perhaps? More likely, an airport shuttle.

A tongue-in-cheek reference to the French president? That's the joke around town. But it's really a children's book series.

A favourite William Shakespeare quote over the doorway of Antiquarian Books at Shakespeare & Co., Paris. Notre Dame is reflected in the window.

Making a movie

On Wednesday afernoon, the rain stopped and my friend Di Mackey and I watched a French crew filming scenes at a hotel/restaurant on a side street near Notre Dame. The footage will be part of an upcoming movie. Note the vintage clothing, newspaper and stacked wooden crates of mid-20th-century liquor and seltzer bottles.

The film crew discussing an upcoming scene. The vintage car and bicycles are props for the production. Alas, I had only my little pocket camera with me!

Taking a break to smoke. A few minutes later, the girl wearing white pumps crossed the street towards Notre Dame. Her pumps appeared too large and probably rubbed blisters on her heels, as she was walking with difficulty. Of course women in the '40s would have been wearing stockings, except when they were difficult to find during World War II.

A "Big Ben" British bicycle, leaned against a hitching post.

A vintage French bicycle used in the film's production.

Closed Zone

Imagine being trapped in a poverty-stricken, war-damaged area. Yoni Goodman made this 90-second video to help us understand the frustrations of living under such harsh restrictions. Goodman, the director of animation for the award-winning film Waltz with Bashir, produced Closed Zone for the Israeli human rights organisation Gisha: Legal Center for Freedom of Movement.

Gisha, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 2005 to protect Palestinians' freedom of movement, especially Gaza residents. Gisha calls on the Israeli government to fully open Gaza's border crossings and allow freedom of movement for the 1.5 million Palestinians currently forced to remain within its borders.

Thanks to Marianne for the link.

Meanwhile, human rights investigators say Israeli forces engaged in "wanton destruction" of Palestinian homes during the recent conflict in Gaza. Amnesty International said the Israeli military may have committed war crimes. An investigator told the BBC that the way many houses had collapsed suggested mines were planted beneath the structures. This would suggest there was no danger to Israeli troops, thus no reason to destroy the buildings.

Feu et lumières

I've got the world on a string.

Home is where the heart is.

Hearts on fire.

All photos, Paris, March 4, 2009. Back soon with stories of Napoleon and Egypt; film-making; friends; food and a rare find. See my friend Di's photos of today's outings here.

The guest blogs

Di Mackey, visiting from Antwerp, writes:

"I'm not sure what to do guiltwise when staying with a hostess so gracious that the only job I am tasked with is drinking a glass of rather delicious red wine while she slaves over a hot stove, creating a lovely pasta dish that will accompany the light salad and crusty baguette dinner.

"As a New Zealander my exposure to things French had been limited before heading abroad. I have since learned that their wine is better than I had first realised, their food is often superior, both in terms of fresh produce used and preparation, that their bread is some of the best I have ever tasted and that I will never ever be fluent in this particular language.

"But I'm wandering ... something I do so very well sometimes. Ask Tara about conversation with Di. She has suffered quite some conversation already tonight.

"Anyway, I'm here at Tara's desk tonight, fighting a desire to pick up my camera in an attempt to capture something of the atmosphere I find here. Book titles that beg a reading, artworks that inspire and all kinds of bits and pieces that would bring out the artist in the least artistic among us.

"We have two more days to spend in this city she has come to call home. We've made such a lovely beginning that (guilt about being spoilt aside) I'm looking forward to seeing how things unfold."

Ed. note: I told Di she had to say nice things or she was buying dinner tomorrow!

The Pyramid in Paris

The Pyramid reflected in a pool of water at the Louvre, Paris. Designed in 1984 by architect I. M. Pei, the structure is made of glass segments, steel rods and cables. The Pyramid stands 20.6 meters (about 70 feet) high; its square base has sides of 35 meters (115 ft). The Pyramid was inaugurated in October, 1988 and opened to the public in 1989.

The Pyamid provides the entrance to the Louvre.

In this photo, the Louvre Palace appears to be leaning towards the main Pyramid. Two smaller inverted pyramids flank the large one. As always, click photos to enlarge.

The spiral staircase within the Pyramid, leading to the Louvre entrance.

Fountain at the Louvre.

Sunset, February 28, 2009.

Shadows form a triangular Pyramid shape in the reflecting pools.

Le Musée des Arts décoratifs

Creations by Spanish artist Jaime Hayon at the Musée des Arts décoratifs shop, 107 rue de Rivoli, Paris.

This is my favourite small museum in Paris. In addition to the beautiful furniture and objets d' art ranging from the Middle Ages through today, the museum offers special exhibitions throughout the year. An exhibition of Sonia Rykiel's designs is on through April 19th.

The museum is complemented by a well-stocked design library, with books about every period of style and design, no matter how obscure. Original artists' creations sold in its boutique include jewelry, handbags, porcelain and stationery.