It may sound banal and, to those who know me, it is probably not totally unexpected, but in Paris, the City of Love, I’ve fallen head over heels into a true Parisian love affair. Lustful and wanton. Intense. Transcendent. But no debonair, suave Frenchman has caught my eye and captured my heart. Instead, I’ve abandoned all restraint and thrown myself wholeheartedly into a relationship with French pastry. Casting aside any notion of moderation, I’ve immersed myself in wanton gluttony. I’m drawn into boulangeries across the city–pulled in by tempting displays of croissant, tartes, kuignettes, gateau… And, they are always there, patiently waiting, just for me.
My days in Paris begin before my family stirs. I quietly leave the apartment and head through the streets to the local boulangerie–no meandering on these mornings as I make a beeline directly to my destination. What will it be today? I arrive, opening the door with a breathless, eager “Bonjour, Monsieur!”, and breathe deeply, inhaling the intoxicating blends of butter, sugar, yeast. My eyes linger on the heaping displays of croissant, pain au chocolat, croissant aux amandes, pain aux raisin and more, so much more! They trace the delicate curves and whirls of buttery, sugary flakes, spy peeking pockets of chocolate, and admire generously sprinkled sugar and slivered almonds. Mmmm. What a delicious dilemma! What a delightful way to begin each day!
So, I’m eating pastry in Paris, beginning each day with a croissant or perhaps pain au chocolat, or maybe one of each. Yet it doesn’t end there. We walk for miles through the city each day, and passing each patisserie/boulangerie, I gaze in, longingly, at the gateau and tartes. “Oh, look, apricot!” My stomach groans, churning, digesting, expanding, protesting; yet, still I turn in. “Oh, we haven’t tried pistachio yet!”
And so it goes. I know there won’t be a happy ending to this love affair–it’s more of a vacation fling, really–and there are bound to be some regrets. But for now, I’m enjoying every mad, wonderful, decadent moment. Vive la France!
Nix the comfort zone 
I loved this!!! They do look seductive and I am more than a little envious. I think you should just embrace the decadence.
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I did! 🙂
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Thanks for sharing those glorious pictures. I haven’t been to France since 1999, but pictures like this bring me right back to memories of mornings there.
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Thanks, Stacey. This was a family vacation as our kids are flying the nest–one last hurrah! I got a bit carried away with taking pictures to try to capture some memories but they do come in handy when I blog! (I suspect I’ll be looking at them a bit come September as well…)
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Ha! Your glorious post brough back wanton memories of my own, now I am longing for a fling, too. Nothing like pastry in Paris!
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Withdrawal is a problem though….I’m currently sitting at my desk in Maine. It’s a rainy, chilly day and nothing would taste better than a freshly baked pain au chocolat and some cafe au lait! Sigh….
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Ah Paris, the City of Lights and love and amazing food. How I envy you.
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It was a wonderful trip, Haddon! Thanks for commenting.
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You were living a dream! Paris and pastries, the perfect combination! I love that you were able to embrace the love of this fling.
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It was a delight, Elsie, and already seems like a dream!
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Your words, “groans, churning, digesting, expanding, protesting…” make my saliva flow.
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I still miss starting my morning with them! 🙂
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Morning pastries and homemade breads of all kind with the finest local coffee, be it in Paris or the Kopper Kettle. Now that is a morning!
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Headed to the Kopper Kettle tomorrow morning with Lydia and Kurt–One last breakfast before she heads off to school on Friday. I may just have to get that apple cinnamon bread!
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