Sunday, July 06, 2008

Paris Monsoon?!


I often get emails from people visiting Paris asking me "I'm coming in [month] what should I pack?" I never know what to reply as, in Paris, you can never tell in advance what the weather will be like. Take this early July period, for instance... In theory, it should be warm an sunny, and though we're experiencing some heavy rains. And the week to come does not look too good. Tough luck, I'm going to Brittany (Bretagne) tomorrow (Monday) to follow the Saint-Malo>Nantes stage of Le Tour de France. I'd better take my umbrella!

45 comments:

  1. Eric, I'm often asked when to visit Paris and the answer is always the same, October. The city is never more beautiful than in the fall. The sun is low in the sky, the fall colors are everywhere, and the air is crisp and clean. You can keep April in Paris, I'll take the fall.

    Paris Photo Art!

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  2. What a sexy photo! I think a little rain shower is obviously bringing this couple closer. Must be warm enough to be wearing such a short skirt! I'm SO jealous that you'll be following a stage of the Tour de France! Are you going to carry a big flag and run along with the peleton so we can see you on TV?

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  3. Great photo! this is one of my favorite stops everyday. I am so jealous that you are going to see the Tour. I am a huge fan, and have been up before dawn to watch it here in the states. I am cooking my way through the Tour with food from each days tour city or region. Have some crepes for me in Brittany...and please get lots of pictures!
    http://realnobodyslikeus.typepad.com/

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  4. Well, since its a rainy July, I'm sure that means I'll get to enjoy an unseasonably warm November. ;) I'm sure all of the fall color will be gone, but, c'est la vie. (I promise not to ask you what to pack, Eric!) Hope you have fun at the Tour de France. Where should we be looking for you?!

    I read an amusing book by Tim Moore not long ago called French Revolutions in which the self deprecating Mr. Moore pedals his bike along most of the route with the story told at his own expense. Quite funny and full of the history of the race as well.

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  5. What a marvellous photo Eric! As much as we all complain about the rain, we must admit it's romantic. I love rainy shots. This is beautiful.

    We're having the same weather, Eric. Tomorrow is so bad that Wimbledon tennis is expected to be postponed, so the Men's Final will probably be on Monday but we shall see. Today has been rough and rainy too but i've not seen anything so romantic as this, unfortunately!

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  6. OOOOoooo I love this photo. Yes the rain can bring a couple closer, I agree with Katie! When you are in love, there is no bad weather!! Eric, I am sure your eye brings something more to this scene...and you've made it be just romantic. His arm on her shoulder under this umbrella, that's really sweet...
    BTW, what means 'Paris monsoon'?
    I am sending to you my best thoughts from the south of Brittany, not too wet yesterday (pretty windy), don't know for Sunday...

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  7. You can never guess what the weather in England is going to be either. It's raining quite heavily whilst I am writing this, although it has been quite sunny today, but started off with rain. I guess the answer would be "Pack Everything"!

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  8. Carrie - Oooh! I loved Tim Moore's "Frost on My Moustache" for similar reasons. I'll have to look for this other title.

    Lynn, Eric - I'm having precipitation envy.

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  9. Eric, isn't that what umbrellaa are for...snuggling closer? Love this shot! What's a little rain!

    Like Claudine, I too am an avid fan of Le Tour (although not cooking my way through...now that's creatively cool). Can't wait to hear or see or both what you bring back from Bretagne. How fortunate you are.

    Lynn...I'm also looking forward to the men's final and hope we aren't in for one of those matches that is stopped and started constantly. Sorry Nadal fans, I think Federer pulls it out this time.

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  10. *umbrellas [although "umbrellaa" sounds French...ooh la la!]

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  11. Next time I travel, I want to do it the ultralight way. Wear three "tops" and two "bottoms" and an outer-garment on the plane. Put four changes of underpants and a change of shoes in my handbag. If I need anything more, I'll buy it at my destination, along with a carry-on sized satchel for bringing it all home. No wasted time with luggage check and hauling.

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  12. USElaine -- loved Frost on My Mustache, too! I always think he'll be too much of the same thing, but, it never happens, I just keep laughing.

    I'm torn on the packing -- tempted to go ultralight, but, then, I give in to the urge to splurge! Maybe this coming trip I'll discipline myself and go spartan. But, at least I'm ready for rain - I got a great umbrella - now all I need is a squeeze! PHX-CDG -- 5 top secret tips? (Sorry - like you haven't been asked a million times before, too!)

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  13. *Sigh* Such a lovely picture--absolutely love that it's black and white, Eric!!

    Wimbledon: Have to say Federer. He's amazing.

    Le Tour: Eric, how lucky are you to have an amazing job that you get to 1)live in Paris and 2) go to all these other fabulous places and 3) have such fun doing things while you're there and think of all of us at the same time! You are truly amazing! Have a great time in Brittany!

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  14. Christie is absolutely right. In Paris? C'est la vie. Just be glad you are IN Paris- the weather doesn't matter! Rain or shine, it's the best. Nice photo Eric, of course.

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  15. What a romantic shot.

    I always forget to pack the someone to snuggle along with my umbrella, hope you didn't.

    How exactly will you follow Le Tour? By car, on foot? Stay safe.

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  16. A photo with lots of vibrations! I love it. And that is one sassy umbrella!

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  17. David...forgot to say Congrats! You are the proud recipient of the GF Crown for the day! You do look a bit red today...are you blushing? :-)

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  18. That's beautiful. I'm sure it shows the romantic side of paris. Nice touch making it black & white.

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  19. Carrie - Ah, you must travel with assistants. Forgive my blunder. ;^)

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  20. What makes this photo exciting for me is the old stone of the massive column/edifice the couple is passing. In other places, that would be special. In Paris it's no big deal because all the buildings are ancient and fab.

    I'm such a romantic.

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  21. Oh la la, Eric -- c'est la toute petite parapluie d'amour. Love the b&w.

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  22. Just seen it in the link you've given to the Tour de France website : "Le Tour toujours" inside a heart ; a nice label.

    Have a delightful Monday, in this St Malo - Nantes stage. I am sure you'll have a lot of fun with it!

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  23. Oh I love this one. The B&W effect makes it cold. The picture is very simple and I like the frame.

    Lynn, I remember what you told me about good man and good weather LOL. 'Paris monsoon' c'est la 'mousson de Paris' btw. Isn't the right word? I guess it is.
    I missed two days of PDP...but I'm now in holidays for REAL! About the 'concierge' word I'm glad to learn that it comes from Comte des cierges, it's such a nice word. Makes me dream.
    My father's concierge (at work) lives in a little tower, really. There are 3 floors, one room per floor. It's SO cute.

    Have a nice sunday all.

    (I passed my Art History exams!!! aaaaahhh) :)

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  24. Where I come from, people looking at this picture would joke: THe rain, the small umbrella, would make the romance even better.

    :)

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  25. Nice picture !
    Just like my honeymoon in Venise !

    Félicitations Guille !!!!
    2 années en une, chapeau !
    Quoi de prévu pour la rentrée ?
    A part la course aux aparts ou colocs comme beaucoup de jeunes que je connais ?
    En tout cas, passez de très bonnes vacances et très méritées.

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  26. Guille...great news! Congrats to you and your accomplishments. Enjoy the weekend!

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  27. Coltrane, thanks for the congrats. It's good to be #1, if only briefly. As for the red face, just following Petrea's example and mixing things up a little.

    By-the-by, there was a photo essay in today's NY Times about a young Parisian woman visiting Chicago. She loved the city.."We knew that it was a city rich in architecture, but we didn't know it was such a great city for contemporary art and for culture." My kind of town is also a Parisian's kind of town.

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  28. Eric what a happy photo, it's like looking at the glass half full.
    Petrea is right, the backdrops in Paris are what does it for me as well.
    Congratulations Guille!

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  29. On my way back to Paris, I am currently at Nantes station and ... it is not raining. There is even a sunny light! si, si!
    So, you won't need your umbrella Eric!! (unless you are expecting a pretty woman as those on your post come under it?!)... Of course, that would be different in this case!! ;)

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  30. *as that one in your post comes under it?!)

    Je crois que c'est mieux ainsi (?) pfff... désolée...

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  31. I love the french word for umbrella: parapluie

    Too cute.

    Guille, congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  32. Guille -- let me add my congrats as well. Good for you (and btw, I'm sure no one here is surprised you passed)! Are you going to India?

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  33. Any umbrellas for sale? Another
    rain delay at Wimbledon (second today)...go figure! What an incredible match though. One of the best in recent memory. I think Lynn's prediction about a Monday match is likely to happen. I have heard they are planning to install a roof over center court in the near future to avoid these looong matches.

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  34. My small island is mostly rain sodden, with welcome dry spells once in a while. Classic image, couldbe from any era. Will you be photographing the Tour De France? I photographed it in Montpelllier last year on a lovely summer's day.

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  35. It seems to be the monsoon all over the North of Europe. It was not better in London these last days (as you might have seen from the broadcast of British Grand Prix and... Wimbledon, still running while I write this ! Very nice photo as usual ! Loic http://brohardphotography.blogspot.com

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  36. I guess Monday's Wimbledon match will not be necessary since Nadal outlasted Federer. Incredibly played. Wow, what a day of tennis...and rain delays! But indeed worth the wait. Now, to Le Tour!

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  37. People walking in the rain while under an umbrella is a favorite among everyone. I had an umbrella once which pictured the famous painting by Gustave Caillebotte of a rainy day in Paris. Everyone use to comment on it and express how much they loved it -- these were just passers-by on the street.

    I did a painting once of China Town in the rain. I won't comment on it though. You can check it out by going here http://loissimon.com/034_34.htm

    Thank you Coltrane and Alexa for your "get well" wishes. I haven't had a cough this bad for years. I was talking to my daughter yesterday and I said, remember the time I cracked two ribs because I was coughing so hard. She remembered! She must have been only three years old at the time. Merci again for your up-beat and caring support.

    Guille, Way to go!!!! I hate exams. I am so happy that part of my life is over. That is what I was thinking when I read your comment.

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  38. he he Guille, glad you remembered. C'est vrai, n'est-ce pas?

    Coltrane, what a match! I always wanted Nadal. I know Federer's amazing but somehow i didn't want the record taken away from Borg! Nadal played fantastically, never once relenting. I was so glued to the tv i hardly dared blink.

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  39. Lynn...I too was glued to the tv. That will go down as one of the best ever. Both were simply amazing. I was a Borg fan as a kid (the days when rackets were actually made of wood)and it was cool seeing him at the loonnggg match; you make a good point about the record. Now if the Old England Club could do something about the rain... :-)

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  40. That's exactly where I was in the first week of June! I had a great time there.

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  41. It has been hot here in New York this summer. More thunderstorms than I remember in other years.

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  42. This is a truly wonderful photograph. The very best of many very, very good ones. Thank you.

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