4 french stamps for sale

I have a complaint to the French government.*  I bought 7 postcard stamps at La Poste and said, "Les timbres pour la carte postale aux Étas-Unis."  Repeat.  Repeat.  The lady smiled, nodded her head (I think I now recall a smirk) and sold me stamps for within Europe only.  Do you know how I know this?  Well,  as I sat in the laundromat, writing a pretty postcard to my mom,  I had a thought, "Is this the right postage?"**  I went around the corner to above mentioned La Poste and a much friendlier French man told me I had the wrong stamp.   Aaaah.  I have the right postage now and  4 extra bleeping stamps (no exchanges, "Je suis désolé pour toi." )  So, family and friends.....perhaps you'll still get the first round (he said the postal service might still deliver...like it's a judgment call).  If not, you'll get the second.  More postcard writing next week!
You need the purple for postcards to US.  Not the blue:

*Yeah, do you think they are going to listen?  I can hear it now, "You are American.  You must suffer here.  We do everything right. We are the French."
 **Intuition.  Never ignore it!
Now some pretty pictures.  I'm going to fall asleep on a lovely note tonight!

Along the Jardin du Luxembourg gates is an exhibition titled "Femmes Eternelles."  I especially liked this one:  I would call it under the watchful eye.

And tulips in the garden  Wait.....french tulips.

Finally, it might or might not be lovely....I went back for the handbag today on Rue Princesse and, I am serious, it was no longer in the window!
Off to Normandy tomorrow to pick up daughter on Wednesday.  Hooray.  Hooray.
x,
A

Fermé le dimanche.

Aaaawww...no matter how many times I visit Paris, I always forget most everything (except the cafés) are closed on Sundays.
So, it was window shopping on the left bank today.  I saw this in a window:

You can't see it, but the lock reads, "My purse is my kingdom."  Could you imagine unlocking it every time you needed to get inside?  Probably a waste of time especially because you know we fill our handbags to capacity (heavy!).  But still..... how cute?
Then this drove down the street:

Total stroke of luck:

I saw above bike the day I got here, but was too foggy to pull out my camera.  I loved how the crate read MAMA (of course, daughter on field trip is on my mind!).  I thought about this bike and regretted snapping a pic.   Today I was out walking and it was still there.  Lucky me!!
Lastly, sunset on the Seine (March 2007).  Tonight reminded me of this pic.

Bonne nuit.
x,
A

Man, I miss ice cubes.

It's warm (bordering hot) in Paris.   Ice is rare...no, pretty much unavailable here.   A refrigerated, not even cold Desperados costs 3x as much as one from the grocery shelf.  But, it's worth it after a long day on your feet.   These are not available in the U.S.  Pic of one from my hotel balcony!

H, you aren't flying to Paris next week just for the Desperados are you? Ha!

In the city of perpetual beauty and style, I found tacky.

What color would you choose?

Oh, how time passes and things remain the same.  I took the pic below in the Palais Royale Arcade last  Oct. 09 to capture the chandelier for possible decor in my home.
I am serious here, this same man was standing in his shop today18 months later!

Uncertain if he realized I wanted a pic of the chandelier (my french can be spotty), but I love how he posed for the photo.  Mom, do you remember this?

Now I know how mom's feel when their kid's(') don't write or call.  Daughter's been in Normandy since Sunday....no emails,  no calls, no postcards, which is a good sign that she's independent, having fun, and learning alot (!), but still......

At PDX getting ready to fly to CDG!

Taking pic of her dad and me before she leaves for security.

So, hi Mom.  Everything is good and I am having a lovely time!!!!

More wandering, museums, eating, and people watching tomorrow.

Lovely dreams.  I'm tired.

x,

A

P.S.  Don't believe the guide books.  I went here yesterday and it was a total waste of money.  I didn't see the point, but the building was beautiful!!!

P.S.S. Whoever out there took my trench coat on the flight to Paris....I want it back.  But, on the lovely side, I'll have to buy a new one.  :)

Bonjour Paris