Paris is famous for beautiful doors. We walked by this striking purple door on the Rue du bac.

Walking around Paris is a veritable history lesson. This is a memorial plaque for Roger Connan, a French Resistance fighter executed by the Germans at the age of 23 during the liberation of Paris, which took place from August 19 to August 24, 1944.

I have somewhat of an obsession with Art Deco and Art Nouveau bronze sculptures and glass. This gallery window caught my eye. This is an Art Deco style lamp, Clarté LUEUR LUMINEUSE by Max Le Verrier, from the 1920’s.

Gorgeous bronze Sculptures and art glass.

A somewhat grotesque detail on a Left Bank building.

An Art Nouveau detail of a building.

Marla’s favorite store in Paris is the stunning Galeries Lafayette. The unique department store is 131 years old and has fascinating history. The store contains oodles of diverse galleries from very high end designer companies to very affordable fashion. During the Nazi occupation of France in 1940, Les Galeries Lafayette underwent a process of “Aryanization“, that is the removal of Jewish owners and their replacement by non-Jewish owners. After World War II, the founding family re-established ownership of the company. The founders’ descendants have maintained a controlling interest in the business ever since. 

We walked over to Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, which was the first department store in the world. It opened in 1852 in Paris at the instigation of Aristide Boucicaut and his wife Marguerite. They were both in favor of “a new kind of store that would thrill all the senses”. It is now the property of LVMH.

We took our sandwiches from Le Bon Marche and sat at the beautifully tranquil Square des Missions-Étrangères, on the 105 Rue du Bac. There was a bust of François-René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand (1768 – 1848) a French writer, politician, diplomat and historian who influenced French literature in the 19th century.

We enjoyed dinner with Philippe Auzas and his good friend, Annick. Le Coupe-Chou was just fair at best but our dinner companions made up for it.

Left Bank antique galleries still fascinate me. This is a marble decorative mask of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and theater.

Beautiful Art Deco style door handles on the Boulevard Raspail.

A gallery specializing in antique walking sticks.

It has been years since I looked at this gallery window. All kinds of interesting items for the explorer/collector.

A guitar player by a weeping willow tree by the Seine River.

A crowded Bateaux Mouches on the Seine.

Swans by the quay.

I reserved dinner at Les Antiquaires as Marla was having her hair done across the street. It was packed with people having wine and cocktails. The restaurant experience was really a nice surprise as we loved everything! Of course having a great waiter made all the difference.

A daily specials board.

A “poissonnier” works on a plate of seafood.

Marla begins the evening with a Kir Royale.

Boring for some, but I love my Aperol Spritz!

Awaiting my escargot. Delish!!!

Marla rated her Crêpe suzette an 11 out of 10!

A superbly delicious waterfall of rich chocolate pours down on my Profiteroles.

Our love affair with Paris grows and grows. Many years ago Marla and I sent my Mom to Paris and she was joined by my niece Suzanne. She told me later…”Do you know Dick…I could really have an apartment in Paris!”

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.