Black cats, umbrellas, missing jewels and the French Riviera...

Bonjour et Bienvenue chez French Girl in Seattle. 

This is the second post I have written to join mon amie Anita, of Castles, Crowns and Cottages,  and her friends during a special event: The Celebrate France link party. 

My first story was about Paris and you can find it here. Thank you to all the bloggers who have stopped by and left messages. It has been a lot of fun to meet you and discover your blogs and creative posts about la Belle France. 

Anita can be proud: Her event is a huge success!

I was going to wait and publish another story after the party, but the French news 

(that I follow religiously,) have inspired this little tale. I hope you enjoy it... 

This time, I am taking you with me to the beautiful Côte d'Azur,

 or, as the rest of the world calls it, "the French Riviera..."

En voyage!

This week, The 66th Cannes Film Festival opened with much anticipation. The prestigious jury, led by Steven Spielberg, includes glamorous Nicole Kidman, French actor Daniel Auteuil, director Ang Lee, and actor Christoph Waltz to name just a few. 

Ah, Cannes! The red carpet. Hundreds of paparazzi and professional photographers. Journalists and reporters. Limousines. Fans. Stars. Rain. Torrential rain. 

Wait. Rain? In May on the French Riviera? Oh oui, and lots of it. It has been a soggy five days in Cannes, and many are wondering if this is the end of the world as they know it...

Carey Mulligan (the Great Gatsby) thinks: @#$%!!!

Then, just before the weekend, a man shot a gun loaded with blanks during the taping of a French TV show, prompting the audience and everyone present (including actors Daniel Auteuil and Christoph Waltz) to duck for cover. He was quickly apprehended. 

As if it weren't bad enough, I heard on the French news that the Chopard jewelry house, one of the festival's official sponsors, had lost over one million Euros in a burglary. When the news broke, the Chopard spokesperson announced promptly that none of the jewelry stolen from a rented hotel safe [ed: a rented hotel safe???] was part of the "special collection" reserved for the Festival's glamorous movie stars. Phew. I don't know about you, but I feel better already. Thank goodness Nicole Kidman will be accessorized properly when she announces the Festival's winners in a few days!

The French police is investigating, but they are at a loss, and no suspect has been arrested yet. If they asked me, I could tell them who did it. It seems pretty obvious. The culprit is... "the Cat!"

Un chat noir? A black cat? Tssssss... Don't you know your classics? The Cat, a.k.a. John Robie!

Voilà John Robie

Do you see what I mean? In a strange turn of events, it seems we are witnessing a case of life imitates art... on the French Riviera. 

Come on. You must remember, even if you do not love movies as much as this French Girl does. After all, this is only one of the most famous American movies ever shot in Europe! A legend. I am talking, of course, about To Catch a Thief, released to great acclaim in 1955.

How many times have I seen this classic? You don't want to know. It is still a favorite here for home-based movie nights with my girlfriends. Just for the fun of it, (and to try and forget the chilly spring weather on the French Riviera and in the Pacific Northwest,) let's list some of the reasons why the movie remains so mesmerizing, 58 years after it was released.

1. Location, location, location.

La Côte d'Azur. Cannes' prestigious Carlton Hotel. Nice's Promenade des Anglais. Some of the quaintest villages in the foothills above the French Riviera, Tourrettes sur Loup, le Bar sur Loup, Gourdon and la Turbie. La Côte d'Azur threatens to steal the show in almost every frame... if it weren't for the movie's two superstars. And this takes us to...

Nice setting for a picnic, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant...

2. The undeniable chemistry between the two lead actors.

Grace Kelly. Cary Grant. Beautiful. Smart. Sexy. And great friends off camera. Their witty and playful banter catches viewers' attention. Watch them make the screen sizzle!

John Robie: You're here in Europe to buy a husband.

Frances Stevens: The man I want doesn't have a price.

John Robie: That eliminates me.

Kelly and Grant: Amis à la ville, comme à l'écran...

3. Grace Kelly's elegance

She would have looked good in a garbage bag, but in the iconic movie, she never had to.  Grace Kelly was dressed by legendary costume designer Edith Head (she won eight Academy Awards,) and had never looked so... regal.

The "Bathing Suit"

The lamé gown in the costume ball finale

The blue chiffon evening dress that, many years later, inspired another princess...

4. A talented director.

"Hitch," a.k.a. Sir Alfred Hitchcock. Inventive. Prolific. Need I say more?

Making one of his signature cameo appearances in the movie...

Directing his actors in Cannes...

5. Elegant fluff as art.

To Catch a Thief is not considered one of Hitchcock's best movies. Yet, it remains a viewers' favorite. Revenge. Deception. An ex-burglar forced out of retirement. Suspense. Thrilling car chases. This would be good enough for some, but what stands out is the movie's visual style, the stylized elegance in each frame, from the splendid French Riviera locations; to Edith Head's costumes; and the lead actors' natural charm. Perfection. Pure escapism.

Will John Robie prove his innocence?

The hair-raising drive along the Grande Corniche road above Monte-Carlo

6. A princess story. 

To Catch a Thief was Grace Kelly's last film with Alfred Hitchcock. As she was attending the Cannes Film Festival to promote the movie in 1955, she was invited to meet Prince Rainier of Monaco. A photo session was organized at the royal palace. The rest, as they say, is History...

A young prince meets his princess

Visiting the royal palace with Prince Rainier

Grace and Rainier's wedding day: April 19, 1956

What about you? Have you seen To Catch a Thief? Did you like it?

A bientôt.

To Catch a Thief (movie trailer:)

http://bradfordkendall.com

What if Jay Gatsby had lived in Paris?

Bienvenue! 

This week, I am so happy to join the deligthful Anita of Castle, Crowns and Cottages, 

et ses amies for a special party - by invitation only!

Merci beaucoup, Anita. 

The party theme: What makes la Belle France so special to me and other people? 

Une bonne question. A good question indeed. 

Allez, mesdames et messieurs:

Follow me to Paris, and if the following video clip does not make you smile, 

then nothing will. Bon weekend et merci de votre visite!

-- Véronique (a.k.a. French Girl in Seattle)

Bouquinistes, Quais de Seine, Paris

Bonjour les amis,

I hope all my favorite moms had a wonderful Mother's Day celebration today.

I was lucky to attend a couple of events this weekend. One of them involved re-uniting with a favorite fictional character of mine, Jay Gatsby. I really enjoyed the new movie by flamboyant director Baz Luhrmann (of Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge fame.) It was not perfect, but how delicious to watch Leo-the-Great, (a.k.a. Leonardo DiCaprio) capture Gatsby's soul. I have decided Leo is like a fine wine. He keeps improving with  age [insert sizzling sound.]  

"Forget Daisy Buchanan. You are the one for me, French Girl!" 

This week, I found a funny little video online. It was too good not to share. One petit problem: The video is in French. So, for those of you who read French, enjoy. For those of you who are happy being lazy monolingual bums, I have translated the script below. 

Il n'y a pas de quoi. You're welcome. 

We all love Paris. Some of us return, year after year. Some of us were lucky enough to live in Paris for a while. Some of us wish they did. Jay Gatsby never lived in Paris. But if he had, he may have agreed with the following list...

Les amis, I give you, directly from les Parisiens, "Telltale signs you live in Paris."

Translation: 

1. Your Monday mornings look like this [ed: on the subway.]
2. For 25m2 [ed: 270 square feet,] your rent is 800 Euros [ed: $1,050.]
3. You have never used the Seine river tour boats, but you wave "Hello" to tourists...
4. You never talk to your neighbors.
5. You are happy when it only takes 48:21 to get to work.
6. You never cross the beltway to go to the suburbs. Well, ok, sometimes you do.
7. You say to yourself you really have to visit the Louvre... one day.
8. You know what subway car to get on, to face the nearest exit when you step off the train.
9. To a lot of people you are just a "Parigot" [ed: derogatory nickname given to Parisians, rhyming with...] "tête de veau" (calf's head.) 
10. Top three animals you hate the most: Pigeons. Rats. Tourists.
11. You like it when Paris is empty in August... and the Parisians have left the city.
12. You know what "rush hour" means [ed: notice photo of a Parisian park on a sunny afternoon.]
13. You know the best places to kiss.
14. You know each subway line by its color [ed: there are 14 total.]
15. You know how to avoid danger on sidewalks [ed: danger = dog poop.] 
16. You can locate each arrondissement (district,) well... almost. [ed: There are 20 arrondissements in downtown Paris.]
17. You constantly visit "awesome" exhibits...
18. You never turn down a chance to have a cup of espresso on a terrace... not even for 10 Euros [ed: $13.]
19. The hardest part about your vacation, is returning [ed: Sunday evening traffic!] 
20. You know that sometimes, Paris can be magical [ed: photo of le P.S.G., the Paris soccer team.] 
21. There are 894 shows playing every evening... but you never go.
22. You can test the world's cuisines... simply by changing neighborhoods.
23. You can buy a bottle of wine; too expensive; mediocre; at any hour.
24. You meet poverty every day... but you don't notice it anymore.
25. Once, you found a cab quickly (with a nice driver to boot!)
26. You like it when Paris wakes up at 5:00am... as you are going to bed.
27. You know why la Défense neighborhood will never be Manhattan [ed: Parisians *love* New York City!]
28. You are certain that Paris is the most beautiful city in the world.

 Well, what did you think? Did you enjoy the list? Can you relate? 

I will volunteer a small contribution to the original list, and it goes something like this...

29. You complain about Paris while you live there, and talk often about "getting out." Yet, you will never feel more Parisian than once you have moved abroad, and constantly think about returning. 

And that, les amis, is a fact.

:-) 

A bientôt.

To read more about Paris:

Ten Steps to Enjoying Paris like a Parisian

We will always have Paris... and le Marais...

To read more about la Belle France: 

These incredible French waiters

Deconstructing the French woman: Marion Cotillard

Nice, the Rainbow City

A short week in the Périgord

Wonderful small towns: Edmonds, WA

“This town of churches and dreams; 

this town I thought I would lose myself in, with its backward ways and winding roads leading to nowhere; 

but, I found myself instead. 

-Magic in the Backyard (excerpt from American Honey, by Kelly Elmore)” 

What does a big-city-loving-French-Girl do, when she can't be in a big city? 

She hunts down the nearest small town, that's what.

Lucky Moi, the Seattle area has a few good ones, and I have featured some here in the past. Lovely Snohomish, WA, has inspired several stories. So has Winslow, Bainbridge Island...

Today, I'd like to introduce you to another favorite - probably one of the best small towns in the area - Edmonds, WA. 

Edmonds, like many local towns, was founded by a future lumber baron. There are still trees around, but trees are not the first thing that come to mind when I think of this attractive, friendly locale. 

Located a few miles north of Seattle, Edmonds offers a lot more. First, breathtaking water and mountain views. How many urban areas boast views of the Puget Sound, the Olympic  mountains (to the west,) and the Cascades (to the east?) This town does. 

Hellooooooooo Pacific Northwest...

The iconic WA state ferries link Edmonds to the neighboring Olympic Peninsula...

That fact alone would make Edmonds the perfect place to retire. How fun would it be to walk my dog every morning on the local beaches, or along the waterfront, looking at this? After years of hoofing it daily, rain or shine, in a pastoral setting, coastal hikes would be a welcome change.

One can't walk the dog all day, I realize. Not to worry: There is plenty to do in Edmonds. 

Edmonds is a real town, you see. There are sidewalks. Shops. Restaurants. Coffee shops. Art Galleries. Let's not forget an old-fashioned movie theater and a Saturday outdoor Market.  Best of all, there are people, children, and dogs walking around, all day long. 

Edmonds has turned a little chi-chi (affluent, trendy) over the last ten years. As I was walking around yesterday, I noticed the old mom-and-pop antique-shops had been replaced by spas and trendy eateries. The crowds basking in the sun on the town's patios were eclectic. Busy families; empty nesters reading the paper while sipping a cappuccino; relaxed 30-somethings casually dressed in high-end yoga wear; the mandatory local tree huggers, complete with Birkenstock sandals... But everyone seemed to get along just fine. People laughed and greeted each other, smiling, as people have a tendency to do in the Pacific Northwest when they are granted a day of exceptional weather outside of the summer months. 

I had lunch sitting at the bar of my favorite local restaurant, Chanterelle, where I chatted for a while with a patron. We both picked the pear-brie-spinach quesadilla. fresh... and délicieux!

Bon appétit, French Girl!

My day would have been perfect as it was, but I made it even better by visiting two mandatory stops on all my Edmonds trips.

First, the Savvy Traveler, the perfect shop to prepare for a trip... or to dream about one... The store has everything; I mean everything you *think* you need to travel. Bags galore, of course. Travel guide books. High-end travel clothes that will instantly turn you into Indiana Jones on your next expedition...

I found a great Fedora hat for my upcoming trip to Europe, and replaced my travel hair dryer. Then I had fun browsing around and chuckled a few times... As I said, the Savvy Traveler will gladly sell you all the things you need to travel... and more...

These would solve the problem of overstuffed carry-on bags on major airlines, don't you think?

Edmonds' most famous son and resident is European travel Guru Rick Steves. This French Girl is a fan (I mean, I have met the man and shot the breeze with him on several occasions, for chrissakes!)  No trip to Edmonds is complete without a visit to Rick's Travel Center, Europe through the Back Door, downtown. 

The Pacific Northwest's Mecca of all things Europe...

I love it there. There is fun stuff to look at, and even more to learn. A wonderful collection of bags, and other travel artifacts (all labeled "Rick Steves" to ensure you will be making friends while lining up in front of the Eiffel Tower or shopping on rue Cler in Paris, France...) 

There are travel counselors at the ready to help you plan your next European adventure. 

There are tables and chairs where guests are welcome to sit down and take notes from the generous collection of travel resources Rick and his team share with them. 

Shhhh! Travel is serious business...

I had a good time chatting with some of the visitors and shamelessly plugged in my upcoming France travel workshops with a lady and her friends who were discussing their summer trip to Paris... 

The least I could do was to purchase Rick's indispensable Civita Day Pack. It is affordable and so soft and light you can practically stuff it into a pair of sneakers when not in use. The color? Prune (Plum,) of course. The bag had to be *perfectly* accessorized with my favorite suitcase du jour: Rick's new rolling carry-on, designed to meet European carry-on standards (a souvenir from Mr Steves' last travel festival I attended with a friend.) Voilà, I shall stop here before this post becomes a Rick Steves commercial. This is French Girl in Seattle's blog, after all, not American Public Television!

So, you may ask, is Edmonds, WA perfect? Just about. There is one tiny, upsetting little thing there. 

Le rond-point. The roundabout. 

Living in my neck of the woods in American suburbia where three roundabouts were introduced on a busy road a few years ago, has convinced me Americans just can't do roundabouts (or maybe it is just a Pacific Northwest thing?) I mean, where else in the world do people accelerate as soon as they see the YIELD sign upon approaching the dang thing, threatening to hit any unfortunate soul already maneuvering their way inside it? 

YIELD!!!! How hard can that be???

Well, Edmonds have their roundabout, and they must have assumed nobody would pay attention to a YIELD sign (they would be excused if they did,) so they went ahead and replaced them with four giant STOP signs. I spent ten minutes watching the incredible show unfolding before my startled eyes yesterday, as cars slooooowwwwllllyyy approached the roundabout; hesitated; moved in; slowed down or stopped in the middle to let pedestrians go; started again... tentatively. On the bright side: Nobody got hurt. People are relaxed in Edmonds, you see. It must be these gorgeous water and mountain views. Edmonds is a happy town. 

Edmonds roundabout, with one of the four stop signs.
Apparently, the fountain in the middle had to be protected with steel bars...
It had been hit by crazy drivers too many times!

Would I live there? You'd better believe it. As soon as I learn how to steer my favorite car (and faithful sidekick) through le roundabout...

A bientôt.

Post dedicated to Tonks, my little black witch:
My field trips would not be the same without you!

All photos by French Girl in Seattle.

Please do not use, reprint or Pin without permission.

I have a dream... lucky Moi!

seattletimes.com

When do people stop dreaming? When did I?

Somewhere along the way, life happens, and we start confusing short- or mid-term plans with dreams. Worse, we adopt other people's dreams as our own, convincing ourselves that if they are good enough for someone we love, they are good enough for us. Somewhere along the way, we forget who we are. 

Les renoncements. We settle.

Dreams are harder to achieve than plans. Dreams require a good dose of imagination. Enthusiasm. Some craziness. Ambition. Patience. And a little bit of selfishness too. But folks, making a dream come true is the ultimate reward, one that will be appreciated only if it took a lot of hard work and sacrifices to get there. 

I just turned a big birthday this spring, and as I looked back at the person I used to be, in my 20s or 30s, I realized somewhere along the way, I stopped dreaming. 

This year has been a challenging one for our family. In more ways than one. Curve balls have been thrown at us, as life has a tendency to do, and in our attempts to catch them, there has been no time to dream - or even to think about dreaming. 

No matter. This ends now. Oh, I know there will be more rough months ahead, more trials; and I will look at them squarely in the face. But this does not mean life has to stop just now. 

I want to keep on dreaming. I want to feel inspired, and excited, once again.

This week, the funniest thing happened. And all because of a little car I met at a local museum. If you are French, or even European, you will know why I had to have my photo taken in front of that particular car... It was not the fastest, the most beautiful, the most famous car there... but it is the only one I remember from my visit.

Le May American Car Museum, Tacoma, WA
Two French girls meet...

La Deux-Chevaux. La Deuche, or, as it is known in the United States, the 2CV.

If you want to understand why this little car occupies such as an important place in the French psyche, you may want to pause and read the story I wrote about it last year. Then come back here and find out how this French Girl started dreaming again...

When I posted this innocent photo on the Facebook page for the French Girl in Seattle blog, a funny thing happened. A French man named Sylvain, another blogger and expat, enjoyed my 2CV story so much, he immediately shared it with the readers of his popular blog, My French Neighbor (merci Sylvain!) Within two hours, the numbers of subscribers to my page had increased by 75%, and visitors left enthusiastic comments about the 2CV, and the page in general. This tickled me pink (no, I will not attempt a translation here.) 

It was clear La Deuche still has many fans around the world, and if my story was good enough for Sylvain and other French people (a notorious tough crowd,) then I had reasons to be happy and proud.

La Deux Chevaux: More French than la baguette or le béret!

Still a beloved sight in the French countryside...

An iconic French car on an iconic French road
(nationale7.com)

Just looking at la Deuche makes me smile. That is the truth. I see one go by in France (not a very common occurrence anymore,) and I smile. I can't help it. 

As I was researching old photos and stories about the 2CV online, I found a company offering sightseeing tours of Paris in refurbished 2CVs, Quatre Roues sous un Parapluie (Four wheels under an umbrella, one of the 2CV's old nicknames...) 

I immediately decided to book a short tour for Junior (the car enthusiast) and me, while we visit relatives in Paris this summer. A 30-mn ride along les Champs-Elysées and around l'Arc de Triomphe in crazy Parisian trafic is a [good] start.. This was a plan, not quite a dream yet... but a fun plan all the same!

Then I looked at the website some more, and I found information about a rally, organized every spring by Quatre Roues sous un Parapluie and the Most Beautiful French Villages of France Association. Imagine that: Seven days. From Paris to Cannes (French Riviera.) Driving your own 2CV with your crew; experiencing some of my homeland's most scenic roads and villages, surrounded by other 2CV and France enthusiasts; all the while competing in a rally; sleeping in comfortable country hotels  and interacting with locals every evening; discovering why La Deuche always was so much more than a car... a true lifestyle...

"I like the good life..."

Lucky buggers. I like them all already...

I had found it. My dream. A dream that would take some time to finalize (and a lot of saving up...) but that would be so satisfying, so fun, so... perfect. 

Of course, I will have to start working on it soon. First I will need a dedicated crew. Three people max. 2CV enthusiasts and francophiles need apply. What do you say? Are you interested? 

What car will we get? We don't need to own one. Quatre Roues sous un Parapluie will find one for us for the duration of the rally...

A rugged Sahara model?

A convertible Charleston model (my favorite?!)

Never mind.  This ain't the Pacific Northwest!

Finally. Some sun on the horizon. Something to look forward to. 

Ahhhh... The freedom to dream. It can be mine. It can be yours, once again.

Life can be good, people, for the Dreamers, the Motivated, the Brave! 

What about you? Do you have a dream?

A bientôt.

• Interested in the 2 CV Rally? More info here.
• Interested in the incredible story of La Deuche? Read more here. 

• More Deux Chevaux (2CV) photos, just because... These are a bit of a private joke for French readers. Do you get it? :-) 

Merci, chère Deuche, for reminding me of the intoxicating power of dreams...