Montmartre Wine Harvest this week

The Vendanges de Montmartre (wine harvest) is this 

Wednesday through Sunday, October 9-13, 2013,

throughout the 18th arrondissement neighborhood. 

While initially begun in 1934,

the Vendanges continues every year 

mostly as symbolic tradition of the hill's once plentiful vineyards.

The theme this year of Love and Passion

will focus on food and art 

with wine tastings, local food samplings, music and dancing. 

The only tiny vineyard still working and visible on the hill

produces about 1,500 bottles of

Gamay and Pinot Noir. 

You can still view the plot at 14-18 rue des Saules.

Free fireworks and music will be held

Saturday October 12th at 9:45pm.

Metro: 

Take the 12 Line to Jules Joffrin, Lamarck Caulaincourt, Pigalle or Abbesses,

or the 2 Line to Blanche or Anvers. 

For a full list of events and maps,

go to GoParis here.

Details via GoParis.about.com. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Rouge pour ma Grandmere~Missing Paris Day

(Montmartre window)

Red was my grandmother's favorite color... 

(Paris produce market)

...especially this deep, sweet, gorgeous red. 

She wore dark red lipstick on her plump, naturally maroon lips, 

planted red geraniums and wore red scarves.

A couple of years ago I had a dream about her.

She was trying to tell me something but I couldn't hear her.
She became more and more agitated,
had to make me understand because 'some people are coming'.

A short time later I called my aunt.
She'd had a similar dream.
Called my sister.
Same dream. 

(Montmartre cafe table)

Whatever the message was,

it was never received.

After the dream, I drove by the old house

and noticed a pink construction permit posted outside.

Was she trying to tell us she'd stashed a load of cash in the wall

and wanted us to know before the new owners found it?

I've been in touch with them.

They never said a word. 

Or was she just calling to say

Je t'aime?

(Tomorrow would have been her 97th birthday!

Bon Anniversaire, Grandma!) 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'~The Paris Eiffel Tower News

If you are looking for the official website for the Eiffel Tower

(in French, of course), click here.

But if you want to find out about

'The Controversy about the Eiffel Tower'~

including an Eiffel Tower Fact Book~

OR everything you wanted to know about the Pont Neuf~

OR The History of Montmartre~

OR my personal favorite museum: The Jacquemart-Andre~

OR the oldest church in Paris~

OR any number of walking tours in Paris~

AND about a gazillion other things about Paris~

go to The Paris Eiffel Tower News.

I would write more but I will most likely have my nose up to my earballs

in Paris Eiffel Tower News. With info on hotels, restaurants, bars, including maps,

museums, photos and landmarks, it looks to be one of the best sites (I've found)

on the wonders that are Paris!

a bientot!

(Antique Postcard courtesy of The Graphics Fairy)