Paris Je t’Aime
A long weekend in Edinburgh was the perfect birthday getaway. The weather was amazingly UNScottish-like (mild and sunny) and everything we had planned turned out pretty perfect.
One disappointment, however, was our Outlander Tour of the Highlands. Booked with Rabbie’s, they were well organized and impressive in the beginning, but didn’t meet expectations as the tour progressed. I won’t go into detail, but all-in-all, the guide wasn’t as knowledgeable or interesting as we were hoping. So while we visited the sites that were used as film sets in Outlander, we didn’t learn as much as we would have liked. In an effort to fix that, I’m now rewatching the series (for the 4th time) and recognizing the castles and towns we visited giving me a new appreciation for the tour.
The tour took us to Midhope Castle, Jamie’s family home, Lallybroch; Blackness Castle, known as Fort William in the show; Linlithgow Palace (which we didn’t see because there wasn’t enough time to both have lunch and visit it); Culross, a 16th-century village that poses as Cranesmuir and the best was last…Doune Castle, the fictional Castle Leoch.
The highlight of the entire trip was dinner at The Witchery in a collection of buildings as old as the 16th-century, right at the gates of the Edinburgh Castle. The atmosphere, cuisine and service was impeccable on every level. Dinner was about £100—a bargain considering the quality. Put this on your Edinburgh list of must-dos.
Back in Paris life came to a screeching halt as cold/flu set in. I’m not surprised…every winter, influenza affects between two and six million people, particularly vulnerable people, and is responsible for hospitalizations and even deaths. A vaccination campaign is organized each year by the Ministry of Health and the High Authority of Health, which define the dates. Vaccination against seasonal flu started here October 15, 2024 and will continue till January 31, 2025. The campaign is being conducted in conjunction with the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
I was traveling when the campaign started and now it’s a bit too late—I spent the last four days in bed sneezing my head off, but tested negative for Covid. So, while I’d love to be out in Paris and reporting on all the wonderful things going on in the city, all I can talk about is rewatching Outlander!
When arriving at Charles de Gaulle to board the easyJet flight to Edinburgh, there were racks and racks of “Paris Vous Aime,” the magazine. It’s designed to reach tourists, but the truth is that even we residents can appreciate the news of what’s on in the City of Light (even if we’re too sick in bed to take advantage of it!). Here are a few highlights:
• Notre Dame will reopen December 8th—that’s the day I’ll be returning to Paris from Los Angeles, so missing it sad to say.
• Believe it or not, British food is being touted (I never dreamed the French would acknowledge it) in an article titled “L’Anglais au Programme” (English on the Menu) as is a lot of food-related articles to ensure you dine well in the Capital City.
• Current expositions make the magazine, of course. Jackson Pollock is at the Musée Picasso, on until January 19, 2025, if you love his work. And Surréalisme is on at the Centre Pompidou until January 13, 2025.
• Dans les Secrets de La Comédie-Française article, they write about the “art of piping a collar”—and I remember learning how to do that at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) when I studied fashion design…how to “fell” stitch a collar so that it would roll perfectly. It brought back memories.
• The department stores get a serious mention, as they should. Have you visited the new La Samaritaine? I remember when it was just an average department store and I loved it for that, but in the process they had ignored the beautiful Art Nouveau architecture. Not anymore! But be sure to bring your credit cards with high limits, because you’ll need them.
You don’t have to go to the airport to get a copy of the magazine. You can download a PDF version of it right here and now.
Truth is that I loved reading Paris Vous Aime for all it offers. And it’s also true, regardless of three days in Scotland, Paris, je t’aime (Paris, I love you).
Special Note: Thanks to all for the birthday wishes! Everyone has them…thank goodness (!) so to all of you celebrating another year anytime soon, Happy Birthday to you, too!
A la prochaine…
Adrian Leeds
The Adrian Leeds Group®
Adrian Leeds, by LuLu LoLo
P.S. Thanks to the Fabulous LuLu LoLo for this photo montage of me as a Highlander! Keep up with LuLu LoLo and the “I’MPOSSIBLE NEW YORKERS”—a work in progress by Photographer/Artist Paul Takeuchi.
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Did they tell you of the correct way to pronounce Culross? How that came out is beyond me. So glad you had a wonderful weekend.
I hope you’re feeling better. If you haven’t had your vaccinations get them!
We’re having our usual October heat and gentle winds (the Santanas we re last week) We’re at the foot of the PV Peninsula so we stay warmer. (Not the side of PV that’s crumbling into the ocean).
Annieb