tourist tuesday and shakespeare & company, paris

Some of my favorite things in the whole wide world have a bit of Shakespeare in them.

I took these photos of Shakespeare and Company, a most interesting bookshop in Paris, for you last year and then I plum forgot about them.

This happens to me all the time.

I am someplace fascinating take shots of things I want to share with you.  All the while I am shooting away I am writing my blog posting in my noggin.

Then I come home carrying 10,000 images effortlessly across the border.

Then I upload for days to beat the band.

One thing leads to another. In my head I have already written a posting about this and that so I must feel my Job Is Done.

But life goes on. I forget to share. Pardonnez-moi, svp !

Before you  know it, I end up somewhere else, filling up Yet Another memory chip.

I don't want you to think I have a TON of cash & can travel anywhere I do please. That is NOT the case for if  this were the case I would not be sitting at home this afternoon writing this for you.

Oh, no, Buster Brown! Most likely I would be over here instead.

Anyway, I normally travel in May when airplane tickets are less expensive. I leave on a weekday and stay over a Saturday--preferable 2 Saturdays, sometimes 3--and I hop on one foot under a full moon. Magic stuff like that. Anything to save a euro.

Forget about flying in June or July unless you have won the lottery, I say. Or unless you are a movie star or a rock legion. So far I am neither. So far.

Plus, I am a Big Fan of American Express Reward Points and Frequent Flyer Points. I hope you are making the most of these useful systems.

So. Here you go.
This is my favorite book store in all the world , thus far.

I only get here about one afternoon every 5 years or so but the great thing is the place seldom changes. You just make yourself right at home, like you never even left.

On a good~weather day you can just linger outside and peek around.

You never know who might show up.

Worn suitcases filled casually with obsure books steal my swooning heart.

Three guards with healthy biceps are standing nearby so don't get any ideas about scampering off with the bound treasures.

Make you way inside and prepare to stay awhile, is all I can say.

I am not the first to discover this place.

All the best people hang out here.

And they have been for a long, long time.

Years and years ago writers would come here.

Some authors would come here, read from their latest book and then would spend the night there in the dusty stacks.

Every time I wander in here I hope to see a famous writer sleeping here but that never happens these days. I suspect famous writers now use their American Express Reward Points to stay somewhere more private up the street.

But still. It is nice to know writers are welcomed to sit a while & visit.

A healthy children's department waits upstairs, if you are so inclined.

Last week I saw a charming movie which reminded me of this special Paris bookstore and of all the important writers who have traveled to Paris to write.

Thank goodness they did.

I hope to see you here some time. Maybe in May 2015. Or  May 2020. You never know.

Whilst photo~capturing the artistically~worn patterned floor I noticed someone wearing my shoes and wearing my jeans was standing by the door.

It wasn't me. But it could have been. Was it you?

Comments

[Stephanie]

I thought the last was shot in a mirror...your feet and legs.

I depend on YOU and your American Express to feed me adventures. I have my own too of course but a healthy supplement of spf travels is what the doctor ordered.

x..x

[Leslie M]

This looks like a wonderful bookstore. No wonder you keep going back. It looks like Atticus may have a relative who has been there. Thanks for sharing your photos. I'm so glad you found them!

xo

[rebecca]

you make my book loving travel ready heart swoon!

any chance you listened to this weekends "This American Life", it was a remarkable story about Hamlet performed in prisoners. yes, google NPR and check out the podcast. Shakespeare would love it, i certainly did!

[rochambeau]

Wish it were me you saw! But of course in my imagination it was~ I have a little jammie~ jar filled to the brim to prove it! Great photos.
About S&Co.
Interesting that they've mixed used and new books. Once in Dallas there was a Shakespeare and Co, but it was all new books. Exciting books published by Risolli for instance. Midnight in Paris is on our Queue (not quite out for netflix yet). Was Shakespeare in Love good? Should we see it?

Thanks for taking me to Paris! The lady in the red coat and black slacks. Adore that shot. Can I grab one from your site?

Hugs to you bonbon!
Thanks for your prayers for Marshall!!
xox
Constance

[parisbreakfast]

Converse shoes are BIG in Paris.
Yr lucky not everyone in the store wasn't wearing them Some Pink.
And thanks for yr very good FB advice
xCarolg

[Marilyn]

Wish it was me, but my shoes are pink. I have visited there and walked to the top of the stairs and seen that bed. The next time you go remember me standing there in the book aisle. Traveling in May and frequent flyer miles are for sure a good thing.