When I go back to the U.S. for my summer sojourn, I’m happy to bring a bit of the Paris explorer with me. I now see my home state differently, as if I’m a traveler. I see the insolite. I study the details. I really look . . . to find the unique in the mundane.
I took to the road in my zippy rental Fiat 500 (I love this car!), from Pacific Grove (“The Last Hometown”) through the hills of the gold country.
There was no doubt I was in America; the journey was punctuated with American flags.
And there was no doubt that the dominant color of the state was gold . . . dusty, dry gold. The Golden State is becoming a desert state. In most of California, the earth is thirsty, begging for rain.
My road trip started in Pacific Grove, where the town celebrates its period of Chinese settlement with the annual Feast of Lanterns. The whole community descends on the beach for a pageant and fireworks, everyone with Chinese lanterns (now battery operated after some unfortunate incidents with paper lanterns and candles).
The rest of the trip followed country roads, from the central valley to the gold-country Sierra foothills. Even in dust, it’s beautiful. There is something for everyone, from Jesus to Sons of Anarchy.
It was fun to be a traveler in America, with open eyes and time to roam . . . and to see things I’ve passed a dozen times for the first time.
Meredith Mullins is a fine art photographer, photography instructor, writer for OIC Moments, and Director of the International Fine Art Photography Competition. Her work can be seen at www.meredithmullins.artspan.com or in her award-winning book, In A Paris Moment. She is available for private photography instruction/exploration in Paris. Contact her at meredithmullins@earthlink.net. Stay tuned for her “Paris and Beyond” exhibit with Richard Nahem, opening in Paris on September 25.
My Paris Apartment for Rent
I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from November 30 to December 16, a total of 17 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator.
The price is 2800 euros/165 per night for 17 nights, 1500 euros for 7 nights, and anything in between 7 & 15 nights, 175 euros per night. Minimum rental 7 nights or 1500 euros. Photos upon request.
Please email me at r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested.
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour