Paris: Wish You Were Here! Edited by Christopher Measom

It is the time of year when I want to escape the Pacific Northwest, with its short-lived promises of a beautiful spring day, but then followed by an ugly (or worse) snowy day the next.  Or should I say beautiful hour and then an ugly hour?   Okay, some say that that is part of the charm of this area.  Alright it is, but I want some other place's charm.  Like Paris.  Now I have been to Paris twice and it wasn't warm and balmy, but I was so overwhelmed by the beauty and the history and ooohhh the food, I didn't notice or mind that I had to keep my down coat on the whole time.  So when I saw the pretty red sparkles on the cover of Paris: Wish You Were Here!  It put me in the mood for an armchair visit to the City of Lights.  Actually I read it while sitting on my chaise lounge, doesn't that sound more appropriate?  

The book itself is beautiful to look at.  It is full of colorful art reproductions from different eras.  The pages with text are soft colors with pretty trim or background images.  I noticed all the lyrics of songs about Paris are on the pink pages!  The "tour" of Paris is arranged by the arrondissement.  Thank goodness the definition was included:  "ar-ron-disse-ment (n) (1807) an administrative district of some large French cities.  Traditionally written in Roman numerals (5th= Ve)."  Each district is described with a short history and what can be visited there today.   In one way Paris: Wish you Were Here! Is a traditional guidebook--it lists shops, museums, restaurants, and of course sites to see.  What makes this book so appealing, besides the physical beauty of the book, are the excerpts from the many authors, poets and songwriters throughout.  They range from Benjamin Franklin's letter to Mary Stevenson; and Julia Child explaining her start in French cooking; to Langston Hughes describing his arrival in Paris with only seven dollars; to David Sedaris describing a French class, with a cruel instructor.

Sitting in my chaise lounge, reading and looking at Paris: Wish You Were Here!  I managed to travel to Paris and forget about the snow and rain outside my window.  You can too.  Bon Voyage.