Francophile Friday : Souvenir of Book Browsing in Paris
 |
| Paris book shop Le Pont Traverse illustration © Shell Sherree all rights reserved |
On a corner on the edge of the Luxembourg Gardens in the 6th arrondissement of Paris several years ago (2018 to be precise), we happened upon a treasure trove of tomes: Le Pont Traversé.
I had seen photos of this book lovers' paradise countless times on Pinterest and on the many Paris blogs that abound, but when we strolled along and unexpectedly encountered it in real life, it was a very beautiful surprise. (I wear a beret of shame that I lost any ability to plan ahead of the trip, under the weight of overwhelm over how many things there would be to see, so everything we did see was pretty much 'par hasard': by chance!)
Thankfully we did get to experience the rare and lovely nature of this gem, as sadly its loving custodian Josée Comte Béalu had to close its doors at the end of 2019. You can read more about the history of her beloved 70 year old boutique book store in this thoughtful interview with her on The Literary Hub.
While it can never replace the original, perhaps this illustration (available as a fine art print) will help keep its memory going ... close your eyes, walk inside and browse away the hours. And on that note ...
Happy Francophile Friday to you!
No comments
Post a Comment
Merci, grazie, thank you for joining our conversation lounge. Your smile lights up the room. Even more beautifully than our crystal chandelier. x