Hillary Davis Travels's Blog

French Doors

I have a passion for French doors. My love is a visual one, and it is stoked by the fact that there are so many of them and they are all unique in their own way. 

Just look at these, which I found on a walk along the Seine in Paris. Even the color is exciting.

I grew up in New England and was used to very plain doors. Which is perhaps why, when I am in France, I end up photographing so many of them. These were taken in Paris. 

Hand carved, surprising, and the kind of door that makes one stop and think! What are you meant to find on the other side?!

I think behind this one was a convent.....so lovely, so inspiring. I love the little putti angels floating above the scene.

And I can never resist taking pictures of French Door knockers. So many are hand-crafted, stunning, heavy and impressive.

Some of the doors are wide enough to let a car through from the inner courtyard to the street. The Jour et Nuit sign on a door or near one tells you to expect a car to enter or leave, at any time of the day or night.

This is the door to a building I used to live in when I was a newlywed in Paris. I remember how heavy it was to push it open, and I rememer the sound of the click behind me when it shut.

It's like an outdoor museum. Each and every door a new discovery, a new piece of art.

And even if you find one that is transparent, French Doors are always a mystery.

 

How To Choose A Restaurant When You Travel

This looks amazing doesn't it?! As a confirmed Francofile, foodie, food blogger, and world traveler, this photo signals "good food", "cheeses they hand picked", and possibly a really great restaurant experience in the restaurant that harbors this lovely "cheese cellar".

Ok, so here is what I learned. I swooned at seeing this cheese cellar at a restaurant in NYC. I made a point of returning soon thereafter for a meal. And I was really really disappointed. What happened?

I don't honestly know. I really don't want to tell you the name of the restaurant, but those of you who have been there will recognize it. 

It had a menu to die for it you are yearning for a French brasserie menu in NYC. It was so perfect. All the dishes you would find on a brasserie menu in France. 

So I ordered the Fish Soup (Soupe de Poissson). I shared a Cheese Fondue with my darling dining companion. We split other dishes. And with increasing dismay, we slogged our way through stuff that was boring, just not right, and plain not right. 

Lesson to me: when I travel, even to a city I know like the back of my hand, ALWAYS read Yelp, Urbanspoon, and yes, even Zagat. Take the advice and real-time counsel of others into account.

We are now a circle of connectied palates traveling the globe sharing our experiences and our mistakes. No longer do we either read a guru, or follow blindly a guide, or even a celebrity. Why? Because now we can tap into real time minute by minute analysis from day to day and diner to diner and traveler to traveler. We feed each other information that is spot on because we expect the same back. 

So my beloved and yearned for Soupe de Poissson? It was just awful. Red. Shouldn't be red but it was. Tasted like tomato paste. Ugh. And the yearned for Cheese Fondue allegedly made with real Gruyere? Oh, well, it was something like a balance between white processed cheese and maybe one slice of swiss thrown in and melted. Shame. I won't be going back anytime soon. That is, unless a Yelper or fellow blogger signal that it is time to go back.