Spring has arrived in Paris. The tilleuls (linden trees) that line the grand Parisian boulevards are crowned with bright green leaves. Warm temperatures last week filled cafés and parks to overflowing making weekdays feel like weekends. Heureusement (happily), I was among those soaking up the sun every moment I could. Vive l’indolence à la parisienne! (Long live idleness Parisian style!)
Last weekend, churches in every arrondissement readied themselves for le dimanche des rameaux (Palm Sunday) that kicked off the beginning of la Semaine Sainte (Holy Week). The Cathedral of Notre Dame was overflowing with the pious as well as the curious. And the American Cathedral on the Avenue Georges V with its Anglican traditions welcomed worshippers with palm fronds on its gates.
Side chapel at Notre Dame Cathedral
American Cathedral of Paris
If you didn’t know it is Pâques (Easter time) for religious reasons, then you would know something is afoot every time you pass a chocolaterie (chocolate shop). Splendid displays of dark and milk chocolate eggs are everywhere. Also mixed in are chocolate fish in celebration of Poisson d’avril, the French version of our April Fools on April 1. “April’s fish” refers to the joking attempt to paste a paper fish on someone’s back without their knowing it.
Enjoy browsing the Paris chocolate shop windows below which are some of the best chocolateries in the city. And Joyeuses Pâques to you and yours!
La Maison du Chocolat
La Maison du Chocolat
Dalloyau
Debauve et Gallais
French Take-Out ~ La France à emporter™
Of course, buying chocolate in Paris is facile (easy) and it transports well. But if you want to get a taste of some of the French chocolates above and skip the trans-Atlantic flights, check out La Maison du Chocolat in New York. They have three boutiques in the Big Apple, and they ship as well. www.lamaisonduchocolat.com
And Paris’ oldest chocolate shop, Debauve et Gallais, also has a New York outpost. Their online store makes it simple to have chocolate treats sent chez vous. Bonne dégustation! (Happy tasting!)