Bill's 79th Birthday in Rome

Bill and I arrived in Rome this year in time to go to lunch but we were too exhausted to enjoy it properly.

So the next day we went to Pizzeria Montecarlo for something light and easy.

The margarita pizzas did not let us down. As we munched through them we could feel our jet-lag easing.

The next day found us ready for a birthday feast at Gino al Parliamento. That's Fabrizio, one of the owners, in the blue shirt, welcoming the diners.

I had the ravioli stuffed with ricotta and spinach, delicious in a sauce of butter and sage.

Bill had tonnarelli in artichoke sauce, sprinkled with deep-fried artichoke crumble -- a heavenly combination of two local staples: Carciofi alla Romana and Carciofi alla Giudia.

We shared a half litre of the house red which went down so easily that we were forced to order a second carafe.

I continued our local theme with Pollo alla Romano -- chicken cooked with peppers.

Bill had roasted rabbit. The flavours of the two meats are surprisingly similar.

Contentment in Rome.

Happy 79th birthday, Bill!

Everyone was ending with strawberries. I did too.

Bill wanted to end on a richer note. You can never go wrong in Italy with a serving of tiramisu.

A birthday kiss for Bill from Carla, the other owner.

Roman warmth had worked its magic once more. Bill stepped out into the street with a light step.

Open House at our local firehall

 All through May this year John and I passed the seemingly closed Rue de Sévigné firehouse on our way to the Saint-Paul metro station. A poster advertised a June open-house.

Then on June 9th the door was open and we were treated to a knot of sapeur-pompiers gathered outside.

Rue de Sévigné runs north from rue Saint-Antoine with the Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis at its foot. 

On June 17th we found a fire vehicle parked by the firehall and the open house underway.

A young fireman was helping kids  climb into the cab of the fire truck and and try out the seat and steering wheel.

This little visitor, in his own fireman suit, was thrilled to find himself behind the steering wheel.

Inside huge fire hoses snaked through the courtyard,

and firemen helped the kids hold and point them. 

This lad was being shown how to adjust the nozzle, changing the water from a jet to a spray.

This fireman in his waterproof trousers was having as much fun as the young visitors.

A favourite activity was to climb, in the company of a real fireman, the ladder extending from the roof of a fire truck to a high window across the courtyard.

This young lady was eager to try.

This little boy climbed while his mom watched from below.

Just after I took this shot the fireman drew the son's attention to the sight of the mother far below and they waved in greeting from on high! What a treat for all.

In the next courtyard of the station excited young visitors had room to run wild. We too were thrilled to visit the open house again. An unusual Paris must-see.

The best photobook store in Paris

Tucked behind Saint-Germain-de-Prés and around the corner from Deux Magots you will find Delpire & Company.

Bill and I think it is the best photo book store in Paris.

The window caught our attention right away. It looked fresh and had books we hadn't seen elsewhere.

Théophile Calot, the shop's directeur, made us welcome. He speaks perfect english and he knows his books.

We visited in spring 2023. We liked their exhibition Wolfgang Tillmans: Books Are Liquids: first editions, posters, postcards and other ephemera.

This table was covered in treasures. I liked the polite sign.

Here is the Tillmans table from another angle. That's Calot being interviewed at the back of the shop.

Tillmans table again with his posters on the wall behind.

The table in front of the posters had some interesting books.

I take pictures of books so I can look them up online. Didn't notice there were no words on the cover of this book of Turkish wrestlers.

On our next visit I found the photographer's name, Zoran Shekerov. I now follow him on Instagram.

Do you know Jack Pierson? This monograph covers his whole career. Nice book.

On the opposite wall some Tillmans vinyl LPs with his photos on the cover. Collectable.

We returned to Delpire & Co. a half dozen times in our two month stay in Paris. 

We came away with only one book but it is a good book and it fit in our carry-on.

Our Paris Bookstores

When Bill and I need new books to read in Paris we take the Metro to San Francisco Books, on the Left Bank, for paperbacks and the odd collectable.

We also drop into the Abbey Bookshop, a narrow store crammed floor to ceiling with used books.

Bill wishes he had bought this sweet little Ronald Searle, but we only have so much room in our carry-on.

La Chambre Claire, our fave photo bookstore from our last trip, has a new Left Bank location, 

near the campus of the Sorbonne. For lovers of photo books it is a destination.

A strong collection of new books and older titles.

The best art book store in Paris has to be Yvon Lambert in the Haut Marais. We dropped in several times a week.

We always found books we didn't see anywhere else.

Galignani, on the rue Rivoli is our big bookstore.

An Aladdin's cave of great books.

I wanted to buy by this new book on Joan Mitchell for the cover portrait alone.

You will find their books in English in the back of the shop.

We were intrigued by Livres et Jeux Anciens Vente.

This collection of books and vintage games was closed when we went by and we didn't get back.

Next time we'll set aside a morning for an extended browse.

Le Livre Penseur was also closed. Such a charming window! I'm particularly intrigued by that painting on the left of a fox talking to a nightingale.