A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 10 – How to Use That La Vacance Feeling!
April 29, 2020
Day 10 is “From Paris to the South of France” in 30 More Chic Days by Fiona Ferris. When Fiona moved from the city to a more rural village in New Zealand, she used the idea of being a Parisian who had moved to the South of France to help her adjust to and enjoy the transition to her new location. Transition can be difficult even if it’s a hoped-for and planned change. By using her imagination and framing the transition in a uniquely inspiring way, Fiona was able to have fun with the process.
Living here in lockdown Paris, transition seems to be the leit-motif of every day. Just yesterday, the French government announced plans for a very slow “deconfinement” which includes keeping the borders closed for the time being. Back at Christmas time, when I was packing for our move to Paris, the plan had been to return to the States for a month this summer to check on family and friends. Clearly, that plan has changed. I guess we will be spending the whole summer here. I tried saying, “Tant pis!” (“Nevermind,” or “No biggee”) to develop an insouciant attitude about yet one more change in plans for this year of 2020. (We’ve all had so many changes to our plans and expectations this past 5 months, we should be quite practiced at it, right?)
Fiona’s idea of using our imagination to build an inner world that helps us enjoy our reality better seems like a useful plan. As summer is approaching, the idea of using a “South of France” theme could be especially fun. Even though we won’t go to the South of France or North to Normandy (trains are not running and airports are still closed), my family and I can still have fun by incorporating some wonderful “La Vacance” elements into our days.
Food is the most obvious way to enjoy a French summer season. The outdoor markets with all the excellent, colorful produce are wonderful. I don’t know if the government will allow the outdoor markets to open up again anytime soon. (These are outdoor markets with stalls that are setup in the morning on a wide street and taken down late afternoon.) I can still enjoy the market street just a few blocks from my apartment. Fruits and veggies are already cascading out into the pedestrian street from beautiful sidewalk displays. We can use Ina Garten’s idea of “assembling” meals – using fresh produce, already cooked meats and cheeses and just put them together on a serving dish for a beautiful and tasty meal. (No stove use to heat up the kitchen!)
My husband and I have decided to purchase window boxes and hanging metal supports for two of our front windows. Paris abounds with luxuriant, gorgeous window boxes on almost every building in the Spring and Summer. We have decided to embrace our summer-stay and join the window box crowd. We will have to take the boxes to a nearby florist to have someone put together the dirt and the plantings for our very sunny windows (there is no handy Home Depot from which to pick up plants and potting soil and do it ourself.) Our job would be to water the boxes each day and enjoy.
Weather is another area for some imaginative daydreaming. I’ve written before about how Spring and Summer weather in Paris is very different from the weather of my “deep South” US home. Another big difference? No air conditioning. Usually, Paris is cool enough – especially at night – that the lack of a/c is not too big a deal. I think a culture of open windows and slow, lazy “middle of the day” siesta-times here at the apartment could be useful. Thinking about it as “hang out in shady parks” (hopefully, parks will be open again) and “eat al fresco on picnics or by the open windows” can make it a more glamourous feeling experience.
Clothing and style is always a fun way to daydream in a more interesting experience. I wrote in Day 8 (here) about what warm weather clothes I have for Paris. I liked Fiona’s trick of preparing for the day by imagining that she is in the South of France and has a long, beautiful day ahead of her. That certainly adds a sparkle to the day. I will keep you updated on how my wardrobe plan works for the warmest months of July and August!
Does anyone have ideas for what a (low maintenance) glamour look could be for a warm Summer day?
