" My love ♥ for books and Agatha Christie "

It's no secret when I tell you that next to traveling, I love to read, but who doesn't right?
I'd rather spend my weekend afternoon with a good book, a cup of Jasmine and sit on my favorite spot.
There... I'm sold.

Although lately, I have been neglecting this habit and instead, have been watching
back-to-back Italian/Spanish tv series instead. *another love of mine.^-^

Still, finding a great read and can't put it down novel can be challenging.
If the book's just plain inane and boring.
The next thing you know, you're either putting the book aside or placing it back on the shelf.

Among my favorite writers that I never get tired of reading was Agatha Christie's.
I think I have collected all of the books that she's written and watched all of the ITV series as well.
Between Ms. Marple and Hercule Poirot though, I chose the latter.
The little grey cells and his moustache never ceases to amaze me, ~ n'est-ce pas?


David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
courtesy of Pinterest

But this post isn't about a book review.
I'm getting to the point, I promise.

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While most of us keeps magnets or figurines as souvenirs from our trips.
Me, I collect books and magazines.
I like the crunchy smell of a paperback or a newly printed magazine,
or sometimes even the musky smell of an old book. *addict-much*

I am always drawn inside quaint book shops and news stands.
I could spend quite sometime leafing a few pages and browsing each section, even if language is a barrier.
And so my baggage allowance is always an issue, expect to find more than two mags and
a handful of books inside my luggage. ^-^


PARIS

Livres are in french as Books are in english.
Spotted along the 5th arrondissement.


Gibert Jeune and Gibert Joseph bookstores seems to be everywhere in Paris.
You shouldn't miss it if you're a book aficionado.



Right outside the store of Gibert Joseph, I noticed a crowd gathering, where I first thought was a small Christmas Market of some sort.
To my surprise, It was anything but books! Paperback novels to be exact and a few coffee table books, Manga comics and travel books as well.
That immediately brought a smile to my face, luckily we were still early, because when we went back there during the evening, the place was packed.

Paperbacks for as low as .50 cents euro and with a wide range of good titles.



Some of the books that we bought and I haven't even shown you the other half yet. ^0^
and mind you, I was already in my "tipid" (thrift) mode and worried as to how am I going to fit them all inside my luggage.



Now this one was from another bookstore, also near the Latin Quarter area, I forgot the name of it and can't seem to find them on my file.
This particular bookshop only sells BD (: Bande dessinée ) comics and was so happy when I finally found Penelope Jolicoeur's books.
I stumbled her blog some years ago and have been following her until recently.
I love her drama, the sketches, the sort of sex-and-the-city inspired dialogues, and her wandering adventures.
- Here's the link - if you like quirky and funny comic strips.






FLORENCE

The minute our train landed at Santa Maria Novella Station.
I was already looking at the nearest Newspaper stand.
Books like Idelfonso Falcones, Breakfast at Tiffany, Jeffrey Deaver, Stephen King and more are quickly translated.
In stark contrast to what we have here, where only a few mainstream newspapers and a few tabloids are available.
In other countries, books and magazine stands have a wide, wide, wide range of choices, I meant to emphasize the word "wide".



and yes, we bought a few mimeograph comics as well. I think they were between 3-5 euros.


National Geographic with a compliment 12 month calendar for only 4 euros.


But this cart stand got my attention. It was silently parked in front of the church, along with the souvenir stands.
It would've been easily snob by any passerby except for me. ^0^



The book vendor was so lazy to even tell me how much these comics were.
I think if I stole a book from his stand he wouldn't even notice!
They were One euro each by the way, The old Linus edition comics.




MADRID

Madrid was my magazine hubbub, to say that I hoarded their December editions was an understatement.
It was a feast browsing through any magazine stand because the glitzy and girly mags have lots of freebies. ^0^

This is Casa del Libro - one of the major bookstores in the market.



And a movie poster calendar featuring Federico Fellini's - La Dolce Vita plus a free DVD western dubbed films.
Both of my dad's favorite as he likes collecting them.


and here's what we bought.: ^0^
The Tricot Facile that teaches one the basics of knitting. It was on sale for only 1 one euro!
It was also where my sister first learned how to knit and up to now still does, thanks to this.
Sadly, when we tried to contact them, their main market was in Spain only.



and because I love Poirot, I couldn't pass this magazine without buying the free re-printed edition of Agatha.
For only 3.95 euros.
I chose Lord Edgware dies, one of my fave books.


But this unique store got my attention.
It's called : A different life bookstore along the Chueca area in Madrid.
Why, you might ask?

This poster said: los libros infantiles sobre sexual e igualidad = children's books about sexual and equality



Well, Because, it is literally different!
It is a bookstore where you can find inspired Gay and Lesbian theme novels, magz, dvd's and such.
What a great alternative!
But we didn't went inside though,
And here I am thinking, if that bookstore were to open a branch here, exactly of the same kind.
I doubt it if the Catholic heads won't react to that. ^-^



ROMA

And here we were at the heart of Rome, already too beat to walk back to our hotel,
our stomachs were already rumbling and then out of the blue, we saw a small flea market stand, almost oblivious again to passerby.

along Piazza Benedetto Cairoli : ROMA


But my eyes were already glinting when I saw these hard cover Agatha Christie's edition and in Italiano!
Oh my freakin! I was silently shouting Hallelujah inside, and If only I could buy them all... I really would.
They were 10 euros each, a collection of stories from these detectives.
Based from the smell, it was already dated and probably a bit moist from the changing weather.
I don't mind though, and I still regret why I wasn't that impulsive.



I did promise myself that *if ever* I have the chance to visit any Italian country again.
I am SURE to buy at least one home. definitely! ^0^




TURIN

On my recent trip to Turin,
with no exact whereabouts and destination,
We found ourselves right along this alleyway and this bookstore called : L'asino d'oro - Libri scolastici
As usual, I was casually looking at the window display and this one caught my eye!
This time, I know I had to ask the owner inside, with my crappy Italian phrase and please Signor.
The owner charged me for 5 euros.
Yup, It was a bit pricey for an old 2nd hand book.
But how can you argue with The Mystery in the Blue Train?! ^0^



Here were some of the hefty books as well... find anything you like?


Raconti di Padre Brown - Father Brown series from GK Chesterton.
The owner checked a few pages front and back, I guess to check the book's condition.
It was 15 euros, and again, my dilemma with the suitcase thingy.
Thanks to BBC detective dramas, I'm learning a lot. ^0^


and more from Pier Pasolini's Autobiography...


So there you go, just one super long post about my love for books. ^0^
till my next post...

" Saviez-vous ? "

We just had a sumptuous lunch @ a resto called Chez Jaafar and
what a coincidence that outside are these Velib' Bikes parked on the side.

I took a foto of it, seemed nice for a macro shot
but didn't notice what the flyer meant,
Apparently, it was an awareness campaign.

It said:
In France, there are 95000 resto but only 1300 are authentic and serves
fresh dishes, the others, are either deep frozen food or pre-packed dishes bought elsewhere,
in short, purely microwave.

There's actually a documentary about this by Envoyé Special from TV5.

* where was this *
5th arrondissement
22 rue de sommerard- Paris

" Chez Jaafar "

It was a long and tiring walk in Paris that foggy tuesday afternoon,
I remember that day because we were looking forward to see the Unicorn tapestry,
inside Musée de Cluny,
but in a hurry, forgot to check about its closing hours.

Anyway, we decided to walk around its environs.
When it was around 2pm or thereabout,
having just a piece of bread and a cup of Instant noddles for breakfast,
we finally felt our stomach grumbling. ^0^
This street called Rue de Sommerard was our stop,
lined with restos and cafes.

We chose Chez Jaafar instead,
the menu outside matched our taste,
plus we love anything couscous. ^0^



The interiors are inviting,
the ambiance, très cozy,
and the owner, who is I think of Tunisian descent welcomed us
with a smile.



I can't stop looking at those lamps,
although, not real, they looked very antique.
I also like the quaint bric-a-brac displays, that makes one feel homey. ^0^



when we got there, the seats are almost empty except for two Japanese tourist
sitting on the other table.
after a few minutes though,
the seats were almost full, there were a group of tourist, some local Parisians too.
and I thought, we were too late for lunch! ^0^



for 12 euros,
the price was already affordable,
the food was served hot and delicious, simply said.
you choice between:

1 appetizer + 1 plat du jour (main meal)
( Chorba ) and (couscous poulet)
( soup ) (couscous chicken)
or

1 plat du jour(main meal) + 1 dessert
( couscous merguez ) and (pattiserie orientale)
(couscous african sausage)

we clearly got confused at first,
we thought we were having all 3.
and drinks not included btw,
so, we had a glass of table wine instead for 3 euros.

total cost:
around 27 euros.

Parisians, like Catalans, take their food seriously,
they dine slowly, while chatting away,
unfortunately, for these two young females,
time is of essence, so in less than hour,
we were wandering the side streets of Paris again. ^0^

* where was this *
Rue de Sommerard- Paris

" Graffiti "

Graffitis are one of the coolest thing here,
and on the Latin Quarter side, there's plenty of them!
either purposely or discreetly placed.
too bad though, I wasn't able to find any info of the artist.

the phrase said:
on devrait pas laisser le pouvoir aux cochons

literally:
we should not leave the power to pigs

did I get it right?! ^0^

* where was this *
5th arrondissement
somewhere dans la rue de Paris

" Mairie de Fifth Arrondissement "

Right infront of the famous Le Pantheon in Paris is this imposing structure,
not sure what this is, forgot it already and can't seem to find it in my notes.

There's a small plaza at the center also.
will show more in my next post...

* where was this *
Pl. du Pantheon
Metro: Cardinal Lemoine
5th arrondissement
Paris

" Boucherie - Volailles "

a butchery and poultry shop,
beside a tibetan inspired resto called Lhassa,
right at the heart of 5th arrondissement.




* where was this *
5th arrondissement
rue de la Montagne
Ste. Geneviève- Paris

" Le ciel est à tout le monde "

Remember that inspring phrase ' Le ciel est a tout le monde '
I posted awhile back?



Apparently, this is the name of a store here in Paris,
which I accidentally click on to as I was having a hard time refreshing my blogsite,
due to my err.. slow internet speed.



what a unique name for a store,
It sells cute dishware (lunch bags, stationery, tableware, bags) for children.
I mean, who wouldn't take a second look at its window display.
If you're familiar with the french cartoon Oui Oui, cartoonish Astérix,
or the famous Le Petit Prince,
They're just some of its display.



you can check their website here.

Luckily, it's early in the morning,
when we decided to go out for a walk,
so noone's around to shoo us away for no picture taking. ^0^

* where was this *
Jardin du Luxembourg
10 rue Gay Lussac, 75005
5th arrondissement
Paris

" Le ciel est à tout le monde "

This window display got my attention as
soon I saw this inspiring phrase, it said:
Heaven is for everyone. ^0^



It's a shop that sells très adorable displays for kids and mothers alike.
I will show you more on my next post. ^-^

* where was this *
Jardin du Luxembourg
10 rue Gay Lussac, 75005
5th arrondissment
Paris

" L'Arbre des Rue "

Paris is indeed a city of arts,
every corner you turn, there's always something artsy going on.
and as always, I'm attracted to blue. ^0^

This is a mural painting done by Pierre Alechinsky
that is located along the 5th arrondissement.

It said:
À côté de la peinture, l'on lit ce poème :

Passant,
regarde ce grand arbre
et à travers lui
il peut suffire.

Car même déchiré, souillé,
l'arbre des rues,
c'est toute la nature,
tout le ciel,
l'oiseau s'y pose,
le vent y bouge, le soleil
y dit le même espoir malgré
la mort.

Philosophe,
as-tu chance d'avoir l'arbre
dans ta rue,
tes pensées seront moins ardues,
tes yeux plus libres,
tes mains plus désireuses
de moins de nuit.

a poem written by: Yves Bonnefoy



* where was this *
5th arrondissement
at the corner of
Rue Descartes and Rue Clovis
Paris
Rue clovis- Paris

" Musée Cluny "

It is one the rare examples of civil architecture during the middle ages,
what was once a site for Gallo-Roman baths.

The walls outside the museum are worth taking a look.
there are these somewhat gargoyle like carved out figures.

But to those who wish to take a look inside,
be advise that it is closed on tuesday.

* where was this *
5th arrondissement
6 place paul-painlevé - Paris

" Postcards "

at the heart of boulevard St. Michel is a wide array of postcards ranging from loud to typical.

which one are you?! ^0^

* where was this *
5th arrondissement
Pl. St. Michel - Paris

Boulangerie "

a bakery and a cafe,
always handy to know a bit of french words here and there.


* where was this *
5th arrondissement
Boulevard St. Michel- Paris