In This Issue of The Paris Love Letter

• Visiting Paris: The Essential Paris Walking Tour: Must-See Sights for First-Time Visitors

• Very French: Weekend at the End? Why I Switched to a Monday-First Calendar

• Featured French Song: Françoise Hardy - Tous les garçons et les filles

PARIS LINKS

➡️ The 22 best parks and gardens in Paris - From TimeOut Paris: Want to escape the humming central boulevards? Pack a picnic and head to one of these picturesque parks in Paris.

➡️ This Parisian Palace Hotel Has the City's Only Michelin-starred Chinese Restaurant and Incredible Eiffel Tower Views - From Travel & Leisure: Here's our review of the Shangri-La Paris, an iconic Parisian palace hotel with Eiffel Tower views.

➡️ Why are Parisians planning to poop in the Seine? - From TimeOut: The French capital’s river may be getting even dirtier if a new protest goes ahead.

VISITING PARIS

The Essential Paris Walking Tour: Must-See Sights for First-Time Visitors

Bonjour, Passionnés de Paris!

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! My recent article, featuring a self-guided walking tour perfect for first-time visitors, was published on HiP Paris, a fantastic blog for anyone who loves the City of Lights. I even had the pleasure of contributing most of the photos! Collaborating with HiP Paris was a joy, and I'm so happy to share this resource with you all.

Here’s the opening of the article from the HiP Paris editors:

“Narrowing down where to go when visiting Paris, with its many attractions and neighborhoods, can be overwhelming, especially if you’re just passing through for an afternoon and have little time, or it’s your first time here. Fortunately we’ve enlisted the help of one of the City’s professional, local tour guides, to curate this free, essential self guided tour of central Paris. A stroll along the river Seine is the best way to soak up the history of the City and its ambiance. Whether you’re only here for a few hours, or are looking for a free walking tour of Paris that captures the spirit of the City of Light and takes your breath away, you won’t be disappointed.”

VERY FRENCH
Weekend at the End? Why I Switched to a Monday-First Calendar

Confession time: I, a born and raised American (with a Parisian heart), just switched my calendar to start on Monday – the French way. For years, I stubbornly clung to the Sunday-first format like a comfort blanket, but this week, I took the plunge, and guess what? It feels strangely liberating!

Here's the thing: having the "weekend" at the end of the visual calendar week feels…logical. It's like a mini-vacation at the end of the work week, and Friday comes one day sooner! But why is there a difference between our calendars in the first place?

A History of Weekly Rhythms:

The seven-day week has roots in ancient Mesopotamia, which was tied to lunar cycles. Fast-forward to the Romans, who used an eight-day week with a market day every eighth day. Talk about long work weeks!

The concept of a seven-day week with a designated rest day is largely attributed to Judeo-Christian traditions. The book of Genesis mentions God resting on the seventh day, and Judaism and Christianity adopted a weekly Sabbath, typically observed on Saturday.

Sunday vs. Monday: A Matter of Interpretation

Here's where things get interesting. Early Christians debated when the "first" day of the week actually was. Some saw Sunday as the first day, marking the resurrection of Christ. Others viewed Saturday as the start, following the Jewish tradition. Ultimately, Sunday became the official Christian day of rest, influencing much of the Western world to adopt a Sunday-first calendar.

The French Exception:

France, however, took a different path. During the French Revolution, a desire to break away from religious traditions led to the adoption of a completely new calendar system in 1793. Based on the decimal system, this calendar had weeks of 10 days with no designated day of rest. It was eventually abandoned in 1806, but the revolutionary spirit stuck, and France officially switched to a Monday-first calendar.

So, Monday or Sunday? It's All Relative!

While the historical reasons for the Sunday-first and Monday-first calendars are rooted in religion and revolution, ultimately, the "best" way to structure your week is a personal choice. This week, my experiment with a Monday-first calendar has been a surprisingly positive experience. Maybe it will work for you too! Why not give it a try and see if it changes your perspective on the week?

Paris, Unscripted: Snaps of Daily Wanderings

1. (top left) Le Moulin de la Galette (Montmartre)

2. (top right) Bored at The Lemonade Stand

3. (bottom left) Pont Neuf

4. (bottom right) La Samaritaine

FRENCH SONG OF THE WEEK
Françoise Hardy - Tous les garçons et les filles

Feeling like the only single soul in a city full of couples? This week's French song perfectly captures that feeling of youthful loneliness. We're diving into "Tous les garçons et les filles" ("All the Boys and Girls") by the iconic French ye-ye artist, Françoise Hardy.

Nicknamed "The Doll with the Velvet Voice," Hardy rose to fame in the 1960s with her melancholic vocals and effortlessly cool persona. "Tous les garçons et les filles" is her signature song, a sweet and relatable tune about watching everyone else find love while feeling left out.