Paris Quiz is the name of a new book coming out from The Little Bookroom Publishers who have put out quite a few books on Paris. This one is great for those who, like me, like obscure facts and trivia but with the focus on Paris it gets really interesting. The book is arranged by arrondissements and I enjoyed reading about the 12th where I live to see how much I knew.
An example: Until 1962, the entrance to the Bastille metro station was decorated with a kiosk built by Guimard, the shape of which evoked…
A-a frog
B-a dragonfly
C-a pagoda
The answer? C. Most of Guimard’s kisks evoke dragonfly wings, but two stations-Etoile and Bastille-enjoy particularly extravagant entrances. These veritable little pavilions include facades with panels of enameled lava, framed in cast iron jambs. The Bastille kiosk, with its multiple roofs set back from one another, took the form of a pagoda. It was destroyed in 1962.
Wouldn’t you love to have seen it?

Attention: Vendage are signs on the outskirts of many villages around here now that the time has come to harvest the grapes and begin the process of making wine. There is also a sign showing that the roads may be slippery which you understand when you see the wet, purple streets six blocks or so in either direction from the co-op where the grapes are delivered. It is very common to find yourself stuck behind a tractor pulling a wagon full of grapes. The village is full of the fragrance of grape juice and I almost expect the air to be purple.

One of two co-ops located in la Tour d’Aigues.

Tractors waiting their turn to dump their grapes into the holding tank.

Backing up. The driver told us that this type of trailor won’t be used much anymore-his was old fashioned.

This sign was above the area where his grapes went.

The grapes go into this. I think they are immediately washed and pressed.

Don’t these look fabulous?