Attention, Irish readers: if you somehow next week happen to bump into a 5'4" slightly-pudgy American gal who bears an uncanny resemblance to Yours Truly, especially around the Dublin, Kilkenny and Belfast areas, chances are that you *may* have indeed encountered the real deal Barb the French Bean.
Yes, do not hesitate to come up and say "Hello!" in case you see yet another American tourist busily snapping away pictures of your Emerald Isle for her blog.
And in case you forgot what I look like, here ya go:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I8Qszm3cd0q8L0ZGgyKrN-1YiDCGYBBX02-QnVAFnNCckKpH8P250H2ytPOcB1ZEzkpmNfl2bXjijaVcJhbh-OcdRkWgWSrR3GiVOaohcQvgz_QwE6vtpXHMBAzLl_4uF0oK-S44vUI/s400/IMG_4708.JPG) |
Yeah, just kidding. I only wish I looked half as good as this penguin. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJhGA-r7XUWz3NAKWJkPfB5XQmuflkM_Hf_PcOUm4sdxImwnRVNovIMOPwedgBElp-5hemQr8lRDuO8-IBgDBNxIwXeEFlBbIsJVHm6-oCBcl71nbYV-UraBszxjDeISTlBjCwpwkGRY/s400/IMG_4707.JPG) |
You know that you are in Paris when the window display penguins are dressed more fabulously than you can ever hope to be. |
These were taken in Galeries Lafayette last December, when Mom came to visit me in France for ten days. So were these:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jwoDKrs0r1z1fkw8pm-oSd3Jx1U0tSdjjywvIkWDRRe9C97Z6su7Eb-JMFflMm90Ibg8bGMTdaYWY0NpFk_y28CqhKXh2mDnFsMzA6Q5MZ0uagW387vA8GWbznFnvotEWwGnqxUMDdk/s400/IMG_4488.JPG) |
Last year's Christmas display featured Disney. The park in Paris is celebrating its 20th anniversary. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21_oPb6uhMLM7w0JEj_tZ6-in19oMCbpq1v59EKa_7joxXjH3GndHU5-Guk9ku8WWQ2-YqbRVImJnSHUJqQTjpitT7GSqqaHx6FXgevnD689VBdgiTQ4vdTK0P0Qx8ZicpzQ_QjhQan4/s400/IMG_4504.JPG) |
This is what I actually look like. I have a lot to go before I reach penguin fabulousness. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5TIN7N5xpM3FGl9KulMlkzO-4-QqFTlBmlEqSume9qc9Fo3RhJv7sX-q2wK2h_WcYr4pMIQxNaOfHKP4r41jj-1RTA30zpGyYYkyCZLiNgq5C6ZP_FucpLgcmGNaEhQcMMg1cEHMfuo/s400/IMG_4510.JPG) |
This was the Galeries Lafayette Christmas poster. Looks like Santa was put on his own naughty list.. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B81urQP37-0HRX5sEaCKzlbLKuyb0qL8kdIy67V2CCiH-sHAyZD7PfLnAAFnpqwmcHRKdigGniCxhHKRxlb7w708KFp-bZr8KIzLZmciPFCVCKwBC2b6A4Zf3HpVBnbTqvMs4DVO5z4/s400/IMG_4514.JPG) |
The last time I was in Paris for December, I regretted not having gone to see the Champs-Élysées at night. I FINALLY DID IT. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUJMj5IYb0vQrTHAr4tdz1KpZF1ODJ76DlwNW_qjY0dIcLsgBhOGrnlm1Xf_2q-ckXtcVZ9qBrN0cOgMfCelnYOIw_kS8rMg3c-gL4Ze1phOsGq-Krn9vmw-CFl-38VOBrcATD7NB84o/s400/IMG_4593.JPG) |
Gare de Lyon. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPaHjf_eHDOJjtYRSwy4gDcKUs6Vmg_8kaU16oGtu3GwNCR94BgXXAcaF9lDEGY0KAhSZ7xgDogweIaC8bfxwO3SFX1JyorL8WSexbw29SqVIv-vVuHcfO8LgHpUp95V9LDp5fPUwqbA/s400/IMG_4585.JPG) |
Christmas Eve. Mom and I had lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant in Gare de Lyon. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89wZVEZET9-ISTjYKqQBdOuGZKiVMY4sDPkmyWsViGPpnpTvDlteCmKFriGCctzzntkTx3FV6_-ZlykyflfF63ACXOpElC-owcHiKQ-hgHUwNSTL0Do3EpukzY6G5Xe0U7nTF6_1WN7o/s400/IMG_4596.JPG) |
The Sacré Coeur basilica in Montmartre is probably my favorite spot in Paris. The gourmet department store in Galeries Lafayette is a very close second. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunoNE71467vrtVcHdqFOXqlPp6hnDJ7ERNAOea820CbGPZyCD9lAPRPaz3tmoJI0AOu-2gQ81n3aBwPREP6FSXdJ4DmqCrR-Xf51Ah5QWwL3DE1UDba_D96KxvRczESmpw1xBrco8_AE/s400/IMG_4600.JPG) |
Let's see. First, Santa cheated on Mrs. Claus and now he's drinking booze. Yep. He's on the naughty list. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBHX_jzmqp7IHtAngGAudLOXMM9NXBu5YL36aUR8kSX0TdXghdVtH3JmgmCToBxOqYWW-zgK72mYxgZz3kzOmiQJACDVhtnXjnrFXPfJLTBIRsxFoxMuWwaq5pa7zlH9-FEL3WDIqJgQ/s400/IMG_4606.JPG) |
A vendor in the Montmartre Christmas village. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvMjGaoWrHFSees9j6hK3uI4kgzVTkEwjaWEHI4elhiKfdhhiHwu-Gze13MGZLh2O8YQQqDuQ-WvykB7FmtIFe1rqCwGje-fMiuC6cievCRFQvrjRScQuJ22VSV3wvUAc1noyixrgkIE/s400/IMG_4605.JPG) |
The Montmartre Christmas village |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtTEuoboX7H237l8pgW3zsBqPeNNn0faMm0hEa5UMDfvsVHAOEqtB_y4Zcb-4r2G9gilcjWFxu9yrLhoqdy2YdAUeI45TC6Ip0bGGMzuRTt69Irk8lSCxkqDTsJooox3gTMG-JDPFPNg/s400/IMG_4612.JPG) |
Montmartre |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC3iakPNqT64o2tteobJyseQDWoSh_vUpCDxfkNF6TeIGArRSE6BmXwBLIivlQg3IkNwp2bwsIbP11GVgPeo5Bx4iyKllMLRf_dwhjily-49GLEqbuSkh-EQZq9FF6rX8emWFRDrmPeE/s400/IMG_4713.JPG) |
And, of course, what would a trip to Paris be like... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4i1ToD1_72Gfv4EtZOXKw3cUD3KN6Aa80QstfspHn_zZz7UBkJVn1fNlkxG30DGswtK9B4hqRYp9k6EdcnBZf_ATh0w4kmuFl2E-a5rRstcd0EntQJaTCQWM3IzBoyG6FPo_Z-gI5w0Y/s400/IMG_4745.JPG) |
...Without a pit stop at the Eiffel Tower? |
Hope you enjoyed the Parisian eye candy. Keep a lookout for the Dublin post!
Barb the French Bean
P.S.
Before any of you ask: yes, I will drink some Guinness in Ireland. Even though I am not much of a beer fan, it would seem like a crime to go all the way to Ireland and
not have at least one pint. However, I have heard that I should be careful with the so-called "wee pints" that aren't so wee after all.