Alan’s TTIM Stories #38

“The people that I liked and had not met went to the big cafes because they were lost in them and no one noticed them and they could be alone in them and be together.”
Ernest Hemingway – A Moveable Feast

Embrace the quiet atmosphere with warm coffee and sweet pastry as the busy world continues outside the confines of the café. The café experience produces a welcome respite as a temporary solution to personal anxiety, the rancor of divisive political environment, and depression-producing negative news reports. I suggest it as a tonic for personal peace and world harmony.  

On a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Paris, I enjoyed the excitement of famous attractions: Notre Dame (before the fire), the Latin Quarter, Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, Musee de l’Orangerie, to name a few. One of my favorite memories included frequent visits to sidewalk cafes.

You’ll accept slow service as a blessing. Open your schedule to be delighted and refreshed. A café is something to be enjoyed at any hour – a morning coffee or an evening glass of wine, a snack or dinner. It’s an opportunity to partake of French cuisine, have a conversation with loved ones, and soak in old world charm, even on a busy boulevard while surrounded by classic architecture.

Café time is beneficial for both mental and physical health and can help with stress management. It lowers the risk of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and depression while supporting a calm central nervous system. The café experience covers all the bases in terms of stress relief: time outdoors, time with friends, and – very important – time paying less attention to  your phone.

Not everyone is able to take a 7-hour flight to actually visit the City of Lights – recommended, but not necessary. So how can the experience be duplicated?

Find a laid-back location without the pressure of rapid table turnover. Choosing a less busy time of day or spots on quiet side street can help insure you get the true café experience.

Another suggestion – create a café
vibe at home on a porch,
outdoor deck, balcony, or veranda.

Absorb the magic of the place and moment
 – the Café Lifestyle.

Editing – former Paris resident – Matthew Knoderer
Artist – Konstantin Korovin

Follow announcements of Alan’s TTIM Stories at Facebook.com/alan.vandervoort or Instagram & Treads vandervoort_author, with all available posts at www.alanvandervoort.com. Novels by the author include: Sandhills – A Novel and Key Largo Summer, found at Booklocker.com and other online booksellers.