A Paris Moment

When Linda Cope is offered a one-year posting in the world’s most popular destination, Paris, husband/writer Gord goes along for the ride. Gord and Linda settle into an apartment on rue Barbette on the Right Bank of the Seine in Le Marais, a neighbourhood rich in controversy, culture, and craziness—in short, their kind of place.

Gord finds his role in the “cast” of Le Marais as a Canadian househusband in Paris. As he makes his way through the months, struggling with dictionary French and ex-pat fever, sampling all the delicacies the boulangeries can offer, befriending shopkeepers and street people, Gord records his musings on Le Marais and the people and history that live there. Here are exuberant vignettes of Parisian life—the curse of the Vespa, the thrills of balcony gardening and fishmonger oysters, discovering Beaujolais Nouveau Day (and the morning after)— the odd and fascinating tales that just don’t make it into guidebooks. Such are the many moments that create A Paris Moment.