I never used to be able to decide on my favorite season…until I moved to Singapore.
The country lies on the equator and therefore sees sunny, 88F (31C) weather all. year. round.
It leads to a mind-bending time warp where weeks and months and years all run into each other, and little things like the sight of a leaf changing color, or the concept of a white Christmas, or feeling a temperature below 85F (29C) becomes so foreign you can’t remember if those things actually happen in the real world or if they were just imagined memories.
And that absence of seasons is how I came to learn, once I moved to Paris, that I love spring.
I love watching the buds burst open, the days getting longer, the jackets becoming thinner; I love how the rain smells fresher come springtime and how people’s moods are suddenly lifted by something so simple as color and sunlight.
While spring has crawled into Paris slower than a baby on Nyquil, at least it’s finally here…for the most part. So in celebration I present the following photos of Paris in bloom:
To celebrate even more, I’m off to Corsica for a week tomorrow! Any tips or recommendations are highly welcome.
42 Comments
Jessica of HolaYessica
May 7, 2013 at 00:07So pretty! I grew up without seasons (southern California is summer all year round) and so I’m really loving spring. It really does cheer up the whole city.
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:01You’re right, it does — plus it’s a nice little buffer before all the tourists come in during the summer season!
Laura
May 7, 2013 at 01:16Wow, these are lovely shots – I especially love the first one and the last one. You’re definitely making me dream of Paris in springtime!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:02Thanks Laura!
Kieu ~ GQ trippin
May 7, 2013 at 08:43Ahh you’re killing me. I miss spring time in Paris. How are your allergies?
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:04Surprisingly non-existent in Paris. Don’t know what it is (European pollen? haha) but I’m certainly not complaining.
RBJello
May 7, 2013 at 08:44Beautiful photos! I love that Eiffel Tower picture, but I think my favorite one is the “I make Monet like Claude Money.” Hilarious!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:04Haha yeah, gotta love the crazy signs you see in the Marais.
tatiana
May 7, 2013 at 14:18These photos are really amazing. I loooove them. Spring makes everywhere beautiful, seriously. SO MANY FLOWERS. :D
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:05Thanks Tatiana!
Danielle
May 7, 2013 at 14:20And you say this city isn’t beautiful… ;) bon voyage, my dear! Gorgeous photos.
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:07Thanks Danielle! And fine, I may have to eat my words a bit.
Julika
May 7, 2013 at 16:04Beautiful photos Edna! I love spring too! Especially after this year’s unusually dark and long winter!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:07Thanks Julika! This winter feels like it’s still going on though, I’m not a fan of this cold weather lasting into June…
Jessica
May 7, 2013 at 16:18Wow gorgeous! His confirms the fact that I need to get back to Paris ASAP! :) thanks for sharing!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:07Thanks Jessica!
Alex @ ifs ands & butts
May 7, 2013 at 17:06Love that Monet street art.
And I think I would REALLY enjoy the Singapore weather.
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:08Between the weather and the food I think you’d like Singapore a LOT.
Majida
May 7, 2013 at 18:04I still can’t believe, that those Lilies of the valley cost a 130 Euro/pot! My father could make a fortune selling his beauties ;)
Beautiful pictures!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:09I can’t either! I’m hoping it was a typo :)
travellingmo
May 7, 2013 at 19:22“While spring has crawled into Paris slower than a baby on Nyquil”. That is an amazing expression. I may have to work that into my everyday life.
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:09Haha please let me know how that goes.
Ohlalamaman
May 7, 2013 at 20:57I also think Singapore sounds pretty good right now! But Paris is lovely you’re right, very lovely photos!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:10Thanks!
Tessa Joey
May 8, 2013 at 03:22Hey! This is awesome. I love the first and the last picture you took. I emailed you and I have question, please please reply. :)
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:10Thanks Tessa!
Jessica Hill
May 9, 2013 at 08:14I also love spring! It’s amazing how seeing the sun after a few months of gloom can put everybody in higher spirits. It makes everything more enjoyable, from running errands to happy hour. Gorgeous photos. I just met to guys from Paris at my resort in Koh Kood, and I hope to visit them one day – perhaps in spring!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:11You should definitely do it, I really don’t think Paris gets any prettier than in springtime!
Giselle Fernandez
May 9, 2013 at 16:26I couldn’t agree more! I’m from Southern California and I have never experienced a “real” winter until I moved to Paris. Enjoy the spring!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:11Thanks Giselle, you too!
cosmoHallitan
May 9, 2013 at 17:42Is there any place more romantic than Paris in the spring? Beautiful!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:12I don’t know but if I find a place I’ll let you know ;)
Daisy de Plume
May 15, 2013 at 09:38Stunning photographs, comme d’habitude. Have you read Hemingway’s tract on the slow arrival of spring to Paris? I can’t remember what it’s in – perhaps the Movable Feast. xx
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:12I haven’t read any Hemingway, truth be told. Though I probably should given all the time he spent in Paris.
Jess @ ice cream and permafrost
May 18, 2013 at 05:53The flowers are so beautiful! I can see why everyone talks about Paris in the spring.
I loved living in New Orleans, but the seasonal change is more gradual then what I was used to, and most of the plants don’t die in the winter. I didn’t miss winter, but I did miss having a real fall and spring.
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:14Those are my two favorite seasons, something about the changing leaves and blossoms — I much prefer them to summer and winter.
Arianwen
May 30, 2013 at 20:16Beautiful pictures! I rarely think to take photos of the smaller things. It’s always about the big attractions, but sometimes I should step back and appreciate the simple beauty around me too!
edna
June 1, 2013 at 01:15Thanks Arianwen! It’s funny how we don’t think the little things are that significant but I’ve found whenever I go back through old photos of trips it’s often the little things that stick out the most!
Travel Blog Love: The Best of May, 2013 | Besudesu Abroad
June 1, 2013 at 16:32[…] to visit the most was France. Still not having been years later, seeing this lovely photoessay of Paris in Bloom at Expat Edna, reignites the inspiration to hopefully visit Paris someday […]
Ceri
June 13, 2013 at 16:57Oh, Edna, these are just absolutely beautiful. <3
Nguyen Helen
August 7, 2013 at 05:50Spectacular photos! Thanks for sharing with us.
Pavel
March 28, 2015 at 14:28Beautiful photos, could you please advise what would be the best period to come to enjoy all the flower power?
Cheers!