Properties in France - Vingt Paris Magazine - France property for sale

20 Questions: Beth Arnold

 

Beth Arnold is a journalist and award-winning writer living in Paris.

1. What initially inspired you to move here or visit?

The first time I came to Paris, I was 19 years old, and I immediately fell in love with this sublime city.  I dug the way Paris (and France) looked, felt, and the respect for art and artists - and I mean that in every sense - that existed here.  It was a revelation compared to the environment in the U.S.  I felt at home here, and I wanted to return and live. 

It took 20+ years but I finally did it.  My husband, James Morgan, and I are both writers, and I thought of a book idea for him.  The title I initially imagined for the book was “Learning To See,” but it evolved and was published in 2005 as “Chasing Matisse.”  So we came to Paris to follow the footsteps of Henri Matisse on his artistic path in order to find the history, the visions, the views of what had inspired this artist we both admired.  We took this journey to see ourselves in new ways, to get a fresh view of life and our lives in particular. 

2. Earliest Paris memory?

It was literally getting off the plane at CDG, thinking how amazing it was that I was in Paris, how exciting, how wonderful!  I knew I was beginning a memorable adventure, here and throughout Europe.  I was probably wearing this baby blue polyester pants suit that my mother had bought as good travel wear for my trip.  The jacket was short with panels of multi-color stripes.  Polyester was the new hot fabric.  Very fashionable at that moment.

20 Questions with Sylvia Whitman

Sylvia Whitman is the proprietor of book shop Shakespeare & Co.

1. What initially inspired you to move here or visit? 

My Father George Whitman.

2. Earliest Paris memory?

Standing on a street grid and having hot metro air blow up my dress.

3. Best neighbourhood you've ever lived in?

I want to do what the French writer Colette did which is to move every year and try each arrondissement (except maybe I’ll skip the 16th). For now, it would be where I currently live : Etienne Marcel. From my front door, take a left and you get to watch all the fashionistas doing a catwalk on the rue Montorgeuil, take a right and peek into the sex shops on rue St Denis. I like that combination.

4. What's the best meal you've eaten in Paris?

It would have to be that amazing white night meal – it happens every year in a secret location. When I went it was on Place de la Concorde. 8 000 people eating a white meal in white on the Place, it was one of the most civilised, magical meals – I think about it every time I pass Concorde.

5. Sexiest moment you've had in Paris?

A more than romantic kiss in a church kissing someone I shouldn’t.