The French bakery at Lakes Park Farmers Market. Ft. Myers, Fla. March, 2017. By Paul Goldfinger © He’ll speak French to you if you are willing to begin the conversation.  Even, “bonjour” will work. The croissants and baguettes are excellent. Click to enlarge.

What you do is sit at a tiny table on a sidewalk, preferably in Paris, but it could be in Ft. Myers. Then you have a croissant and a coffee  (espresso) with it, and then, if you want the full experience, light up a Gauloise, a strong unfiltered cigarette and make believe you are a resistance fighter sitting in the shadows on the left bank.

By the way, “cigarette” is feminine in French, so find a fine woman to sit with–one who is not marching around town complaining about men.

EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW: