Walking with Hemingway – A Parisian Literary Pilgrimage

I would stand and look out over the roofs of Paris and think, ‘Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.’ So finally I would write one true sentence, and then go on from there. It was easy then because there was always one true sentence that I knew or had seen or had heard someone say.–Ernest Heminway: A Moveable FeastThis episode takes you on a wander through the Rue Mouffetard area of Paris in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway. It is guided by A Moveable Feast and Annette’s own longtime love for the city, the book, and the art of writing deliberately.Far from the macho stereotypes, this is a tender exploration of Hemingway’s early years in Paris — of poverty, love, loss, and the quiet moments that shaped him as a writer. Annette shares favorite passages from the book and real-life stops to trace the writer’s footsteps.Whether you're dreaming of Paris or looking for life lessons or some creative inspiration, this is an evocative journey through time, rooftops, cafés, and stories.If you’d like to explore further, check out my post in Stories Cafe where you can find the self-guided stroll taking you through the exact walking route of this episode, with maps, street names, metro stops, and Annette’s own photos to bring it all to life. If you sign up, it will land directly in your inbox when it is published. After that, you can find it here.📍 Places & Resources Mentioned📚 Book:* A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway🗺 Hemingway's Paris (1921–1926):* Rue du Cardinal Lemoine (Home Address)* 74 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris🟡 Metro: Cardinal Lemoine (Line 10)* Place de la Contrescarpe (Local Square)* Place de la Contrescarpe, 75005 Paris* A few steps from Rue du Cardinal Lemoine🟡 Metro: Place Monge (Line 7)* Rue Mouffetard (Beloved Market Street)* The historic, bustling food market street mentioned in Hemingway’s book* Runs from Place Saint-Médard north toward Place de la Contrescarpe then changes into Rue Descartes🟡 Metro (southern end): Censier-Daubenton (Line 7)* 39 Rue Descartes (Hemingway’s Writing Room)* Location of his rented writing studio* This is where the French poet Paul Verlaine died, and the street is the continuation to the north of Rue Mouffetard🟡 Metro: Cardinal Lemoine (Line 10)Show Links:If you're eager to dive deeper into the world of stories and ideas, visit us at stories-cafe.com You can explore free content or opt for a paid membership to unlock in-depth discussions, full access to our archives, and a vibrant community of fellow story enthusiasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Share it with friends who love stories, and join us for our next espresso break. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storiescafe.substack.com/subscribe