How Alvin, Texas is Like Paris, France

It's July and you know what that means:  lots of my favorite bloggers are spending the month writing post after post about Paris in July. Posts about fabulous Parisian food. Posts about fabulous Parisian sites. Posts about fabulous Parisian books. Posts about fabulous Paris. On and on.

Before you know it, you find yourself filled with acute jealousy. We can't all go to Paris every summer. And Paris is truly fabulous. Oh, the longing to go there.

But wait. Yes, Paris is fabulous. But my hometown, Alvin, Texas, is pretty darn fabulous, too. And what is that old saying? "If you can't have what you like, then like what you have," right? 

So let's do a taste test and see how my town weighs in: Paris vs. Alvin.

  

Paris has cobblestones; Alvin has paving stones.

 

Paris and Alvin both have great old buildings.

 

Both Paris and Alvin have fun places for children to play.

 

Paris has Shakespeare and Company. Alvin has Laid Back Books. 

There's art in Paris and art in Alvin.

 

People like to carve in trees in both places.

  

We find fountains near Paris and in Alvin.

 

Outdoor cafes? Paris, check. Alvin, check.

 

It's easy to find pigeons in Paris and Alvin.

 

Of course you can find amazing desserts in Paris,

but did you know there is a wonderful dessert shop in Alvin, too?

 

Beautiful churches.

 

Picturesque bridges.

 

Starbucks in both.

 

Statues.

 

Flowers.

 

River Seine. Mustang Bayou. 

 

Stained glass.

 

Water birds nearby.

 

Amazing parks.

 

More statues.

 

"Viva la France!" "We love America!"

 

Both Paris and Alvin have exceptional restaurants...

 

...and both have exceptional museums.

 

Lots of bicycles in Paris and Alvin.

 

Fabulous markets in Paris; Froberg's in Alvin.

Wine in Paris; wine in Alvin. 

(And we have a real winery just down the road!)

 

Paris may have its Eiffel Tower, but we in Alvin love our oil derricks. 

Good job, Alvin. Alvin, Texas is like Paris, France, I think. Perhaps some "I love Alvin, Texas!" t-shirts? Coffee mugs? Bumper stickers? 

Ah, J'aime Alvin!

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Full disclosure:  I took all the photos from Alvin, on the right, and most of the photos of Paris and environs, on the left (though a couple of the Paris photos were taken by my sister and my niece). My husband squired me around during the Alvin photo shoot. For more info about cool spots around Alvin, take a look here: Joe's Barbecue, Froberg's Farm, Laid Back Books, Gordon Street Pub, Norma's Cakes, Nolan Ryan Center, Helen's Flowers, Alvin Depot, Alvin Historical Museum, Goose Gallery, Suncatcher Stained Glass, First Presbyterian Church of Alvin, National Oak Park, City of Alvin.