Paris: designed with thought, oozes style, has surprises around every corner, with wide sweeping boulevards, tiny cobbled alleyways, rustic ancient zinc bars, where you can spend the day, dreaming, drinking coffee and watching the world go by, and as the sunsets, she turns on her golden, sparkling charm, proudly, lighting up her monuments. The New …
Last night, around 12am, when I returned to the apartment, another sign was on the door, regarding the renovations in the neighbouring flat. The water was to be shut off, yet again, tomorrow morning. Reluctantly, I got up to the sound of the alarm, and ensured I did everything that required water before the deadline, …
The Sales in Paris started today, I had been hanging out for this day, careful not to do too much shopping. It was raining, what else can a girl do? The pretty Christmas windows have been removed and SOLDES signs are up everywhere, neon signs in fact. Paris is pretty serious about it’s post Christmas …
In search of the next monument or landmark, taking a few steps down, or climbing a flight of stairs, to reach one side of the street to the other was a bit of a mystery, until a couple of weeks ago, now the mystery has been solved. A few weeks ago I designed a walking …
I love the area of the Marais, in Paris. It is a melting pot of people and cultures. Gay people, Jewish people, French people, locals, tourists and just … people. In the narrow busy streets, Jewish kosher shops, rub shoulders with gay bars, independent clothing stores, French boulangeries, cafes, restaurants and museums. All crammed into …
The New Yorker accepted my invitation to walk the streets of Montparnasse. After spending some time in Montparnasse, a few evenings ago with The French Historian, I was keen to explore the area a little more. Armed with a guide book and map, we headed out to Vavin metro stop. La Coupole, the famous, historic …
Waking, after a good nights sleep, snuggled up in the warmth of a cosy bed, tucked away, from the chilly elements outside, is a wonderful, indulgent feeling. Better still, to remember you are on holidays, stretching, rolling over, snuggling back down, no work, no rush, no need to get up. Glorious. This, couldn’t have been, …
The rain is back, which meant I needed to do something that could be spent, mostly, indoors. I took the metro, to just outside of the Paris periphery, to the area of Vincennes and took shelter at Chateau Vincennes. I was slightly disappointed. The entry fee to the Chateâu Vincennes of €8.50 only allows entrance …
Living or staying in a small arrondissement or area has it’s advantages; you tend to favour your favourite boulangerie, buy last minute items from your local Epicurerie, and you have your favourite, bar, cafe or tabac that you frequent and a relationship develops. And of course, there are your neighbours, whether you know them or …
Strolling back to my apartment, in the cool night air, I noticed the streets were quiet, compared to the bustling crowds of the past two weeks. When I left the l’Etoile Manquante cafe, it was much quieter than usual, in fact I was the last to leave, with two more hours left, before closing. The …