From Paris with Love xx

Food – If I lived in Paris, I would be in trouble.  I definitely wouldn’t be svelte like the elegant Parisian women … with all those tempting delicacies at every corner!  I savored Crepe’s with Nutella, Croissant’s, Croque Monsieur, Steak & Bernaise Sauce and Creme Caramel.  What gourmet delights?!

Fashion – I LOVE people watching at the best of times, but oh my – the Parisians provided wonderful observations.  I tried to ascertain exactly why they look so elegant and graceful and I think it is how they carry themselves.  They have beautiful posture and seem to float down streets.

I think they also pay attention to the little details and how they put an outfit together … a simple scarf, loafers, pants rolled up and a nice handbag.  It looks so polished, yet casual at the same time.

I visited Galeries Lafeyette, an opulent department store housed beneath a stained-glass dome.  It had a whole floor devoted to shoes (you may note that I always seem to gravitate towards the shoe department)!  It also had the best toy department, stocking my favourite brand – Moulin Roty.  Poppy has a Moulin Roty elephant called Stanley, that she loves and I bought her a little French puppy called Gilbert, to keep Stanley company!

Art – I was overwhelmed with the amount of incredible art that I experienced. There are not many days that you see original masterpieces by the likes of Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Manet, Gaugin, Van Gough and Leonardo da Vinci to name a few.  I immersed myself in the Louvre, Musée de l’Orangerie and Musée de’Orsay.  

It is difficult to articulate the scale and quality of all the pieces I saw – it was very humbling.

Architecture – I loved the art but the true ‘gallery’ for me was meandering around the Parisian streets.  There was so much beauty in the buildings, the shops and the general street-life.

I walked many, many kilometres over the four days and just loved wandering along the many alleyways – discovering a new way of life, a life very different to our southern shores.

Another thing that I realised was the ease of travelling to a European city. It was so easy to get to Paris from London on the Eurostar.  I have spent many years ‘doing it tough’ on the road, travelling to India on my own for 7 weeks; Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia and backpacking around North America. I became very used to wearing a scungy money belt, and arriving in Indian and Nepalese villages late in the night, and ending up sleeping in very dubious quarters, complete with vermin.

Needless to say my trip  to Paris was a very different experience – I wore my normal ‘street’ clothes (as opposed to practical hiking boots and outdoor clothing).  I took my Samsonite wheely (compared to a huge backpack) and my lovely leather handbag (no money belt in sight)!  My accommodation was a perfect balance of comfort and style (with no vermin in site)!

I had been warned about the pickpockets on the Metro in Paris, but I felt extremely safe, as though I was on a train in Melbourne.  I guess after you have been harassed by knife wielding Malaysians, Paris was a true delight!

I will definitely be back … but with my beautiful family next time. xx