A few weeks ago I went off to Paris for the weekend.
It still amazes me that I can do that and it doesn't require hours on a plane.
Love.
My life has felt so surreal since I've been here- off to Paris one weekend, Nice the next.... (I'll post about that soon!)
Going to Paris was a lot easier than I expected it to be- it's just two hours by TGV, right
to Gare de Lyon in Paris and then just two metro stops to Karin's apartment.
My family rented Karin's apartment when we lived in Paris in 2006-07, so it truly felt like I was coming home.
It was such a strange feeling- being halfway across the world, doing/seeing unfamiliar and new things, yet having an instantly warm feeling of home for a few days. I know that it's not my apartment, but I feel so comfortable there and Karin is the nicest, sweetest and warmest woman I know and I am so blessed to have her as my Paris Momma.
The main reason I went Paris that weekend was because my L.A. Momma, Brooke, was in town for a business trip.
Also I got to see Syd!
Three of my favorite ladies in one weekend, in my favorite city?
C'est la belle vie.
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| Karin, eyes closed... but got to love those cat-eye glasses! |
Friday night I went out to a Tapas place in the Marais with Karin (where we shared a squid dish and rosé), then I met up with Syd, and her new friends from her Paris program, under the twinkling of the Eiffel Tower.
Later that night I headed back to the Marais and just didn't feel like calling it a night, so I popped over to Place St. Catherine right behind the apt. and had a nice cup of tea
while I watched the Parisians turn in for the night.
while I watched the Parisians turn in for the night.
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| Home away from Home |
On Saturday I met up with Brooke at Marriage Freres.
Best tea shop ever.
Then we meandered around the Marais- it was nice
to just hang out and window shop and not have to run around and sight see
(don't get me wrong- I LOVE TO SIGHT SEE, but it was just really relaxing not
having a set plan).
We found this great café/restaurant in the Maris (stupidly, I didn't grab a card, but I will find it again- it was so good!)
It had very authentic, rustic French food and you could instantly tell that it was a beloved spot by the locals.
I got the red onion tart (YUM), while Brooke got lentils (also delish!).
And of course dessert: plum tart with tea.
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| Place des Vosges |
Brooke and I went into L'Artisan Parfumeur, where
we got a very personal tour of the perfumes by an adorable french man, and ended up
getting a little atomizer filled with our favorite scent!
So sweet!
(Wearing mine now: Jungle Vine...)
getting a little atomizer filled with our favorite scent!
So sweet!
(Wearing mine now: Jungle Vine...)
An amazing chocolate shop.
Below is the circus shop that André frequented- that's where he got his first juggling pins!
That night, Brooke and I went out to dinner at Costes Hotel-
(she got recommendations from good friends of hers.)
It was an amazing dinner- so fancy and swanky.
All the other tables had models as diners- not to mention the models we
had as waitresses.
It was such a fancy place to dine and I will cherish the memories of spending time in Paris
with Brooke!
I am just amazed that I could spend time with her half way around the world-
especially since I won't be back in L.A. for a year.
Sunday rolled around and I spent the morning having croissants with Karin
(and eating Karin's homemade raspberry jam!)
while watching French soap operas.
Then I headed off to my friend Brandy's hotel- she was arriving in Paris that afternoon
and I was bummed that I would have just missed her, so I wrote a note and left it for her at the front desk.
I realized that I didn't have her grandfather's last name (for the reservations) but the sweet woman assured me she would ask everyone who came through that day if they were Brandy!
Sure enough, she received her letter.
I spent the rest of the day, wandering around my favorite places in Paris-
starting with the Palais Royal,
then over to Shakespeare and Company,
and
I finished up the day with Bertillon ice cream before catching my
train back to Lyon.
There was a little book shop in the Arcades near the Palais Royal that had a book
for sale about California.
Made me a bit homesick!
Above is the writing booth in S & Co.
I love just sitting in there and reading the notes left by the other visitors-
some of them are so inspiring and wise.
(and of course I leave a note everytime too!)
Overall I had one of the best weekends of my life-
I just felt happy during every moment and I didn't want to
be anywhere but where I was in that exact moment.
What a glorious feeling of just true bliss.
I didn't want the weekend to end and reality to set back in.
I love Paris so much and I'm sure that I will be visiting many more times
throughout this year.
(already planning a trip in October!)
As Dad always says: Paris will always be there....
