Cafe life

One of my favorite things to do in Paris is to veer away from my itinerary once and awhile and stop at a cafe. I usually do this LATE (2 PM) in the afternoon before the cafes close for dinner preparation.

You can virtually find a good cafe on every street corner, but I do recommend asking your concierge where the business people/employees eat during their lunch break.  Not only will the food be good, it will most likely be affordable.

I've tried cafes in all of the popular arrondissements, but I prefer the ones on the Left Bank.  There's something different about them.  You can tell that locals will stop and enjoy a quick bite to eat, meaning it's not all tourists.  Try to use the little bit of French that you know.  It will make a difference.  And don't complain that you're hot or cold or you'll be seated in the back of the restaurant with the other Americans.  You want to be near the front of the restaurant to take a moment to experience the hustle and bustle of the city.  To see how the tourists appear to people sitting and enjoying a cold glass of Rose.  It may help you learn how to NOT be a target.

  Try to eat something new.  Don't ask for the items you eat at home, they will never taste the same and you're sure to be disappointed.  Eat what's on the daily special or look at the table next to you and order "what they are having".

Happy Traveling! 

Champ Elysees & Arc de Triomphe

The first thing that most tourists want to see when they arrive in Paris is the Eiffel Tower.  What's the second?  Usually it's the Arc de Triomphe which is located on the Champ Elysees (fields).  What is the Champ Elysees?  It's the main street or avenue that several major monuments are located on.


It's an extremely busy street filled with shops, restaurants and places to stop and rest your feet. My suggestion is to take the Metro stop closest to the Arc de Triomphe and then walk back to the Louvre.

The Arc is a popular monument to see before you continue your walking tour, but it can be busy depending on the time of day you visit it.


At night, it's especially pretty is you can take a cab and drive by it.  On the back side of the Arc is a tribute to the unknown soldier and the fire is lit at all times.  You can see it much better at night.



From farther away, you can get an idea of how large it is.  Napoleon had it constructed as the Roman's did as a tribute to his Army and their many battles. During the day, the street will be filled with shoppers.  You can find all the major designers/stores on this street; Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, Sephora, H&M, etc.  Be mindful of your wallet.  Expect crowds of people and with crowds will be pickpockets.

During the Summer, the World Cup can bring hundreds to thousands of eager fans pouring into the street to celebrate a win by the French team.  The Police will shut the street down while the locals and tourists fill the street to celebrate.









Happy Traveling!

The Louvre & surrounding garden

Instead of walking the street of Rue de Rivoli, may I suggest you stroll through the garden (Jardin des Tuileries)?  If I'm traveling to Paris for shopping, I enjoy staying on the Right Bank near the shopping areas.  The hotels are pricy, but a convenient walk to the stores.

I've learned to NOT walk down the street of Rue de Rivoli as it can be a tourist nightmare with pickpockets, beggars and aggressive store merchants.

Instead, I prefer to cross the street and walk through the garden called Jardin (garden) de Tuileries.  You'll be walking on pea gravel, so you may get a little dusty.  Just warning you!



The views of the Louvre, Arc de Triumph and surrounding area is SO pretty.  In the morning, locals & tourists will walk/jog through the garden.  The ducks will be playing the in the ponds and the morning workers will be setting up the cafe's for business.  You will get a mix of smells between fresh flowers and coffee (espresso) brewing in the distance.  So french, right?

  
By the time you walk to the Louvre, you'll be ready & excited to start your journey of exploring the 16 miles of museum that awaits you.  Though I'm including a photo of the outside line, please use this as a warning.  



I suggest you purchase the Museum Pass so you can use the quick access line.  It's called the mall access point or Porte des Lions (Lion statue).  Trust me!  There won't be a line.  It will look like a special/private access point saying for groups only or pre-purchased passes (this is for you!)  The Museum Pass is a pre-purchased ticket and will get you in.  

Most tourists will miss this entry point and stand in the pyramid line for hours ONLY to find out that they waisted valuable travel/vacation time.

Happy Traveling!

Need a little pampering while in Paris?

I'm always surprised that Paris doesn't have more Spas.  They have more Spa options in Las Vegas than they do in Paris and most of the high end beauty products are made in France.  Go figure?  

I continue to search the Internet for options, but usually run across Dior Institute and that's about it. During my last trip, my hotel concierge recommended that I drop by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on St. Honore.  

  It's located on a very busy shopping street of St. Honore.  High end shopping!  Around the corner is The Ritz Hotel, so that gives you an idea of the money required to shop & stay in this area.  Not to mention that I got a picture of some Sheiks the security guards were making sure that no one got near.

Once we walked into the hotel, we were surprised to see all the plants and water features.  We were instantly transported to a calm, relaxing and tranquil space.















   As soon as we walked into the lobby of the hotel a concierge was quick to greet us.  "How can I be of service today?"  I explained that our hotel had recommended their Spa.  He smiled and whisked us to set of elevators and before we knew it, we were in the basement.

  The smell of gardenia filled the air and when we stepped off the elevator a gong alerted the staff that we had arrived.  We turned to thank the concierge, but he was gone.

The Spa staff invited us in and quickly brought us each a warm towel and cup of hot Jasmine tea.  I didn't know that I wanted tea, but how good it tasted and the hot towel to clean our hands was a nice touch. The warm towel smelled of Lavender...absolutely heavenly.  We had found our Spa!  

We made appointments for the next day and have an amazing time.  I highly recommend this location if you're in Paris and needing a little TLC.

Happy Traveling!

Mall shopping in Paris

Before you roll your eyes at me, there are department stores in Paris.  While it's not the "American Mall", they do have very large department stores or complexes.  The two big ones; "Printemps" and "Galleries de Lafayette" have separate buildings for womens, mens and households goods or beauty.  Galleries de Lafayette takes the entire four corners of a major street.

How can you find these department stores?  They make it easy and convenient by being located within blocks of each other.  You can access them both from the Metro stop Havre-Caumartin.

The stores are located on the busy street - Boulevard Haussmann.  If you haven't heard of General Haussmann, you may want to be familiar with him before your trip to Paris.  The streets were designed by the General to allow tanks to maneuver and have better access during the war.

Back to shopping.....

Printemps is known for their gorgeous stain glass ceiling.  It's a must see.  So pretty!!!  One small fact for the women out there, if you go to the women's restroom on the top floor, there is a beautiful view of the city from the windows in the women's restroom.

Galleries de Lafayette is my favorite between the two.  Mainly because I've had the best experiences there and the selection of designer shoes is second to none. The red signs that you see hanging from the ceilings are advertising the French sale or Soldes.  If you haven't heard of the French sales, you NEED to read my blog on it.



Both department stores will have a robust area for souvenirs.  No need to buy junk from the street vendors.  Not only will you get a better selection, you can also take advantage of the VAT tax (refunds).

Happy Traveling!

Notre Dame - Ile De La Cite

When traveling to Paris, you will hear a lot about the Left Bank or Right Bank, but what's in the middle?  This oldest part of Paris called Ile De La Cite.  It's a tiny island in the middle and connects the Right and Left Banks.

On the Ile De La Cite is Notre Dame, along with really expensive restaurants.  I highly suggest waiting to eat once you get back to a regular neighborhood.  Everything is marked up near Notre Dame; food, souvenirs, and maps.  The shops have a good thing being that close to Notre Dame and they know it!

Depending on the time of year, there may be a long wait to get into church.  Be prepared to wait, but be mindful of your surroundings.  Don't fall prey to pickpockets.

I suggest getting the Museum pass.  Not only will you get access to more Museums that you can see in one trip, you will also have access to take the steps up (387) to the cross walk between towers.  It's not for the faint at heart or weary traveler, so do this early in the day.

Once inside the church the stained glass windows are breathtaking.  There may be a service going on, if there is, you'll want to be respectful of the parishioners.  This is a functioning church (meaning - it's not just for tourists).  You may be limited to which areas you can see and take photos of.

My favorite thing to see in the church is the statue of Joan of Arc.  What an amazing story of a passionate and determined female leader in a time and place where female leaders were not encouraged or recognized by the world.

After you've had an opportunity to see the inside of the church, wonder around the back to see the famous flying buttresses.  There's a quaint park behind the church where locals play Bocce ball and rest for a moment before they continue their morning walk.

Happy Traveling!

Le Tour Eiffel

Do you ever wonder why so many photos of Paris include a picture of the Eiffel Tower?  I know I did until I visited there for the first time.  Now I find myself continuing to take photos every time I visit the beautiful city.

I know the tower hasn't changed, but somehow it looks different depending on the time of day that I visit or the way I approach it (which street access point).

It really is amazing and should be visited up close.  The first time I went to Paris, I did everything wrong.  I listened to other tourists and their scary story of being pick pocketed or harassed when approaching different tourist spots.  So, I didn't go.  I just took a picture from far away.

The next time I went, I was smarter about things.  I didn't approach sites by speaking English and pointing at everything.  I tried to dress like a local and remain calm when approaching different locations.  I tried to blend with other tourists and not bring attention to myself.  You just have to be smart.  We wouldn't walk around New York trying to bring attention to ourselves, so why do we do this in Paris? Just something to be mindful of.

Once you get to the Eiffel Tower, you will be amazed how beautiful it is.  Though it's steel, they still designed it to be somehow feminine.  

You can take the stairs or wait for the elevator.  For me the view from the ground works (too afraid of heights).  

Still, it's an incredible thing to see and experience in person day or night.

              Happy Traveling!