Dreams of Paris

I think a piece of my heart must surely belong in France. Whenever skies are grey, or a case of the ‘blahs’ strikes (that drab feeling you can’t quite place), a little dose of Paris is always the cure. And because persistent rain has thwarted all my plans for outdoor fun, this weekend is all about my favourite french movies, books, food and music in honour of Bastille Day.

Of course, all of this French-enthusiasm has me dreaming of the month I plan to spend in Paris next spring. I plan to rent a tiny apartment (preferably one with a little balcony, wooden floorboards, and view over the rooftops of Paris), spend my days feeding my brain at French class, and my afternoons feeding my soul with the wonders of the city. I’ll loiter on the Left Bank for cerebral pleasures, eavesdropping on modern French philosophers debating over strong coffee at the Cafe de Flore before a trip to Shakespeare and Co and the vintage booksellers that line the Seine.

I’ll listen to the jazz musicians on the bridges and the chic soundtrack at the Hotel Costes. I’ll ride a velib, take a dance class on the banks of the Seine, hop on the metro and walk and walk and walk all over the city.

I’ll buy cheese and flowers and strawberries at the market, have picnics in my favourite gardens , take one too many trips to Laduree and Pierre Herme and learn to appreciate red wine.I’ll window shop on the grand boulevards, hunt for treasures at the flea markets, add a souvenir from Chanel to my collection and rummage for vintage in Le Marais. I’ll pack just my favourite clothes, and pick up sartorial tips from the chic ladies (and cute French boys) who pass me on the street.

I’ll stop to admire the spring flowers, remember to look up at the architecture, and trawl through galleries and museums. I’ll climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower (because no matter how many times I do it, it always makes me smile) and kiss beneath it’s twinkly lights at nightfall. I’ll take a moment at the Sacre Coeur and skip down the steps at Montmartre. I’ll float down the Seine and gaze up at the sunset, which always seems a little more golden in Paris.

But most of all, I’ll have an adventure.What are your favourite French things? Do you dream of Paris as I do?

Love, Miss B xx

My Favourite Things To Do In Paris, pt. 2

6. Enjoy some Parisian serenity. Stop by a patisserie, fromagerie and boulangerie, collect a few supplies for a picnic and spend a divine hour sitting in the Jardin des Tuileries, the Jardin du Luxembourg or the beautifully manicured courtyard of the Place des Vosges, whiling away the afternoon amidst the perfect people-watching.

7. Embrace your inner child. Make like Amelie and enjoy the simple, playful pleasures Paris has to offer. Stop for a peach sorbet at Berthillion (Île Saint-Louis) and skip down to the banks of the Seine to join the tango dancers at sunset, or buy a ticket to ride one of the city’s big old ferris wheels or carousels (I love the one near the Louvre for the most glorious views). Because you’re never too old to be playful and fun!

8. Hunt for vintage treasures. The vintage in Paris is legendary, and rightly so for vintage boutiques are dotted all over the city (my favourite is Les Trois Marches de Catherine B). Or if you have half a day to spare, head to one of the incredible flea markets and go scouting for treasures; Marche aux Puces de Montreuil (best for jewellery and vintage fashion from the ’30s onwards), Marche aux Puces de St-Ouen (Europe’s largest flea market – great for everything from homewares to Art Deco prints) or Marche aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves (eclectic treasures, antique toys and French furniture).

9. Stroll the streets at midnight. Though I might secretly fantasise about living in a Woody Allen film, there is something so enchanting about those grand streets after dark once the daily buzz has quietened and the tourist have dispersed. I love the sound of echoing footsteps on the pavement as I get lost in the teeny, warren streets of Le Marais district, or wander the grand boulevards beneath the shadow of gilded architecture from the glory days.

10. Kiss below a sparkling Eiffel Tower after dark. It’s a big fat cliche, but oh so fun! The Tower is lit up once the sun goes down, but every hour on the hour the lights twinkle and glitter and it’s hard not to feel giddy with excitement when standing beneath it. Head there with a loved one for a smooch as the clock strikes the hour. Oh la la!

Have you been to Paris? I’d love to hear your favourite things to do there!

Love, Miss B xx

My Favourite Things To Do in Paris, pt. 1

As an unfaltering Francophile/Parisian wannabe, I am often asked for my recommendations on my favourite things to do in Paris. I’ll leave it to your guidebooks to tell you all the obvious places to go, but here are a few of my favourite Parisian places and whimsies.

1. Get a sugar rush: I can still vividly remember the glee of my first visit to Laduree back in 2003 (I was travelling to Paris for the first time, all by myself, and it remains one of my fondest memories). Whether you go for breakfast, a pot of afternoon rose tea, a magnificent raspberry and lychee ispahan or a plate of jewel-like macarons, make sure you pay a visit to either Laduree or Pierre Herme for the best sugar rush you’ll ever have.

2. Stroll the Seine. I firmly believe that a long, aimless walk along the River Seine is good for the soul. Last time I went, I passed young lovers kissing, old couples dancing, tiny dogs trotting and the sounds of a French accordion floating on the air as the sky turned fairy floss pink at sundown. Magic!

3. Get a literary fix. For generations, the Left Bank has been the spiritual home for generations of French philosophers, bohemians and intellectuals. Take home your own piece of this history from the English-language Shakespeare & Co. bookshop, where there is always shelf upon shelf of new and second-hand books (they have a superb edit) and a steady stream of modern-day poets and academics.

4. Wander Montmartre. And to that other home of arty bohemians, beatniks and romantics; Montmartre. Pass the iconic red windmill of the Moulin Rouge, climb the hill to the foot of the Sacre Coeur (enter to pay your respects if you so wish) and just take a moment to enjoy the spectacular panoramic views over the rooftops of Paris. Find the big pretty pink wedge-shaped building, then walk down the gorgeous cobbled steps and stop at the bottom to take in the golden dappled light over a peppermint tea.

5. Leave a little bit more lovely. When in Paris, it seems only fitting to treat yourself to a few loveliness-enhancing luxuries. Stop by any number of boutiques or grand department stores that dot the city to buy yourself a gorgeous new French perfume, some silk lingerie, a new Chanel lipstick or some decadent truffles.

Part deux up next!

Love, Miss B xx