Thursday, April 28, 2011

French word of the day: attarder

Def: to linger

What the French do so well. Around the dinner table. On cafe terraces. In business meetings.

And what I intend to do all day.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

What’s not to love?

Seriously.

There’s Place Vendome and Place de la Concorde—two of my favorite spots in Paris.



The Tuileries, inside and out.



Zipping back and forth over the bridges never fails to make me happy…



… nor do the chocolates and pastries.

There was dinner at Le Pantruche…

…. drinks at Le Mansart…

And just one more day to go.


If tomorrow is as beautiful and inspired as the rest of the week, then I can go home to New York a very happy girl.

Trop charmant

The other day, I spied on the young scooter couple, about to take off on a whirl around the city.

Yesterday, I eavesdropped on an older couple relaxing in the Jardin des Tuileries. They were so sweet and romantic, sitting there at length, giggling amongst themselves.




La belle vie, le vrai amour.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Trop cool

I liked this couple—badass meets sweet—

gearing up for their scooter...

... and a ride around the city.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Another day in Paris

Aujourd’hui, je suis fatiguée.

I woke up early to go for a Velib ride. My sentimentality brought me to my old street, past my old apartment.


Then I carried on, along my old bike route to work, where I was happy to see the newly scrubbed clean Place des Victoires.

But I cut the route short to circle back in order to get breakfast

… and then meet my beloved soul sister, Mel, for a morning walk along the canal.

The rest of the day was spent eating, writing and wandering. I think you’re going to have to roll me out of CDG on Friday. Merde.

But it was another spectacular day. Being a holiday here, the Frenchies were out in force, in the parks…

…along the river banks…

… and waiting for ice cream on Ile Saint Louis.


(Consequently, there was absolutely no line at Pierre Hermé's rue Bonaparte boutique.)

I ponied up the 13 euro to see Pina as it’s not been released in the states. But I walked out. Too experimental for me.

Then, surprise, surprise, the day ended along the canal.


This time with a delivery from Pink Flamingo and a nightcap at Hotel du Nord.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Just a day in the park

Quite literally, we spent the better part of today at des Buttes Chaumont. And the bits not spent in the park still had the same leisurely pace and lovely feel.

It started with brunch with Jo—an ode to our old tradition.

Then it was onto the park for Rachel’s Easter Egg Picnic.

We took the scenic route, admiring the enormous trees in full bloom…




… digging the energy of all the other revelers….


… and spying one or two dream homes overlooking all this green wonder.


We finally found our picnic party and promptly started nibbling and sipping and lounging the day away.




When was the last thing you did nothing all day but eat and drink and talk and feel the sun?? It had been way too long for me. I felt so relaxed and content.

In the evening, we packed it up walked down the hill and, a la fin, decided it really wasn’t time for the day to be over.

So we had a last drink along the canal…


… where we spied more dream homes…


… and cute baby duckies.


Too bad they’re swimming in such muck. (Clean your acts up, bobos!)


And it wouldn’t be a perfect day in Paris if it didn’t end with that magical sky.


Merci, Paris. Happy Easter, everyone.