It was still dark when we arrived in Paris this morning. The sun didn’t come up until after 8. We took a long nap then walked to the Pompidou Centre where we ate croque monsieurs and French onion soup at a cafe near the museum. We wanted to show Elodie the Eiffel Tower but she fell asleep in her stroller. She’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see the tower gleaming in the sunset with dark broiling clouds all around.
This morning I couldn’t have my usual cup of Earl Grey Tea because I had to get this special blood test that pregnant women get to see if they have prenatal diabetes, and couldn’t drink anything but water. At the lab, I chugged this bottle of orange liquid – pretty tasty actually – then waited an hour before getting my blood drawn, all the while dreaming of going home and having a nice hot cup of tea. Oh, and since I’m pregnant, I’m actually not allowed to have more than one cup of tea per day because caffeine is bad for developing babies. So today, I’m paying tribute to tea. Here are a few memorable cups I’ve enjoyed in the past.
January 2009, a brasserie outside the Pompidou, Paris, France
August 2008, Oslo, Norway
December 2008, Felix Meritis Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
January 2009, Cafe Flottenheimer, Copenhagen, Denmark
July 2008, Zebra Beach, Beaulieu sur Mer, France
Last chance to see Madame Ingeborg Riesser’s delightful collection of tiny homes. The Paris Doll Museum’s exhibition “Doll Houses – The Art of the Miniature” ends Sunday! But if you can’t make it to the French capital by then, be sure to visit her shop Poupée Tendresse, at 9 rue Poussin, on your next trip to the City of Light.
{Images by Patrick Müller/Collection Poupée Tendresse}
Oscar Wilde died here in 1900, when it was the Hotel Alsace pension house. Now known simply as L’Hotel, this sumptuous, 20-room jewel box of a hotel would be a delightful place to stay during a quick visit to the City of Light. Steps from the Seine, L’Hotel is surrounded by the myriad charms of Paris’ left bank, and a short jaunt to the Jardin du Luxembourg. Yes, this is a dream trip I could definitely embark on right this moment. I’d take my husband, or maybe my mom, or a girlfriend. Who will be joining you?
{All images courtesy of L’Hotel}
Paris, France. July 5, 2008
One of my favorite bloggers, Pia Jane Bijkerk just wrote a book for one of my favorite publishers, The Little Bookroom. It’s called Paris: Made by Hand, and it reveals dozens of boutiques, ateliers, and secret studios that Pia discovered over the past few years while working as a stylist. It will be a while before I have the pleasure of strolling the streets of Paris again, but the first chance I get, I’ll surely have this book tucked under my arm. To celebrate its release, The Little Bookroom is offering thirty perfect off every single one of their books on France!
A few weeks ago I posted about Paris apartments, and how brilliant it is to find one on Craig’s List to rent, rather than stay at a hotel during your holiday. Here are the two places Ram and I stayed at during our quick trip last month.
On Rue de Gravilliers, in the 3rd arrondissement, this little studio was on the top floor of a very old building, whose narrow, winding staircase reminded me of a place where a 16th century witch doctor might live. It was a great spot for exploring the Marais, and just down the street from Ircam, where Ram had his workshop.
The second place was an even tinier studio near the Canal St. Martin, one of my favorite areas. This is the view from the window.
I sat here at this makeshift desk and worked all day. If you have to work somewhere, it might as well be here.
I could make tea whenever I wanted to. I loved this little display of vintage cooking utensils in the kitchen.
And one of my favorite things in the world, antique flatware.
Where is your favorite place to stay in Paris?
This afternoon, achy and weary after my quest for a US to Europe plug adaptor (or whatever they’re called), I did what I have been dying to do for ages. I got myself on a Vélib. The city of Paris introduced the public cycling system just over a year ago, and I can say first hand that it is fantastic. Here’s how it went down. First, I trotted past a group of punks and shyly made my way over to a neat row of bikes. I took out my credit card and held it up against a circle on the post one of the bikes was attached to. Nothing happened. Then, I spotted a machine-looking thing. It wouldn’t take my American Express. Wouldn’t take my Master Card. Luckily, I have a European ATM card. That worked. Apparently you need a card with one of those mysterious European “chips.” Once the machine accepted my payment, it asked me which bike I wanted. I squinted my eyes and focused in on the number “7.” Go get your bike, the machine said, you have 60 seconds. So I rushed over, pressed the button, and backed out my bike. Only then did I notice that the handle bars were practically disintegrating. So I put it back real fast. Then I did the process again, this time choosing a bike that looked more functional. Aside from faulty gears and a slightly askew seat, all was well, and I was on my way to discover Paris on two wheels. I bicycle a lot in Berlin, and I’ve learned that it is the best way to get around a city. Whisking down Paris’ grand boulevards and pretty cobbled streets sure is fun, and the bike lanes here are great, they’re shared with the buses, which for some reason were few and far between. I did encounter one problem at the end of my journey. When I had gotten back to my neighborhood, and it was time to put the Vélib back into its slot, the first three stations I came across were full. Eventually I did find an empty spot, and my route back home took me past lots of cute shops where I filled my arms up with wheels of camembert, baguettes, and bottles of wine, and all was well again.
Tomorrow, we’re going to Paris, and instead of spending lots of money on a hotel, we’re spending a little bit less money on a real Paris apartment. We found it on craigslist, one of my favorite resources for jobs, second hand furniture, and of course apartments. We’re renting a cute one just down the street from Ircam, where Ram is taking a workshop, but it was only available for three nights, so for our last night we’ll move to a little studio apartment near the Canal Saint Martin, one of our favorite areas. Here are some pictures of other pretty apartments in Paris.
