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The Paris Traveler

May 16th, 2008

Candy Coated Tuileries

 Love this photo.  It looks like a vintage postcard in the background with a contemporary foreground.  See that chair on the right?  That has my name on it and if I were there today, my rear-end would be parked in it and I’d have my headphones on, with the quirky, jazzy sounds of Jaime Cullum filling my head while thinking I was pretty sweet.  That’s not what I am doing today but the thought will keep me going!

Photo credit:  dreamstime 

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By Kim -- 0 comments

May 15th, 2008

Sabrage: Think Twice Before Trying This In Your Own Home

 Champagne:  love it as much as I love wine.  Pink or white, I am a fan of both as long as it’s chilled and bubbly! It is the quintessential definition of celebration.   Over the next few weeks, there are many happy reasons for my family to be popping the corks on bottles as we toast numerous transitions in our family’s lives.  I say “popping” the corks but if we were really adventurous, we might try making a bigger,  far more romantic splash at our next party!

Sabrage or the Sabering of Champagne is a method of opening a champagne bottle by cutting the top off, cork and all with a saber.  The legend of sabrage has its beginnings with Napoleon’s army returning home after a victory, being cheered on by the local townspeople who offered the soldiers bottles of champagne in celebration.  While they were astride their horses, with no means of uncorking the bottle properly, they merely pulled out their swords and lopped off the top at the lip of the cork with an upward blow to the bottle.  Let the party begin!!  

 A second legend has Mme Clicquot(the widow Cliquot), a woman who years before it was fashionable for females to be successful in a male world, did just that by taking over her late husband’s affairs ranging from banking and wool trading.  She devoted all her efforts to their champagne business, making Veuve Clicquot, then and now, one of the premier champagnes in the world.  Her gift to the art of sabering was again offering Napoleon’s soldiers champagne in return for safe keeping of her property (I think that’s what’s called a bribe).  Offering soldiers on horses bottles of the bubbly and glasses to drink it from, they tossed the glasses to the ground and drew their swords once again while drinking right from the bottle.  Ooh la la!!

For those of you non-romantics (boo), there is a scientific explanation to this trick.  I don’t profess to understand it, but apparently, done properly, if one hits the bottle right under the lip of the cork at the bottle’s weakest point, on a well-chilled bottle, the cork and glass fly away, spilling little and leaving a rather smooth break.  The pressure from inside the bottle ensures that no glass enters and all that yumminess is safe to drink.   

A friend of mine, Olivier, who is a sommelier in Paris has put together a series of videos about wine, food pairings and champagne that I will send you to.  This particular video is about….sabering.  We find him at the foot of the Eiffel Tower demonstrating what I think is a most romantic way to open a bottle of champagne.  You really have to watch closely and check out the knife that he uses…..he obviously has done this before.  Happy Sabrage! 

 

 

Additional information:  Champagne SaberingWineRendevousO-Chateau

Photo credit:  flickr: willi_hybrid*Garron Nicholls*wikipedia 

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By Kim -- 6 comments

May 14th, 2008

Chez Julien

 This is Rue des Barres, a cobble stoned pedestrian street in the 4th arrondisement that backs up to Eglise Saint Gervais, one of the oldest churches in Paris, being mentioned as far back as the 4th century.  It was formerly seat to the powerful brotherhood of wine merchants–yeah for those wine merchants.  The street is one of the best examples of what medieval Paris would have looked like.  On the right hand corner where those bushes are you will find: 

Chez Julien, a tiny throw back to the turn of the century bistros, claims one of the most desirable terraces for fine weather dining outdoors.  A stones throw from the Seine, it is set off the beaten track of noisy, trafficky boulevards and takes you back to a quieter, more tranquil time.  The food is traditional–veal medallions with mushrooms, escargot if you are so inclined and beautifully prepared. Oh, as I write this I am wishing I were there.  Do give it a try.  

Chez Julien                                                                                      

1,rue du Pont Louis-Philippe                                                             Métro:  Pont Marie

Photo credit: Personal collection, mysmooze 

 

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By Kim -- 3 comments

May 13th, 2008

Hôtel Le Bristol: High Tea and Haute Couture

Hôtel Le Bristol, on rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, is one of a handful of magnificent five star hotels in Paris that cater to a clientele of which I am not a member.  One or two drinks in the bar and then it’s back to my humble three star abode for the night.  I do, however,  have my wily ways of getting us in there for something in a “normal” person’s price range that is a bit out of the ordinary experience while visiting Paris.

 Fashion High Teas, held on select Saturdays throughout the year, invites locals and guests to The Bar at Le Bristol for a traditional afternoon high tea of pastries, finger sandwiches and desert, along with a choice of 15 teas (I would prefer a glass of wine, but, oh well) while models use this elegant backdrop as a catwalk to showcase the latest fashions for the current season by the best in the business.  Two upcoming shows that you might be in town for are Azzaro on May 24th and Emanuel Ungaro on June 28th.  Whether you like or even know who these designers are isn’t necessarily the point.  The fun part is just doing this.  An afternoon of feminine indulgence.  If you happen to be traveling with your hubby, leave him to his own devices and allow yourself the treat of surrounding yourself in all this luxury.  Heck, I occasionally leave my husband at home in the states.  You could at least part ways for about 2 hours;-)

 

Fashion High Tea at Hôtel Le Bristol                                                        50 euros/per person                                                                                    Reservations:  33 (0) 1 53 43 43 42 or Le Bristol Hotel                                                   

 

                           

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By Kim -- 3 comments

May 12th, 2008

Parc Monceau

The weather has been magnificent these last few days in Paris, beautiful enough to leave the parapluies (umbrellas) at home for a rainy day ;-) and run outside to soak up the sun.  The parks that dot the city will be filled with tourists and residents alike, all positioning themselves to grab green metal parc chairs, pull out a newspaper, turn on an ipod or just lean back and take a nap.  One of the most beautiful places to do this is Parc Monceau.

 

 Unknown to many tourists, Parc Monceau is located in the 8th arrondissement that has little around it that would be considered touristy, so you would need to make a tiny effort to get here.  but in Paris that really isn’t that difficult–it usually means one more métro stop.  It was established by Phillippe d”Orléans, a Frenchman who loved all things English!  As a result, his goal was to create what you might find on an English estate; an informal layout, curved walkways and randomly placed statues and follies that differs from the traditional French garden which is very formal, symmetrical and well manicured.  Flowers are left to do as they please, some finding homes in hollowed out logs. The circular colonnade that you see in the picture, surrounds a pond and looks as though it has been here since ancient times with crumbling “debris” sprinkled about.  

 There are rock gardens, 

and waterfalls….

 elements that you won’t find in any other park in Paris.  

 It’s a good size and has lots of room for strolling (my movement of choice) running, roller blading and letting the kids just go crazy after a day of museums.  A picnic lunch would be awesome here as well.  If you are sensing that the sun is going to be out and being inside can wait for when the clouds roll in–which could be in about 5 minutes with Paris–I would plan to spend part of your day here in nature’s splendor!!

Parc Monceau:  Blvd Courcelles (between Blvd Malesherbes &  Ave de Vigny.   Metro:  Monceau

Photo credit:  Personal collection, Wikipedia 

 

By Kim -- 3 comments

May 11th, 2008

Café Dimanche

 Enjoy your Sunday reading.

 

Photo credit:  Personal collection

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By Kim -- 0 comments

May 11th, 2008

Happy Mother’s Day

 I have a Mimosa in hand to start off the day of indulgence that my family has planned.  The sun is out, the sky is blue, the air is warm and everyone is home for the day.  Could not possibly ask for anything more. Whatever your plans today, enjoy!

 Photo credit:  alec.thornton

 

 

 

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By Kim -- 0 comments

May 10th, 2008

A Rite of Passage

Prom, 2008.  It has come and gone.  Last night, my daughter’s high school held the annual event that all high school students (mostly the girls who drag the guys) look forward to.  It is a month long planning process of dresses, shoe and jewelry shopping.  Hair, manicures and tanning may or may not be thrown in the mix.  There is no such thing as prom in Paris.  The year my daughter went to high school there, her school, EAB, attempted an end of the year dance for their junior and senior class.  So few students were in those classes that they had to open it up to the entire school just to make a party out of it.  Students from around the world were fascinated by the whole concept of a fancy dress party at the end of the year and all the preparations that went with it.  Kylie, my daughter, and her friends from the US and Canada, explained the ritual and the whole over-the-top dressing up idea, and well, this is Paris, and the shopping is great, and getting dressed up is great so why didn’t the French think of it first??? Ha Ha! Here is what a typical mid-western event looks like:   

 

Kylie and I ( I’m trying to kiss her). 

 

The “date”, Ethan.  Supposedly, he is the best dancer in the school but didn’t know who Earth, Wind and Fire were.  What’s up with that?  All great dancers know who they are! 

 

I failed to mention that many times someone host’s a “picture taking” event…that would be me, and all the parents come to photograph their son or daughter and their date.  I of course had to make a party of it since I had the lip on that I wasn’t getting all dressed up to go dancing.  Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were a must (just for the parents!)

 

A fabulous group of kids! 

 

The “girls”.  These cuties have been friends since the very first day they stepped foot in their high school–some even before that.  They are all awesome, crazy, sweet.  And now they are getting ready to move on to bigger and better things!    

By Kim -- 2 comments

May 10th, 2008

Beautiful Women

My daughter, Taylor,  introduced this video to me months ago and I “Stumbled-Upon” it today and was reminded of how magnificent it is. Since we are honoring Mom tomorrow (hint, hint) I thought I would post this as a tribute to beautiful women, moms and otherwise, throughout history.

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By Kim -- 1 comment

May 9th, 2008

Timely Travel Tips

 

Many of you are gearing up for summer travel and some of it might include Paris.  Lucky you if it does! I myself, hate traveling at this time of year as everything from security check points, flights, hotels, restaurants, landmarks, the metro—everything is jammed.  But we keep doing it as that’s when we can get away just like the rest of the world.  There are ways to maintain your sanity in all this and I have found some sites that will offer professional pointers on how to survive.  

First, visit the TSA website to become familiar with what you can expect from the “actual travel” ie: plane ride. It makes no sense to get to the airport unprepared and have to hand over toiletries and gadgets that they won’t allow on the plane or even in your checked luggage.  If you have a specific issue, health or otherwise, it’s really wise to be informed.  Take nothing for granted.  My youngest daughter is a diabetic and wears an insulin pump.  When her carry on goes through the scanner, lo and behold, there are all sorts of needles and odd looking tubes that she requires.  You can imagine the scene that ensued the first time we went through security with all that.  She buzzed and had to be patted down numerous times and special officials had to come and look at all her supplies. When we moved there for our year abroad, we carried on a whole suitcase with nothing but insulin, needles and whatnot to get us through the year.  That, my friends, required a lot of paperwork.  You will probably not run into anything quite like that, but at least familiarize yourself with the basics:  security, customs, carry-on’s.  In addition to the TSA site, be sure to visit your airline’s site to find out what their specific rules and regulations are as well as making dietary meal selections. No sense starting the whole trip on the wrong foot!  

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By Kim -- 0 comments

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