The Paris Traveler

I feel that I can say with total confidence that my husband is my biggest fan!  He supports me in all the crazy, nutty things that I do–or at least tolerates them, and for that I am grateful.  Twenty-seven years of gratitude actually.  On my latest adventure, taking on The Paris Traveler, he not only supports me but helps market the blog by sending out five e-mails a day to people in his address book.  They in turn read it and hopefully pass it on to others and so on and so on….you get the idea. So when he suggested …read more

2 Comments

 
Macaroons.  I, we (everyone in my household) love these delicate morsels of deliciousness that you can find all over Paris, in many wonderful flavors, made by numerous pâtisseries.  They are fluffy, airy things with a crunchy outer shell and a luscious dense, but creamy filling.  They are the color of sorbets–rich but edging on translucent.  I am using way too many words to describe them, but honestly, there is nothing else like them.   And the flavors…..raspberry, chocolate, pistachio and my favorite, violet…..yes, violet. 

Did you ever have violet flavored candies by Chowards?  I ate them when I was little (I am …read more

1 Comment

Yes, I know this has nothing to do with Paris, but it could.  I could find some cheap flights from Paris (leaving from here is my attempt at connection) to Venice–we can be there in about 2 hours.  I know of a beautiful boutique hotel, filled with antiques and Murano glass chandeliers that we could stay at and I bet, at the very least, we could find a mask to wear because they are sold EVERYWHERE!  So, let’s be crazy and go……how could we miss this!
 
 Look at that beautiful background!
 
This has me written all over it.  I never leave the house …read more

4 Comments

For all you aspiring writers or those of you who have been thinking about taking your work to the next level, here’s a little something that might get you to pack your bags and run away for a few days this summer! 

 The 20th annual Paris Writers Workshop, sponsered by WICE, a non-profit volunteer organization committed to bringing together the English speaking community in Paris, is once again holding a series of seminars for those of you passionate about writing and would like to refine your skills in a small group setting, under the tutulege of published authors and literary agents …read more

4 Comments

In honor of the week long parade (défilé) of fashion, I felt I had to post this video.  It showcases designs from another era and are really quite telling.  Ideas, as Christian Lacroix alluded to in his interview, really do come back from the past.  I would love to wear a number of the outfits you are going to see.  Enjoy!
 

2 Comments

I know that those of you who know me took one look at the title and thought, “Here she goes again with another ode to wine!”  I’m right, aren’t I?  Well, you my friends, would be wrong.  Yes, I confess, wine is a part of my daily food pyramid, but being the well-rounded, versatile person that I am, I have found something equally good and non-alcoholic.   
 
 This is Moroccan mint tea, or thé a la menthe and if the gods didn’t drink this on a daily basis, then shame on them.  I love this stuff.  It is  tea with mint–lots …read more

Comments Off

 
With all the coaxing I have been doing to get you to travel, I forgot to keep you up to date with what is going on in the city. It is Fashion Week.  The city swells with media, journalists and starlets all wanting access to the people that keep Paris’ heart beat going strong–the designers.  Karl Lagerfeld, John Galiano, Giorgio Armani and many more are showcasing what they believe women will be wearing for Fall/Winter, 2008-9.
 Since the vast majority of us women can’t, due to cost or won’t, due to outrageousness, actually wear some of their creations, I thought I would …read more

4 Comments

 y series on getting oneself to Paris and finding a place to stay hopefully got some of you thinking about actually going over.  I am not a travel agent and left out lots and lots of information that someone far more capable than myself would be able to provide you with.  But, having gone over numerous times, I do at least know how some things work in the “real world” sense–sort of through trial and error.
I left out that many times, renting apartments can be cheaper than staying in a hotel.  Again, you are not getting some of the services …read more

1 Comment

If I could plan your trip to Paris and was allowed to select your accommodations, hands down, I would set you up in one of the hundreds of vacation apartment rentals available throughout the city.  I had no idea anything like this existed until I began researching places to live when I temporarily relocated there in 2005.  Back then, there were a “handful” of websites catering to this type of thing.   Now, there is an almost endless selection of apartments available to fit all needs–from tiny studios for one person to amazing homes that have been featured in numerous …read more

13 Comments

 
Ok, hopefully, you have found a reasonably priced flight to get you to Paris.  Now, where does one hang up one’s hat once they arrive?  I see you having two options:  1.  Staying in a hotel or 2. Renting a vacation apartment.  

I am sure all of you are familiar with staying in hotels, but may not be familiar with staying in European hotels.  Just like anything, how much you spend determines what you get.  My experience has run the gamut from two to five star establishments.  2-stars should get you a clean room, perhaps a folding chair and fairly …read more

4 Comments