Le Voyages: Bon journee Mademoiselle and Monsieur

For S's birthday we decided to go to Paris. It's a mere hop, skip and a jump from the centre of London by train... So, why not?

We have both been to Paris before (this was my third time) and we had already accomplished our fair share of tourist sites. This weekend was purely about visiting a Boulangerie or two, eating lots of food, taking our cafe au lait Paris style and strolling the streets of the Left Bank.

We strolled around the Marais, visiting the beautiful boutiques (this is where the real Parisians like to shop). We stopped for coffee at a typical french bistro and also saw Place Vosges with its beautiful red brick mansions and amazing galleries. Parisian girls are so darn stylish...even down to their specs.

We had a really fantastic authentic french dinner in the 10th at a place called Chez Marie Louise. The food was absolutely delightful - stacked eggplant with goat cheese, prawns, lobster ravioli, fish with homemade aoili, vegetables and snails and an amazing vanilla layered eclair with cream. It was heaven.

We discovered a treasure on the east side of town known as Promenade Plantee - a disused freight train line that has been turned into a walkway and garden and sits high above the city (much like the High Line in New York). Parisians of all ages were out running the 4.5km stretch on Sunday morning. It's any wonder they stay so thin.

We strolled around the streets of the Left Bank, stopping for a cafe au lait at Cafe Bonaparte on Rue Jacob before heading to one of the most amazing galleries in the world....the Musee D'Orsay. The collection of Impressionists (Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Manet, Sisley) were awe inspiring and the building itself is a highlight. Our love for art has certainly increased since living in London.

Monday was S's birthday so we took a walk through the Il St Louis, the Il De Cite, the Right Bank, the Opera quarter and Place Vendome with its incredible jewellery shops and home to the Ritz. We then lunched at the amazing Cafe de Flore in St Germain (you may remember it from Season 4 of Gossip Girl!) where I had the most amazing hot chocolate. No trip to Paris is complete without a trip to Laudaree for a healthy supply of macaroons - we had hazelnut pear and coffee flavoured this time. On top of this, S had 3 pain a chocolats and I had 4 pain a raison!

Our hotel room was amazing and literally overlooked the Pantheon - another incredible Parisian building and shrine to all of those French heroes and heroins like Joan of Arc and St Louis.

Paris brought back some very special memories for S and I - it will always hold a special place in our hearts. We chatted for hours about how much we have changed since we first travelled to Paris together and got engaged 3 whole years ago. It's definitely a place that woos you with it's charm!

E & S
xoxo