bastille day in paris: part one

We took the Metro from the Louvre station to the George V and arrived at 9.30am to stake out our spot. The crowds were still pretty thin at this stage: two deep at the barriers. We walked up to about two blocks from the Arc de Triomph and sat on a store's deep window sill {wide enough to stand on and watch too - only 30cm high}.

The tanks were lined up down the Champs Elysee and by the time the parade started at 10.30am the crowd had swelled dramatically.

The parade started with highly decorated horses marching. Gorgeous. Then jeeps - including one with the president. Then the planes!

Speedy!

Sorry, pics out of order here - this is on our way to lunch. A glimpse of the Tour Eiffel between gorgeous Parisian buildings.

Check out that crowd.

Lunch at Cafe Trocadero - great food - and a lovely catch-up with friends who are LIVING in Paris for three years. Yes, I may have cried green tears - especially when we saw their divine Parisian Apartment. Exactly what you'd expect - parquetry floors, high ceilings, french doors in EVERY room.

This is MY Parisian apartment. Just need someone to buy it for me...

Strolling home was topped off with a wild strawberry tart from Lenotre - such a pretty store. And oh, what a tasty morsel.

Home for a quick shower and a change before dinner at the Musee D'Orsay and the fireworks. Next blog!

We're leaving Paris this afternoon - SOB. Two weeks next time I swear! We're off to Lyon on the TGV tonight, picking up the Motorhome the boys are going to watch the Tour in. I have to drive it to Tourtour in Provence to our Villa. Wish me luck. The biggest thing I've ever driven is a Kombi.

A bientot.

shopping in paris

These posts are a tad on the picture heavy side non? But sorry, I can't help it - I'm utterly besotted with Paris and can't help sharing. So here's a little bit about our shopping. Remember that bag I told you I bought in Ille St Louis? Here it is:

Cuteness! Here's my little lovely resting on the chair of our "local" cafe this morning.

Then we went here, Galeries Lafeyette - the MOST beautiful department store in the world.

Oh, is that me and my gal at the Tom Ford counter? What could we be buying?

THIS!!!!!!!!! I daren't use it and sully those special initials.

Ridiculously beautiful this place. What else did I buy?

My new perfume. I tried Balenciaga Paris, but it just wasn't me. But this? YSL Parisienne Extreme - oh, it was me - and I think I suit the extreme tag too...

Hubby and my gal making their own Havainas at the custom bar.

And finally, a close-up detail of my new bag. It just sums up how I feel about Paris - it's a gift.

paris opera garnier

Okay, you knew how excited I was to get tickets to a ballet in the Paris Opera Garnier - well, the reality exceeded any expectations. It was just so, so terribly beautiful. Have a look at this ceiling painted by Chagal. It contrasted so beautifully with the gilded extravagance of the theatre. It was also more petite than I expected, making it even more gorgeous.

Um, hello, can I say breathtaking? We were in the second row, peering into the orchestra pit and with the most fantastic view of the stage, and all the theatre. This is the place to be. Also, the ballet we saw, Les Enfants du Paradise also made use of the theatre as well as the stage. One character at one stage walked along the seats in front of us, "Excusez moi", "Pardon", "Desolee" pretending to take a seat to watch her beloved perform.

What's not to love when your glass of champagne is a Charles Heidsieck? And oh my, the pretty stems of the glasses were beautifully etched. Love.

The foyer, once again utterly breathtaking it its beauty.

Look at those details!

The second act commenced with the lights still on - you felt like you were sneaking a peek at a rehearsal.

The poster in the foyer. Luckily I'm not scared of French clowns...

The exterior of the Opera Garnier as we left that night. So pretty in the twilight.

One very happy ballet fan, decked out in Miss Leona {Edmiston} for the event. Bless.

un parfait jour

Yesterday we had the most perfect day in Paris. First, we took the Batobus on the Seine - a water taxi where you can get off and on at various stops along the river. It was perfect. We went to the Eiffel Tower where I'm about to share Paris's best kept secret. 

Have you ever been to the Eiffel Tower? Remember the lines to ascend? They wrap around for what seems like kilometres. An hour wait is considered quick. But you know what we did yesterday? We had lunch on the Eiffel Tower. We walked to the 58 Tour Eiffel booth, waited behind two other families, and bought our tickets before being ushered like VIP's to the lifts. In five minutes we were on the first floor.

How's the food? Can I say divine?

My duck terrine was too good to take a photo of before I gobbled it up. Duck layered with foie gras served with a fig paste. Yum. Then we had this incredible roast chicken with the most divine vegetables ever - served in a tasty jus. The vegetables! See that funny little snowman-like critter in the top left? It's a baby turnip - oh MY!

This chocolate mousse cake with praline and cream tasted like it had fallen from heaven. Hubby and my gal had this, I had red berries with white cheese which was about 1000 times more tasty than it sounds. Sweet, soft cheese whipped like cream and topped with rasberries and strawberries. The price? 23 euros for three courses. Ridiculously cheap and damned yummy. And we didn't have to line up for hours!

Gotta love the view atop the Tour Eiffel.

Next, we hopped back on the Batobus and went to Ille St Louis - quite possibly my favourite place in Paris. I went into the little store where last trip I fell in love with a handbag - and once again, fell in love with a handbag. Red leather with a bow! So cute.

Bertillion ice cream while watching a red Citroen 2CV cruise by - with two french poodles on the backseat. This was also our first spotting of a French Bulldog {love those little cuties}.

Buxus shaped like a Perrier bottle. Only in Paris.

A gorgeous chanteuse singing Piaf on a pont.

And finally, a walk through Notrre Dame before hopping on the bus for our last stop at the Louvre before heading back to our apartment and getting ready for the ballet at the Opera Garnier {my next blog post - oh my - it's a beauty. You know that phrase "Now I could die happy"? Yep, that applies}

en paris

So we're in Paris. C'est parfait. Sure, I'm not being driven around in this gorgeous Citroen, but I did see it and squeal at it within moments of wandering around our arrondissment.

We've explored gorgeous galeries - the laneways that are rich in the most divine architecture and feature hidden treasures...

And look at those tiles. On the right is Legrand Filles et Fils - a wine bar stocked with the most mouth-watering bottles. The menu is simple, but apparently you can treat this gorgeous store as a bottle shop and select something fabulous to accompany your nibbles. Shall we try this one night?

Hello Didier Ludot - vintage heaven. I do apologise for those who followed me and tripped and slipped in the drool I left at the base of these windows. Who needs museums when you have beauties like this to gaze out. You want more?

Vintage Chanel? Seriously?

There may be something in the world more delectable than this vintage Dior - but I can't possibly imagine what it is.

Now, if you'll excuse me, after a busy day of Eurostar, unpacking, wandering the rues we're now sipping Moet in our apartment {ridiculously cheap} and nibbling on cheese, ham and poilane bread while our gal has a well-deserved early night.

Tomorrow's a wee spot of shopping at the Soldes {sales!}, a lunch on the Eiffel Tower {!!!} and the ballet at the Opera Garnier. {squeeeeee!}

PS: The Parisians are LOVING my attempts at French. I had a brief conversation with the Taxi driver {who gave me a "Parfait" when I said the name of my street - much more than my french teacher offers!}, and everyone's been just gorgeous. I also successfully ordered my husband an espresso at a sidewalk café without checking the menu {un noisette}. It's hot though - even though it's only 29 degrees - and no humidity so my hair has NO IDEA what's going on. A bientot x

waiting for the eurostar...

We had a mad dash to make it to the Eurostar terminal this morning. My iPhone alarm, set for 5.45am failed to go off thanks to an inexplicable battery fail. Eek. Luckily I woke at 6.20am and after a mad flurry, we were out the door and on the way to the station by 6.30!

Next blog from our apartment in Paris - squeeeeeeeeeeee! Fingers crossed that it actually does have free Wi-Fi.

lots of flowers for friday

We went to the Hampton Court Palace Flower show and positively swooned at the blooms on display. Would you look at these giant alliums in the bottom shot! I must have some of those in my garden - love their big, fat, fluffy heads.

Must dash - off to Cornwall for the weekend. Seaside delights await. Then off to Paris on Monday where the French part of our journey awaits. Parfait!

Petersham nurseries close up

A few iPhone shots at Petersham nurseries. Note that someone there loves roses as much as I do.

Rose lemonade is to die for!

Also, please note the feather dusters - wouldn't they make cleaning a delight?