My soul has been put back together, thank you Paris, but time has now come to enjoy our last night in this beautiful city.    We head down our little stairway and step out for our final evening stroll in our rue St Honore neighbourhood. We are heading to our favourite little casual bistro, Le Petit Machon. We had initially stumbled across it after an overwhelming morning in the Louvre. Emerging onto the open street from the immensity of the […]

The beautiful Musee d’Orsay, once a Belle Epoque train station, now houses a staggering collection of Impressionist art, as well as other items created between 1848 and 1914.  Don’t miss the views of Sacré-Coeur from the balcony—this is the Paris that inspired the Impressionists.   I am so excited about today. We have planned a day at the Musee d’Orsay, the museum that holds one of the biggest collections of impressionist and post impressionist pieces. We start our morning early […]

Since opening in 1996, the Hôtel Costes still draws the film, fashion and media jet set. The interior, awash with maroon and mahogany, is lavish Napolean III as conceived by designer of the moment Jacques Garcia. There’s an Italianate courtyard overlooked by Roman gods, and a fitness club and swimming pool. The restaurant is for people-watching, as the din means you certainly can’t converse, and the waitresses seem chosen for their looks rather than efficiency.   Summed up beautifully by […]

  Together with its gardens, the Château de Versailles is one of the most famous monuments of world heritage. The buildings trace the architectural style of the 17th and 18th centuries and comprise: the Royal Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, the Chapel, the Royal Opera and the Museum of the History of France.   The Park is decorated with statues, fountains, water parterres and outstanding buildings such as the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, the Temple de l’Amour and the […]

The Centre Pompidou houses the biggest collection of moderne and contemporary art in Europe, and one of the finest in the world. Even the building itself is art, it’s building that is an icon of 20th century architecture. If the art isn’t enough there’s a wonderful view of Paris.    Not far from our apartment is the Pompidou centre. We walked by it on our first big promenade around Paris. We had seen hideous cues, so today we have timed […]

Trying to beat Bande à part’s record for running through the Louvre – The Dreamers – Director: Bernardo Bertolucci   We have walked through the magnificent grounds of The Louvre regularly now. My most favourite times are when there is almost no-one else here. Early in the morning, soft shadows cast by the rising sun, falling across the courtyards.     The building itself the dominating energy, solid strong and simple. In the evening, cool deep dark shadows of the […]

During the 19th century, the affluent rue Saint-Honoré started to attract young talented craftsmen whose names became the ultimate symbol of luxury.  Among them were the trunk makers Louis Vuitton and Lancel, the saddler Thierry Hermès and the fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin to name a few!  So what’s it like to stay in Paris Mecca of luxury fashion and Haute Couture?   We pack our bags and say goodbye to the Marais and take a taxi to our second apartment […]

Today we are off on an adventure. From the city we can see the beautiful white church Basilica du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre, that highlights the horizon.     Sacre-Coeur is a church built on the highest part of the city and its majesty is tangible even from a distance. We take the metro to Sacre Coeur. I am so excited as we head toward our Sortie. I didn’t realise just how far down in the depths of the city our train […]