Wednesday 25 July 2012

Paris in July

Paris in July started very slowly but then sped along. I managed to read Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard and The Mirador, Dreamed memories of Irene Nemirovsky by her daughter, Elisabeth Gille.
The best part though was our day trip to Paris for the day in the month of Paris in July.
It was my birthday gift to Warmth and was fortunate enough to be joining him.


A brutal alarm at 5.00am so we could catch the train and tube to Kings Cross St. Pancras ready for the 7.30am Eurostar to Paris. A snooze, a good book and a queue for coffee.

We walked to Monmartre from Gard du Nord and had an explore of Sacre Coeur, the stained glass windows were a delight.

Then a lovely meander through the streets of Monmartre, a stop for a croque monsieur and plotting castles in the air where a daydream apartment would be.

Semi seriously thinking about coming for a night in December for Christmas shopping and staying in this area.

A quick hop on the Metro. A glimpse of the Tour Eiffel from the Tuileries Gardens.

A walk along the Seine glimpsing, Paris Plage then to Musee D'Orsay (two for the price of one with our Eurostar tickets.) Discovering a new artist, Odilon Redon.
Odilon Redon

Truly time for a late lunch now. Searching for a  Luxe Guide recommended restaurant led us to rue St. Honore. Although our walk took a long time I enjoyed gazing in shop windows and along streets that together we would never walk through. We popped into Colette, a shop I've read much about. A glimpse at Annick Goutal's windows. Finally we found a lovely place for lunch, sitting outside with our Orangina and steak. Then up and onto another walk, crossing over the Seine again and to the Left Bank to search for a Luxe recommended place L'Heure Gourmande.     

We ordered a cafe, a chocolate tart, a chocolat ancienne and assorted dry cakes. The waiter came up to check the same person hadn't ordered the chocolate tart and the chocolat ancienne. A delightful sit in this cafe. The place where one would possibly daydream of resting and reading if fortunate enough to live in Paris. 


Repleat with flavour and food we then stirred ourselves. Walking through Ile de France, wishing I could remember more of Marie Antoinette's life from the biography I read. A hop on the Friday evening commuter metro to Gard du Nord for a biere and vin rouge before boarding our return journey.

A most lovely day, talking about the previous time we visited together on our first holiday, enjoying the sights and senses of having the day here and plotting when we'll return and what we'll do.

Thank you Karen and Tamara for hosting another wonderful Paris in July

14 comments:

  1. Beautiful post, love the pics! How fortunate to be able to just hop on the train and ....voila! you in Paris!

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    1. Michelle - Thank you. I know how fortunate to be able to hop on a train.

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  2. Looks like a wonderful day - I'd definitely be seriously booking for a night in December!
    Oh, and Odilon Redon has another fan here too.

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    1. Tonia - Thank you for giving the go ahead for December! What else do you know about Odilon Redon & can I see any of his work in the UK?

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  3. Oh you lucky thing! It sounds absolutely divine. I'm going back in October half term and can't wait already!

    Your photos are gorgeous as well!

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    1. bookssnob - oooh lucky you! The glories of picfx & instagram for very amateur photographers.

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  4. Gorgeous photos for a truly dreamy day!

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    1. Anbolyn - Yes it was a really dreamy day, popping to another country just for the day.

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  5. Sounds divine. Why does it always rain when I go to Paris?!

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    3. Laura - It was divine. Our back up for rain was a leisurely lunch.

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  6. What a wonderful day, although I'm too greedy for Paris, and I don't know that I could just keep it at a single day. I love the sepia tonings to your pictures. And Odilon Redon was new for me too, I love that picture you included, so beautiful.

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    1. Louise - Hello! The sepia is all thanks to Instagram. Yes a day did just make us greedy to return soon.

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Ooh how lovely more stripes on the page...
Thank you for taking the time.