Paris Is Always a Good Idea

However much I hate to agree with the masses, I just gotta say it: After visiting 3 times, I have come to the conclusion that Paris is the most wonderful city in the world (at least, that I have been to so far). Yep, gypsies and all. Freakin' love that place.

It's so beyond its architecture, although that sure does help. It's beyond the Eiffel tower, the Seine river, the masterpieces of art, the cobbled roads. To me, it's the small wine bars on the street corner. The fromageries, the bread shops, the macaroons. It's the croque madams, quiches, duck confits, and crepes. It's the people. The waitresses, the vendors selling their paintings, the shop keepers selling scarves. It's the feeling of vibrancy that the city gives me, the take-your-breath-away, heart skipping excitement for no other reason than simply being so happy to partake in this Parisian day. That feeling that with every winding street you walk on, you will find something new. There is no getting lost. There is no taking a wrong turn. It is all an adventure, one filled with such an immense amount of beauty. Being in Paris, you feel like life is wonderful and bountiful, you could live a million years in that city and do something new and exciting every single day.

Whew, so you get the picture. I love this city. I could go there again and again and always be happy. I hope that one day we can live there, but only time will tell!

Not where we stayed, but just a gorgeous hotel

So, the 4 of us hopped on the Eurostar on Friday to take the train to my beloved city. This time, I didn't screw up on our lodging and we stayed in a private flat, right by the Louvre.

Daniel and I got to sleep on a loft bed, Brandee and Justin got the pull out couch. It was all lovely and a wonderful experience. I don't know if I would always recommend renting a flat, but for Paris, I really do. It just makes me feel like I am experiencing true Parisian life.

Justin and Brandee are novice Parisians. We got them to eat stinky cheese, but couldn't convince them that the rind is edible

He thought that if he made this face, I wouldn't put the pic in my blog. He thought wrong.

We walked along the Seine, back to the wine bar that we so loved when we visited with my mom and sister. Our same adorable waitress, Chloe, was there. She remembered Daniel and me, and that we lived in London but were from TX. Whoever says French people are impolite and rude really need to go back and give these people a second chance.

Leaving with warm bellies, we walked to The Latin Quarter (I deem this my favorite area in Paris) and had dinner at a little bistro, where I had Steak frittes and everyone else had croque madam (a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich). Had to get a pic of the decor- Scooby holding the Tasmanian Devil's head. Silly Europeans! 

 The next day, Daniel and I split up from Brandee and Justin. They wanted to see things that we had just seen a few weeks ago, and there are so many other attractions that need to be experienced!

Daniel and I started off our morning with breakfast by our flat- him, a hard boiled egg and fresh squeezed OJ; Me, a chocolatey waffle and latte.

Our first stop was to the Catacombs. We had to take the metro (which was fairly easy to understand) South of the river. The line was crazy long, and we had to wait for 90 minutes before getting in!

I called this man the Crypt Keeper. He was the man with all of the power, deciding when to let people in and how many at a time. I suppose whenever the ghosts of the catacombs called out to him, he would let a handful of people in, about every 10 minutes. If I would have known how long we would have to have waited for, we would have done something else! 

The catacombs came about in the 1700's. The cemeteries were overcrowded and there was no more room to bury the dead, so the king declared that the bones would be dug up and thrown into this underground maze of tunnels by the cemetery. The bones of six million people were transferred there in the late 1700's, and dead bodies continued to be deposited in the quarries until the mid 1800's. It was later that an artist decided to arrange the bones in such a way. It took 20 years for his project to be complete. And this, people, is why I want to be cremated when I die! 

Gotta say, I can't recommend the catacombs. It was a very cool thing to see, but not worth the wait. Maybe if you go at opening time on a weekday. 

We were a bit rushed through the catacombs because we had a wine class to attend, at a wine bar called O Chateau. We only got to try 3 different French wines, but we learned so much about wine! Some tidbits:

-Always buy 2005 and 2009 French red wines

-The more north, the drier the wine

-If you can read text through a glass of red wine, then it is light bodied. If you can't read it, it's full bodied.

-The cheaper the grape, the more sulfates added

-If the bottle is from a "Domaine" then it is a small mom and pop producer; from a Chateau, then it's from the big dogs. 

-A sweet French white wine is usually in a clear bottle; a dry white is usually in a green bottle

Our 3 tastes were clearly not enough, so Daniel and I wandered the streets to find some more wine (not a difficult task, when in Paris!). I had the most decadent, velvety glass of champagne. I rarely drink actual champagne, so it was such a treat. 

Library by the wine bar

We met up with Justin and Brandee for dinner, where Daniel and I split Duck confit and a Nutella crepe. We wandered to another wine bar, where we had our last glass of wine in Paris for 2013. 

Au revoir, Paris! I do hope to see you again soon!

Paris, je t'aime (kinda)

Hello readers! I have a TON of pictures to show y'all from Paris...and get ready, because a similar post will probably be written in a few weeks after we go to Paris again with Justin and Brandee.

So, let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to start...

We took the Eurostar to Paris from London. Cannot say enough good things about taking the Eurostar/ train in general when you have about 3 or less hours of a journey. It is so much faster and easier than a plane, since you don't have to get there super early and go through the whole ordeal of going through an airport. 

We were SO lucky and stayed at our friend Vincent's family's flat, in the heart of the Latin Quarter. We had hundreds of shops, bistros, and wine bars in a .5 mile radius around the flat. It was so lively, and the flat itself was AWESOME! Super Parisian looking...ceiling with exposed wood beams, a wall of stone, and a gorgeous view.



I already told you about the tragedy of the abducted MK bag, but I've neglected to tell y'all about the second worse thing to happen to us. I'd been raving about this cheap Primark puffy jacket I had bought a couple of weeks ago. Well, about 2 minutes after I rub in how warm I was in my puffer jacket to my complaining and cold family, I ran into a pole and snagged the arm onto a nail hanging off of it. Yah, I know. So that's why it looks like I am bleeding stuffing in the rest of these pictures.

We started off our trip by going to this quaint wine bar along the Seine river (I believe called L'Eccluse). It fit about 3 tables in it. We had a couple glasses of wine, some fresh locally made bread, and creamy, soft cheeses. Délicieux! I loved it- every restaurant had huge, crinkly brown paper bags filled with freshly made bread from the local bread shops. Nothing frozen or preservative-laden here!

           






Paris is just gorgeous at night. We walked off all of that cheese and walked by Notre Dame, the Louvre, and just along the river. Daniel was our tour guide, and we must have walked over 20 miles total while in Paris!




We did actually go in the Louvre, but it was just us 3 ladies and we were in and out in less than 2 hours. It's just so overwhelming! And Paris is such a beautiful city- who wants to spend the whole time in a museum?


We walked along Champs Elysees, where there were was a Christmas market. We all got some piping hot mulled wine to warm our hands and bellies while we walked.





There is actually a couple of Ladurees in London, but it isn't a trip to Paris without going in and buying some macaroons! We tried all sorts of flavors...coffee, orange, raspberry, strawberry yogurt, chocolate, vanilla...oh, so yummy, especially after all of that walking!

Speaking of all of that walking...I should have posted these pictures when I blogged about my sister's new Fashion Sport Fashion Shoes. Before buying those fashionable kicks, we went to the pharmacy and bought her some overpriced gel pads. She was gellin'! 

Of course, I have to end this post with us at the Eiffel Tower. We didn't bother taking the lift to the top, but instead just took pictures on the ground.

Paris is a gorgeous city, probably the most beautiful city I have ever been to. That was my second time going, and Daniel has been loads of times for work. However, even though we SO enjoyed this trip, my mom's purse getting stolen just left a sour taste in my mouth about the whole city. Nearly everyone I have talked to about that also has a similar story. I hope they do something soon about their growing crime rate! 

Michael Kors Bag : Aug 2012- Nov 2013



On the 24th night of November, 2013, something terrible happened. Awful. Wretched. Unthinkable. While relaxing on the floor, enjoying a quaint Parisian wine bar, Michael Kors Bag was kidnapped. We don't know who dun it, but we think it was gypsies. Or gypsy children. Or the gypsy mafia. The story keeps changing.  

Michael Kors Bag, enjoying one if his final and happier days



This is all we know.

We were sitting down at a wine bar, catching up with my Parisian friend from college, Alexandra. Michael Kors Bag was hanging out under my mom's chair, tired after a long day of touring Paris. We were sitting by the door, looking out the window and drinking fine French wine.

Suddenly, as our order was being taken, two (possible gypsy) men came in and started speaking French to our waiter, interrupting him from taking our order, and then left in a huff. Maybe it was them?

Later on in the night, a gypsy woman strangely came into the wine bar selling popcorn and roses. Maybe it was her?

We never saw gypsy children, but they are sneaky and well trained. They could have easily came in, crawled under the table, and abducted Michael Kors Bag, right from under our noses.

My mom had a weird hunch, and started looking for Michael Kors Bag. It was futile and in vain. He was no where to be found. It is pointless trying to put the blame on someone (although we know it was those damn gypsies). All that matters is, Michael Kors Bag is gone. Forever. 


A sad, sick joke. We didn't know that only 6 hours later, Michael Kors Bag would be out of our lives forever.



Mom went through all of the stages of grief.

Denial: Michael Kors Bag has to be SOMEWHERE. Maybe he's in the toilet? Maybe he's hiding under the chair? I know he'll come back.

Anger: WTF who would do this? Who would steal my precious Michael Kors Bag?

Bargaining: Well, maybe the police will find him? Maybe we should give the restaurant our number, just in case Michael Kors Bag comes wondering in, lost and confused?

Depression: How can I ever live my life without Michael Kors Bag? He had everything I ever needed. My money. My ID. My chapstick, tissues, and cheap sunglasses. Can I even make it home without him?

Acceptance: He really is gone. He left mom with a parting gift, though. He might have passed on, but not with my mom's passport, trainticket, or phone. For that, she will always be grateful.

I think what hurts the most is, we don't know where he is. Was he thrown in a dumpster, left for trash, after the gypsies realized he didn't have much money inside him? Or is he living a new life, with a new family, bringing joy to their lives like he did to ours? We pray daily for the latter.

It has been hard moving on. We are reminded of Michael Kors Bag's lost daily. Every time my mom needs to purchase something, she has to use my sister's credit card. When her lips were chapped, she reached for Michael Kors Bag, and he wasn't there (nor was her chapstick). When Westminster Abbey wouldn't let my mom get in and use the free ticket I got her because she didn't have her ID, that stung. But, I know slowly but surely, we will move on and be okay.

Michael Kors Bag, seeing the world during one of his last days with us

We are just so thankful that Michael Kors Bag got to do what he always wanted to do: see the world. It is bittersweet, yet fitting, that he spent his final days in London and Paris.

Madeline in Paris

No time to write up a big blog about Paris AND I didn't take a ton of pictures (my sister and Daniel both did that) so I need to steal some of their pics, first.

Here is my sister, Madeline, in a nut shell.

Paris, Day 1

 Sista was tired. She was jet lagged and not used to the amount of walking that you have to do in Paris. Feet were a lil achey...

Paris, Day 2

 This picture was not posed. Sister was a hot mess. Madeline's feet were in major pain, causing her to literally limp all around Paris. We bought her some $42 gel pads that helped for a bit, but after miles and miles of walking, her feet were done. She crashed and burned, having to take off her shoes in front of the Louvre for a little self foot massage. The only thing that kept her persevering is YOIFOM (pronounced YOY Foam- You're only in France once...maybe). 

Paris, Day 3

Thank God for Fashion Sport Fashion Shoes. These were not only some of the most stylish shoes we had ever come across, but also the most comfortable. Madeline was a new woman in her Fashion Sport Fashion Shoes.

The fuzzy insides and thick rubber soled outsides made Madeline's feet much happier. Plus, they were just some of the most flattering, sexy shoes we have ever come across. When you think Parisian shoes, I bet Fashion Sport Fashion Shoes are pictured in your mind. I know y'all all are dying to get a pair, but I think they can only be bought in Paris. Or in a sweatshop outside of South East Asia.