I'm Susan — devout Francophile, mother of twins, writer, creative director, and aspiring author. I've been sharing my life here since 2010...thanks for reading!
After we exhausted the monuments and museums there was only one thing left to do…SHOP! My love affair with Diptyque began the first time I visited the store in Saint Germain. I was taught how to properly sample the scents, and left with my very first candle. The rest is history. I’m also gaga over their striking black and white logo! Do you have a favorite scent or candle?
Believe it or not, I still have more photos and adventures to share with you about our trip! Hopefully you aren't feeling like it's the slideshow that never ends (like my parents did when we returned). I'm running out of ways to tell you what an amazing time we had!
No trip to Paris is complete for me without a visit to Notre Dame, and this time I focused on studying the exterior and capturing some alternate angles in my photos. I was disappointed to find things had been more commercialized inside…it really takes away from the reverant and awesome nature of it all. Still, I am always moved by the history and grandeur…incredible.
We returned to our hotel after our first outing to discover the management had upgraded our room (to remedy some mishaps upon arrival). Upgrade would be the understatement of the year! We wandered through the maze of halls, realizing we were headed toward a great view…well, we could not have imagined this!! A 270 degree view of Paris. I burst into tears, having dreamed of having a view like this someday…never thinking it would actually happen! We had five-yes, five! balconies, and the view spanned from the Arc, down the Champs, over the Tuileries, all the way down to the Louvre. Had I died?
We watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle in the morning sun, and magically at night. It was a view to be shared, so we did…my friend Joni was in Paris, and Lindsey was able to come by…see her post about it here. Even a Parisian marveled at the view, which made me feel a tad less ridiculous in my childlike wonder. We dined in our room two nights after deciding that not only was the hotel food surprisingly amazing, but that we had one of the best views in Paris! We rolled our dining table in front of the side balcony (with the view of the Eiffel), and sat in complete awe and gratitude. It was an amazing experience we will never forget…
For the complete panorama, check out my (amateur) video here!
We were missing our Billy terribly by the time we reached Paris, and seeing these two cuties didn't help. There are a lot of yorkies in Paris, so we were constantly reminded of our little guy. I've learned the french are not too keen on strangers petting their animals, but I managed to charm this gentleman enough to say hello to them…it was a real accomplishment for me!
Our first full day in Paris was a relaxed one…one of our first stops was the Musee Carnavalet. Located in the Marais (which is one of my favorite neighborhoods), it dates to 1560. I was especially excited about the Louis Vuitton exposition, a collection of the iconic trunks and luggage spanning 150 years. It was beautifully curated, and was a feast for the eyes! The exposition runs until February 2011, and I highly recommend checking it out. Vive la Vuitton!