Tuesday, November 20, 2012

PostHeaderIcon La Lettre P...

This past spring we had the chance to finally go to Europe. We were lucky enough to visit France and Germany and to see some amazing places full of history and charm.
Our trip started in Paris , Bien sur, arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport which i must admit i was terrified of based on the reviews from other travelers of how complicated it was to get around and how most likely our baggage was going to get lost. Luckily neither one happened!
From the airport we took the Roissybus (for 10 euros each) which took us to the opera house station where we took a train to our destination. Easy enough you might think! and it was until we couldn't find the entrance to the train station and i was forced to "man up" and use my broken french with un homme Parisien... i can only imagine what he was thinking as he was explaining with his 1000 word a minute petit discours where to go and seeing my "deer caught and head lights" look. What would one do without hand gestures!

We had previously arrange a studio apartment in Le Marais, a very historic area of Paris which spreads between the 3rd and 4th arrondissements (districts). I had found it in a vacation rental by owner website - VRBO from Home away
The apartment was perfectly located in a very charming neighborhood with 3 train stations within 5 minute walk, great Patisseries and a mini market. It was tiny but perfect for just the two of us, plus there was a laundromat on the first floor of the next building over which was perfect for us since we had 3 weeks to travel but only one suitcase each.
Every morning we will get freshly baked croissants and Pain au chocolat with dark coffee and my husbands favorite super creamy best ever yogurt. I really don't know what it is but the yogurt in France is awesome!

After arriving at the apartment and settling with the owner out we went. First we had to stop by Champs Elysees to pick up our Louvre Museum tickets which i had order online to save time in line at the museum.
Of course while at the most famous street in Paris we stopped for Le sandwich, a few chocolates from La Masion du Chocolat and some macarons from Laduree.



















We have been looking forward to visiting the Louvre and were equally confused on what would be the "must see" As we are walking around the massive crowds trying to absorb the massive amounts of art and history it hit... jet-lag! We sat down for a minute and realized we have to lay down or it wont be pretty so we did, back at the studio. Fortunately we had arrive on a Friday one of the museums extended hours day and after a power nap back we were!

It was April and on most years it is a "mild" weather month but not this one. It was SO cold! we were wearing all of our winter cloths including underpants. We had one "beautiful" day of mostly sunny skies of course with the every 30 minute rain shower in case we were starting to forget it was supposed to be rainy and miserable.

As good tourist we did what we must, a boat ride at night and i seriously thought i was going to get frost bite or at least die of hypothermia ... but beautiful! We eat at the Eiffel Tower and visited the museums in the must visit list. We also just walked everywhere, under the rain, and we loved it! Even though the weather wasn't "helpful" for a person on vacation it is Paris after all and i was starting to believe it was part of the charm, at least for us it worked as we stopped along the way to have a glass of wine several times and got to see how Les Parisiens do it. We sat outside, yes outside, because all cafes, brasseries, bistros are set up for this type of weather and have heaters under the tented patios and as much as we disliked the smoke, from the human chimneys setting all over us, it was perfect!























But some our favorite memories where made in the everyday life of Paris. On Sunday morning we walked to Le Marche du Bastille. The town was very much alive with the cafes full of patrons having Le Brunch (yes they also steel English words). The market was a perfect way into a day in a Parisians life. We walked away with fresh produce, the iconic bagette, and some great finds such as different sea salts, honey and jams, which we are still enjoying.

























The day before our departure we were looking for a Jazz bar and stumbled upon a Salsa club. Being from Colombia I'm very picky about my salsa but this was Paris and just the idea was fascinating.
We danced the night away in a very very HOT and quite sweaty Salsa club in Paris.


 We loved the romance and quirkiness of Paris and look forward to visiting again someday... I am still dreaming with the Macarons from Pierre Hermes and the long walks and even the rain!


 And of course the hot chocolate!


"La Lettre P..." is a song from the Paris Combo, a tribute to the modern ways of Paris

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