Magical moments in Paris

Motivation has been difficult to come by lately which means - for the first time in ten years - I have been lazy in feeding my blog. Inspiration is lacking albeit living in a worldly city such as Paris. For nearly a decade I  have been spoilt picking up the Parisian vibes as they come and taking advantage of all that the city of lights has to offer.

Eclectic as I am, rarely do I miss the occasion to adventure out to experience something new. My palate has been blessed with wonderful emotions and memorable stories: theatre class, cooking course, chocolate workshop, wine tasting, photography lessons, essay writing group, samba dancing, literary evenings, musical performances, classical concerts, jazz sessions, ballet premières, behind-the-scene opera insights, warehouse light shows, city tours, historical visits, UNESCO gatherings, Grand Palais openings, charity events, cultural encounters, ambassador's' receptions, consular lunch invitations, business networking hubs, peaceful manifestations, fashion shows, foodie gatherings, garden parties, heritage days, National Christmas bazaars, Foundation vernissages, Europe's largest flea market, the flavours and colours of the fresh produce "marchés" and I am forgetting many more.

However, the most memorable moments remain the magical terraces views: from the roof top yoga class looking onto the Eiffel Tower, to a farewell picnic on top of the Arc de Triomphe. A clandestine champagne brunch on the Eiffel tower's second floor springs to mind as does the unforgettable grand opening of the Peninsula Palace or the well-deserved pink champagne glass in the rose garden on top of Hotel Raffael. The first visit to the Louis Vuitton foundation and its many level terrasses was breathtaking as is the view of the St.Jacques tower in the city center. The ice rink on top was the Eiffel Tower was another fun moment.

So, the lights have gone out for a while but I am ready to jump into action and start "flaneusing" around town as soon as the portals open up again... and it looks like it will happen soon... slowly but surely. Stay tuned!

Tour de St.Jacques

Centre Pompidou

Eiffel Tower

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe

Tour de St.Jacques

Arc de Triomphe

Tour Eiffel

Fondation Louis Vuitton

Peninsula Hotel terrace

Eiffel Tower

UNESCO building

Maison Blanche roof top yoga session

Galeries Lafayette roof top ice rink

Paris will always be Paris

No where to go... cultural events cancelled, restaurants and bars closed, museums and monuments not accessible, public transport not enticing, weather depressing... BUT as Maurice Chevalier sang so well,

“Paris will always be Paris!

The more we reduce our lighting,

the more we see our courage shining,

the more we see our spirit brighten,

Paris will always be Paris!”

Paris in the fall

Pretty in Pink

My friends know my signature colour is pink. My readers know my favourite Parisian monument is the Eiffel Tower. Every year on October 1st the two come together for the launching of Pink October to support breast cancer awareness month. 

The association Le Cancer du Sein, Parlons-En!, now nicknamed "Ruban Rose" (Pink Ribbon), is launching the 27th edition of Pink October in France, an informative operation to raise awareness and support the research against the disease lasting all month long. 

An evening stroll under a near full moon just made it all the more magical.

B&W weekend

It might be that the locals are all still escaping town while the weather is nice, it might be the travel restrictions banning oversees tourist from visiting the city, it might be the partial Saturday lockdown in preparation of the gilets jaunes, it might be that people are still weary of wondering around outside... whatever the reason the city is spectacular to flaneuse around this month. Even in black and white Paris is still stunning!

La grande Dame de Fer

Paris' Russian Orthodox church

Abandoned river banks

When in Paris do as the locals...

Open or closed for business?!?

The heart of Paris is empty

Not a soul in sight

Place de la Concorde, France largest square and completely deserted 

A glimpse up the empty Champs Elysées

I'm back

It has been a while. Yes, I have been busy and all is good!

This summer might have been the longest we have ever spent away from Paris but it has definitely been the most productive one as well. Between suntanning at the beach and enjoying a freshly grilled seabass with a glass of Albariño at the chiringuito with family and friends, I was working hard at my computer coordinating a series of projects.

My kids thought I had gone made, my hubby felt a bit abandoned but business needed to be taken care of and emergencies handled.

Searching for new tenants, setting up contracts, reflooring a flat, replacing broken 20-year old dishwashers, polishing wooden doors, managing not one but two water leaks, concluding two kitchen projects,  preparing a house refurbishment, visiting a uni campus and leading an important school mission, all while being PA to my family and supporting them in their new projects.

Let's just say there were a lot of balls to juggle and most of it needed to be done virtually to add an extra layer of complexity. But hey, as of yesterday I am back in Paris and ready to hit the ground running...

So, what else is new?

Ibiza is World Heritage

Ibiza’s claim to fame is its status as one of Europe’s most lit places to party, but there’s so much more to Ibiza Town, the Balearic Island’s capital, than raves, 24-hour clubs, and study abroad spring breakers. To start, there’s Dalt Vila, a fortified medieval old town perched on a cliff that offers sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea atop 16th-century battlements. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Perched on a small mountain next to the sea and overlooking the town is the fortified old town of Dalt Vila which translates to "Upper Town".

Originally called Ibosim and founded by the Phoenicians, Dalt Vila has been added to by successive occupiers and was once one of the most important coastal cities in the Mediterranean. The last addition was the Renaissance defensive walls that surround it, which Kings Charles I and Philip II of Spain had constructed to defend against the French and the Ottomans.

Walking into the main square, Plaza de Vila, many restaurants, art galleries and shops are closed due to lack of tourists.

The Catalans were the first to penetrate Dalt Vila from within and by doing so, crushed Moorish rule. 

As legend has it, the brother of the Emir that controlled Ibiza was deeply jealous of his sibling and had betrayed him to the Catalan pretenders. He told them the whereabouts of a secret tunnel that came out at a small chapel, which afterwards was named in honour of San Ciriaco, the Patron Saint of Ibiza.

Inside the heart of Villa Dalt where the cost per m2 is anything between 5000 and 10'000.- Euros.

Looking down from the battlements by the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, allows for a  wonderful panoramic view over the city and the harbour.

Santo Domingo church, built in the 17th century, is attached to the Monastery of the same order, and it is the second largest temple in the isle, after the Cathedral.

The Cathedral of Ibiza came about after the conquest of Ibiza by Catalan troops in 1235, and it takes up the space that, until then, had been occupied by the town’s mosque.

When the Bishopric of Ibiza was created in 1762, this was only parish on the island. It became a Cathedral and was dedicated to Saint Mary of the Snows.

A week in photos

Just your regular Parisian entrance by Hector Guimard (1867- 1942), French architect and designer, and a prominent figure of the Art Nouveau style.

Homage to Luís Vaz de Camões, Portugal's greatest poet.

One of the favorite points of photographers and considered the most beautiful staircase in the city.

The frothy double-decker Belle Epoque carousel sits right in front of the iconic Eiffel tower and is the perfect setting to take a souvenir snapshot.

A colourful riverboat is moored right below the Eiffel Tower.

Many a water-loving entrepreneur has turned their houseboat into a lovely business or venue.

The Wallace Fountains in Paris are named after Richard Wallace who designed and paid for these drinking water fountains. In 1870, 50 fountains were spread around the city. Today, there are around 120 of them, dotted all over Paris and still providing Parisians water for free.

An expensive bunch of Lavender!

When a blackboard tells a story...

Guimard designed metro stations, with and without glass roofs. Built in cast iron, they make heavy reference to the symbolism of plants and are now considered classic examples of French art nouveau architecture. 141 entrances were constructed between 1900 and 1912, of which 86 still exist.

The local hang out spot while waiting for tourists to return.

"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" is the national motto of France.

Strawberries, chocolate and Prosecco... the best ingredients for a "Déjeuner sur l'herbe"!