a weekend in Paris

A few scenes from our short trip to Paris, a city that so many people love. Our time in the city was sweet. We ate well, shared bottles of wine, and wandered the rainy streets. I even made friends with a dog who literally kissed my feet.

off to Paris

We're off tomorrow for a long weekend in Paris. It has been over a month since I last crossed the border and I'm eager for a change of sights and sounds. Unfortunately, its high season for my spring allergies, but I hope to survive the Parisian pollens. The occasion for the trip is to meet up with my aunt and uncle, traveling through a few European cities. Amsterdam didn't make their list, but we were happy to meet them in France!

Photo by Irene S

A Weekend in Paris, Part II

The second day took us to the neighborhood of a friend from Berlin who had recently moved to Paris. Time to sit and enjoy the sun. The third day was filled with sights of the city as we biked around. I'll leave the photos of Notre Dame and the Louvre behind, in favor of these quieter images of small scenes from the day. Above, a characteristic sign above the metro, with the rising sun shining on the house behind.

A friend from Berlin recently moved into a flat in Paris, with a lovely stairwell.

Early Sunday morning on the Seine.

Browsing through the bookstands along the Seine on a Sunday afternoon.

A small door on a quiet street.

A Weekend in Paris, Part I

I probably should have known it wasn't going to be a conventional weekend when, as we drove away from Amsterdam and towards Paris, Marcus turned to me and said, "I could use a beer and a sausage." We certainly weren't on our way to Germany though.

Confession: I did not see the Eiffel Tower. At least not in full view. At one moment I saw the top of it peeking over the rooftops, but that was it.

Instead of being a proper tourist introduction to a city, my time was more of an experience. Experience #1: how to find a parking spot on a Friday night. Experience #2: how to eat a baguette that looks like a machete. Experience #3: how to run down the steps of Sacre Coeur and find a quiet cafe asap. Experience #4: how to forget my favorite sunglasses somewhere. Experience #5: how to eat a wonderfully gluttonous meal. Experience #6: how to arrive at the Arc de Triomphe precisely at closing time. Experience #7: how to ride a bike through Paris (surprisingly easy). Experience #8: how to ride the metro.

What surprised me most was how familiar the city was. It seemed like a mix of Rome, Brussels and Berlin in one. With a hint of Prague. It was a fun weekend trip, but I think I learned my lesson that new cities deserve more than 48 hours. More photos to come...

The carousel in Montmartre, at the foot of the steps leading to Sacre Coeur.

Behind the crowd of people, Sacre Coeur.

The cute nook tucked in a back alley, which was the only parking spot available on Friday night.

Art on the wall of Terminus Nord, which served the most decadent meal I have ever eaten.

Terminus Nord, a seafood restaurant opposite Gare du Nord.

The Arc du Triomphe on a Saturday night.

Les Films Français

Half inspired by my upcoming trip to Paris and half by a lovely blog post about foreign films by & everything nice, I have been on a French film kick the past few weeks. Most recently I watched Le voyage du ballon rouge / The flight of the red balloon (directed by Hsiao-hsien Hou, above image). Inspired by the 1956 film by Albert Lamorisse, this film is a mix of quiet and chaos, a beautifully filmed moment of life.

Other films include Un long dimanche de fiançailles / A very long engagement (directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet starring Audrey Tautou, first image below), Un prophète / The prophet (directed by Jacques Audiard, second image below) and Mouchette (directed by Robert Bresson, third image below). What are some of your favorite French films?

Planning for Paris

Next weekend, we're off to Paris. My first time! Most people find this fact unbelievable, but when I chose a holiday destination in the past, it was more likely to be Berlin, Zurich, Krakow, Budapest, Prague... really anywhere other than Paris. Most people either love Paris or hate it and my experience with many non-French Europeans is that they don't see the appeal.

Still, I live just a few hours away. Why not spend a weekend in Paris and see what I think? For those of you who fall into the 'love Paris' category', I'd be happy for some tips. Favorite spots to sip coffee, best breakfast nooks, favorite areas to walk around. Merci! (images from karigee)

A Weekend Away

Feeling an itch to get away for a weekend. The only remaining question: where to go? Floating through my head are ideas of France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. Paris is only a train ride away, the other locations probably require a short flight. Just a chance to walk over some unfamiliar cobblestones and breathe in the air of another city.

(Above: Image of Venice from here. Below: Image of Paris from here. Image of Madrid from here. Image of Dublin from here.)