Paris, 2022
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Ever since my first Paris trip got cut short, I’d been wanting to come back and finish seeing the sights. This was also our first big overseas trip post-Covid and Simon’s first visit to Europe, so I was excited to attempt to do it all in our 4 short days.
I’m not sure how best to organize the storytelling here since we were all over the place, so I’ll begin with chapters…
Chapter I: Cloudy dramatic mornings
After two red-eye flights and a layover in Montreal, we landed in Paris on a Saturday morning. Rain was in the forecast but it hadn’t landed yet, and mystical dark clouds loomed over us. It was nice observing this mighty monumental city in a refreshingly calm and serene atmosphere.
Chapter II: The magic of Montmartre
We spent our first evening in Montmartre, climbing up to Sacré-Cœur and winding our way back down the charming cobblestone streets. People were everywhere, but it felt cozy and alive rather than overwhelming. Tourists and locals alike picnicked on the lawns and sat around the plazas dining and chatting away. These are my favorite kinds of public spaces.
Even though there was a tourist presence, this neighborhood (as well as Le Marais) felt more lively, quirky, and full of character, especially in the evening time. Next time I would love to stay here and spend more time exploring.
Chapter III: Versailles, Town and country
We jumped on an early train to spend a full day in Versailles. Of course, Versailles is known for the chateau, the Hall of Mirrors, Louis XIV’s over-the-top extravagance, the royal opulence and gilded everything. However, what I found to be most interesting was at the other end of the estate. Marie-Antoinette had commissioned a small model village to be designed and built on the estate of Trianon. Rural rustic-looking cottages sit around an artificial lake, surrounded by dairies, orchards, vegetable gardens, and even a farm. Contrary to her well-established public image, the queen actually loved and used this bucolic space to host small gatherings and teach her children about agriculture. It was a place for her to get away from the court and enjoy nature. Scroll down the upcoming photo gallery and see the incredible transformation from town to country.
Some tips for a day trip to Versailles. The estate is huge, and the buildings of interest are divided by the large stretch of gardens and a canal. If you plan to see it all, rent a bike or golf cart over by the chateau to make your way over to Trianon side. There is also a mini train, but you don’t get as much time flexibility. We were dumb and walked it the whole thing back and forth. 30,000+ steps later, my feet had molded into the shape of my boots. The last photo is an accurate depiction of our excitement upon finally finding the “sortie.”
Chapter IV: Autumn in Paris
Europe is exciting in the fall because trees change color. It rains and things get dramatic. Paris is romantic, but it’s definitely not without grittiness. It sprinkled here and there during our time there, which revealed a different, more atmospheric side to the city.
Chapter V: The legacy of Dior
The Louvre and Musée d'Orsay are sure beautiful, but fashion > fine art any day. One stop I made sure to squeeze into our itinerary was the new La Galerie Dior, a museum that exhibits archival and modern pieces from the house of Dior, staged in the very rooms Christian Dior worked and held his original couture shows. I had the best time walking through the immersive exhibits, learning about the history of the atelier, and falling in love with Maria Grazia Chiuri and the new era of Dior. Her collections are truly feminine, elegant and modern, finally bringing Dior out of decades of patriarchy.
“Fashion is the most powerful art there is. It's movement, design, and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we'd like to be.” Blair Waldorf declares. Fashion in and of itself deserves more dedicated museums. Getting to tour the iconic house of Dior and examine up close some of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen before my very eyes on was the best way to spend an afternoon. The production design of the museum was also exquisite, using a combination of multimedia projections, sounds, and lighting to tell a different intriguing story every room you enter. I couldn’t stop taking phone pics as inspo for my future closet (!)
On fashion
Traveling to new places isn’t just an opportunity for me to see the world, but to experiment with different identities. When you’re in a foreign place, there are no impressions or expectations. You can become a new person, and the easiest way of doing so is dressing up. Paris is the fashion capital of the world. What better place to play?
I just love fashion so much. People here don’t just resort to athleisure or outdoor clothing as casual clothing. Instead, it’s all about beautiful tailoring, quality outerwear, beautiful handbags, and intriguing shoes. A walk through the streets is a serious treat for the eyes.
Trends I observed:
Trenchcoats, trenchcoats, trenchcoats. Fall means rain is coming. And trenchcoats will never go out of style.
Functional boots. The cobblestone streets are no place to wear heels, but I’ve noticed just as stylish flat-heeled boots. Currently on the hunt for a pair of combat or chelsea boots that don’t make me look short.
Scarves, year-round. And not just knitted ones.
Tailoring! On men and women alike.
Women walk out fully-dressed from head to toe with matching crossbody handbags. Where do they store the rest of their things, you ask? A tote bag. I can’t begin to count the number of women who carried both. One for style, one for overflow. Très chic.
Favorite Spots
In between all the sightseeing and walking (we explored every neighborhood on foot and returned home to a 6th floor walk-up Airbnb every night), we got to taste some of the most amazing food and desserts Paris had to offer. This city makes it so easy to pop into a cafe for a croissant, espresso, pizza, or pastry anywhere you are. Rounding up some of our favorite patisseries, boulangeries, brasseries, bistros and more!
Pizzeria Popolare, for wood-fired pizza in a cozy welcoming environment. The truffle pizza was chefs kiss. We took home leftovers and even that was full of flavor however many hours later. Lines get long so come when it opens.
Ladurée, famous macaron chain that you can find all over Paris. Always a beautiful treat!
Aux Merveilleux de Fred, for the best meringue. I’ve never been much of a meringue fan, but one bite of the white chocolate meringue has changed my life forever.
La Crêperie Mon Ami in Montmartre, a tiny crêpe stand that sells freshly-made sweet and savory crêpes
Le Relais De L'Entrecôte, a well-known and fun bistro that only has one thing on its menu: steak and fries!
La Jacobine, for traditional French dishes like onion soup and escargot
Du Pain et des Idées, a legendary boulangerie famous for pinwheel-shaped chocolate-pistachio “escargot” pastries
Poilâne, an artisan bakery famous for sourdough loaves. (We loved Apollonia Poilâne’s Masterclass.) We picked up sable shortbread cookies to bring home
The bakery section at Marks & Spencer, perfect for bread and pastries the morning after a stay at a CDG airport hotel. A warm loaf of cranberry and walnut bread was literal perfection.
In between the rainstorms and museum reservation windows and hustling through the metro, a moment of romance in this photogenic corner of Paris. To many more adventures with my travel partner in crime…
