“I didn’t want to love Paris. I always thought it was over-hyped, but it really is the most romantic city in the world.” - my husband, David Murray.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. When traveling to other great cities I have felt many things. In NYC: the urgency and energy, in London: the historical significance, but in Paris, I experienced a monumental feeling of love. Not to mention we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. Cheers to 4 years, David!
I never understood why France offers the second most paid holidays and vacation days out of any country in the world, but I get it now. Who could work in a country that is so distractingly beautiful? The architecture, art, food, music, parks, fashion, and people are all so intoxicating.
Julia Child said in her memoir, My Life in France, “It seemed that in Paris you could discuss classic literature or architecture or great music with everyone from the garbage collector to the mayor.”
It’s true. The city enlivens you and you leave feeling inspired and ready to create. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect as I came back to the States just ahead of the launch of our Secret Garden In Bloom Collection where we took inspiration from French impressionist masters such as Claude Monet.
The treasures in this collection will remind you of the City of Love even if you don’t have a big trip coming up, and if you do, here are my six favorite things to do in Paris.
As the French Say, “Flâner”
The French have a perfect word to describe what became my favorite pastime in Paris: “Flâner” which means “to wander aimlessly through a city.” It’s a concept so French that the word has no English equivalent, which makes sense because when was the last time an American aimlessly walked around anywhere? We tend to have a destination and go towards it.
My husband and I believe that one of the reasons why we work so well as a couple is because I give us roots and he gives us wings. I like creating traditions for our family, he likes new experiences. I like a plan, a strategy, a destination, a reservation. David likes to go with the flow, try something new, and experience an adventure. We realized in our short time married that if we were going to enjoy traveling together, we needed to compromise. I usually plan our meals and lodgings and at least one scheduled activity, he gets the rest of the time to lead us where his heart desires.
I think Paris was the first place where I felt the most comfortable “aimlessly wandering” because no matter where we went or what street we happened to turn down, we would stumble upon a delicious cafe or a beautiful park. Sometimes we would run into historical landmarks without even trying. I truly enjoyed not having a daily itinerary.
Here are a few parks we came across that I loved:
Jardin des Tuileries
Parc Monceau
Coulée Verte René-Dumont
Parc Monstouris
We also went in search of a keepsake for our daughter. We were looking for a locket, but none of the jewelry stores we came across in the shopping district sold what we had in mind. Just when we had given up, we randomly walked down a side street and saw a tiny, old shop, quite the contrast from the opulent designer stores in the area. I peeked in the window and saw a delicate, little locket displayed. It was perfect and we immediately purchased it from the small vintage store. Don’t tell my husband that I realize it’s because of his desire to aimlessly wander that we found the perfect keepsake….
Eating Cheese and Sipping on Sancerre at Parisian Cafes
I never understood how people could choose cheese over dessert until I came to Paris. Now, don’t get me wrong, we never opted for cheese instead of dessert. We were on vacation after all, why not get both? But my appreciation for a cheese plate leveled up to an all-time high, and I found myself constantly asking David, “Where are we getting our cheese fix today?”
Here are a few of my favorite cafes and brasseries:
Le Grand Colbert
Ferona (the best burger of my life)
Cafe Madeleine
Cafe De Flore
Les Deux Magots
Cafe Charlot
Exploring the Literary Side of Paris
I’m always thinking about books and bookstores, so I obviously had to find Paris’ best literary hot spots to appease my romantic book-lover heart.
Of all the booksellers in a city famed for its literature, my favorite was the Bibliothèque Nationale De France. I walked in and whispered a squeal. It truly is what literary dreams are made of. It was the first time where I felt like I should go back to school and study something just so I could spend all day in that library.
Here are some other favorite literary spots:
Librairie Galignani, the oldest English bookshop in all of Europe!
Shakespeare and Company
The Seine River Outdoor Book Carts otherwise known as The Bouquinistes of Paris
I did not get the chance to go here, but also on my list was Les Éditeurs,
Baking Macarons with a Parisian Chef
There's an old joke where they say in heaven the cooks are French, the policemen are English, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and the bankers are Swiss - let me tell you, I found heaven in the baked goods in France. We decided to take a baking class to bring heaven home with us via classic French Macarons.
We took the private class in a small apartment with a very kind and lovely chef, I highly recommend taking a class from Chef Anna (please message info@bondandgrace.com if you want her contact!). She was so patient with our lack of baking skills and really made it so much fun. She also gave us great recommendations of where to go to experience the “real Paris” and the macarons were to die for.
Romantic Evenings with Classic French Dinners and Breathtaking Views (and I don’t mean the view of my Husband)
My one requirement when booking dinner locations, beyond ensuring the food is delicious, is a dinner with a view. I would highly recommend all of these places, and although my least favorite meal was at Girafe, it had the best view of the Eiffel Tower. You win some, you lose some.
Cocktails
Bar Les Ambassadeurs at Hôtel de Crillon
Restaurants
Spending Time with the Impressionist Masters at the Musee d’Orsay
Okay, I have to be real for a second. I am not a museum person, which is surprising given my love for learning about history, discovering fine art, and my fascination with classic novels. I am very impatient, hate crowds, and despise waiting in lines. So I guess I’d be a museum person if I was the only one in there?
That being said I had to check out the Monet and Impressionist exhibit given the inspiration behind our In Bloom Collection. I’d recommend going bright and early on a weekday and definitely getting tickets ahead of time. We waited in line for tickets for about 35 minutes. Despite the lines, I was very moved by the experience.
As readers, we can experience hundreds of places through books. Our minds and souls can be transported far away by words on a page. But sometimes there is nothing to replace experiencing the real deal. Not even the greatest writers in history can emulate the joys of travel with words.
Happy reading and traveling,
Jacqueline
