Paris is Always a Good Idea!

Audrey Hepburn wasn't kidding when she was quoted as saying "Paris is Always a Good Idea!"

The past three weeks have exceeded my expectations and although I am slightly jet lagged I am very excited to be able to post a few words here and share a few quick thoughts.

In the next few days or weeks I plan to do some more in depth posts on Paris and my travels south to the idyllic and enchanting village of Auvillar and the surrounding countryside.

Notre Dame Cathedral Paris

the iconic church on the Seine.

Paris IS a beautiful city!

 The best way to see it is to walk in the various arrondissements taking in the sites then when you get tired stop for a coffee and a croissant in a street front cafe. 

(Great way to study Chic Paris Street Style!)

Lunches were delicious and I frequently opted for salads, omelets and I tried a traditional Croque Monsieur.

I started my day with a big breakfast in the morning at the Hotel.

The bread in France is like nothing I have ever tasted before...I don't know what they do to it but it is exceptional!

Meandering along the rues and grand boulevards gives you the best views 

and behind the beautiful doors there are hidden gems if you peek inside!

These doors, when opened reveal an inner courtyard.

I was obsessed with these doors and took many photos of them...

if you followed me on Instagram while I was away you've seen quite a few already!

The Ooh La La Tour was fabulous and I met some great women.

I'll chat more about this later...

 I had some fun and silly moments after our tour of the Fragonard museum!

I'm going to miss the champagne social...

that The Hotel Belloy provided every afternoon...

oh and the pastries and espresso!

I'm happy to report that my carry on was the perfect way to travel and my minimum wardrobe worked beautifully and I wore every item several times in the 3 weeks that I was away.

Basic wardrobe.

Black Eileen Fisher pants

Dark denim skinny jeans Banana Republic

Black and white striped Tee dress 

black skirt

4 tees

2 tanks

silk cream blouse

black cowl Wooden Ships sweater

2 bras

4 panties

2 pairs of black textured hose

2 pairs of socks, one compression style

nightie and light weight silky robe

short black boots

black ballet style walking shoes

2 scarves 

watch

 opera length pearls

umbrella

Barbour quilted jacket

black lightweight rain resistent coat

I did some shopping in Paris...more about that later...

Here is the vintage Jeanne Lanvin scarf I picked up in the vintage "pop up shop" at BHV.

Hope you've been well while I have been away and thank you for stopping by to read my little blog.

Hope you have a great week and I will be back soon.

Pepper update and some ParisTravel Notes...

Ah I can breathe a sigh of relief as Pepper our beloved cat has turned the corner and is on the road to recovery!
Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and kind comments and emails...they mean a lot to me.

The Paris Planning File is bulging with papers, there are lists of things to see and do, clothes to pack and detailed information and the itinerary for the trip.
Pages of historic sites, museums, restaurants and shops that have been recommended by friends and guide books.
I can hardly wait to be sitting in a cafe,
sipping a beverage looking out onto the boulevard watching Parisians go by.

I've got to keep my carry on and my personal accessory to a 26 pound maximum so I'll be packing light and weighing everything before I go to the airport. I do not want a last minute unpacking and repacking fiasco.

I read this awhile back and am skim reading it again just to familiarize myself with some of the highlights.

This week I have hair, manicure and pedicure appointments booked and several bon voyage dinners out!

I've let my hair grow out a bit and am hoping my stylist can shape it into a shortish bob.

I've purchased an adaptor for the French plugs so my Iphone. IPad, and Canon camera battery pack can recharge.

We found an instant charger which was reasonably priced and can be used in a pinch.

Euro's have been ordered at the bank.

Small travel sizes of toiletries and skin care products are set aside ready to pack.

The carry on is sitting on the guest room bed empty just waiting for the contents.

I figured out how to set the lock on the case...

A You Tube tutorial helped!

I'll be writing in a travel journal each day so that I can remember the details when I get home and I will be able to refer to it years later. I did the same when Mr. HB and I went to Pasadena and LA...

I also recorded the details of our San Francisco trip...

(Mr. HB is in charge of writing up the days activities in the log book aboard our boat.)

A dear friend gave me this cheery red journal to record the details of my trip.

It is specifically designed for travel notes...

it even has a section at the back to record expenditures!

I'll be taking 14 basic items.

Vera Moda black and white striped dress

black skirt

 Eileen Fisher black pants

Gap Breton striped long sleeved top

Eileen Fisher black linen long sleeved top

 Wooden Ships black sweater 

 Barbour black quilted vest

 Lands' End cream and black tank tops

Uniqlo cream silk blouse

cream mesh pullover

Talbots black and white striped cotton cardigan style jacket 

Banana Republic jeans

Style and Co. light weight black jacket

silk robe and nightgown

underwear, hose, socks

beret, various scarves

jewelry

short boots

walking shoes 

umbrella

I'll be wearing my watch and pearls.

The small silk twill square is an easy accent piece.

I've been glued to the Weather Channel and the weather has been HOT in Paris!

Oh and the adventure is about to begin...

pinch me and tell me I am not dreaming!

Brunch, Boots, and a Beret...the Paris Planning continues.

Last Sunday Mr. HB and I were up early and the weather was sunny and warm so we decided to go for a long walk. We left our bungalow early in the morning and wandered downtown and before too long we had worked up appetite and we needed to eat...

The interior of The Atrium building on Yates and Blanshard Streets 

this picture was taken from our table inside the restaurant.

We decided to brunch at Zambri's, as it is one of our favourite spots to dine.

Poached free range farm fresh eggs on a bed of spinach atop a sliver of in house made bread lightly toasted

 served with a creamy bechamel sauce....

Oh my this was so delicious.

Looking at these daffodils blooming sunny yellow, they cannot help but cheer one's spirit.

The flowering trees that line Meares Street are a riot of blossoms...

their petals are falling like snowflakes...a westcoast version of snow!

Mother was under the weather and phoned me bright and early to cancel our weekly 

Mother and Two Daughters Shopping and Dining Date...

Mom thankfully is feeling better now, 

I checked on her... (so did my sister!)

It turns out she had a sleepless night.

Didn't I just write a post on this very subject?

 I took advantage of the time and got some domestics done around here...

laundry, sorting, cooking and a wee bit of Paris Planning.

 At Vanity Fair Antiques last week I mentioned that I was going to Paris...

I was thrilled to find out that one of the women who works there is going too.

She and her husband are renting an apartment for 6 weeks and it is conveniently located quite near my hotel. 

 We are planning a few outings and I hope one will be to go to the Antique Markets in Paris.

Uber comfy boots ~ Clarks Artisan line

for walking many kilometers along the cobblestone rues, avenues and boulevards of Paris...

a wooly beret just in case the days are chilly or damp

a feather in my cap..."ahem beret"...just because

The French lessons are helping but I have a LONG way to go...

it is a much steeper learning curve than I could have imagined...

Alors! I continue to press on.

I decided that I would take two cashmere cardigans...

the orange one and this one in a soft grey...they are light and offer cozy warmth.

Will need to decide which strand of pearls to take...

Want to take my perfume but this bottle exceeds Air France's limit for my carry on...

So much planning

details ~ details

it's hard to imagine how I will feel when I am in Paris.

Friends who have been to Paris say that the streets in Paris are alive with people.

The architecture, culture, and fashion are fabulous.

 They have been advising me to wander the avenues and soak in all the beauty.

Then stop for a bit and sit watching the people stroll by from an outdoor cafe.

"Paris is a place where, for me, just walking down a street that I've never been down before is like going to a movie or something. Just wandering the city is entertainment."

~ Wes Anderson ~

It's still weeks away so I have lots of time to dream.

The Paris obsession is becoming a daily routine on Pinterest.

What is your most memorable moment in Paris?

The best laid plans...

Sometimes even with the best laid plans...things beyond our control can necessitate change, which fortunately can be fixed for a price...
After the Paris tour I am going to visit friends in the Midi Pyrenees and have purchased my train ticket but it turns out that I cannot return to Paris on that same train as they are performing annual maintenance on the tracks so the two days that I would have opted to travel I am unable to go by train...so I have called my travel agent to see what she can do to get me on a flight back to Paris or change my flight home.
Fingers crossed she can make it work.

"Planning a trip" just like in life, one needs to be flexible, patient, and not expect that "everything" will go according to plan!

Thank you all for the constructive advice and feedback on my Paris wardrobe...
"3 weeks in a carry on" the first list of things I thought that I would take with me.
I have amended my list already!
I've ordered some light capri length underthings from Lands' End from their thermaskin line and I am pretty sure that...unless the weather forecast drastically changes, the sandals are staying home and my Barbour vest is coming with me!

I've decided to take a long sleeved black dress wrap style instead of the sleeveless Banana Republic dress and may or may not take the print dress...I think my basic look will be black pants or jeans with a tee or a tank and a cashmere sweater, vest and scarf, short boots and trench coat.
I think I'll pack a beret as well as my "texting gloves" and umbrella.

I bought some packing cubes and will use a few of them.

The local pharmacy has been a great source for small sizes of Avene face cleanser, moisturizer, serum, masks and the La Roche Posay 60 spf sunscreen

I've also found wee bottles of Tylenol, hand sanitizer and toiletries.

Zip Loc bags will be used for the liquids and I'll pop in a couple of extra

 just in case my laundry does not dry in time.

I've got several lists in my file with a few more things to find.

 A light Fossil black leather cross body bag was purchased at the consignment shop.

 I will put that inside my Longchamp bag.

I've been so immersed online checking out things to see and do, reading blogs and checking out Pinterest that time has flown by...

 It was way past my lunchtime by the time hunger pangs started so I whipped up an easy egg burrito and brewed a pot of Lapsang Souchon tea.

It tasted delicious.

I was satisfied with the taste and the way it looked.

 (within my daily WW point count)

Tea Time...one of the joys of my afternoon routine.

which is great because the Country Living UK awaits

and Louise Penny's The Beautiful Mystery is on the table too.

Now which one shall I read?

Thoughts and comments are welcome...

you are helping me SO MUCH!