Paris

Last June I travelled to Europe with my friend and work colleague Lucy. We had a stop over in Dubai, 4 nights in Paris and 4 nights in Barcelona before flying back to Paris to join the Avalon Cruise for Mates where for 16 nights we floated through France visiting beautiful places, meeting amazing people and eating delicious food. Lucy then returned to Australia whilst I spent two weeks in St Remy de Provence with my sister and her family.

In November Lucy collapsed at work and was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. Tragically Lucy passed away on Australia Day 2014. It has been a struggle to post anything and writing about our trip is painful.  However it was a wonderful holiday and an amazing experience that I was so privileged to have shared with Lucy. Lucy was an avid traveller and she said this was one of the best trips she had been on. Hopefully I can share some of how wonderful it was with you. 

I have managed to write two posts about the trip so far.  One detailing our visit to the home and garden of Claude Monet and another documenting the amazing way the French celebrate their National Day.  The visit to Monet's garden was during the cruise part of our trip and Bastille Day was part of my time in St Remy.  But now I am going to try and document our travels in a logical manner and start at the beginning of our trip - which brings us to magical, amazing Paris.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Notre Dame on Rue Danton in the 6th Arrondissement. We loved the location.  Surrounded by cafes and restaurants, minutes from the Seine, Notre Dame (naturally), Boulevards Saint-Germain and Saint-Michel and close to a number of metro stations.  The hotel also had an amazing rooftop bar/terrace which had a panoramic view of Paris.  The sunsets were breathtaking.

We packed a lot of exploring, shopping and eating into our four days.

Breakfast was enjoyed people watching either in the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg or at a local cafe.

Lunch was generally something quick, consumed in transit - including an amazingly fresh pre-packaged sandwich purchased at a train station!  The French do fast food very well!  

However, one day we indulged in a very special lunch at 58 Tour Eiffel on the first level of the Eiffel Tower.

Perrier with a twist and a view!

Naturally the view was amazing...

Lunch was described as a 'chic picnic' and reasonably priced.  Waiters served the food in cute baskets, bread came in a paper bag and my chicken dish (chicken fillet, divine mash and jus) was served in a glass bowl! The food was delicious but really it was all about the view and the experience.

I loved the interior of the restaurant.  The feeling of being tucked into a corner of the tower was very special.

It was still light until about 10pm so after a full day of sightseeing we would just wander abound our local area and pick a restaurant that appealed.

Of course you have to have crepes in France. One night we stopped at Creperie de Cluny.  I kept it simple, Crepe Maison - Jambon, fromage, champignons (Ham, Emmental cheese, mushroom).  Thin, cheesy, delicious.

Lucy wanted to find the perfect French onion soup.  I don't know that we succeeded but we certainly had some delicious versions!

This was a very cute restaurant. I loved the jug my wine was served in and the quaint decor.

Where ever possible we would sit outside and soak up the atmosphere.  I loved sitting on the cobblestone sidewalk watching the world go by.  

As I mentioned we managed to do a bit of shopping whilst in Paris. One afternoon we headed to Boulevard Haussmann and the beautiful Galeries Lafayette. I loved the interior of this stunning department store.  

Another day we went to Le Bon Marche on the left bank.  Less opulent, but still with gorgeous interiors and a magnificent gourmet food hall.

And we walked and explored...

The beautiful Sorbonne University just off Boulevard Saint-Michel

'The Thinker' in the gardens of the Rodin Museum

Due to time constraints we didn't actually go into the Musee Rodin. For one euro you can explore the gardens and they are magnificent.  Full of amazing sculptures including 'The Thinker'.

The clock window at the Musee d'Orsay

Notre Dame Cathedral viewed from the terrace

And again - looking across the Seine

A very wet Place de la Concorde

Champs Elysees looking back towards the Arc de Triomphe

Majestic Montmartre

The stunning view from Montmartre

Sunset casting a beautiful glow over rooftops

 

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of our time in Paris.

Next - colourful Barcelona!

Bastille Day in Saint Remy de Provence

This is my first post in quite a few months.  I won't go into all the reasons why I wasn't blogging over this time but if you are reading this I just want to thank you for coming back to read my blog after such a long time.  I really appreciate it :)  I hope you enjoy this, my first post, of hopefully many, for 2014.


A few days before I left France they celebrated Bastille Day or as they call it La Fête Nationale, French National Day.  The last two weeks of my holiday was spent in a gorgeous town in the South of France - Saint Remy de Provence. You will see more of Saint Remy in my next few posts but July 14 deserves a post all it's own. The French know how to celebrate!

Our morning began with the Running of the Bulls!  This was a  'controlled' running where the bulls are escorted by horsemen through the town streets but still exciting as random bulls escaped the pack and headed for the crowd!  Whilst the streets were lined with sturdy barriers a lot of people were outside of these barriers.  I was not that silly!  If I had of been my photos would probably have been better so sorry about that ;)  I couldn't believe people were standing outside the barriers with children!!

Escaped bull on the sidewalk scattering the crowd!

It was a very hot day so once the bull extravaganza was over we walked back to our rented 300 year old villa and spent the afternoon in the pool.

In the balmy early evening we walked back into town for evening festivities.  St Remy's old town centre is circled by a boulevard.  This boulevard and all the internal streets were blocked off to traffic.  Bands played at various intervals along the street. Restaurants extended their tables onto the road and the overall atmosphere was one of a carnival.

Part of the remnants of the circular 14th-century wall that protected St Remy

After checking out some of the restaurants we chose to dine at Brasserie Les Varietes which is located on Boulevard Victor Hugo.

I loved the hot pink accents of the restaurant.

We began with an entree of zucchini flowers stuffed with goat's cheese. This was delicious - a simple dish made with quality ingredients.

For main I had fried scallops, prawns and pasta. It was delicious - the seafood very fresh.  (Of course all our meals had lovely french names but I am afraid I didn't write them down!)

My brother in law had Monkfish on risotto with a 'red fruits sauce' whilst my sister had seafood served over risotto.  I had risotto envy - it was beautiful, soft and creamy.

For dessert we shared Creme Brulee.  It was divine. Perfect 'crack'.

My nephew and niece enjoyed their chicken nuggets and chips.  Kids restaurant meals seem to be the same no matter where you are!

After dinner we followed the crowd into the center of town where they were giving out candle lit lanterns.  

We then joined a procession through the streets which ended at the Town Hall.

A makeshift stage was erected in front of the Town Hall with bands and singers entertaining the huge crowd whilst there were rides and carnival games to keep the children happy.

Fireworks capped off an amazing day. 

Vive la France!

Monet's Garden, Giverney

Confession time.  I've had a severe case of writer's block since I returned from Europe. I think the problem is that I have so many ideas for posts, so many wonderful photos and so much I want to share that it is not coming together the way I would like it to! 

 

I have started a number of posts.  Bastille day in Saint Remy de Provence, my obsession with French supermarkets and the wonderful Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse indoor market - just to name a few.  Works in progress.
 

So, in an effort to just start somewhere I thought I would do a non food post and share some photos of one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.  The famous and fabulous house and garden of Impressionist painter Claude Monet.  I visited on a wet summer's morning which explains the slightly misty quality to some of the photos. (And the murky water!)

I have always loved Monet's work and visiting his home in the quaint town of Giverney was definitely a highlight of my trip.

 

Photos of the interior of the house are not permitted but the kitchen and dining room in particular are gorgeous.  (The copper pot collection is To.Die.For.)   There are photos online if you are interested.

A few weeks later I visited the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris which houses Monet's Water Lilies (Les Nymphéas).  It was magical to see these stunning paintings after having seen the pond and water lilies in person.

  
I hope you enjoy and I promise there will be more food and travel posts coming very soon.