Paris France Highlights

I find myself in Paris on the most romantic day of the year.

Being single I don’t think about Valentine’s day until I’m knee deep in moon-eyed couples traipsing to restaurants clutching roses and then suddenly… oh yes it’s a romance day.

But what is romance?

Because I have a romantic perspective on travel and luxuriating in new experiences; I’ve learned how to not wait for anyone to go get some romance.

Yes you could be flirting with handsome men. And.

You could also follow your inner urges of having an adventure. And this pushed me to Paris out of the blue sky of possibility.

And because the grim, rainy days of a California Winter were depressing .

But every day can be a moment to fall in love with yourself because hey don’t hold back. Love arrives in many different styles, people, partnerships, and maybe your bestie is your sweet Golden Retriever or other animal of your choosing.

Or walking in Montmartre or the Champs de Lysee or sipping a glass of wine in the Luxembourg Garden (its not against the law in France) and afterwards skipping to a local place for French onion soup and amazing bread.

One Paris Highlight is the Latin Quarter 

After emerging from the Metro victoriously, since I took it from the Orly Airport, things started lighting up with beacons of the Sorbonne’s dome blasting into my brain. Dazzling my wits with sparkles as I walked to my hotel.

Watching the youngsters smoke, drink, and laugh in the chilly air entertained me as I walked the few blocks to my new home.

It’s Winter but after the athleticism of public transport, I wasn’t even cold.

Some people run marathons. I like to lug my luggage in foreign cities to see how the locals do it. And stay limber.

Gazing in the windows of the upscale restaurants and bakeries I started to get ready for heat inducing red wine, cheesy soup, chocolate croissants, and double jolt espresso. Yes this is heaven.

You’ll never eat a more tasty chocolate croissant than here in Paris.

This will ruin you for ever accepting less than the flaky fabulousness of an authentic baked in bliss croissant.

 

Chocolate Croissants in Paris

Romance is where you’re curious to look for it – it isn’t only on Bumble or in bars.

Here’s what can happen:

Immerse yourself in photo-taking, finding an off the beaten path place to eat without the exorbitant prices,  discovering someone who doesn’t mind listening to your bad French and will willingly try to speak English to you when they hear your attempts at crucifying their language.

I know more Italian and Spanish but still not enough of either language to be able to have a real conversation.

But I know enough to stroll the streets of Paris looking in bakery windows observing the high art of pastry and being confounded by the racks of sacred bread—it looks divine so it must be sacred.

And the cheese. Gasp.

It’s a never-ending display of wonder and opulence. And this is before getting on the plane to Sicily where I’ll find Prosecco, cheese, pistachio pasta, Italian desserts and the sunny Mediterranean Sea in Winter.

The Latin quarter is magical and even with only two nights I’m smitten just being here.

Maybe its better that I have only one full day in Paris so I have to make the most of it, what are some options?

First you have to eat croissants, French onion soup, and espresso. Then…

• The Eiffel Tour
• Luxembourg Garden Stroll
• The Louvre
• Musee D’Orsay
• Street photography
• Writing in a café and people-watching while eavesdropping

 

Tips on Landing in Paris

When my feet hit the ground after the 10-hour plane ride, I felt actual joy.

 

Dinner at Le Comptoir, Paris

I stumbled to pick up my luggage after getting three seats to myself on a 10-hour direct flight so I actually slept for 8 hours. And woke up to discover that we’d all ready crossed the Atlantic Ocean and I hadn’t been awake for any of it.

And then onto the sleek train-tram that whisks you out of the airport.

But I couldn’t find a ticket to buy so I just boarded it. I wasn’t going to miss this tram as it was leaving now.

Probably could be arrested for this but I just hung on and got off where I was educated to do so.

Then the Metro. I did ask for help from two charming French girls near the ticket machine I located. And I even had Euro coins to use from my last trip to Paris.

You may not want to do the Metro with luggage.

I may not do it again – up and down stairs with my stuff was too challenging but…tomorrow I’ll take Uber to catch my flight to Palermo.

So Valentines day wow.

It’s only been 15 hours since I arrived and I’ve had remarkable French onion soup – two glasses of exquisite wine, and bread to die for.

Then I followed it up with a light snack: a hunk of brie cheese I purchased on my walk home from the authentic bistro my new chef friend told me about. Thank you! He was right – I got there just in time before it was inundated with people clamoring for the rich and tasty food.

 

What did I get?

French onion soup trimmed with cheese, croutons, and divine bread and a perfect glass of red wine from the south of France.

The bread was so good you didn’t need butter or drenches of olive oil.

When I arrived at Le Comptoir Restaurant where you should have reservations and asked to sit down inside because the café culture is cool here but I like being warm inside without traffic noise buzzing in my ears.

So I popped inside where the elders were.

The staff said no room inside here.

I said pleasantly, “Are you sure?”

And suddenly after they asked me, “Are you only one?”

They found me a table. Here’s the restaurant. Get there before 7:30PM before the crowds arrive. You can walk from the hotel.

 

Le Comptoir

9 Carr de l’Odeon, 75006 Paris

 

Even had wifi too!

Good thing because without it I wouldn’t have found my way back to my hotel on Google maps.

And my phone was nearly out of a charge.

I could have taken the Metro but it’s bleak down in the dungeon and although its practical; I like walking in fresh air.

But you gotta love the fact that it only took me 2.10 Euros to get from the airport to my hotel so there’s that!

It wasn’t easy. But I learned a new thing.

Next time I’ll lift weights before attempting the Metro because I failed the test on how to find an escalator to ease the pain of reality.

It isn’t all chocolate croissants and velvety wine when you travel. Its gritty and you don’t have all the answers but you know what?

Because my brain is constantly taxed from not knowing things, I’m reverse aging.

New brain cells are ignited in my skull on the daily. How? I had to educate myself.

I studied the maps I downloaded on how to get into the center of Paris by public transportation and avoid the huge scam that every major city in the world has going presently: charging astronomical prices for a taxi from the airport to the city center and this will continue.

But yesterday I solved this crisis by being a bit uncomfortable, doing my weight lifting outside of a gym taking my luggage up stairs, over land and thru the dells of city trains and trams.

 

It worked.

 

This is my hotel,

link here Familia Hotel

Then I needed a shower after 12 hours of plane travel and a glass of wine.

After walking from the metro to my hotel I was rewarded with a quiet room and a comfortable bed. You can book it too, it’s a perfect location in the Latin Quarter and is safe and walking distance to everything you want to see.

Hot water too!

And I asked for the highest level up so I don’t hear people walking on my head; this is key.

Then I discovered Bonvivant, 50 feet from my hotel a lively restaurant where I was welcomed with a homemade heart by the owner, thank you for the warm friendliness.

 

Bonvivant

Rue des Ecoles

Paris France

Bonvivant Bistro, Paris

I’m only here for a short time so I’m enjoying every minute. How?

Sitting in a café and studying the passersby. Listening to conversations or luxuriating in the fact that when you hear French it sounds sexy, no matter what they’re saying.

They could be talking about taking the trash out and I’d still be swooning.

So many people speak English here now. It’s energizing. I never expected this in a European city ever. The surprise is jolting.

But when it happens I’m so grateful. Because remembering my high school French classes is getting dimmer even though I did enjoy the language. And took two years of it. But often when I try to speak French, Spanish comes out of my mouth.

So!

Peter the owner introduced me to his chef Eduardo from Argentina at Bonvivant last night and he was thrilled to be coming to San Francisco to do French cooking for a restaurant in the city. “I’ve never been to California this will be my first time.”

Fun to hear his excitement about my home state. Especially when often times you hear grumbling about it in the USA.

Bonvivant has delicious food and a fun atmosphere. I left just as it was getting crowded with people clamoring for the food.

The owner was adorable bringing over a paper heart he made for me. As I sipped my wine, I said, you look like you’re in charge around here.

“I’m the owner,” he said proudly.

“You’ve really created an amazing experience here.” If I lived in Paris I’d come here every night, it was that fun.

Tomorrow the Musee d’Orsay

My first morning walk in Paris was energizing. First stop was a boulangerie, don’t get the breakfast at your hotel, go out and find where the Parisians are waiting in line for croissants. Slamdunk. It was tasty. I saw the line and it wasn’t tourists. So I waited too.

Then I walked for 9 miles all over Paris so I had to have a nap after this.

Tomorrow Sicily!