MP in Ptown - Saturday.

So as I previously mentioned, i had a guest visiting me this weekend in the form of MP. As a first-timer to Ptown, I made an actual list, with bullet points and all, of activities, landmarks, restaurants etc to show MP during her stay. Of course the list included places such as The Eiffel Tower, The Arc de Triomphe and The Sacre Coeur but I also used the excuse of having MP as a way of visiting places I'd never been before such as The Promenade Planté, Jardin des Plantes and also the mosque, so that it was a novel experience for both of us. Such fun.

 Oh blue skies are too pretty. 

 From the rooftop of Galeries la Fayette. 

Just a quick bit of knowledge about the Arc de Triomphe as it slightly fascinates me. This roundabout of epic proportions is also known as Etoile meaning star as it looks like a star from a birds-eye view, with twelve avenues that lead off from the Arc in every which direction. It also just so happens to mirror the Grande Arche at La Défense which is a bit more ahead of the times in terms of architecture, like a younger, hipper younger cousin of the Arc de Triopmhe if you will. 

 First time up the Arc de Triomphe and we are EXCITED. 

 The Champs. 

 Scenic but the Seine. 

Pick and mixing in the park. 

MP loving life in Luxembourg. 

We concluded our marathon of a day with a well deserved meal of cheap Chinese. Despite the name not sounding very appealing, believe me this place is a gem. Three courses for six euros. Get your mind around that little combination. I don't know the name of it exactly but the nearest metro is Cardinal Lemoine and it's within walking distance from the Pantheon and the Luxembourg gardens. 

The nems are a winner every time and believe me, you really get your monies worth.

More sunny musings and ventures with MP to come. 

59 Rivoli.

Whilst living in Paris during the bitterly winter months, I constantly found myself looking down. This served two purposes, to shield myself from the viciously cold air and to watch I wasn't going to bail on some slippery pavement slab. With this in mind, it was just the other day when I was with MP and casually glanced up to see a building decorated on the outside with what looked like rubber gloves. "What on earth?!" I hear you say  and don't worry that was exactly our reaction but all the same we decided to find out exactly what on earth it was. 

It turned out that 59 Rivoli is a working exhibition basically meaning that artists are at work as well as displaying their creations. As well as promoting painters, sculptors, designers and all the other wacky creators who seem to loom around each corner, 59 Rivoli also offers live music every weekend at 18h, (6pm). The building has six floors each with a completely different set of artists all occupying designated areas but believe me, they make the most of the space they're restricted to. There wasn't a piece of wall space, floor space or ceiling place untouched by colour, words or posters. 

I really let loose with my camera, snap happy is just an understatement but it really was a hive of inspiration. 

 If you look closely, you can just about make out the hanging gloves in an array of colours. 

Yoghurt pot madness. 

Work in progress. 

 THE hanging gloves. 

 Water filled floating light bulbs, 

 I think this piece was my personal fave. So much colour and action going on all on a huge map. 

 Paris Fashion Week. 

Apologies for the photo overload, I hope I don't ruin it in any way for those who are planning a visit to this wonderful world of weird, wacky and simply off the wall art. It's open every day apart from Mondays and entry is free! Look out for the hanging gloves, you can't miss them as long as you're not looking down. 

Bon weekend.

Today, almost right now i am heading to the sunny heights of Gare du Nord to pick up MP. She's an absolute heroine of a friend and never fails to make me laugh literally out loud. I'm so looking forward to showing her all the sights that Paris has to offer, seeing this city through new eyes is a delight for me as well as my visitors who are darling enough to make the journey.

Happy Friday and have a bon weekend, I hope the weather is a little more peachier with you than the semi-mediocre conditions in Paris. Where has Spring gone?!

MP, I'm coming to get you!










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In the 3rd.

I'm a sucker for the unevenly-paved-falafel-incesnced streets of Le Marais. Located in the heart of the 3rd arrondissement of Paris' snail like structure it buries itself neatly among landmarks such as the Pompidou centre, Place de Vosges and it's just a stone throw away from Bastille. I am drawn to this little pocket of Paris for a myriad of reasons but one of the main causes for my love affair with Le Marais has to be it's relaxed yet happening atmosphere on a Sunday.

With this in mind, BT and I decided to have a working/blogging day so we headed to the 3rd on Sunday, naturally. Despite having productive motives at the forefront of our minds our priorities somewhat wavered. After mere minutes of "working" we were on the subject of summer holiday planning, weekends away and of course scheduling things to do/see in Paris.

Unfortunately the place that we had our hearts set on for our working was full to the gunnels with trendy brunchers and without a reservation there was no chance of a table until much later. Thankfully just opposite, not even ten paces away, we came across Nanashi. It looked deceptively small from the outside but once we were showed to a table for two the place appeared far more palatial.

As we only really wanted to be using this place as a bit of a base for our "studies" we didn't opt for the very tempting looking Les Bento, consisting of rapé carrots, grainy salads and other sumptuous goodies, instead we stuck to boissons which seemed slightly against protocol as the waiters asked surprisingly "c'est tout?!" All the same Nanashi had a great atmosphere and I would definitely like to re-visit to sample their Bento Hambague followed by the Fondant chocolat yuzu which smelt incredible.

After probably out-staying our welcome we decided to re-establish ourselves elsewhere. Luckily as we were in Le Marais we were not short of places to go but us being us we were distracted by pretty window displays and Jo Malone scents of Wild Bluebell and Pomegranate Noir.

Until the next Sunday Le Marais.

 Revision accompanied by a shot of expresso makes it all the more bearable. 

 BT hard at it. 

If you look closely in that reflection right there you can see a glimmer of blue sky. Spring time in Paris is the one.

Mes amis françaises.

Way back in September when I first moved to Paris I was lucky enough to be put in touch with the lovely and totally french Billard family. Unfortunately due to very busy schedules, overlapping holidays and a general flurry of events, it was only until the other day that RB and I made a date and headed into Paris!

I was also introduced to her friend C who was working near to the Notre Dame and met us for a wonder as well as lunch in the Tuileries. Despite my french being put to shame by the fluency of R and C's english it was great to be so immersed, listening to the pair chat away whilst keeping me included by asking me questions or pointing out different significant sights that my non-Parisian eyes had glanced over. 

Of course there were photo opportunities and seeing as it was such a beautiful day, why on earth not make the most of it? 

Voila!

Louvrely. 

The couple in the background definitely having the same thought process. 

Thank you R and C for an utterly delightful day as well as being so patient with all my linguistic errors! Apologies that this post isn't in French too. Bisous.