Let me preface this long post by saying I have lots of gorgeous pictures following (on the bottom)..but I hope you might take the time to read about my trip, French life and Paris in general as I think it sets the tone.....
Bon Jour! Oh my....we got back late this morning and I am still floating on a cloud from my wonderful short jaunt to Paris. This is the 4th or 5th time I have been.....so certain "rites of passages" that one normally puts at the top of their must see list have long been checked off mine but there is something so magical even after several visits, about seeing the buildings of The Louvre, the iconic Eiffel tower and the Arc de Triomphe time and time again. We spent most of our time at the Maison & Objet show which was overwhelming, beautiful, inspirational, exciting and totally exhausting (my poor feet even from wearing my most comfortable shoes had to pay the highest price of the miles and miles of walking that we did) So what did we see at the show besides millions of people from all over the world...... The reclaimed wood theme is HUGE and was seen everywhere, saw lots of color everywhere, plenty of modern ( a big reflection of the European market) we got to see the newest Phillipe Starck collection of Baccarat chandeliers, met with the President of the Fendi furniture company. (very much not my style however it is big for the moneyed Russian, Middle Eastern and European set) My husband knew many people there so we got an "insiders take" on many things from trends, to whats new and exciting, to the climate of the home furnishings market which fingers crossed, is improving as hopefully the economy is! I am writing a lot today, I realize but hope you will take the time to read....I have so much to talk about and in reading this post, will help you get the real feel of our trip!
I am enclosing lots of pictures from the show since so much time was spent there. We found things to be expensive, particularly with the dollar's weak exchange but we did order a few fabulous chests from a company we have ordered from before, they make the finest french furniture, replicated from Louis XVI and Louis XV period.We also found (one of the reasons we went) a fabulous Louis XVI antique mantle. I have also enclosed lots of pictures of those pieces as well. One of my favorites things about being in my favorite city is just getting lost in looking at the most spectacular architecture, the limestone buildings with details that are mind boggling, the long exaggerated copper roofs, the fabulous light/lanterns and wrought iron detail that seems to decorate every building. So you will see I took liberty to take many pictures of beautiful buildings, perhaps my appreciation has increased since we are going through the building of our own home. My mind cannot wrap itself around the fact that these buildings were done completely by hand hundreds of years ago. It is truly breathtaking.
Last of course we found plenty of time to enjoy many wonderful meals. People here in the U.S. eat to survive and sustain themselves, people there eat to enjoy and relax and socialize.There really is a difference and its so wonderful and inspiring to watch. I made a few observations that perhaps as I have gotten older, have become more astute to notice and these are my observations:
1. I observed over and over, french people greet each other (lets say in a restaurant someone is waiting for their friend to join them) they really give the most genuine hugs and kisses, you can see they really mean how happy they are to see the other person..no air kisses, no fake greetings.
2. I love that they really do posses the "joie de vivre" or key to life. I loved watching them dine, they sit there for hours, enjoying good wine, fine foods, linger over their Dixie cup sized cup of coffee, revel in their decadent desserts, no scraping off the cream, no ordering a salad with dressing on the side, you would be looked at like an alien if you did! Then when you think they are getting ready to get up and go after completing their meal.....they order another glass of wine! Gotta love it!
3. They really are just that much more sophisticated, I hate to admit it. So while en route to the show one day, I took notice of our taxi driver. Here is what he was wearing, chic orange corduroy pants, a plaid dress shirt underneath, a Barbour type jacket, a scarf, a beret ( of course) and he was playing opera music......only in Paris!
4. I have never encountered the "rude Parisian" who doesn't like Americans. I am sure they exist but believe me every one we encountered couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful
5. Your money will not go as far as it does in other countries, but its such a memorable trip always and a true visual feast for the senses in all the beauty that envelopes you when you are there
6. You almost rarely see French women in jeans (at least not in our hotel and where we went about town) I asked someone about this who we talked to over dinner one night and she explained that they don't feel its refined to be out on the street in jeans (exception younger people in their 20's and under) Having grown up with a mom who never ever wore jeans, and I rarely do too....I appreciated this nod to ladylike dressing.
7. Over lunch one day, we were seated next to a young twenty something year old girl and her mother, I am nearly certain. They had been there long before we got there and I wish I could have understood what they were saying. It was such an animated conversation punctuated with lots of laughter, holding each others hands and every few minutes, the young one would whip out her iPhone camera and put her head close to her moms and snap away taking pictures of them smiling, hugging, holding each others hand, marveling at a dessert,etc...... It was so sweet and endearing....I enjoyed watching them so much, they were oblivious to anyone around there, just so happy to be together. It was so sweet to watch that it brought tears to my eyes (happy tears) and reminded me to cherish those you love and enjoy the days we have together.
I could go on and on and I am sure I will bring up Paris in some way or another in the next few days to come but here are some highlights. So today I will share some hotel photos (yes I did over obsess over the small details but since we are building a french home, we wanted to "take note" of every little detail plus the hotel was so fabulous...Le Meurice. I also include photos from the Maison & Objet show, tomorrow will share my architectural wonder pictures and our about town photos. Enough talking, now its time for showing.......so many pictures. Too many for one day!~ Now time to go "sample" (aka devour) my macaroons that beckon.......au revoir!
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