Visit the Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris. Check the website for hours. “The most beautiful trips I took were through books, on my couch, in my living room.” -- Yves Saint Laurent … [Read more...]
Jamon Iberico Paris
Midday in Paris
Paris: A Checklist before You Leave
Take it from me, there’s a lot that can be forgotten before you leave on your trip to Paris. For example, if you use a debit card, you don’t want to forget to call your bank or credit card company to let them know you’re going to be out of the country. If you’re used to using American Express, realize it’s not accepted by some merchants and brasseries. It was embarrassing when our waiter told me, after our first meal, that my credit card was rejected. This was especially embarrassing since my father-in-law, Dick Young, asked me with a grin, “Aren’t you the survival guy?” With that in … [Read more...]
You Are on the Most Beautiful Boulevard in Paris
You won't believe your good fortune. You just arrived in Paris, checked in to your room at Hotel Franklin Roosevelt and decided to turn left on to Rue Clement Marot. You are on your way to the most beautiful boulevard in Paris: Avenue Montaigne. You note, in case you get hungry later, that across the street is the iconic brasserie Chez Andre. Life is good. You are in Paris’ Golden Triangle or Triangle D'or, a mix of business, culture, shopping boutiques, fashion houses and lunching at L’Avenue. Lucky you. Triangle D’or, located on the right bank, in the 8th arrondissement, is shaped by … [Read more...]
One of My Favorite Meals in Paris
On our recent trip to Paris, Becky and I ate and drank like locals. After all, we were visiting her parents, Dick and Debbie Young who, through several years, have accumulated months of on the ground intelligence on all things Paris. One of my favorite meals was lunch at La Fontaine de Mars. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon with everyone enjoying themselves as if they were happy to stay there until next Sunday afternoon. In trying to describe Fontaine de Mars to you I have to go back to my childhood memory of going to Epcot Center. It had just opened and we were walking through the World … [Read more...]
Your Insider’s Guide to Paris: Book it Now
Bonjour! If you’re thinking about going to Paris. Do it. Having just returned from a second visit within the past five months, Paris is open for business. I’m not saying there aren’t risks. Simply living in today’s world involves risks that I don’t need to tell you about. But based on my on the ground intelligence, if you travel like a local, then your chances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time is reduced by several degrees of magnitude. It’s not hard. Be polite. Try to speak as much French as possible, leave the baggy shorts, t-shirts, and “I’m an American” weekend look at home. … [Read more...]
J’aime Paris, Crème Glacee, and Buy Gold
Who doesn’t like ice cream? On a recent trip to Paris we spent the early part of an afternoon on the Left Bank, walking along the eclectic Rue de Seine. If you want to get a feel for how Paris used to be, then Rue de Seine is for you. Standing at the corner where Rue de Buci meets Rue de Seine, outside Bar du Marche, a nice looking gentleman asked in a very friendly tone if he could help me find something (was it that obvious?). In response I asked if he could recommend an ice cream shop and he pointed us to Grom, a perfect place to get a crème glacee between lunch and a late … [Read more...]