Eiffel Dilemma

 

Dear Sam,
I have a confession: I’ve never been to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Every time I’ve been to the 1,000-foot-tall momument, the lines were way too long. Never seemed worth the time or effort.

Plus, I don’t see the point. Sure the views would be great, but the skyline would be missing Paris’ main draw: the Eiffel Tower. Thoughts? You can pre-book your tickets, which means skipping the lines, but I’m still not sold. The views from the top of the Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur and Pompidou are just as beautiful.

Yours,
Katherine

Macaron Madness

Dearest Katherine Mary,

I have now started to seriously get serious about food and our dining experiences while we are there. First on our agenda has to be a stop at the world famous Laudree. http://www.laduree.fr/ It just so happens to be where the very first double decker macaron was invented in the 1930s. After we drop off our bags, we can casually stroll a few streets over to partake in dessert and tea to kick off our weekend. Can you believe I have never had a macaron. I know… crazy!!!! For some reason, for years, they didn’t seem to appeal to me. But once we moved to London, I realized I might be missing out. It seems to be the dessert de rigueur at the moment. The last time I was in the food hall at Selfridges the line up at Pierre Herme (the Picasso of pastry) was out the door. All for a teeny tiny macaron. Right there and then, I decided if I was going to partake of one I might as well wait until we are in Paris. That way I can be assured of a proper taste sensation… and what better place then where the modern version was invented. CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!
Miss you, love you.

Sammy Lou xoxoxo

So Much To Buy, So Little Time

Dear Sam,

Shopping is definitely on my to-do list. But I don’t want to spend bundles (that info is sure to make Tim smile). Paris seems more like a window-shopping kind of place, anyway (read: Chanel, Dior, Hermes etc). However, one place where we’ll definitely be in trouble is the famous Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, one of the largest flea and antique markets in the world. North American flea markets aren’t my bag, but this one, which has officially been running since 1885, is legendary. Les Puces can be hard to find, so luckily lots of bloggers and web sites (here, here and here) have already forged a path. I’ve also downloaded an iPhone app: Keys to the Fleas, An Insider’s Guide to the Flea Markets of Paris. The best part: if we buy something large (a Renior, perhaps!), we can ship it home.

Yours,
Katherine

P.S. Thanks for making all of the travel arrangements. You’re the best!

Dear Katherine

Dear Katherine,
I am so excited about our upcoming trip to Paris. I can’t believe the last time I was there was in 1998. And what is really more unbelievable is that we haven’t been there together. Something that definitely needs to be rectified. From start to end it is going to be 70 hours of pure magic. Just a quick note to let you know that I have booked our tickets on the Eurostar from St. Pancras and I have also booked our hotel. Are you ready?!?!?! We are staying at the Keppler just steps away from the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe.  It is ranked #3 out of 1800 hotels in Paris. I found it on an amazing website called http://www.jetsetter.co.uk  Although it might be on the pricey side, the location and ambiance can’t be beat. We are definitely going to live it up while we are there. I have already started looking into restaurants and cafes and will send you a little list the next time I write. Why don’t you send me a short list of things that we must see when we are there. Hopefully the weather co-operates. Talks to you soon. Love, Sammy lou xoxox  p.s attached are some pics from the hotel. AMAZING.

Dear Sam

Dear Sam,

One weekend in Paris. Not a lot of time, but we need to start planning every minute of our trip. Not a second can be wasted. The best part: it’s just us. We travel well together basically because we’ve known each other all our lives, 37 years.

The first time I travelled to Paris was in 1996. A poor university student, I was backpacking through Europe after living and working in London, England for the summer. Paris was my first stop and it lived up to every cliche I’d ever heard or read about the place. It was raining when I arrived late one night and I’ll always remember the smell. The place even smelled nice. The first morning, I bought a fresh baguette and just walked. There is so much to see and do, and some of the highlights during the first trip was the Notre Dame, Shakespeare & Co. bookstore, Pere Lachaise cemetery (Jim Morrison’s final resting place) and Paris’ legendary night life.

I travelled to Paris two years later. We were there for New Year’s Eve and rang in 1998 on the Champs de Elysee after having a fantastic dinner at a tiny bistro near the Sacre Coeur. That trip was different because I had a tiny bit more money so I could actually eat in restaurants. It was also Decemeber, so there were way less tourists. The streets were dusted with a fresh layer of snow and the museums, particularly the Louvre, were dead. It was a magical time of the year to be in Paris.

But this trip is already my favourite because I’ll be travelling there with you. The countdown is on.

Yours,

Kat