TRAVELING TO PARIS TO CELEBRATE, LIVE LIKE A PARISIAN & STRENGTHEN FRIENDSHIPS
By Linda Milks
ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Travel writer Linda Milks talks about her one-week adventure during Fashion Week in Paris, The City of Lights. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the episode on Podbean.
“Yes, three women on their own in Paris. Watch out! Can’t wait.”
Those words were in answer to my email to the two single women traveling along with me to the glamorous city of Paris. I had never met either of the women, but with that email I knew I would have new friends. We were invited by Stephanie, the birthday girl, along with fellow guests Peter, Buzz, and Sandi, to celebrate her special day in the City of Lights. Sometimes we would sightsee together. Other times, just two or three of us would wander Paris together. This trip wasn’t to check off the tourist sights of Paris. It was to celebrate Stephanie, meander to French cafes and shops, and spend quality time with both old and new friends.
My new email friend Vanessa and I arrived at the airport and slipped into our awaiting car to head to the 11th arrondissement (a word I had been practicing for weeks). We were enroute to our home for the week at an Airbnb in the heart of a residential area, a neighborhood rather than a touristy hotel. We were the first to arrive so off we went to a nearby bistro for a glass of champagne, baguette, and a salad to celebrate all that lay ahead, fitting my goal for the week of consuming lots of baguettes and croissants to be washed down with French espresso, champagne, and fine wine. Our ride from the airport and time at the bistro along with unraveling myriads of codes to enter our home for the week, created a bond of friendship.
We spotted a small local super Marché (grocery) just a door down from our stay, where we purchased food daily like Parisians. Continuing our goal of being true Parisians, we shopped at the Bastille Market, one of the largest food markets in Paris, on Place de la Bastille.
Mounds of cheese on display begged us to purchase many kinds. Vegetables were colorful and plump. We snatched a variety of types along with some gift items. Next, we headed to the famous flea market, Marché aux Puces Saint-Ouen, one of the largest in the world. With a wide variety of antiques, vintage clothes, and furniture, as well as stolen cell phones, we sorted through the stash to find treasures.
That night, just as Parisians do, Vanessa, owner of Café Nell in Portland, prepared a succulent pork roast on a bed of sautéed vegetables along with a colorful charcuterie board. Both dishes showcased purchases from the food market. It was time to celebrate our friend Stephanie’s birthday with scrumptious local food, and wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy.
The next day, I headed to the Marais district with my friends Buzz and Sandi, to take in this Jewish and Middle Eastern neighborhood where Buzz had a pop-up art gallery. I found that the small tree-lined pedestrian walkway exemplified the quaintness of Paris in all its casualness. We savored some pomme frites and champagne at a small bistro.
As a group, we trudged through the misty rain to Galeries Lafayette, known for its brilliant and captivating Neo-byzantine-style stained glass dome which is visible from several floors. Our plan to have dinner at the rooftop restaurant was thwarted by the rain, however, the trip to the rooftop terrace offered us a panoramic view of Paris, including the Opera House and Eiffel Tower. It was Fashion Week in Paris; the perfect setting for models to be photographed. I especially loved the model in a red kimono. We took photos beside the large graphic design letters with “#Paris Je t’aime,” with the surprise of a rainbow in the background.
Another day, us women lunched in the Latin Quarter at Le Latin, a small and cozy French restaurant. We chose mussels, fondue (a goat cheese one), raclette, and sipped French wines. Again, we saluted the birthday girl.
After lunch, we shopped at Louis Vuitton. To our joy, when one of us purchased a large item, a salesperson offered us champagne.
On our last full day in Paris, we boarded the Metro to Versailles. Together, the four of us figured out the four transfers to Versailles. Gratitude filled us when a local musician played his accordion on the train. We arrived in awe at the size and magnificence of the estate. Louis XIV set out to create this extraordinary estate as a place of grandeur. We ogled at the splendor of the Hall of Mirrors, a long room showcasing chandeliers, ceiling frescos, and mirrors that reflect the gardens surrounding the palace.
The last night, prior to a very early pickup time for the airport, Vanessa and I planned to stay up all night to enjoy the nightlife at two very elegant hotel bars. We ventured to Le Meurice’s Bar 228 where Dom Perignon can be ordered by the flute. The massive mural covering the ceiling near the bar pays tribute to Dali who spent many visits to the hotel. To experience another hotel, a place well-known attendees of Fashion Week stayed, we strolled to Hotel Costes, the place to be seen with its electric energy and beautiful people. The padded red velvet skylight in the dimly lit room enthralled us. We agreed this was the perfect ending to a most glamorous night.
After a stop for cappuccino and croissants in the wee hours, we welcomed our driver who transported us to the airport. Just as we planned, we slept the 11 hours from Paris to San Francisco.
This is a snapshot of our Paris week. The Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur, a Montmartre food tour, Place des Vosges, Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, and Café de Flore drew us in, too. We walked, rode the Metro, bonded over new travel experiences, ate, and shopped like Parisians. This was my perfect week in the City of Lights.
Linda Milks served on the IFWTWA Board as Media Trips Chair and Treasurer. In the past, she has also served as the Vice President, Chair of the Annual Conference in 2019, and as the chair for the pre- and post-trip committee for the Annual Conference for 2022. She is an active member of the Wine Review Council, a group that reviews local, national, and international wines. She believes traveling exposes us to other cultures which grows understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. Her goal is to capture the reader and rouse an interest in discovering new horizons through her writing. Follow her blog, https://toastingfoodwinetravel.com/
