#Bohemian Nouveau Bakery

[ariadnew]

CTJL 2021, ROUND 7: PARIS

Archie had lived in Paris once, when he was eighteen. He and three of his closest mates, newly graduated, living out of a predictably small, predictably bohemian apartment in Montmartre while they spent the summer making pocket money teaching English to French kids and exploring their newfound adult freedom to the fullest extent they dared. 

All of this is, naturally, entirely new information to Dot.

Much to her delight, he continues on the Metro. One of his best friends, he tells her, got a job peeling vegetables and washing dishes at a restaurant governed by an Escoffier-trained chef, just to line his pockets. He fell wickedly and firmly in love with the world of the kitchen that summer. They barely saw him. He’s a sous-chef at one of London’s swankiest hotels now. And they still barely see him. Another spent those months honing his already prodigious talent for the social. Their apartment, he relates with a smile that is half-nostalgic, half-bashful, was frequently stuffed to the brim with strangers and friends alike; people found in clubs, markets, parks, cafes, galleries, streets; artists, actors, dancers, dreamers, and anything in between. On particularly notable occasions, their guests included a thalassophobic carcinologist, a Viennese piano technician, a professor of film studies, a diplomat’s (alleged) former mistress, and a fascinatingly cheerful mortician. Mostly, however, he recalls women. Lyndsay had a new girl on his arm every time they saw him, it seemed. Sometimes two. Sometimes two on each arm. Two on each arm, and a few in tow for his single friends. He was- by his own testimony- “unerringly generous” in that regard.

– But those, Archie says, as abrupt as the gentle appearance of colour in his cheeks, are stories for another time. His tone and his haste to depart the Metro tell her that another time is likely code for never. 

* It is to Montmartre he is taking them that morning, to a small cafe tucked between a fromagerie and a shop crammed as ambitiously as it precariously with ceramics. It’s a street of vibrancy, filled with colour and quirkiness and life. Awnings flutter bright against the grey Parisian sky; the numbing autumn air is tinted with the warm, wheaten smell of a busy bakery. They pass a record store painted red and a glacier in shades of orange and ice; beneath signs announcing costumières in flamboyant strokes and bric-à-brac with scraps of rusted metal. Tables and chairs are arranged dutifully outside eateries and are occupied by equally dutiful locals taking their morning coffee and smoking in the drizzle. The gutter underfoot trickles and glistens with overnight rain, crumpled with sodden copper leaves and cigarette butts. A middle-aged man looks away in a display of feigned ignorance while the Bull Terrier at the end of his lead hunches over the pavement. A woman in a long skirt flies by on a bicycle hurling words Dot doesn’t understand but cannot possibly be complimentary. A leaf flutters to the pavement; a distant horn blares. Weak morning light gleams in the wet of the cobbled road.

Agatha has agreed to join them for breakfast, though it is not because she has any real desire for their company.

She has taken the seat to Dot’s right, where she currently sits tall and aloof and dabbing a stray rain drop from her cheek with her sleeve, eyeing the eclectic decor and commenting on the oddly tart-sweet smell of baked, borderline-burned apricots. Clad in stiletto boots and an elegant designer coat that’d cover Dot’s rent for the next five months, she does not look like a woman who frequented colourful cafes squashed within a city’s most offbeat streets and ate crooked, bleeding pastries for breakfast. She looks like a woman who’d be more at home dining in the Four Seasons’ breakfast room, or at one of those famed Belle Epoque brasseries Dot read about in a tourist guide, one of green glasswork and gold and all things art nouveau, with prices as impossible as its waiting list. She imagines her briefly, the heroine of some Jazz Age novel, svelte and sparkling in an evening gown and elbow-length gloves with a cigarette holder perched in a languid, elegant hand; smoking Turkish cigarettes and listening to jazz while men in sharp suits and dapper haircuts line up to bring her expensive champagne and beget her elusive attention. It is not an altogether difficult image to conjure. But Agatha is not at the Four Seasons, nor at one of the most coveted tables among the city’s brasseries (nor, indeed, in another time period). Agatha is here, looking as out of place as a Vermeer hanging in a kindergarten classroom—

And she is here, it turns out, because this is not her first time in Paris. 

Parisians, she has found, are frequently afflicted with sudden and violent bouts of amnesia where the English language is concerned. Manners, too. Thus, a companion fluent in the language whilst in the capital is an incomparable advantage. How convenient it is, then, that Archie– as he has frequently reminded them over the course of their stay– is able to speak the language fluently! It also happens that he is in possession of an unnatural amount of patience, and- even more convenient!- is already on her payroll. Why wouldn’t she take advantage of that? Agatha isn’t in the mood to handle Parisian attitude. True, she isn’t really in the mood to handle English attitude, either, but the devil you know and all that. He might as well work for his wage. Make himself useful. Be worth the trouble. For once. 

It is for this reason alone she has deigned to keep Archie around, even if the cost is having to endure a morning of him flaunting his irritatingly good French, being irritatingly nonchalant about how irritatingly good it is, and being around Archie in general.

Dot knows this, because Agatha has just finished telling her. 

Archie must also know this, because she has not waited for him to leave after handing him a fistful of euros and telling him to order for her. Now. Please. (It makes him go away faster, she’d explained) (again, right in front of him)

Archie looks at Dot, the picture of sangfroid, and holds up Agatha’s euros.

‘Care to join me, Dottie?’ His tone is cool and smooth as the inside of a luxury car; his eyes spark with hidden humour. ‘Order what you like; Agatha’s just offered us our breakfast today. Awfully generous of her.’ ‘I put up w-’ ‘Awfully generous indeed.’ Agatha lowers her phone and looks Dot square in the eye. Having been in her employ longer and more closely than most, one would think she’d have grown accustomed to the unnerving, burning darkness of her mistress’ eyes.

She has not. (... If anything, it’d only gotten scarier)

‘Go with him, Dot.’ Agatha turns her eyes back to her phone, her voice low and bored. ‘And make sure you take your time.’

If Archie is similarly unnerved, he doesn’t show it. He meets Dot’s eye, flashes her a smile, and gestures with a sweep of his arm toward the register, as unconcerned and cheerful as ever.

* Part II of angry breakfast tomorrow. 👉 😎 👉

[devonellington]

Tues. April 5, 2022: Curl Up & Catch Up

Tues. April 5, 2022: Curl Up & Catch Up

image courtesy of StockSnap via pixabay.com Tuesday, April 5, 2022 Waxing Moon Sunny and cloudy, and chilly I hope you all had a good few days. Grab a favorite beverage and curl up for the catch-up. Thursday wasn’t as productive as I’d hoped, but I got the most important things done. I got a wonderful email from a producer to whom I’d submitted some radio plays. I wasn’t sure if what I…

[holysimsblog]

GUYS!!! I just found a whole file with all ts3 store content! And guess what?? They are ALL on mediafire :/ I don’t have the time nor space on my computer to download them all! I’ll link them below and hope that maybe some of you can save them up and repost at some point - thanks! (credit to freesims-3.tumblr.com)

Barnacle Bay decrapped: Mediafire 

Barnacle Bay objects only: Mediafire 

Riverview decrapped: Mediafire 

Riverview objects only: Mediafire

To install venue lots, the .package file must be placed in your library folder, not your packages folder 

Last Venue of Amore: Mediafire 

World of Wonder: Mediafire

The Now & Then Century Manor: Mediafire 

Deliciously Indulgent Bakery: Mediafire 

Prism Art Studio: Mediafire 

The Boardwalk: Mediafire 

Grandpa’s Grove: Mediafire 

Grim’s Ghastly Manor: Mediafire 

The Golden Ticket Toy Shop: Mediafire 

Business as Usual Bistro: Mediafire 

The Duke of Bows Renaissance Faire: Mediafire 

Tiny Prodigies Early Learning Centre: Mediafire 

Al Fresco Street Market: Mediafire 

Stones Throw Greenhouse: Mediafire 

The Lucky Simoleon Casino: Mediafire 

Gothique Library: Mediafire 

Modern Luxury: The Coffee Bean Hipster Loft: Mediafire Everyday Teens Collection: Mediafire Everyday Kids Collection: Mediafire Top o’ the Tots Hairstyles and Headwear: Mediafire Everyday - Cool Summer Nights: Mediafire Everyday - Hot Summer Days: Mediafire Everyday Casual Chic: Mediafire Luxury Spa Set: Mediafire Luxury Resort Attire: Mediafire Luxe Lounge Spa: Mediafire Contemporary Comfort Bedroom: Mediafire Contemporary Comfort Living: Mediafire I Heart the 50’s Laundry: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Laundry: Mediafire Bayside Laundry: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Bath: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Kitchen: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Girl’s Bedroom Set: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Boy’s Bedroom Set: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Teens Set: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Bedroom Set: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Dining Set: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Living Set: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Outdoor Set: Mediafire Ultra Lounge Study Set: Mediafire Jet Set: Mediafire Jet Set Teens: Mediafire Jet Set Elders: Mediafire Haute Hip: Mediafire Diva and Divo: Mediafire Glitter and Glam Bedroom: Mediafire Collectionne Stancke: Mediafire Runway Riot: Mediafire BahHaus: Mediafire 

Premium: Brunch at the Old Mill: Mediafire 

Travel and World Style: Bohemian Garden: Mediafire Mother Russia: Mediafire One With Nature: Mediafire Nautical Living: Mediafire Fifth Avenue Fashions: Mediafire Live, Laugh, Love: Mediafire Palace of Versailles: Mediafire Waning Moon: Mediafire Old Town Starter Kit: Mediafire Ragtime in the Big Easy: Mediafire Itadakimasu! Japanese Inspired Dining: Mediafire Japanese Inspired Living Collection: Mediafire Japanese Inspired Clothing Collection: Mediafire Drifter’s Desire: Mediafire Kingdom of Cambodia Bedroom Set: Mediafire Kingdom of Cambodia Bathroom Set: Mediafire Fabulous Fiesta Ice Cream Machine and Deep Fryer: Mediafire Haute Hacienda Kitchen Set: Mediafire Haute Hacienda Dining Room Set: Mediafire Dreams of India: Mediafire India Inspirations Clothing and Hairstyles: Mediafire India Inspirations Bedroom Set: Mediafire Africa Inspirations Safari Living Set: Mediafire Africa Inspirations Collection: Mediafire Adventurous Life! Vertical Challenge Rock Wall: Mediafire Viva Las Vegas Bedroom: Mediafire Viva Las Vegas Living: Mediafire Vineyard Villa Furnishings: Mediafire Mediterranean Villa Kitchen/Dining: Mediafire Hollywood Regency Den: Mediafire Muse Luxury: Mediafire Morocco Mystique: Mediafire Cante Captivating: Mediafire Buccaneer’s Bounty: Mediafire Hacienda Luxury: Mediafire Provence: Mediafire Beach Bummin’: Mediafire Island Villa: Mediafire Life’s a Beach (Swim): Mediafire Sun, Surf & Sand (Sleep): Mediafire Zen Again: Mediafire Imperial Bedroom Zen: Mediafire Asian Fusion: Mediafire Worldly Goodies: Mediafire 

Activities: Surf’s Up Sun and Fun Collection: Mediafire Level Up Collection: Mediafire It’s Game Time: Mediafire Championship Dreams: Mediafire Front Row Centre Bedroom: Mediafire Wretched Threads: Mediafire Loud, Fast, Clash! - Bedroom: Mediafire Loud, Fast, Clash! - Attire: Mediafire Adrenaline Rush: Mediafire Transport to the Future: Mediafire Pushin’ Pedals: Mediafire Speedy Styles: Mediafire Goal!: Mediafire 

Fantasy: Tutor of Tudors: Mediafire Happily Ever After Clothing and Hairstyles: Mediafire Happily Ever After: Mediafire Futureshock Loft Collection: Mediafire Futureshock Living: Mediafire Futureshock Bedroom: Mediafire Futureshock Kitchen: Mediafire More Magic!: Mediafire The Soothsayers Crystal Ball Set: Mediafire Steampunk Kitchen: Mediafire Steampunk: the Return: Mediafire Steampunk Savvy: Mediafire Through the Spyglass: Mediafire Through the Spyglass - Bedroom: Mediafire Faire Folk Outdoors: Mediafire Faire Folk Attire: Mediafire Faire Folk Slumber: Mediafire Faire Folk Den: Mediafire Sweet Escape Nursery: Mediafire Full Interior Castle Set: Mediafire The Complete Castle by Castles Kits, Inc: Mediafire Victorian Fashions: Mediafire (I saved that one betcha)

Fun: Double Down Poker and Roulette Bundle: Mediafire Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes: Mediafire Date Night: Mediafire Le Cirque Esprit: Mediafire Le Cirque Nouveau: Mediafire Gothic Glamour - Living Room Set: Mediafire Gothic Glamour - Home Office Set: Mediafire Show Stopping Styles Collection: Mediafire Edwardian Expressions Kitchen Set: Mediafire Back 2 Skool: Mediafire Street Couture - Kids and Teens!: Mediafire Street Couture: Mediafire Luxe Kidswear: Mediafire Indulgent Living: Mediafire Luxe Loungewear: Mediafire Fanciful Fashion: Mediafire Frontier Finds Kitchen and Dining: Mediafire Frontier Finds: Mediafire Animals Abound - Outdoor Fun: Mediafire Animals Abound Playground Bed & Bath: Dead link Wild Wears: Dead link Forest Bedroom: Mediafire Critter Comforts: Mega Wilderness Dreaming: Mediafire Panda & Friends: Mediafire Gothique Sleeping Room: Mediafire Gothique Living Room: Mediafire Regal Living Bedroom Set: Mediafire Regal Living Dining Room Set: Mediafire Regal Living Living Room Set: Mediafire Regal Living Kitchen Set: Mediafire Regal Living Bathroom Set: Mediafire Tiki Outdoor Party: Mediafire Tiki Dining Room Set: Mediafire Tiki Living Room Set: Mediafire 

Classics: Homecoming: Mediafire Farm Fresh Folk Set: Mediafire Country Livin’: Mediafire Mid-Century Modern Dining & Style Set: Mediafire Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Collection: Mediafire Mid-Century Modern Bathroom Collection: Mediafire Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Marvels: Mediafire Mid-Century Fantasy: Mediafire Killer Classics: Mediafire The Sims Classic - Welcome Back to Three Lakes Set: Mediafire Atomic Age Living and Dining: Mediafire Boho Vintage Men’s Collection: Mediafire Boho Vintage Men’s Collection: Mediafire Jazz Age Living Room: Mediafire Jazz Age Wear: Mediafire Romanza Bridal Party: Mediafire Romanza Attire: Mediafire Romanza Reception: Mediafire Romanza Ceremony: Mediafire Club Vaindenburger Den: Mediafire Club Vaindenburger Study: Mediafire Hewnsmen Dining Room Set: Mediafire Hewnsmen Living Room Set: Mediafire Hewnsmen Bedroom Set: Mediafire Hewnsmen Outdoor Set: Mediafire Hogan’s Deep-Fried Diner Starter Kit: Mediafire Rebel Just Because: Mediafire Bayside Kitchen Set: Mediafire Bayside Bathroom Set: Mediafire Storybook Dining Room Set: Mediafire Storybook Living Room Set: Mediafire Storybook Bedroom Set: Mediafire Storybook Bathroom Set: Mediafire 

Holidays and Gifts: Fashionable Fitness Set: Mediafire Happy Mardi Gras!: Mediafire Cosmic Cosmetics - Registration Bonus: Mediafire Dark Industrial Set: Mediafire Quantum Power Pack: Mediafire Tropical Waters Hat Pack - Registration Reward: Mediafire Carnaval Costumes Pack - Origin Preorder Bonus: Mediafire Mascot Attack Pack: Mediafire Seasons Wall Decal Pack: Mediafire Plants vs. Zombies Fan Pack: Mediafire Freestyle DJ Booth: Mediafire Atomic Age Pets Registration Gift: Mediafire The Sims 3 Generations Registration Gift: Mediafire The Red Carpet Collection: Mediafire The Ultimate Career Bundle: Mediafire Explorer’s Loot: Mediafire Happy Holidays to Your Furry Friends!: Mediafire Sims Santas: Mediafire Happy New Year 2012!!!: Mediafire Happy New Year ‘11: Mediafire ‘Tis the Season For Gift Giving!: Mediafire More Holiday Presents: Mediafire Happy Holiday Presents: Mediafire Harvest Bounty: Mediafire Fall Fruition: Mediafire No Tricks, Just Treats: Mediafire More Halloween Treats: Mediafire Halloween Treats: Mediafire Happy Halloween Gory Goodies: Mediafire Carnivale Celebration!: Mediafire Year of the Dragon: Mediafire Year of the Tiger: Mediafire Year of the Rabbit: Mediafire Kalliopi’s Gifts: Mediafire Weba Yayfoo!: Mediafire Oktoberfest Celebrations: Mediafire In the Dawn of Sims: Mediafire The Sims Strike Back: Mediafire Let There be Sims: Mediafire Happy St. Patrick’s Day: Mediafire Happy Valentine’s Day 2012: Mediafire Eye of the Bolder ‘10: Mediafire Earth Day: Mediafire 

[tripstations]

Prague for under £100 a night! How to see this rich city with old-fashioned charm on the cheap

Cobblestones, bridges, palaces, parks and countless attractions, Prague will delight those seeking old-fashioned charm. 

With its uniquely preserved historical centre, it oozes impressive architecture, breathtaking views and plenty of fabulous monuments. 

All this and a flying time of less than two hours? It’s no wonder this rich city is a booming tourist destination with more than eight million annual visitors.

Where to stay

Hotel Golden Key Prague

Hotel Golden Key was built by a 16th-century locksmith, hence its name, and is close to the popular Charles Bridge, pictured 

Close to popular Charles Bridge and down the hill from Prague Castle, this smart, boutique hotel was built by a 16th-century locksmith, hence its name. Its 25 rooms are stylish, with some boasting exposed original beams. In the morning, tuck in to a traditional Czech breakfast, including homemade bread and cakes. Doubles from £62; breakfast £13 (astenhotels.com).

Miss Sophie’s Hotel

This friendly little hotel, in a 19th-century Art Nouveau building, is situated in a quiet street in New Town, one Metro stop from famous Wenceslas Square. The 16 rooms vary in size, but all are tastefully decorated with greys and whites. Breakfast is served across the road at the company’s hostel. B&B doubles from £75 (miss-sophies.com). 

Mosaic House

Step inside and admire the Thirties mosaic adorning the entrance hall of this designer hotel, minutes from the National Theatre and Vltava River. Rooms are smart and quirky — if your budget permits, choose a superior double with a terrace overlooking the city. Music events are hosted in the ground floor La Loca Music Bar & Lounge. Doubles from £49; breakfast £8 (mosaichouse.com). 

Botel Albatros

Capital ideas: Stay in the quirky Botel Albatross, which offers 86 basic, wood-panelled rooms

Anchored on Vltava River, not far from Charles Bridge and the Old Town, with views towards Prague Castle, this boat hotel, built in 1969, offers 86 basic, wood-panelled rooms, a restaurant and a top-deck terrace, ideal for a cool beer (£1.25) before dinner. B&B doubles from £54 (botelalbatros.cz). 

What to see and do

Museums aplenty

Prague Cards (£55 for two days, praguecard.com) offer free or discounted entry to 80 different museums and attractions, including the National Museum, the Czech Museum of Music, Powder Tower and the Old Royal Palace, former home of Bohemian kings.

Although not covered by the Prague Card, don’t miss the Museum of Communism (£10, muzeumkomunismu.cz) for an evocative reflection of life during the Communist era.

Walk and learn

Prague is easily explored on foot — but pack a pair of comfy shoes to cope with the cobbled streets. If you want to splash out on a scholar-led three- hour walk, try Insight Cities (insightcities.com).

Big on beer

As Czechs drink more beer than any other nation – try craft beers in the Old Town

Home of Pilsner, Czechs drink more beer than any other nation — which is not surprising given it’s as cheap as water in bars and restaurants. Sample craft beer in the Old Town at U Kunstatu (ukunstatu.cz), a 12th-century former palace. Or soak up the atmosphere in the Old Town Square.

Climb the tower

IT looks like Blackpool Tower, but, apparently, the 63.5m-tall Petrin Lookout Tower, built in 1891 on Petrin Hill, was actually inspired by Paris’s Eiffel Tower. Its 299 steps are worth climbing to see sweeping views of the city. It costs £5.20, or it’s free with a Prague Card.

Head for the castle

Don’t let the crowds put you off, Prague Castle — among the largest in the world — is a must. Dating from the ninth century, it comprises palaces, churches, fortifications and manicured gardens. A full ticket is £12 and lasts two days (hrad.cz).

Pack a picnic

Prague is blessed with myriad parks away from the hubbub — perfect for a picnic. Grab some food at a supermarket or local bakery and sit under the shade of an ancient tree in 250-acre Stromovka Park, or watch boats gliding along the Vltava River.

Where to eat

Eska

A former fabric factory, this restaurant pays homage to the building’s past with exposed brickwork, girders and pipework. Traditional Czech dishes given a modern makeover is the name of the game here. Tuck in to cabbage schnitzel, mushrooms and vegetables for £9.60. Address: Pernerova 49 (eska.ambi.cz)

Lehka Hlava

Choose to dine under the stars or under a lizard perched on a leaf at this veggie restaurant, thanks to impressive ceiling artwork. Hidden on Prague’s shortest street in a 500-year-old former teahouse, it’s a favourite of locals. Try a naked seitan burger with potatoes and vegetables followed by raspberry crumble, all for £12. Borsov 2/280 (lehkahlava.cz)

Explore: A map showing all of the tourist hotspots in the Czech capital, Prague 

Lidova Jidelna Tesnov

Cheap as chips, canteen-style restaurants were commonplace during the Communist era. Providing low-cost Czech fare for mainly locals, this no-nonsense, no-frills eatery is worth experiencing. Situated in the quiet, residential Petrska quarter, beef in pepper sauce with dumplings costs £3. Wash it down with wine (£1) or squash (15p). Tesnov 1163/5 (lidovajidelna.cz)

Manifesto Market

This food and culture market is Prague’s first no-cash space, and it’s brimming with enticing stalls that cater to all tastes (open 11am to 10pm). Try the lunch special at Minnie’s: mini pancakes and filling (chocolate and banana was my favourite) with a drink for £5. Na Florenci (manifesto.city)

Cafe Moment

Wander over to the elegant residential neighbourhood of Vinohrady, once blanketed in vineyards, and admire the Neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau architecture. For lunch, pop in to the unpretentious, vegan eaterie Cafe Moment and try its white bean soup (£1.40) or stuffed peppers with tomato sauce and pasta (£3.65) with a glass of wine (£1). Slezska 62

TRAVEL FACTS 

Easyjet has returns from Bristol from £55 (easyjet.com). The Airport Express bus to the city centre costs £2 and takes around 30 minutes. For more information, visit czechtourism.com 

    The post Prague for under £100 a night! How to see this rich city with old-fashioned charm on the cheap appeared first on Tripstations.

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[theloonypumpkin]

Decadent Days.

Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris opens with a montage tribute of postcard perfect images of Paris- the monuments, changing colors, the rain, and the views- to a slow deliberate jazz score. This is probably the most succinct calibration of my feelings for Paris. Golden, with grey skies, breezy, romantic and melancholic, Paris is an abundance of clichés. Guided by my heart, my hopes I set out in search of the Parisian life last autumn with a dairy in hand and a few daydreams.

My first glimpse of the Eiffel was from the Trocadero Gardens, and I slightly laughed at my stupor. The geometric elegance and the mesmerizing view of the sunrise was in my mind quite a first impression. In my best of Parisian chic, I made my way to breakfast at one of the cosy cafés lining the streets. I swooned at the ‘Voulez- vous un croissant’ that made me feel instantly like a Parisian, I smiled at the waiter ‘Merci beaucoup’ , and enjoyed the croissant while soaking in the beauty of the true icon on Paris- Le tour de Eiffel. With the city map, a handful of useful French sentences and adjusting my Sketchers, I set off to indulge. As I walked from the Eiffel towards Rue Cler, I stopped in childlike wonder of the fresh assortment of fruits, cheese and vegetables in the local marche. You cannot help but buy a baguette and some of that local French butter and munch on it lazily, while the bell tolls in the local church. The gothic glass stained windows of Sainte Chapelle, the steps outside Saint Étienne du Mont, and watching pigeons gather near Notre Dame is so fresh in memory, it seems as though I was there yesterday. As the street singer crooned a chanson, I decided to head to Maxim’s- my love for Allen’s movie quite evident-and in its nearly perfect well-preserved interiors, I slipped into a different century. The night stroll to the Pont Alexandre III Bridge, which exemplifies the Art Nouveau décor and its exuberance, was breath taking.  With goose bumps and light headedness from the alfresco wine tasting, I reluctantly headed to the hotel. For once, my dreams were drab as compared to the day I had spent in Paris.

Paris turned out to be exactly as I had hoped for, and so much more. I took a patisserie tour, feasting my eyes on pistachio cakes and raspberry mille-feuille lined in meticulous rows that filled my heart with such pure pleasure. Later that evening, I grabbed a stamped copy of one of Jack Kerouac’s from the tiny, inconspicuous Shakespeare and Company, and read letters typed on pale blue paper by aspiring writers looking for magic in the city.  Over a café, sipping wine and waiting for the bouillabaisse, I took fervent notes. A cheeky French man, enjoying his afternoon smoke, glanced at my diary and in his raspy voice exclaimed, ‘Writers, damn writers everywhere’. A silly smile escaped me, as though it were true. My mind made a poetic association to where Hemingway would have had coffee, and in my daydream, I enjoyed few stolen moments in an alternate life. 

The labyrinth alleys of the oldest market, Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, is unimaginable even to the curious as I stumbled across an antique pocket watch, a gilded makeup mirror and a forgotten silver hair pin. Though my French surprised a few local vendors, I managed to buy a big batch of cheese from the local fromagerie. A perfect lunch of soup, a fillet of fish in garlic sauce and a slice of sumptuous chocolate gateau later, I decided to spend the day being lazy just watching people along the banks of Seine. A trip to the city is incomplete without buying a bottle of French perfume. After my wallet was a little lighter from having visited the iconic, original Chanel shop, a stop at a local wine shop is albeit necessary. The rosé tasted marvellous with a box of macarons from the Ladurée patisserie on Champs-Elysées as I felt the slight breeze of autumn on the street bench. The Avenue des Champs Elysées is perhaps the most beautiful avenue in Paris, truly majestic, and the streets towards Place de la Concorde are speckled with high-end couture and the clacking of heels of women on a shopping spree. In the evening as Arc de Triomphe lights up, having a light dinner on a street side café is something straight out of a movie.

The narrow cobbled roads of the Bohemian quarter of Montmartre has now only a faint trace of the raucous past. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica is a brisk walk up the hill, and gives a breezy and stunning view of the arrondissement. As you, take a stroll from Sacré-Cœur Basilica along the boulevard down the hill of Montmartre, you pass neon signs, shops that advertise the faded red of Moulin Rouge. The trip to the Pigalle metro station is short and in a small corner shop I managed to procure a small music box that plays ‘La vie en rose’ and grabbed a quick coffee at a bakery that played Chopin. Yes, Chopin! The time travel back to Medieval Paris is an afternoon spent in the café-lined alleys of Latin Quarter in a classic yellow Peugeot. Despite the chilly autumn winter, the Jardin du Luxembourg with the yellow and bright orange trees, is a place to prop your feet up on a bench and read a book whilst enjoying a caramel-fleur de sel ice cream. You feel like a child, dropping pebbles in the Fontaine Médicis and solemnly wishing for the day to never end.

Paris is about the fresh chocolate-filled beignets after a long day at the Louvre, the charm of olive trees in the Tuileries Garden and scented hand creams and soaps from Provence. On a sunny morning, I hopped on the train to the stunning Palace of Versailles and ended the day perfectly with an early dinner on a cruise over the Seine- the dazzling Eiffel in plain view and Clair de Lune playing in the background.

My sojourn in Paris was without a doubt- in the words of Browning’s Memorabilia- like an eagle feather, which the poet picks up on a moor.  The five days spent in the golden city were a short reflection on how I hang on to small moments, the moments that in all their profoundness shape a lost Romantic idea. A disappointment overshadowed the last morning I spent in the city, sipping coffee and enjoying a warm croissant. But then, isn’t every genuine expression of romance an exposure to disappointment?  

On my flight back, between champagne and strawberries, I scribbled À bientôt Paris – We meet again Paris- on my pocket diary!