Une journee a Paris

It's no secret that I love visiting Paris and as the old song goes, I love Paris in the Springtime, I love Paris in the fall.....
As a young girl I was always fascinated with the City and feel very lucky to have been able to make this journey again. Oui oui Paris!

Sometimes I had to pinch myself after the drapes were pulled back   at the apartment, to see this beautiful view. Looking down at the tree lined streets, hearing cars and people everywhere and happy to say that the bedroom was at the back, with double glazed windows, and was very quiet.

We have stayed at apartments where people seem to stay up all night and make lots of noise and sleep can be hard to come by. Also we had a comfortable King sized bed which can sometimes be rare in this City.

Tuileries Garden was wonderful walking around and seeing the beautifully kept gardens and seeing the sculptures.
We were very lucky to have perfect weather and only one day was a little overcast and a small drizzle of rain. I loved the Autumn weather, where the sky was  blue and clear.

 Wandering along we can across the triumphal arche of Porte Saint-Denis. Not knowing what this was at the time, we were happy that we got to see this.
It is worth taking a little detour to see this very impressive arch and this used to once be the gateway to the City.
 Over shadowed by the popular sister, L'Arc de Triomphe.
The inscription at the top reads LVDOVICO MAGNO which translates " To Louis the Great"
 I love the painting below, by Jean Beraud, of the Boulevard Saint Denis, around the Belle Epoque era. Everyone looks very elegant 
 

Around every corner there is always something fascinating to see, cobbled streets and interesting buildings

For those with a sweet tooth, there is always some lovely little patisserie shop that would tempt you into buy something to take home.

Now to leave you with a pretty rose and to wish you a happy weekend

hugs
Carolyn

France, here we come

Hello dear friends,

Even though I should be packing my suitcase, just wanted to pop in and say hello and sorry I have not been around much.
Have had the flu and can't seem to shake off a chesty cough which lingers and has been doing the rounds here.
We fly out for France for a couple of weeks, so getting excited to be going back again .... Paris for a week and Bordeaux for two.

Hope all is well with you all and will come and visit you soon.

Will leave you with some pretty pink roses and wishing you all a happy week
hugs
Carolyn

Homage to Christian Dior

Today I'm bringing you to a beautiful place we stayed in Paris last year. 
In a wonderful old Parisian Gothic house, this exceptional guest room with a view of the Eiffel Tower and a lovely private garden.
Here are a few photos to show you around - it was Autumn and the leaves were starting to turn golden

The guest room was beautiful, decorated in a soft pale grey, black and accents of deep red. A bowl of fruit was waiting for us on the desk and macarons on the bedside table, if we were hungry 

All around the room were wonderful old black and white pictures of Mr Christian Dior which I found fascinating

 Loved looking out the window and seeing all the gorgeous golden  leaves

 You can just make out the top of the Eiffel tower through the trees

Lastly the twinkly tower by night ... it was special lying in bed and looking out at the lights

It was hard to pack up when it was time to leave and certainly a very memorable place to stay in Paris
Enjoy your weekend dear friends
hugs
Carolyn
 

Europe Simply Irresistible Link Party

The lovely Anita at Castles Crowns and Cottages is hosting a European holiday, blog party. I am tres heureuse to be part of this. Merci, Anita for organizing this for us all.

I will take you away  to  France  and share some of my photos with you.
Each time we have visited I enjoy it a little more.

 My bags are packed and I am excited for this little escape and to go to far away places.
{ need to get away from the winter here}

 We will start with some of the wonderful markets,  cheeses that have a smell all of their own, the vegetables were so fresh and looked like they had just been picked from the garden

 A gentleman skillfully weaving the French style market basket

 the pretty fleurs in abundance,

to the beautiful fragrances of the soaps and lavender sachets

 





We left Paris on the TGV (fast train ) and this is such a great way to travel - fast and efficient.
Then hired a car to travel to Gordes, this is one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Just when you thought you've seen everything along came the wonderful old village built into the cliffside. 

Amazing old maisons and buildings, built from a lovely white stone and with its labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets.

Menerbes is another village that I would like to share with you, Peter Mayle made this place famous when chronicling his first year living here, as a British expatriate.
It had wonderful maisons and the feeling of ... I could live here in this village.

 this was the view overlooking the Luberon valley from a restaurant we dined at. You could almost imagine that was somewhere like where Mr Mayle lived, in his 200 year old stone farmhouse

Had a long leisurely lunch at a vineyard restaurant - La Bastide de Marie, with wonderful authentic local cuisine

Lastly one of my favourite things to do and unwind while on holiday is to spend time relaxing beside the water. 

The French Riviera at Nice was just the place to do that ~ with its clear sparkling blue water

Now I look forward to coming to enjoy all the other wonderful holiday destinations ~ lovely to dream and a great way to spend the weekend
Happy weekend
hugs
Carolyn

Sailing up the Seine

Today on my walk it seemed like the first day of Autumn, with a slight chill in the air.
Joy!... as Saturday was almost unbearable with the humidity way up there and I am excited that Autumn is waiting in the wings.

The wedding was beautiful and everyone had a fun day and will share some photos soon when I get them sorted.

 A sail up the Seine is a must do when in Paris so here are a few of my favourite snaps of our relaxing afternoon on the water. 

Snapping away with my camera, everywhere you looked was something very special at every turn,  the bridges with ornate detail the architecture of the beautiful old apartments and grand buildings.

 

Thousands of lovers padlocks (called Cadenas d'amour ) decorate many of the Paris bridges in what has become a tradition among romantic tourists.

On her placard are the words ' Free hugs'

Happy new week my friends
Carolyn

So long for now

Off on holiday for a few weeks, Martin and I are travelling to London for four days, across to Paris for a week and then down to Provence to spend the last week.
I am so excited and have been brushing up on my French - hopefully all those things that are so different like driving on the left hand side and trying to converse with people, will all work out.

My daughter made this lovely banner where some of my bears are for sale at John Stephens Antiques.
Hopefully when I come back, will be able to get my website up to date - it has been so neglected.

Many thanks for all the kind visits and to new followers ~ blogging is a life changing experience that connects you with people all over the world. I am so grateful for your friendship.
Hopefully I will be able to come and visit you soon.

Congratulations, to team NZ for winning the Louis Vuitton cup!

  Hope everyone has a fantastic week
Au revoir, mon ami
hugs
Carolyn