We first fell in love with Fifi Flowers on Facebook. We were captivated by the colors in her artwork and of course, her subject….PARIS! We are thrilled that she is contributing this month’s Facebook Contest prize and we want you to learn a little bit more about Fifi and what inspires her.
Posts Tagged ‘Eiffel Tower’
J’ Adore Fifi Flowers…it is a contest!
Thursday, August 9th, 2012Interview with Juliette Sobanet, author of “Kissed in Paris”
Sunday, July 8th, 2012If you have read this blog before, you know that I am a voracious reader of any book that has to do with Paris. I do have a confession to make. This spring, I took a break from Paris and got sucked into Seattle and the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy. I know. After reading that , it was time to head back to Paris and read something sweet and fun.
I had been following Juliette Sobanet on Twitter and has read about the launch of “Kissed in Paris“. I had it on my “To Read” list and had a feeling it was the perfect bedtime story for me. I devoured it in a matter of nights. I quickly downloaded “Sleeping with Paris” and this time I read a little slower so that my Paris-filled dreams lasted a little longer.
I reached out to Ms. Sobanet for a quick interview and was thrilled when she accepted. I wanted to know a bit about her and her love for Paris. Here is what she had to say:
First comes love…..
Tuesday, May 29th, 2012It must be every little girl’s dream to commemorate some aspect of her wedding with a trip to Paris. On Twitter, hundreds of tweets are sent out each day saying, “I want to honeymoon in Paris” or “One day, I will get engaged in Paris”. We are used to it now but at first it really struck us. ”Paris is for Lovers” really is true!
As an American couple, getting married in Paris isn’t viewed as a legal marriage in the United States. You will have to tie the knot here in one place or another. But wow! We have come across some amazing stories of romance from people who make capturing special moments for lovers who travel to France.
Getting Engaged…
We have many guests travel to Paris to get engaged. It is such a great idea, especially when it is a surprise! We loved reading about a surprise engagement from one of our favorite Paris-based photogs, Lindsey Kent of Pictours Paris. We think she hid out in the Champs de Mars park near the Eiffel Tower to capture the “Big Ask”. The pictures were adorable. Lindsey met up with the couple later in the week for some more pictures around Paris. Tres adorable!
Getting Married and Vowel Renewals…
We came across Love Gracefully on Facebook. They specialize in officiating breathtaking ceremonies all over Europe but when we saw what they did in Paris, we wanted to share them with you. Like we mentioned, we as Americans cannot legally marry in Paris but how about doing a civil ceremony in the states and then having a “Destination Wedding” in Paris? We also adore the idea of celebrating a milestone anniversary with a vowel renewal in a Paris jardin.
Honeymoon in Paris…
Newlyweds flock to Paris for their honeymoons. We have so much fun helping couples choose the ideal Paris vacation rental for their post-wedding rendezvous. We also think working with a “Honeymoon Expert” is a smart way to plan your trip. So much goes into planning for the Big Day, your special trip often gets left to the last minute. Katie Frederick from Ever After Honeymoons creates magical itineraries for her couples. After all of the wedding work you do, it is so wonderful to hand over your honeymoon to her!
Romance is one of the big reasons that Paris is such a destination spot for lovers. We have a full section devoted to it in our “Insider’s Guide”. If you are thinking of popping the question, putting a ring on it or celebrating after you tie the knot, we hope that we have inspired you to do some of it in Paris!
Paris After Dark
Thursday, May 17th, 2012Guest Post by Daniella Carrese
La Ville-Lumière. The City of Light, Paris got its nickname from all the lights that illuminate the night sky. During the evening in Paris, the streets light up with the lamp posts and lights from around. All the lights make the city seem as if it is always awake. Along the Seine, there are beautiful lights that seem as though they have been there forever. Due to the lights, you can take a nice stroll along the river at night. Looking down from the Eiffel Tower in the evening is magical. The streets are light up beautifully. Along the Champs Elyseès the trees are strung with lights that make the night seem as if it day. Although you cannot see the stars in Paris, due to all the light pollution, the sky is normally covered with a navy blue blanket. The city dies down a bit, but there are still a number of things to do during the evening.
You can take a tour of the Seine and explore all of its canals at night. You can visit the Moulin Rouge. The Moulin Rouge is a cabaret and music hall, built in 1889 by Joseph Oller this building has seen many stars including Edith Piaf and Frank Sinatra. Today it is still used, there is a nighttime cabaret show. You can see shows at this historic concert hall at most times of the day. Le Procope is Paris’ oldest cafe that was established in 1686. Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Hemingway and Picasso were some of the few who regularly ate at this establishment. Closing at 11:30, this cafe is a great place to hangout for the night. Walking around the streets near your Paris vacation rental is a great way to get a feel of the city and what it is actually like all the time.
To read more from Daniella, click “here“
For even more tips and tricks to make Paris travel easier, ask for our “Insider’s Guide to Paris”!
Become a Paris Insider!
Sunday, May 13th, 2012
We are thrilled to announce that we have a five part “Insider’s Guide to Paris” that we would like to share with you.
It will give you loads of advice on where to stay in Paris, how to get around the city,
our tips on where to find the best food and of course, our insider secrets onthe most romantic things to do in Paris.
Are you ready to become a Paris Insider?
Paris: Your Home Away From Home? by Meghan Sexton
Sunday, May 6th, 2012A guest post by Meghan Sexton
Watching Midnight in Paris, recently, made me fondly reminisce about my brief time in France.
See, my introduction to Parisian life was as a child. In an instant, Woody Allen’s cinematic representation of softly lit gay Paris brought it all rushing back. I vividly pictured myself as a young girl soaking up the experience like a sponge. At a tender age, I had my own romance with the City of Lights. It was a dazzling introduction to such a historic and iconic culture.
There was a certain je ne sais quoi. I was in store for a dizzying array of activities. Viewing the Mona Lisa in the tightly packed Louvre was a shock. She was the size of a stamp! Being such a staple of Parisian culture, I thought she would have been larger than life. One misty afternoon in a sidewalk café, my family and I indulged in the largest slice of tart cherry pie. I couldn’t get over how opulent the café was with its wrought iron details and delicate bistro tables. Everyone seemed impossibly chic and I was enveloped in an inner glow.
Originally my family had reservations in a centrally located posh hotel, but due to the insistence of a family friend, we stayed with them in their flat in Paris. What a contrast! What a way to experience the culture, the food, and the atmosphere – all from the front row seat of a local’s perspective. Staying in a home environment as opposed to a hotel imparted a totally different vibe. My curiosity was peaked!
Travel is my passion, but Real Estate has been my profession. I can appreciate the essence of a home away from home.
Experiencing Paris in a vacation rental gives you the opportunity to pick up the essence of what it must feel like to be a local. The very activities that would normally be so mundane at home are suddenly a novelty. A hotel room can be comfortably bare and short on sentiment. It can be beautifully decorated, but stripped of the local flavor. The owner of the vacation rental has taken the time to pull together elements of daily life. Perhaps they have a drawer filled with local menus with random penciled in notes. Maybe they’ve dotted the space with quirky local trinkets. You’d never get any of these personal touches if you were simply a guest in a hotel. You have all the comforts of home, without the corporate feel; it’s far more intimate.
Had my family and I not stayed with friends, how else would I have been able to learn about the ins & outs of scamming the local transit. Apparently, there was some sort of honor system. Clutching a booklet of pre-purchased tickets, our friend demonstrated how a lot of locals would casually keep rotating the same hole punched ticket for admission. Hardly scandalous, but I enjoy snickering at those little aspects of daily life.
Next up for this starry-eyed traveler will be jaunting through the grounds of Versailles, every nock and cranny of Champagne, and the rocky beaches of Nice.
Meghan Sexton is a Southern California native who is passionate about travel and all its accouterments. Check out her blog geared toward first hand travel tips, insight, and anecdotes for women travelers. Are you in the know? Meghan’s Guilty Pleasures Travel Blog You can also find Meghan on Twitter @MGPTravelBlog and on Facebook.
The Walkability of Paris
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012July Column, Place de la Bastille
A guest post by Matt Davids
As a city, Paris is notorious in terms of traffic and holds a reputation as one of the toughest cities to drive around in Europe. This is often typical of such historic cities and it more than makes up for this by providing a decent underground train network (Metro), as well as wide pavements for walking, cycling and roller-skating, and plenty of excuses to want to take your time and explore on foot.
There are several approaches to walking around Paris that are dependent on the type of traveller you are. For experienced visitors to the city, you can use your prior knowledge, French skills and the handy help of the many metro stations nearby to figure out where you are. Ambling along in this way, without a specific map helps facilitate the discovery of new side streets and shortcuts and travelling on a whim, guided by a loose sense of knowing where you’re going, and the many distractive sights, sounds and smells along the way.
For those less experienced, there are plenty of maps both print and online to help you get around and perhaps plan your route before you leave. Furthermore, booking an escorted tour is an excellent option if you’re a newbie to Paris or want to supplement previous trips with a little extra knowledge. These can be themed as well, so if you’re interested in a certain period of French history such as the French Revolution or WWll then go for one of these options.
Great locations around Paris for ambling around:
Due to its layout, with the Seine winding its way from East to West, a standard walking route can take in all the most famous parts of Paris, either as an action packed morning, or stretched out leisurely throughout the day, with walking time between 3 and 4 hours a good guide. For a few suggestions, or a less demanding stroll, the following areas are great places to focus:
The Marais
The Marais is a district in Paris very much a part of the city’s history. Full of buildings that were built by Parisian aristocrats as well as many dating back to the 16th century, it has an amazing historic feel as well as fashionable restaurants and a strong art scene. These buildings, as well as immaculately kept outdoor areas make this one of the most expensive places in Paris to live, and it is conveniently close to many museums, including the Carnavalet Museum which reveals the history of Paris.
Montmartre District
The Montmartre District is another area that is well represented by the art scene. Spending a few hours strolling around the Place du Tertre which is a square where artists paint and sell their works is delightful, and there is also the Montmartre Cemetery which is a popular tourist attraction and the resting place of famous artists. There’s also the Moulin Rouge, a cabaret that needs no introduction.
Les Bouquinistes
For an authentic cultural experience, the Bouquinistes along the river Seine are stands that sell books, photos and various other unique souvenirs for tourists, that having been around since the 16th century consequently offer an authentic location for purchasing a little something to take home. Hours can be whiled away strolling amongst these with the River Seine as your backdrop, conveniently located in the Latin District which is home to Notre Dame, has a strong student presence and many winding, charming streets.
General
To orientate yourself generally with Paris, then make your way to the square in front of the Notre Dame, which has a bronze plaque which represents the point to which all distances in France are measured. From here, the Eiffel Tower is to the West and the Place de la Bastille, a square where the July Column stands lies to the East. Zigzagging between these two points will take you across Paris, allowing you to see the Louvre, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, Parc du Champ de Mars, Parc Luxembourg and many other tourist sites, whilst discovering the little hidden delights along the way that you would miss on the Metro or tour bus.
About our guest blogger:
Matt is a frequent traveller who has just returned from travelling round the world. He plans this summer to explore much of Europe, starting in Paris and finishing with his Greece holidays.
We love to have posts written by our CobbleStay guests and other travel experts. Feel free to share your insights about Paris and travel with us. You can send your ideas to Cassie at Community@CobbleStay.com
Another Look at Paris from Bill L’Herault
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
Another Look at Paris from Bill L'Herault on Vimeo.
The Eiffel Tower is BIG on Pinterest
Thursday, March 8th, 2012Photo Credit: 9Gag
The image of the Eiffel Tower is what many see when they think of Paris. It should be NO surprise that pictures of the Eiffel Tower are among some of the most popular on Pinterest. The one above has been making the rounds on many of the boards that I follow. While it isn’t the most colorful or the shot at an interesting angle, it is pretty interesting. Enjoy!
Get Transported to Easter Sunday in Paris: Video
Friday, March 2nd, 2012
Paris Easter Morning from Bill L'Herault on Vimeo.