Paris Travel Diary: Part 2 | Amélie's Paris

Amélie has a strange feeling of absolute harmony. It's a perfect moment. A soft light, a scent in the air, the quiet murmur of the city. A surge of love, an urge to help mankind overcomes her. - from Amélie (2001) 

Gosh I just love that movie...

I mean, c'mon what girl doesn't want to spend her days in the streets of Montmartre like Amélie?

A painting of Sacré-Cœur, the big beautiful basilica, and the Montmartre neighborhood behind it hung on my wall as a child. The painting was a gift from my dad, he's traveled to Paris often having worked here and in several other French cities over the last 20 or so years. It's a place I've dreamed of since my first childhood visit.

I woke up the other morning and decided it was the day I would visit a few of my favorite destinations, and well, those that were so beautifully depicted in the film as well. 

I took the Metro to the Rue Des Abbesses station and wandered behind Sacré-Cœur to the cobblestone street in which the bluebottle buzzes along as the film opens. From there I made my way down to Le Grenier à Pain, the 2015 winner of "Best Baguette" in Paris. I loaded up my bag with a salmon and spinach quiche, and a baguette (of course) and ventured along to have a little morning picnic on the hilltop in front of the cathedral. 

A bit later in the afternoon I asked the girls to meet me at another of Amélie's spots: Canal Saint-Martin. In the film she skips stones from the Canal bridge as Yann Tiersen's soundtrack plays in the background... It's a truly gorgeous scene. 

Chelle and Hailee met me and we walked all along the Canal, watched a ship named Sandra work all the way down the locks, and then bought a bottle of rosé to toast to another amazing Parisian day. 

It's been so nice keeping notes about these days to share with you guys. I've got museums and cemeteries to share, and a few other special little secret spots too. Thanks for reading you, it truly means the world to me! Bisous!

xoxo,

Andi

Paris Travel Diary: Part 1 | Bonjour from Paris!

Bonjour! 

Hello bebes! It's official. I'm in Paris. I arrived just a few days ago after a whirlwind few days of U.S. traveling.

As miss Hepburn once said, this place is always a good idea, and truly! I believe it is. It's been quite some time since I've been here, however, Hailee, one of my soul sister friends from New Orleans moved here several years ago, and Chelle studied here too. So, between the two of them they've got lists of cafés, museums, gardens and hidden little restaurants that we're committed to spending the next week living in. 

When we arrived the weather was drizzly, maybe 60 or so... typical Parisian afternoon I suppose. And from that day on the sun has twirled in and out as quickly as the horses on the carousel whirl by. 

It's ok though... here it rains - you dash along, tuck in under an awning at a café and wait... and sip coffee, and wine, and daydream... and eventually the rain subsides and it's time to move along again.

Hailee's apartment is a short walk to the Eiffel Tower, so of course, before I could even think of doing a single other thing, I went straight for the twinkling lights and the carousel. 

We spent our first full day touring the Luxembourg Garden (the chairs, the flowers, the hot chocolate around the corner at Angelina! Le swoon!) and then yesterday I strolled for hours along the Seine, wandering the quiet Sunday streets, arriving in the Tuileries Garden for a solo picnic. A great afternoon of solitude, which I find to be so important to gain a connection to a place. 

I wore this chic little chiffon dress and added my white converse (because since last fall, the Parisian style is basically elevated lunch lady) and being able to twirl along the cobblestone streets is important to a girl, oui?!

More to come - including my packing guide and a travel guide, which I fully decided I'll only share if what I traveled with proves to be the right choices! These Parisian girls are hard to keep up with, wish me luck!

Bonne nuit!

xo,

Andi

p.s. Bisou bisou to GG Boutique for dressing me for my first day here!