So yeah, this happened. And I still cannot entirely believe that it did. At first, my weekend wasn’t looking up to be a good one. Lots of PowerPoint presentations to catch up on, tens of papers to read, an extra college to attend, spending all my leftover money on school books and feeling a little sick made me feel pretty stressed at the end of the week. When K asked me on Saturday if I felt like driving down to Paris, I told him I was absolutely not in the mood for jokes about travelling as I still needed to finish reading a few papers. He was not joking.
K’s parents had won a Roland Garros tour and meet-and-greet with Mauresmo, and were driving to the French capital early the next morning. We parked our car near the tennis stadium, and then took a metro from Porte D’Auteuil to the city center. We started our tour at the Eiffel tower, just so that I could check if all that was happening was real. There were huuuuuge crowds everywhere, and as I don’t handle those too well we quickly disappeared into the underground again to make our way to the Galleries LaFayette. I would really love to find a new pair of black ankle booties this fall, and I remember they had an extensive shoe department where I surely would find something. There were again, waaaaay to many people in a waaaaay to small space, so I didn’t really got to look around before the masses got a bit overwhelming and I wanted to leave. But, on our way to the exit we came across the Michael Kors mini-store and my heart just stopped. I’ve been wanting a MK handbag for a few years now, and you know, they’re kind of really pretty and kind of really tempting. Dropping €375 on a handbag after spending a few hundreds on school books te day before, was not going to happen though so I turned my fashionista heart into stone and walked away. Today, I regret that decision.
We remembered there were quite a few Starbucks cafés in this neighborhood from our last visit in 2011. We walked around for a bit and then we found one that still had a few of those comfy leather sofas to sit on. I ordered my first PSL ever and boy, you Americans definitely know what is good! They didn’t have the matching muffin, but the free wifi made up for that. I was Instagramming my heart away yesterday, please forgive me for the major photo dump. My account will go quiet for a while now, because I don’t have wireless internet in my building. After our latte fix we took a metro to Le Marais to go and find L’éclairs De Génie. My goodness, are those the best pastries ever. They are a little expensive, €5-€6.50 for a small éclair, but considering others pay €4.50 for an eenie meenie macaron, I think their pricing is still quite fair. I choose an éclair with a passion fruit-raspberry topping and pudding inside, and K went with a vanilla-pecan cream-filled pastry. We found ourselves a hidden garden to enjoy our “lunch” and rest a little before we continued to stroll around the Le Marais neighborhood. Le Marais is hip and happening and therefore really crowded, but also a great place to spot fashionable people and do a little shopping and dining. We only had a few more hours left in the city, so I didn’t get to explore as much as I would have loved to. The Notre Dame was calling and I still wanted to shoot my outfit on the Île de la cité. We walked to the island and again, there were huge lines outside the cathedral so we decided not to go inside this time. Instead, we used our saved time to chill a little along La Seine and then went for the last place on our checklist: Le Sacre Coeur. My favorite part about this place in Paris is not so much the basilica itself, but the marketplace behind it: Montmartre. You can buy posters, prints and custom portraits there that are inspired by the city. I have always bought something here, but as we suddenly noticed it was almost time to head back to Roland Garros, all I got this time was a crêpe and the amazing view to enjoy while eating it. Paris, you are amazing.
I hope to see you again soon, very soon. And then I’ll buy that Micheal Kors bag. And totally regret spending so much after all.
Metro stops
- Roland Garros: Porte D’Auteil
- Eiffeltower:Bir-Hakim for the tower, école militaire for the park and Trocadéro for the look-out platform
- Galleries LaFayette: Chaussée D’Antin – LaFayetteLe Marais & Eclairs De Génie: Saint PaulNotre Dame: Cité, but also within walking distance from Le MaraisSacre-Coeure: Anvers (also possible are Chateaux Rouge & Berbès-Rouchechouart)
I'm so jealous! I sincerely wish my impromptu weekend involved such a beautiful place!
Sounds like such a fun trip in Paris! I'm jealous you are only a drive away. I hope the break recharged you for the week ahead – your photos on instagram were lovely to see, just like these ones 🙂
Christmas is coming up, and after it the boxing day sales…maybe Santa will give you a little extra money at Christmas, if not the bag, and you can get it in the sales! 🙂
Away From The Blue
Paris is always a good idea 😉
I'm so jealous you guys can just make a quick jaunt down to Paris. Man, I miss Europe. middle america is just gross in comparison.
Oh, what a dreamy weekend! Loving these pictures, it is almost like a mini-trip of my own. Also- you got a lot done in just 5 hours!
Wat een mooie foto's! Ik vond het ook al zo leuk om je foto's op instagram te volgen, goed bezig:-) Fijn dat je een leuke dag had. Margriet x
Aaaah, Parijs, bij het zien van je (mooie!) foto's zou ik er ook meteen naar terug willen gaan, zelfs al was het maar voor een 5tal uurtjes. 🙂
Now that would be very kind of Santa, haha! I have oficially opened a handbag fund for myself today. Hopefully by the end of December, I have one on my arm! 😉
All my friends who have been to Paris say that it's overcrowded and expensive, but so worth all of it! 🙂 Glad you had such a good time!
Lovely photos! Looks like you had a great time. Loving your blog by the way!
Ooh super mooie foto's! en wauw wat een speedy visit! maar echt zalig weekend!
Wauw die eerste foto is prachtig!
Je neemt echt mooie foto's!
oeh ik hou van parijs, niet op een bijna creepy manier zoals bij londen, maar toch, prachtige stad en supermooie foto's!
Allee zo sjiek! Die foto's zijn echt beeldig, en dat op 5 uurtjes tijd, unbelievable! Mag ik trouwens vragen waar jij je instragram widget rechts in je menu vandaan hebt? Ik wil namelijk ook graag zoiets 😀 !
http://www.fashion-freaks.be
Ik ben verliefd op je haar en Parijs!
Give-away time @The Mind of an exchange
Oh Paris, so beautiful! I love the photography, they are stunning.
-Vogue&Heels
http://www.vogueandheels.com
J to the ealous! Sounds like you had the most amazing day! And the outfit looks promising 😉
So so jealous! Sounds completely lovely. Glad your weekend turned out better than you thought 🙂
Taking a quick trip to Paris sounds like bliss!! Love your pictures!
~Sara
Wow! gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!! I have never been to Paris and have always wanted to go! All your photos are beautiful!
Jessica
cocoandmingo.com
I'm with Franziska, super jealous! Paris looks like such a gorgeous city. Ahhh
Lauren
Exploring My Style
Ik zou toch graag eens met jou samen op fotografietocht gaan, altijd prachtige foto's!!
So gorgeous, and WHAT a nice break! I love that even in Paris, countries away from me, there's PSL. <3 ^_^
you're the best baby
NEW OUTFIT IN THE BLOG: green and brown
http://showroomdegarde.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/green-and-brown.html
Dankjewel! Jij kan dat nu ook met je test camera!
Die heb ik via http://snapwidget.com/ geïnstalleerd ^^
Paris is mooi, maar ik HOUUUUUU van Londen. Ben er dit jaar 2x geweest, maar ik wil alweer terug!
They were right. I've been to Paris once in early September and another time in November, and at those times there were barely any crowds anywhere. This time it was INSANITY.
Because it was a one-day-trip we didn't buy much other food or drinks than the ones pictures. We had packed a lot in a backpack to save money 🙂
But you guys have canyons and valleys, alaska and actual real mountains. And Nando's. And Madewell. Oh, and J.Crew!
Gorgeous photos! Love the blue door, so pretty!
This was beautiful! The perfect read and set of pictures to enjoy with my cupcake and coffee breakfast 🙂
Sounds like one hell of a getaway, awesome!
so jealous! Paris is so magical… my favorite place in the world! I hope to live there one day 🙂
xxx
Lady à la Mode
Ahh great photos! Can't believe you just had your first PSL 😉 They're yummy!!!
such a dream city for me!!! this is just lovely!! this post, the shots, the food, people and sights.. amazing!!! I'm in awe!
Animated Confessions
Ha! That's what I always do when I go to a potentially expensive city – I bring my food wth me and buy only beverages and desserts there! 😀
Dat klinkt echt als een droom van een weekend. Ik kan het niet geloven dat dit nu mijn stad is waarover je praat, wauwie! Je ziet er erg goed uit in alle foto's, en ik heb gigantisch veel zin in zo'n éclair nu! Ik woon trouwens in de buurt van Montmartre, lucky me! 😉 Het is daar inderdaad echt prachtig! Zo'n romantische buurt.
XO Imke
Oh zo leuk dat je naar Parijs bent geweest! Ik wil daar ook snel nog eens naartoe. Mooie foto's!
I've never been, but my family is going to spend about 36 hours in Paris next month. Yours was an even speedier whirlwind trip, but it looks like you got to experience a lot of the city!
Supermooie foto's! Maar eigenlijk ben ik niet zo voor Parijs (schandalig, ik weet het)… geef mij maar Berlijn of Londen :p
Londen ♥
Jaja, jij lucky lady! Mocht ik (tijdelijk) in Parijs wonen, ik stond elke dag bij Eclairs De Génie!!
Girl….. YOU ARE SO LUCKY! like the best weekend ever, am i right?
What a fun trip. 😀 Lucky you! That first picture is BEAUTIFUL.
xo Ashley
thetiniestfirecracker.com
Parijs <3 Zo'n mooie stad, ben er nog maar 1x geweest twee jaar geleden maar kben er op verliefd. Alles aan die stad is zo romantisch 🙂 Maar het kan niet tippen aan Engeland, alhoewel moest mijn frans beter zijn zou ik wel graag een woonbootje hebben op de seine 🙂 Het enigste wat ik kan denken bij jouw foto's is JALOERS!!!! 😉
Om eventjes terug te komen op je berichtje, hoe kan je nu nie van de Primark houden???? haha 😉 oke, het is er rommelig en zeer druk maar kvind dat dat toch te zien is welke Primark je gaat hoor. Die hier in Luik was zeer rommelig maar die bv in Lakeside is redelijk proper hoor 🙂 Het is echt te zien in welke Primark je zit 🙂
x Audrey
fashionhightea.blogspot.com
How lucky of you to be able to drive on down to Paris for the weekend! So jealous! 😉
xx Melina
Pale Shadow
I can't imagine what it must be like to be driving distance from Paris! It looks like you really made the most of your short stay, and seems like it was really the perfect escape.
I hate having non buyers remorse… some times I think it's even worse than buyers remorse!
Oh waauw ik wil zeker wel binnenkort naar Parijs!
http://www.24hoursoffashion.blogspot.com
wow zo leuk! ik vind parijs enkel leuk omdat het zo mooi is! londen / berlijn vind ik veel interessanter, hipper en levendiger!
wow! i've never been but gosh what a lot you made happen in a 5 hour time slot!! the pastries sound and look all kinds of amazing. how lucky you are so close by to just make it into a day trip, that's awesome and so are all these photos. if anything would lift the stress levels it'd be a trip to grand Paris!!!
http://www.heartedgirl.com/
Heel mooie foto's! I loooooove Pariiiiiis
woah, how fabulous! It certainly is a beautiful city!
xx
Here&Now
Yummy eclairs, Marais is such a wonderful place to walk and have your coffee.
Love your marinera blouse!
http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr
A lovely Paris diary 🙂
http://www.beaunheur.com
Wat een zalig idee om naar Parijs te rijden, grappig dat ik dat ook dacht dezelfde namiddag :p en zoals altijd echt prachtige foto's!