09.23.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 7:04 pm by Paris Ambiance Blogger
I couldn’t believe it; she sat so still – as if mesmerized by her handbag! No doubt, it was a beautiful bag. And to think, that it was the same one I had ordered exclusively for Paris Ambiance!
Does it all seem like too much of a coincidence? I think you’re right, but I do love this handbag. For those of you that follow our Paris Ambiance blog, you will remember our ongoing story of discovering Rue Princesse handbags near the apartment we rented on Rue Princesse. Six months later, we were the U.S. distributors for the French-designed line. Now, after much anticipation, we have received our order of the Fall/Winter 2009 Collection. You are welcome to view some of the bags on the Rue Princesse e-shop, as it is in the process of being made accessible to U.S. customers.
For Paris Ambiance, we placed an exclusive order of our favorite travel handbag. As you can see from the picture, I thoroughly enjoyed it on my last trip to Paris. It is so lightweight and goes with everything. Rain or shine, I take it everywhere! We are offering the bag on our Paris Ambiance site. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have!
Permalink
09.10.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 7:09 pm by Paris Ambiance Blogger
As I sit on my departing airline flight, my mind is filled with all that I love about Paris and the French people. It has been said that you are truly learning a language when you dream in that language. (Don’t get your hopes up – I am not that far with my French.) Instead, I have found myself thinking in “Frenglish.” Most everyone in Paris so graciously spoke to me in English, that I am now thinking in English with a French accent! Though I wanted to accommodate them and practice my French, their English was so much better than my French that it was usually more successful the other way.
Our 10 days in Paris was enhanced by all of the recommendations of new adventures. I found myself asking our French friends, “What is your favorite place to visit in Paris?” Though I would have never imagined a trip without a stop at the Tour Eiffel, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, or even Angelina’s, we purposed to seize some different opportunities. So though I missed my cherished, well-trodden paths, exploring some fresh places was invigorating.
For years, we have said that we would love to relax in the gardens and simply savor “l’art de vivre.” Yet, there always seemed to be someone with us that we felt obliged to introduce to all the must-see tourist spots. But this time, we took several days to purposefully break the mold. Our Sunday morning was spent drinking deeply of the joys of the Jardin du Luxembourg. We spent part of another afternoon in the gardens of the Musée Rodin. And I finally made it to the L’Opéra Garnier for an opportunity to wander through this amazing landmark during the period of the “unaccompanied visits.”
We also were thrilled to be a part of the Presentation of the Spring/Summer 2010 collection for Rue Princesse. (See our past blogs about the new handbag line we are introducing to the U.S. market: Click Here) And our dates fit perfectly with the fashion exhibits in Porte de Versailles. Each one of these new adventures deserves a blog of its own. So get ready and make way for blogs from our most recent visit!
Permalink
Posted in Expert Advice at 9:24 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
This morning CitySpur, a Luxury Travel Guide, posted an article I wrote about the city of Paris and some of my experiences from traveling in the region. You can read the full text of the article here.
Permalink
08.19.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 7:58 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
Please excuse me for a special blogging moment. I hesitate to even mention the new movie, “Julie and Julia,” which I saw the day it was released, but I do have a new appreciation for blogging. I love Paris and could talk about it constantly. My family has always noted that I could talk to anyone. Sometimes it almost seems as if they mean that I could talk to no one but still enjoy talking. Which initially seemed to make blogging a perfect fit for me!
My children would watch me put so much thought and effort into a blog, and ask, “Mom, does anyone ever even read your blogs, other than us?” Of course, I would kid them and say, “My Public!” But we would all laugh thinking of me spending time jotting little thoughts into cyberspace.
Now for the good news… I do consider myself fairly Internet savvy, but I am not always up on the finer details. I actually have a company that I pay to post my blogs for me. I write, they post. Therefore, I did not even know that they had signed me up for Twitter. All this time, and I thought I was completely out of the coolness of Twitter. Recently, they told me I had over 200 Twitter followers! Of course, I am not completely sure what that means…but I realized that I did actually have readers! Then I was just told today that I even had some comments on some of my blogs. (I had to log on to a special page to read them!) I was so happy! However, I felt terrible when I realized that I had never responded to them. Please, forgive me. I will try to catch up.
All to say, I am freshly inspired to keep up my blog. We do have an upcoming trip to Paris that promises some very exciting new ideas with on-site inspiration and a presentation of the Spring/ Summer 2010 line of Rue Princesse handbags – an ongoing story from my blog. I think it will be fun…more soon! http://blog.parisambiance.com/2009/06/02/relax-and-enjoy-rue-princesse-is-coming-soon
Permalink
08.10.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 1:05 pm by Paris Ambiance Blogger
As I am always keeping my eye out for new places to explore in Paris, I was particularly interested in a recent blog entitled “7 Paris Parks/Gardens to Fit any Personality or Mood.” The author, Ashley Bruckbauer, spent one summer in Paris as part of a study abroad program and then another on a research fellowship. She wrote several blogs about her time in Paris. You might enjoy reading them, or keeping up with her upcoming adventures as a teacher in China at http://lavieenchina.wordpress.com. The following is an excerpt from her Parks/Gardens Blog that inspired me to put this park on a “To Do” list for my upcoming visit.
Parc des Buttes Chaumont: aka “The Adventurer”
This expansive space in the 19th is without a doubt for the adventurer, the explorer, or someone looking for an outdoor haven within the city. Key characteristics of this park are a 100ft waterfall, cliff top folly replicating the Temple de Sibylle near Rome, and suspension bridge allowing passage over the park’s large pond. Entering the park you will find many forked paths that wind up and down the steep hills (giving the park its name of “butte”). The hills provide great views of the city, including much of Montmartre, and many visitors choose to lay here tanning, reading, and basking in relaxation. The varied nooks and crannies of this park make it a true adventure to explore and on sunny afternoons one can observe instructors giving boxing lessons, families picnicking, and artists sketching in these hidden spots. Who knew that Paris could offer the kind of outdoor adventure that includes hidden grottoes, Roman ruins, 100ft waterfalls, and the seclusion of a hilltop?
Permalink
08.03.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 8:59 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
At last, Paris is at your fingertips! The 3rd edition of A Paris View is now available. Created as an e-book, the guide is an ideal travel resource providing current online links to monuments, tours, and restaurants. From planning and packing to a three-day tour of the best of the City of Light, A Paris View will help you maximize your time in Paris. Instead of carrying a guidebook with you, you may simply print the pages and maps you need and be on your way!
Currently with the purchase of our guidebook, you will receive a discount coupon for L’Open Tour, the wonderful “hop on hop off” tour of Paris. You may read more about their service in our L’Open Tour Bus blog: http://blog.parisambiance.com/2009/06/12/lopen-tour-bus
To purchase A Paris View, visit www.aparisview.com.
Wishing you a wonderful visit to Paris,
Paris Ambiance
Permalink
07.11.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 6:28 pm by Paris Ambiance Blogger
This week, my husband flew across the country on business. When he returned, he encouraged me to join him next time and enjoy the beautiful scenery and the fabulous temperatures. (Anything under 90 degrees sounds like paradise!) As I added up the hours he spent in travel, I took a deep breath and came to my usual conclusion – “We could almost go to Paris in that amount of time!” My family has become accustom to my analysis, which usually concludes that all roads should lead to Paris!
As we begin planning any trip to Paris, we quickly access our stay, deciding if we have long enough to spend a few days visiting other parts of France. Normandy is a “must do” if you have not had that amazing experience, but hopping on the train to Provence is always a memorable option. With so many different areas to explore, we never grow tired of this region.
The most breathtaking village of the Luberon area is Gordes. Perched high on the mountain, the view is panoramic. One highly rated hotel and spa overhangs the slope offering a touch of luxury in this spectacular, yet ancient setting. The castle in the middle of the village was originally built in 1031. Today, the town is also known for its artists.
Permalink
06.19.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 3:17 pm by Paris Ambiance Blogger
If there is one city that defines fashion, it is Paris. Knowing that you are stepping into the fashion capital of the world can be intimidating. Fortunately, most of us do not feel obliged to look like we just stepped off the runway. But at the same time, there is a certain sense of confidence that comes from being somewhat in touch with the current fashion trends.
With friends in the fashion industry in Paris, I am always being “updated” when I am there. I definitely tend toward the more conservative side, so they are usually encouraging me to step out a bit. The best part is coming home with some new fashion accessory, and of course, my girls love to be the recipients of all such things!
However, on my most recent trip to Paris, I decided I do a quick fashion check before I started packing. I was delighted to find a website that had just the perfect information: Click here.
As you read through different fashion articles you sometimes have to wonder, who says this is the newest look? But I really like Paris Escapes’ “What Parisians are Wearing” approach. As I read over the Winter 2009 column, I was pleased to see that what I needed was mostly in my closet and ready to go. When I arrived, I realized just how accurate their reporting had been. Now I have this site bookmarked for a seasonal visit.
Permalink
06.17.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 1:10 pm by Paris Ambiance Blogger
As an interior designer by education, I am often asked about French antiques. Though certainly not an expert, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to go “antiquing” in France. For many years, a trip to Paris was not complete without a visit to Marche Paul Bert in the Clignancourt Flea Market. Back in the days of a stronger dollar, every trip seemed to offer some reward whether grande or petite, depending on the need and budget of the moment.
One time a dear friend and I discovered a beautiful set of matching Louis XV style fauteuils. We both wanted them, but neither of us needed such a large grouping. With only a few minutes left for our market visit, we quickly decided to divide the chairs and each take a pair. Unfortunately, we did not take the time to review all the shipping costs and felt a bit taken advantage of in the end. Lesson number one: Consider how you are going to get it home and have written price quotes from a reputable shipper before you finalize your purchase.
On another adventure, my mother and I combined forces and brought a container of antiques back from Belgium, France, and England to resell. The shipping seemed easy enough since the shipper assured us that the fuller the container, the better it was for shipping. This was only fully understood when the container (which looked like the trailer of an 18 wheeler) was delivered to our residential street. Fortunately, we had some very athletic friends to help us unload. Because we did not realize we needed a dock, the guys literally stood on each other’s shoulders to open the doors and unload these giant pieces that had been crammed into a container from top to bottom! It was quite a sight, leading to lesson number two: Make sure you know what you are going to do with it once you get it home! This was even an issue another time when we picked up crates of antiques from our airport customs. How in the world was I going to open large wooden crates?
On the other hand, perhaps one of my most pleasant experiences was the purchase of a barometer that a friend, who owns an antique store, had offered to ship with his things back to the U.S. His perfect French explanation for packing and shipping instructions paid off in a perfect delivery. I was surprised when I met other American-based French Antique store owners from my area that happily offered to let me pay for shipping to include my things with their shipment. They were paying a bulk rate and charged me a reasonable price to join them. I realized they had a lot more experience than I did with all of the details of shipping.
Fortunately, the fun of receiving your antiques usually helps you forget all you may go through in the process. As a matter of fact, I set out to write this blog on the excitement of buying French antiques. Now I have found myself in some sort of writers’ therapy for bad shipping memories! Please do not let your husband or any practical friend read this blog – you may never talk them into going along with your wonderful purchase! Let’s just keep it our little secret! To make it easier, you may want to check with your local antique store to see if they are organizing a shipment from France and would be willing to help, if you find something “you just cannot live without!”
Permalink
06.12.09
Posted in Expert Advice at 10:19 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
From our travel guidebook, A Paris View:
L’Open Tour has been a wonderful discovery. In an effort to create a 3-day tour that was the most time efficient and least stressful, I began researching different tours and transportation options. With its open top buses and scheduled tours of different areas, L’Open Tour satisfied me as the best solution. I have enjoyed L’Open Tour during several different seasons. Though the wait time is longer between buses from November to March, the bus is typically less crowded during these times.
L’Open Tour has been described as a “hop on hop off” tour, which offers the opportunity to visit each stop. The tickets for the tour can be purchased on any bus. If you are going to be using L’Open Tour on two consecutive days, the rates are highly discounted.
With the purchase of the bus ticket, you will also receive headphones for the audio tour, as well as, a map of all of their tours and some additional information. Remember to keep your ticket handy because it is necessary to show your ticket each time you board the bus. For more information on L’Open Tour, you may visit:
http://www.pariscityrama.com/paris-open-tour
For A Paris View visit: http://www.aparisview.com
Permalink
« Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »
