I woke up and enjoyed breakfast at my hotel Pavillon des Lettres. The weather was sunny but there was a crazy amount of wind. Coming from Chicago, this wasn’t out of the ordinary but for Paris it wasn’t normal.

I took a stroll down Rue Saint Honoré on my way to Palais Royal for a Sunday stroll. Typically, I would find myself at The Bastille Market on a Sunday but it wasn’t a close walk to the hotel and I was leaving on Tuesday.

I ended up in Palais Royal where the magnolia blossoms were finally starting to open. It was sunny and the gardens were filled with people.

There was a brocante (flea market) close to Rue Saint Honoré so I planned to walk by. Of course, I fell in love with a mirror that was a little out of my price range and I had no idea how to get it home. I own this mirror from Anthropologie which is similar but I am still really looking for a gold French mirror one of these days.

After the brocante, I had plans to meet up with my Paris family. They live close to Parc Monceau so I had planned to pop into the park to see the blossoms. Due to the crazy winds, the park was closed! I did manage to capture these magnolia blossoms just outside the park. I didn’t get to make it back there for the rest of my visit but hopefully when I am back in June.

We caught up over life and travels back at my family’s apartment before heading out on an afternoon stroll through their neighborhood. Martiene (age 10) asked if she could take my camera on the walk. Since I technically had two, I gave her the fuji to walk around with and shoot. She has been my little apprentice for years and I trusted her. I have known her since she was six weeks old. It is crazy to see how much she grows every time I visit. She is so poised and polite.

Martiene took a few photos before my camera battery eventually died. I failed to bring a charger since I didn’t know how long the battery would last and I didn’t want to pack another cord. She ended up taking this photo which I told her I would put in the shop to sell. I joked that I would put the sales of the print towards her college fund. Later over drinks and tea (for her) she told me that she planned on going to Oxford for college… I better get those print sales moving along.

We ended up walking to an old bar that my Paris family wanted to check out. Some of the spots were closed due to the holiday vacation but on our third attempt we did find a spot. We originally sat outside but do to the crazy winds, the awning was blowing so hard we thought it might collapse. We ended up inside for drinks and tea.

All good things come to an end and we had to say our goodbyes. I wanted to get back to the hotel by sunset which was a little bit of squeeze since I walked back. I did eventually make it just in time.

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I woke up to rain at Pavillon des Lettres. I could hear the rain before I saw it and I knew the rain against the balcony window was going to be beautiful. I jumped out of bed and raised the curtains to find rain drops fallling down the windows.

After I enjoyed the rainy morning views, I showered and got dressed for breakfast in the lobby. My croissant research continued at the hotel where I had one of each of course. All passed the test.

After breakfast, I went out for a walk as the rain had cleared up. I walked down Rue St Honore to The Tuileries.

I couldn’t visit The Tuileries and not visit my favorite Palais Royal gardens just a few minutes walk away.

After Palais Royal, it was an easy walk across the Seine to the Left Bank. I got lost on the streets and enjoyed the nice weather.

There was a tiny street that caught my eye so I decided to walk down it. The Left Bank is still a bit of a mystery for me. I love that Paris continues to surprise me just when I thought I knew every corner.

I walked back towards the hotel for dinner. It was just me dining solo for the evening. There is a tiny square just off rue saint honore that I like to go for dinner and great people watching. On my way, I passed a bar that has always been on my radar but I had never stopped in. I ended up going in and talking with the bartender and enjoyed a glass of the most refreshing savignon blanc. The bar hasn’t changed since the 1950’s and the prices were very reasonable.

After dinner, I had a quick walk back to the hotel. A great way to end the evening in Paris.

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Katie and I caught up for a bit while we ordered a café crème and a croissant. We hadn’t seen each other since October and while we facetime and text, it was good to see each other in person. The sun was still glowing while we captured these images.

I am SO nervous in front of the camera but since Katie and I are such good friends it has become a lot easier to shoot with her. These photographs have become the best memories for me. I can’t believe I spent years not having any photos of me in Paris. These arrived in my inbox just before I turned 37.

Photos by Katie Donnelly Photography

After our breakfast chat and photos, I walked back to my Paris Perfect apartment to check out and move to Pavillon des Lettres. I had been waiting to hang my photography as an exhibition here all week and it was scheduled to go up on this particular Friday. I met with the engineer and put all the frames together to hang in the hallways of the hotel. You may remember a previous post where I asked for help on deciding which art would go up on the walls. I was deciding between Paris in the Spring or Paris in Black and White. It was a split decision between all those who voted so I ended up deciding to do Paris in Black and White just to go along with the look of the hotel.

My room had a wrap around balcony with a view of the Eiffel Tower. I was really looking forward to seeing this view at night.

I had plans in the evening to meet up with a few friends for drinks. We ended up at a spot called Freddy’s next to Semilla. We had small bites and wine and laughed so hard we cried. The next day we were still trying to figure out what was so funny and had us in tears. It was a great night.

To catch up on past Paris Diaries Posts you can read here.

This post does include affiliate links which helps contribute to my coffee and croissant research. Merci!

The post Paris Diaries: March Day 5 appeared first on Everyday Parisian.

I set off for Rue Cler early in the morning for a baguette. The rain had finally stopped and there was a little bit of sunshine peeking through the clouds. I wanted to make the most of the sun while we had it in Paris. I decided to leave my DSLR back at the apartment and take my Fuji for a spin. It is so much lighter than lugging around all my lenses. It only has one lens and it is still an adjustment to use. I can use my DSLR in my sleep. All of these images in this post were shot with the FUJI and are for sale in The Print Shop. It is really easy to keep everything organized in my Cuyana bag and I love that is has a top zip for keeping everything safe when I am out and about.

To catch up on previous Spring Paris Diaries make sure to read:

A Weekend in Paris

Spring Day 1

Spring Day 2

Spring Day 3

I had a last minute plan to meet my friend Leah for a stroll on the Left Bank. She lives close to Rue Cler so I trusted her to give me a tour around the neighborhood. Since I typically spend a lot of my time on the Right Bank in The Marais, I was open to exploring. I was also looking for blossoms. It was March but the weather was unseasonably warm for 10 days before I arrived, so I was hopeful!

First thing first was coffee. Since the spot I knew in the neighborhood was closed all week, we found ourselves at Coutume. I was just here the other day when meeting my friend Katie.

Banana Bread is all the rage in Paris so I was curious to try it out here. I will admit, I haven’t found one I love. My sister makes an amazing banana bread (you will have to ask her for the recipe) and I have to say David Lebovitz has the great easy recipe if you are looking for one.

If you want my full list on Coffee Spots in Paris you can check out this post.

Coutume does carry oatmilk which they were kind enough to give me an oat milk latte to go on the house as I left. I didn’t think it really hit me between the two lattes but Leah pointed out later I was talking faster than normal. Ooops!

Don’t let the blossoms fool you. I was wearing a leather coat, sweater, scarf and boots. It was still nice to see the Spring blossoms out.

We made our way towards Rue de Grenelle with no real purpose in mind. It was still sunny so we were enjoying it as much as possible.

Leah introduced me to this adorable Cheese Shop on Rue de Grenelle. I would have never passed it if she hadn’t pointed it out.

We ended up at the newly opened Beaupasage Pierre Hermé for pastries and tea. I had my fill of coffee and it was way past my cutoff time of noon.

The photographs in this post are all available for purchase in The Print Shop here. This is a great way to support me and the blog! Merci

We sat outside and the skies opened up with a big downpour of rain. We were able to grab a spot at the bar inside where we finished our pastries and waited for the rain to clear.

When it comes to macarons in Paris, Pierre Hermé is my top choice. I love the passion fruit with chocolate but they also have very fun seasonal flavors. There are more locations than ever so don’t miss out on a box of these on your next visit.

This post does include affiliate links which helps contribute to my coffee and croissant research. I make a small commission if you purchase something from this post! Merci in advance.

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I had a video tour of my Paris Perfect Apartment with Maddy and a breakfast chat. Maddy and her husband own Paris Perfect and it was so nice to finally meet her in person. I didn’t make this video but you can see it here for a full tour of the apartment.

It was pretty cute since Maddy and I were actually wearing matching outfits! Blue blazers and white button down shirts, jeans, and flats.

After the morning meeting, I set off to take some photos for a friend around the Left Bank and ended up starving for lunch. I have head great things about a Greek spot close to Rue Cler so we ate here for lunch. The place, Apollon was packed and it was a great value for lunch. You can take food away for a picnic on the Champs de Mars or you can eat in. For more on where to Eat and Drink you can always check the map here.

I spent a few hours working inside back at the apartment, catching up on emails and filling orders for The Print Shop.

I stopped off on Rue Cler on my way back to the apartment to pick up dessert and a bottle of wine for dinner. I couldn’t resist a photo of the flowers at this floral stand.

I only had a limited amount of time in my Paris Perfect Rentals so I rushed home to enjoy the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the Living Room window with a glass of bubbly from Champagne Jacquart.

I spent the evening at my friend Magali’s house catching up over our favorite baguette and cheese. It is tradition that we have a wine and cheese night whenever I visit. She picked up a truffle cheese just for me and it was SO good.

The night ended with a downpour. I got off the metro around 10 pm and it started pouring. Luckily, I was able to duck into a store just across the street. I snapped this video while under my umbrella.

To catch up on previous Paris Diaries posts:

A Weekend in Paris

Paris Diaries Spring March Day 2

Paris Diaries Spring March Day 1

This post does include affiliate links which helps contribute to my coffee and croissant research. Merci!

The post The Paris Diaries Spring March Day 3 appeared first on Everyday Parisian.

The day started with a coffee and croissant run. I wanted to explore more of the neighborhood before the rest of the city woke up.

The apple blossoms were in bloom outside of the Eiffel Tower. It was rainy, wet and cold but I was still happy to see the pops of pink. I remember the first time I saw these back in 2013, my hands were freezing while I shot my best selling photo. It snowed the next day.

I had plans to meet my friend Katie Donnelly for lunch close to her studio. It wasn’t a crazy long walk, maybe 40 minutes but it ended up being longer due to photo opportunities on the way and I passed right by Coutume and picked up a coffee for takeaway. I ran into a few friends and we quickly caught up while they made my order.

They have a few locations of Coutume in Paris and they have oat milk (a personal favorite) For my full list of coffee spots in Paris you can check out this post.

I met Katie and her husband Pyk at their new photography studio on the Left Bank. Katie was pregnant at the time so I let her choose the restaurant. She chose Cook’n Saj which is Lebanese. It was my first time eating Lebonese food, I enjoyed and it is a great option for lunch tucked about off St Germain de Prés.

After lunch, I continued my walk on the Left Bank. You may remember this square from my walk with Corey Frye last January. I shot a similar photo but I have wanting to see what the flower shop looks like at other times of the year.

I rarely walk by Saint Sulpice but I followed what caught my eye and saw the church illuminated by the afternoon light.

The afternoon rush on The Left Bank.

This building caught my eye and I had major balcony envy. Can you imagine the view from the top?

I had plans in the evening for a private tour of Notre Dame with Secret Journeys so I walked towards Ile St Louis for a glass of wine at St Regis. This is one of my favorite spots to watch the sunset with this view. Just look at that light hitting Ile de la Cité.

After my tour of Notre Dame, I headed back on the RER with my friend Leah back to the Left Bank. Just a note, be careful where you put your metro tickets in your bag as they can get deactivated due to credit cards and other things. We had 8 deactivated metro tickets and found ourselves stuck getting out of the RER. You need the valid ticket to exit. We had to ask for help. It was a funny but real moment that happened that had us laughing for a good while.

I was starving for dinner and craving Italian. Yes, not all days are spent eating French cuisine. I probably crave Italian more than anything when I am in Paris. I figure you are much closer to Italy in France than the US. I had a reader recommend an amazing Italian restaurant that I just couldn’t get into. I tried twice and for one person at 9 pm they were completely full. It makes me want to try it even more.

Coffee: Coutume

Lunch: Cook n’ Saj

Drinks: St Regis Café

Dinner: Giovani’s

To catch up on earlier Paris Diaries Posts:

Don’t miss: A Weekend in Paris and Day One

P.S. Paris Photographs are available for sale in The Print Shop

The post The Paris Diaries Spring March Day 2 appeared first on Everyday Parisian.

After my weekend in Paris, I started the week off well rested and ready to work. I walked to the local coffee spot in the neighborhood to find it was closed for the week. I ended up getting a coffee at a nearby bar. I am not a big fan of the coffee, but I love standing at the bar in the morning grabbing a cup of coffee with the locals. I listen to their conversations as I sip my café crème. It is my guilty pleasure. The rain continued and did not let up much. I had a breakfast with Oliver from The Earful Tower at Holy Belly 5 and I knew I wanted to walk instead of taking the metro. I took a little detour and ended up at The Royal Village to see the umbrella exhibition. It originally wasn’t supposed to stay up for very long and I wanted to make sure to catch it. I also knew that going first thing in the morning reduced the chances for a crowd of people which I was sure to run into over the weekend. It was raining so you can see the umbrellas are covered with rain drops. It was worth the walk just to see this in person. This photograph was one of my best sellers doing the sale earlier this month.

I arrived to meet Oliver at Holy Belly and I was right on time. There wasn’t much of a wait at all and we were seated in the back. I don’t eat pancakes often, but I am a huge fan of their pancakes and I always order the same thing at Holy Belly. It was nice to have a good cup of coffee on a rainy day.

For reference our bill which we split. As I was leaving Holy Belly, I ran into another reader Kay which was so sweet to say hello. She had seen Holy Belly on my Where to Eat in Paris List and had to visit with her husband.

Oliver and I had been messaging through Instagram for a while and our schedules never matched up until this trip. After a short conversation, he invited me to come to the studio to record a podcast episode.

If you have been following me for a while, you will know that I love podcasts. I listen to them when I am working from home or before bed. It was a lot of fun to record with Oliver. It was really relaxed and just a felt like a normal conversation. I listened to the final edit yesterday and I am pleased how it turned out.

The rain finally stopped after we finished recording and Oliver and I went outside to enjoy the Spring blossoms that were starting to bloom just outside his window. This was the first sign of Spring I had seen in Paris and I was so happy to see these tiny pink blossoms. I shared a few tips with Oliver on how to photograph Paris which we also discussed on the podcast.

I parted ways with Oliver and went for a walk towards Palais Royal. I should have charged my phone or at least brought my phone charger, it is usually something I don’t forget but I did this day. I ended up hiding out at Bistro Vivienne with a glass of wine waiting for the rain to pass with a dead phone. I already knew my way back to the apartment so it was nice just to be unplugged for a bit and enjoy Paris.

I walked through Palais Royal while it was pouring down rain as you can see in this photo. It did end up clearing up while I stopped in Café Kitsuné for a coffee.

It was so nice to see Palais Royal with a pop of pink from the magnolia trees. I was officially on blossom watch after this. The magnolias are the first signs of Spring in Paris.

I made my way to the other side of the Seine and onto the Left Bank. I had orders to fill for and emails to reply to. I spent the evening working with a view of the Eiffel Tower from my Paris Perfect apartment.

P.S. If you are headed to Paris in the Spring don’t miss What to Pack for Paris in the Spring

The post The Paris Diaries Spring March 2019 appeared first on Everyday Parisian.

There are a few things I haven’t done in Paris, I am still waiting for a rainy day that takes me to a movie theater for an afternoon and I have never slept in while in Paris. (shocking I know) I am an early riser and I also shoot all of my photos in natural light. Mornings in Paris are my favorite when the city is quiet and empty and the light is golden.

I arrived in Paris in March on a Friday morning which meant I had a whole weekend ahead of me to fight jet lag. One of my goals this year was to really slow down so I don’t get burnt out. So I decided to take the weekend to enjoy with friends and put down the camera.

I had a meeting as soon as I landed with Paris Perfect. Leah had a croissant waiting for me and we were able to walk to Bleu Olive a nearby coffee shop for a cappuccino.

After shooting video and photos of a Paris Perfect Rentals apartment, I headed back to my apartment for the week to get settled in. I unpacked and took a walk to nearby Rue Cler to pick up wine, bread and cheese and a few groceries.

I was very happy to find a 30 month comté at the Fromagerie. When it comes to comté, I prefer the older ones because they have more flavor. They will typically ask you if you prefer young or old. The younger one will be a lot cheaper, but spend the extra money to get the older one.

Between traveling and adjusting to life back in Paris, I completely missed lunch on the first day and I was starving by the time I got back to the apartment. I enjoyed wine and cheese while watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle from my window. It wasn’t a bad way to kick off my trip.

I had been craving a good steak frîtes and was planning on going to Le Relais d’Entrecoôte until I saw the line wrap all the way around the restaurant at 10pm. I ended up with steak frîtes across the street at another favorite Chez André.

My apartment was a 20 minute walk away from the restaurant, so I walked back over the Seine onto the Left Bank.

Saturday

I woke up early Saturday morning to the sound of rain. With the excuse of the weekend, rain, and jet lag. I finally took the opportunity to sleep in until 11 am.

The rain finally stopped before noon. I walked back to Rue Cler for lunch before a long walk on the Seine.

I took the afternoon to flâneur (wander without purpose) around the Left Bank. I ended up in Saint Germain de Près around Bon Marché and then to Café de Flore.

I spent the evening catching up with a friend over drinks at Le Fumoir. We had plans to enjoy an evening at The Louvre but the line was way too long. We skipped out and ended up at a wine bar nearby.

Dinner was at Big Love (Ober Mamma Group) just below one of my old Marais apartments. The truffle pasta was a hit but I felt the pizza order was a miss. It could have been the one we chose but if you are looking for pizza in The Marais, try Ivoine’s instead.

Sunday

Sundays in Paris are my favorite. I stopped by The Bastille market for a quick stroll and then to the boulangerie at 28 Beaumarchais for a croissant. I took the croissant to Place des Vosges just a quick walk away to sit and people watch. The trees were still bare and it was pretty empty due to the cold weather but it is still one of my favorite places in Paris.

One downfall of being an early riser in Paris is that the good coffee shops don’t open until 10 am. I had to patiently wait until Boot opened for a coffee on Sunday. It was well worth the wait as always and I took the coffee to go. Boot is pretty small and there are only a few seats inside, taking it to go is usually the better option.

This is my full list of favorite coffee spots for your next visit to Paris.

After coffee and a stroll, I headed back to the apartment on The Left Bank. I freshened up and headed off to an event at The Bristol.

It started to rain again and continued through the rest of the night. After my event, I stopped by Rue Cler for an easy dinner before ending my weekend in Paris.

*This post does include affiliate links which helps contribute to my coffee and croissant research. merci!

The post Paris Diaries Spring : A Weekend in Paris appeared first on Everyday Parisian.

My last entry into the Paris Diaries was way back in December. I had no intention of spreading out this series as much as I did but life got in the way. Part of me could have easily just not finished it just because of the time lapse but I love recording my daily life in Paris and I know as readers you have shared that you look forward to these posts.

I started writing The Paris Diaries when the blog started back in 2016. I used to write these posts every night as I crawled into bed around midnight. Uploading, editing, and writing would take me until 2 am. I was out with my Paris Family and they reminded me to live in the moment and it was better to enjoy Paris and write about everything when I returned home.

My morning started at Pavillon des Lettres. I had a project pop up from one of my US retailers so ate breakfast in my room and spent time uploading images for approval. I am always balancing a bunch of different projects and just because I am in Paris doesn’t mean that this can stop or be put on the back burner.

The weather was still unseasonably warm so breakfast on the balcony was a real treat in mid October.

I took a stroll around the neighborhood with my friend Katie and we stopped for coffee at Honor. They have a cute hidden courtyard to enjoy a chat.

I made my way to Pavillon de la Reine which is the sister hotel to Pavillon des Lettres in The Marais. I checked in for one night at Pavillon de la Reine. This is one of my favorite locations in Paris. I love Place des Vosges and it has always been a very special place for me in Paris. This was a last minute change to my itinerary but I welcomed having a night here.

Of course I am wore my favorite Blondo boots and Hudson jeans. Part of my Fall wardrobe but also, Blondos are the most comfortable walking shoes in Paris and they are waterproof.

Before arriving to Paris, I scheduled dinner with my Paris family. I always look forward to these meals and it is so much fun catching up. I wish they were back in Chicago so I could see them more but I know they are happy in Paris. I picked up a bottle of wine at a little shop outside Place des Vosges on the way to their new apartment.

If you look closely, you will see Martiene through the window.

I took a tour of their new apartment and we caught up on travel stories before heading out in their new neighborhood for dinner.

I have known Martiene since she was six weeks old and now she is ten! She grabbed my phone from my hand and ran up the stairs to the top floor and took this photo. She casually handed my phone back and told me my job was done.

After dinner, we said our goodbyes after a few hugs and went our separate ways. It was late and Martiene had school in the morning. I rode the metro back to the hotel and caught up on work before falling asleep. As you can imagine after 8 days of running around and pulling really long days nonstop, I was exhausted. I still had a few more things on my agenda before the trip came to a close.

For more on my favorite spots in The Marais you can check out this map.

P.S. Don’t miss 10 ways to save money on your next trip to Paris.

This post does include some affiliate links which helps contribute to my coffee and croissant research. Merci!

The post Paris Diaries Day 8 appeared first on Everyday Parisian.

I started off from my hotel in the early morning to chase the light and look for a decent cup of coffee. I was staying not too far from Montmartre so I set out on a walk only to hit a dead end in the coffee department. I kept walking where I discovered a new croissant on my way to Montmartre and hit an old favorite Cuillier. Montmartre will always be a special place for me as it was where I started my journey back in 2013. I had an apartment on Blvd de Rochechouart for three months.

I explored a bit around Rue des Abbesses and I wanted to see what new places had opened. There was an Italian spot on this very corner that opened up. I returned here for lunch at Roberta for pasta on the terrace. I probably ate more Italian than French food this past trip but I wasn’t complaining. The weather was so nice, I couldn’t refuse sitting outside for lunch and people watching.

It was nice to discover some hidden streets I hadn’t seen before in my old neighborhood like this one. I loved seeing this building covered in ivy. I am sure it is stunning in the later months of Autumn.

The neighborhood has changed so much since my time in 2013. There are some parts that still hold that old school Parisian charm but much of the neighborhood is slowly letting chain stores take over. I stopped in La Mascotte for a cup of coffee and a seat at the bar. It is a great spot for people watching. It was this older gentleman reading the newspaper at the bar that drew me in. The coffee isn’t amazing but the people watching makes up for it.

I walked back to my hotel in the 9th to check out and check into Pavillon des Lettres. I had only stayed at Pavillon de la Reine before this and I was very excited to explore this new hotel. The hotel has 26 rooms and each room is a different letter inspired by a French author. I was in room D for Diderot.

This was my view from the balcony and you can imagine my face when I saw the Eiffel Tower. I wanted to stare at this view forever.

This is where I decided to write the postcards from Paris. I have been sending readers postcards from Paris since 2016. It is so fun to surprise readers with a note from Paris. This is a tradition I carried on from my Grandma.

I watched the sunset from my balcony for as long as possible before quickly changing clothes and meeting friend in Le Marais for dinner.

After dinner, I returned back at the hotel but ended up heading back out again. Once of my oldest Paris friends was in for one night and we had plans to meet for drinks. It was SO late but I couldn’t go back on my promise. (Melissa, if you are reading it was totally worth the late night)

We had drinks and chocolat chaud at Café de Flore until the café closed for the evening.

To read more of The Paris Diaries you can start here

P.S. Don’t miss My Paris Agenda and What I Pack for Long Flights

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I woke up for my last morning in my Paris Perfect Apartment. My friend Katie was planning on coming over early to do a photoshoot with me in Place Dauphine. She is so talented and I am finally warming up in front of the camera. When we first started shooting together, I was so shy and awkward. I have always been behind the camera for years! Katie has a huge smile that is hard not to smile back at. The times she tells me not to smile, I usually start laughing.

I had shown Katie the day before what I was thinking for the shoot. We were thinking a black dress to go with the boots but I wasn’t sure if I was going to find what we needed. I did end up buying a dress with the red coat very last minute.

I was all dressed and ready to go by 8 am when Katie arrived and she wasn’t a fan of the dress at all. Mixed with the boots, it wasn’t my best look. Then I showed her the red coat and it was an instant hit. I have gotten so many sweet compliments on the outfit that finally made the cut but I promise it was all a very last minute decision.

After the shoot, I checked out of my Paris Perfect Apartment Rental and took my luggage to Katie’s office. I was staying at Hotel Paradis for the night and it was easier to move my luggage to her office so we could have lunch.

I had found a Greek restaurant on my walk the day before and I wanted to try it. I was so sad the Greek place on Rue de Bretagne had closed. I took Katie and her husband for lunch and we were not disappointed. The total bill was around 60 euros and we had plenty of food to go around.

I added where I ate into this Google Map which you can save for your next trip to Paris.

I wanted to stay at Hotel Paradis because I found it to be a great Budget Hotel option. I really wanted to experience it for myself before I made a recommendation to my readers. I scored 5 nights for $600. I included this hotel in my Budget Hotel list where you can find other options.

After I dropped my bags at the hotel, I went for a walk because the weather was so nice. It was the nicest I had seen this late in the year. The city was buzzing and I wanted to soak it all in for as much as I could

You may be noticing how many times I had moved hotels over the course of this trip. It was a lot and this is only half way through. I was really looking forward to spending the evening by myself with no work commitments.

I made my way to Palais Royal which is one of my favorite places in Paris. I walked down Rue Vivienne and found the cutest café that I never noticed before. I made a note to stop by on my walk back.

The sun was setting in Palais Royal but it was still packed with people sitting outside in the gardens. I had never seen it this was at night, so warm almost 80 degrees at the end of October.

Happy Hour was just ending at The Vaudeville but I stopped for Spritz because it was that kind of weather. 6 euros you can’t really beat it. I am making a note to try this restaurant next time I am in Paris. It was pretty packed and the place is 100 years old, the inside had amazing character. I would love to go back in the Winter on a cold evening for French onion soup and a glass of wine.

I had walked almost 14 miles this day and as you can expect, I was exhausted. There was an adorable pizza spot below my hotel that I wanted to try. I had a quick wait for a table inside. I was the only American in the place. The pizza was made in a wood fire oven just like Italy. There was more cheese than a typical Italian pizza but I actually like it that way.

The post Paris Diaries Day 6 appeared first on Everyday Parisian.

I woke up looking out onto the most beautiful Place Dauphine. I set an alarm for sunrise and when I woke up my body was aching from all the walking. I had to give myself a pep talk, sleep can be done at home! I pulled myself out of the bed and looked out to see how the light was. The sun was slowly rising over the Seine. I took a few photographs from the window but I was SO close the Seine. The apartment I was staying in was just about a 5 minute walk to the Seine. If you read the weekly email, you know how this story ends up…

When I jumped out of bed originally to run to the Seine, I knew I was short on time. I skipped brushing my teeth and washing my face. My routine takes a bit of time… It was more important for me to capture the light for the short time I was here. I also skipped my bra and put on my leather jacket over my toothpaste stained pajama t-shirt, I promise jeans and flats completed the outfit. Sorry, there are no photos of this look. But it did get a lot of attention.

I continued to walk and walk along the Seine. It is one of my favorite things to do in Paris. The city was so quiet and the light was beautiful. I completely forgot what I was wearing or (not wearing) and continued to shoot and walk.

Once the light was strong and bright, it was time to find coffee and a croissant. I found a nearby café on the Left Bank and took a coffee at the bar. There is a long story that happens at the bar but I ended up apologizing to the bartender in French. A few minutes later, I walked out with his phone number and an offer for a drink after his shift ended. A smile crossed my face, maybe I should go for the no bra/no teeth brushing thing more often?

After my Mom read this story in the email, she sent a mass text to the whole family asking why I wasn’t wearing a bra! Thanks, Mom..!

I made it back to the apartment to shower and change before my friend Katie came to the apartment to catch up and do a little work.

We had breakfast on the balcony, a few things I picked up in the area including fresh orange juice. If you have not had the fresh orange juice in Paris, you are missing out.

Katie is opening up a new studio in Paris and I was honored to see a preview before it was complete. It was just a quick walk across the Seine from Place Dauphine to the Left Bank. After settling a few hiccups with a shipment for the new studio, Katie and I headed to Odeon for lunch on a terrace because the weather was warm.

Katie planned to do a photo shoot with me early the next morning. In true fashion, I wasn’t happy with what I brought along for photos so it was a mad dash around town before the stores closed to find something to wear. I planned to wear this Sézane top along with my new Coach over the knee boots but I needed one more piece.

Before I left to run out, my sweet neighbors invited me over for a glass of wine. I picked up a few things while I was out to enjoy with them on their balcony. They were also renting from Paris Perfect rentals and their door was just next to mine. They were from Canada and frequent Paris visitors so it was fun to learn some cultural differences in Canada and share local Paris favorites.

After a very fun and late night chatting on the balcony, it was time to finish work. I actually had a few hours left to wrap up some emails and projects.

P.S. The photographs are available in the Print Shop for Purchase and To catch up on previous Paris Diaries you can see them here.

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