Ok. In case you haven't noticed, yes, I'm clearly that hopeless romantic type that loves all things Paris, including the music, the food, the people, the history, and the endless cute things that surround my home and office of my Paris.
Just today on a long trip to Sacramento I listened to three soundtracks: Les Miserables; Phantom of the Opera; and in case you can't guess, Moulin Rouge. I LOVE musicals! On the subject of Moulin Rouge, how beautiful were the sets and Nicole Kidman's costumes and makeup?! Love it all.
The first time I went to Moulin Rouge, my friends and I spent the money and watched the S U P E R long show. Lots of bare tops and old school Las Vegas type waltzing. Sadly we had no luck finding the Chippendales version of this show anywhere in Paris and were scoffed at by taxi drivers and guys we met in Montmartre clubs who had never heard of such a thing. Qui qui, Paris is missing out.
To top off my strange story, one of my travel mates INSISTED on asking almost every garçon that we met if menage a trois was a 'cultural thing that all Parisians did?' Ugh. In the future, my tip of the day is to avoid the show and the expensive unappetizing dinner at Moulin Rouge and hit the local bars. We found, that if they have a juke box, background music playing, or a DJ, you are more than likely to have dancing! I will tell more stories later of our Montmartre adventures! I took this gorgeous picture of Moulin Rouge last year - June 2015:
Meantime, here is some interesting history on the Moulin Rouge from moulinrouge.com: On October 6, 1889, at the foot of Montmartre, a new music hall opens, Moulin Rouge! On the side of the Place Blanche, the public discovers this extravagant place: a huge dance floor, mirrors everywhere, a gallery where he is the last of slumming chic, a garden with a huge elephant and rides donkey to amuse the ladies. Crazy atmosphere where the show takes place as well on stage as in the audience: aristocrats and cap thugs come together in a joyful complicity, crews uptown and little people of Paris having fun together in the most total euphoria.
How amazing would it have been to attend opening night of the Moulin Rouge?! The Moulin Rouge means, The Red Windmill. The Moulin Rouge was inaugurated on 6th of October 1889 by Joseph and Charles Zidler.
French painter and lithographer; Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec was a frequent customer at Moulin Rouge. His color lithographs depict actors, music-hall singers, prostitutes, and waitresses from the 1890s in Montmartre. He also created the Moulin Rouge series in 1894.
OMG. I want to do foodie tour of Paris. NO. Stop. Rewrite. I'm GOING to do a foodie tour in Paris!
Been researching different tours and just came upon a very affordable amazing looking foodie tour online on one of my favorite site, A Girl's Guide to Paris . How cute is their website?
Two years ago I did a wine tour at O Chateau in Paris, very near The Louvre. It was ok. The 'vintage' wine was a 2014 bottle - yes, I was there in 2014, so, no O Chateau, this is not a vintage wine. Sorry, my Napa Valley snobbery comes out at the most horrible moments... Nevertheless, the underground rock walls were fun and the host was friendly and informative about French wine history and regions.
However, the idea of tasting macarons and chocolates sounds heavenly! And yes, I admit that I HAD TO order macarons and desserts from McDonalds on Champs Elysees . It was so fun! The macarons were delicious and it was a fun treat on a hot summer day in June to run in, do some people watching, then take my little bag to eat my yummy McMacarons in front of Arc de Triomph . On the flip side, I ordered a box of macarons from Laduree. OMG. How GORGEOUS and 'French' is Laduree?! I want to live there. Yes. Live inside Laduree. Admit it. You want to live there too.
Ok, So here are three online foodie tours that look amazing! Which would you like to attend?
1. Foodie Tours of Paris: $75 for a 3 hour tour gets you a walking foodie tour of the Paris Latin Quarter/5th Arrondissement and:
- A visit to an authentic fromagerie, where you will get an assortment of delectable French cheeses to enjoy
- A new take on a traditional French bakery run by a talented young baker
- Stops at a charming creperie and French wine bar
- Fascinating historical facts and anecdotes narrated by a fun, knowledgeable tour guide
- The breathtaking architecture of medieval churches, local landmarks and the world famous Pantheon
- Stunning views of Notre Dame cathedral
- Small-group macaron and chocolate shop tour in Paris
- Take a look behind the scenes of a chocolate and macaron shop and discover the secrets of macaron and chocolate making
- Spend time in the kitchen observing the head pastry chef and master chocolatier at work
- Taste some of delectable macarons and rich chocolate treats
- Small-group tour limited to 10 people to ensure a more personalized experience
- Meet a local Parisian guide who will take you to a patisserie to enjoy some traditional French delicacies, followed by a visit to a cheese shop to try some of Nico’s favorite ‘fromages’
- Your personal guide will then lead your party to a classic chocolaterie where you’ll have the chance to eat mouthwatering chocolates
- Your tour will include a stop at a boulangerie where you can sample and learn about classic French breads and baguettes
- Visit a creperie for the delicious flavor sensation of eating a crepe or galette
- Visit a butcher shop, while there, you can taste succulent French hams and the finest cured sausages
- Your guide will pick out the perfect wine chosen to match your food and taste and designed to enhance the whole experience
- And there will be a Secret Dish to experience
I keep toying with the idea of REALLY wanting to meet Jane Birkin and getting her to give me a tour of Serge Gainsbourg's home. Or not. I'm not psycho or a Jane & Serge stalker. However, I DO want to have someone take black and white AHHHDORABLE pix of me and my hubby, Jane and Serge style! How cute were they?!
This pic also reminds me that I NEED to buy some boot leg faded jeans and cut the bottoms off and rag them up all Jane style. AND I need to have my adorable and oh so talented hair stylist CeCe from Danville Divas give me these Jane bangs/fringe. I did promise myself to return to Paris with long hair and bangs. Oh my, I sound like a Jane & Serge stalker. No. Just a huge fan.
On this warm afternoon in Paris last June [2015], me and my group of five friends had been exploring Paris all day and took a break by taking a cruise on the river. For around $16 it was worth it! YES, it was a bit of a bear to try to find the boat and, yes, there was running involved, but again it was well worth it.
We passed many a sales stand along the river. I still need to purchase some weird artifact, like an old newspaper, or drawing, maybe some odd thing from one of the many sales stands that line the Siene here and there. Hmmm... I did buy a small engraved gold colored lock. Which now is permanently attached to my backyard fence. Now that I think of it, I need to find it on the fence and post a pic.
Here are some fun facts about the River Siene, it's approximately 485 miles long and stars from the northeastern side of Burgundy, France. Side note: Burgundy is knows for producing some of the BEST wines in all of France!
And, if you are lucky take a river cruise on a random hot spring or summer at sunset and you will find lots of locals dancing and enjoying the french sunsets along the Siene, along with local musicians and the occasional tango dancer or two - check them out here! I took this pic of some dancers and locals last June. Ooh la la how fun!
This photo was from a link I found about dancing along the River Siene at the banks of Saint Bernard. How lovely!
Hello Great Big Beautiful World! I'm a native San Franciscan, 100% Latina, who loves Paris! A francophile from birth who dreamed of Paris since childhood! I'm an amazing unpublished poet [contact me if you want to help me publish an amazing book of poetry], an artist, and I create the most beautiful cupcakes! I LOVE Paris. When I travel there, I'm sad to leave but oh so excited to return!
I'm the girl in Paris who is jumping in front of the Louvre, making friends everywhere I go, and explaining my terrible attempt at French with a, "Parle vou Francios mon petit!" with a big smile to relay my love of everything French and their amazing country, history, and people!
I'm inspired by the gorgeous black and white pix of Jane and Serge. Black and white just makes everything look so cool! So here is a noir and white pic of moi to start your journey into my world via my blog.
And CONGRATULATIONS to #1MillionParis for my beautiful Paris getting over 1 million fans on Twitter! I'm surprised it's not 1 BILLION! However, I'm not surprised that Paris is the #1 most tweeted and adored city in the world! I love Paris in the springtime, winter, summer, and fall. When I'm feeling bored, or uninspired, or bummed, I picture the Eiffel Tower in the distance and I know that everything is right again in this great big beautiful world.
One day I'll buy that apartment in Paris, and paint a giant silhouette of the Eiffel Tower, and maybe a Golden Gate Bridge, in the living room, create a tour for Edith Piaf - although I just found a museum about her life in Paris and I'm thinking I might have to check it out!
I would definitely host visitors to France in my lovely apartment and gather a feast of local delights with poetry readings, live music, and books signings - I do LOVE to entertain and I KNOW my apartment would be so cute and fabulous! Maybe a tour of my favorite local places.
The possibilities are endless! When I'm not in France, I'm planning and scheming to return! Excited to share pix from my travels and adventures with you! So depending on where you are in this world, Bonjour or Bonsoir to My SF Paris, a fun travel blog with awesome poetry!
