Paris Plus Plus – Paris and beyond

MONET’S HOUSE AND GARDEN: VISITING GIVERNY

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Masses of rose bushes were planted in front of Monet’s house.

I am often asked by friends and colleagues for suggestions for day trips out of Paris. There are so many destinations and great things to see and do, it’s a case of, “well, what are you interested in” or “how many trips do you want to do?” One destination that comes up more than most is Monet’s house and garden at Giverny. Even for those who aren’t necessarily keen gardeners, Giverny has the well-deserved reputation of being one of the loveliest experiences of a trip to France. Although many people take an organised tour from Paris, it is very doable under your own steam. The upside of doing it yourself is that you can spend as much time as you wish, sitting quietly on a seat in the garden or strolling at your own pace, which feels like taking a walk through a Monet painting.

PARIS NAVIGO PASSES – THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE THE CITY, AND BEYOND. HOW TO GET AROUND PARIS LIKE A LOCAL

Posted in Destinations by Navigo, Paris. 4 Comments on PARIS NAVIGO PASSES – THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE THE CITY, AND BEYOND. HOW TO GET AROUND PARIS LIKE A LOCAL

Pais is a huge city, and fortunately has an excellent public transport system to allow you to explore it.

About 5 or 6 years ago, I wrote a blog story about the Paris Navigo Pass and its uses. It is indeed the only way to get around Paris these days. Since then, its use has expanded to include the relatively new tram system that circles the city. I know from conversations I have with friends and colleagues that there are still many visitors who don’t know about this transport card, or only restrict themselves to using it on the metro trains. Somehow, they don’t tend to use the bus system, or extend their travels to explore the outer edges of Paris. In response to a number of enquiries to demystify the Navigo network, I’ll explain how it all works.

ART NOUVEAU RESTAURANTS OF THE BELLE EPOQUE IN PARIS

Posted in Paris, Paris Not to be Missed. 4 Comments on ART NOUVEAU RESTAURANTS OF THE BELLE EPOQUE IN PARIS

Restaurant La Tour d’Argent in the Latin Quarter, overlooking the River Seine.

One of the great attractions with Paris is that it is, as everyone knows, a great food destination. Whether it’s the many outdoor produce markets (some sources say 69, others say over 80!), or the wide variety of bistros, brasseries, restaurants and famous landmarks such as La Tour d’Argent that boast impressive Michelin stars, the city has more dining options than can ever be explored in a lifetime. As well as great food, a number of Parisian restaurants are historic gems with fabulous interiors that are an attraction in themselves.

THE ELEGANCE AND LUXURY OF AVENUE MONTAIGNE, PARIS

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For anyone with an interest in high fashion, it’s generally acknowledged that Paris is a world leader, if not the leader, in haute couture. For decades, the top street for Parisian couture houses was the Faubourg St Honore. It was his desire to assert his own vision and originality that Christian Dior opened his couture house in 1947 on Avenue Montaigne, rather than the Faubourg St Honore. Since then, this short road has gradually seen many of the top fashion houses establish themselves here, and nothing says “fashionista” more than an address on Avenue Montaigne.

THE ALBERT KAHN GARDENS, A HIDDEN PARADISE IN PARIS

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The Albert Kahn Japanese garden in autumn.

We had been aware of this beautiful place in Paris for quite a few years, but due to so many other distractions in the city, had never managed to get there. Whenever we came across a reference to it, or someone mentioned it, typical descriptions were that it was a quiet haven, an exquisite retreat covering 4 hectares, and a little-known, almost-hidden paradise. One glorious, bright sunny day on a recent visit, we were determined to finally get there, after reading an article describing the property’s recent re-opening, following a renovation and restoration project that took 6 years to achieve. And how glad we were that we did!