Paris

Apologies for not posting these last two weeks what with all the bank holidays here and our trip to Paris I have been a little distracted. Paris was amazing, we couldn't have asked for better weather 25˙C and cloudless skies everyday. We rented a wonderful apartment from Paris Flat Rent only a 5 minute walk from the Louvre, great location and definitely the best way to stay in Paris. We were also only 2 minutes from the award winning Bakery Gosselin, their almond croissants were to die for.

Here is a list of places and sites that I recommend you see while in Paris. 

1. Take a walk around a flea market in . I wasn't really in the mood for rifling through boxes but it was great for people watching and to get a feel for the neighbourhood. 

2. Walk the length of the Promenade Plantée created on an abandoned railway viaduct that runs above the streets. It was created in the eighties so is quite mature and was lovely to just sit and relax whilst still be in the middle of the city.

3. Visit the Institut du monde arabe and admire the architecture, a modern take on Moorish fretwork. Then take a lift up to the top floor for fantastic views over the river Seine and Notre Dame cathedral, and if you fancy splashing out book yourself in for lunch at the rooftop restaurant. 

4. Take tea and cakes at the the Grand Mosquée de Paris cafe which feels like you have been transported to Morocco. Delicious Mint tea in very pretty glasses!

5. If you feel like doing something a bit more on the tourist trail visit Notre Dame Cathedral. For some reason in the picture the bridge was festooned with what's known as love padlocks which sweethearts apparently use to symbolise their love, they were everywhere, very sweet and much better than graffiti.

6. Take a trip out to square du Docteur Blanche and see Maison La Roche, a wonderfully hidden house designed by Le Corbusier.

7. Take a stroll through the Palais-Royal and it's shops and gardens in the 1st arrondisment. A beautiful place to sit and read a book, people watch or sip coffee at a cafe. Just round the corner was the DesignPack Gallery where packaging designer Fabrice Peltier displays and sells his numerous and very clever creations made completely out of recycled packaging.

8. On Wednesday evenings the Louvre opens until 10pm, and is the best time to enjoy the gallery without the crowds. Now, they say you need an entire day to see even a small part of the exhibitions but I was willing to forgo that to avoid the throngs of tourists. It's actually a great time to enter the gallery as you see the effect of the sunset on the buildings architecture. Obviously we saw the Mona Lisa, but we actually enjoyed the Egyptian antiquities more and the interior architecture was spectacular.

9. After your cultural evening in the Louvre, join the locals for a nighttime picnic on the Pont des Arts, it was full of locals enjoying the warm evening with drinks and friends. 

10. Take a walk along the Canal St Martin and enjoy the serenity of the Parc des Buttes Chaumont where you can find an incredible view over the city from the monument modeled after the ancient Roman temple of Sybil. Also visit a great interiors shop Antoine et Lili where we bought a colourful tablecloth and centre piece dish for dining table.

We had a fantastic trip to Paris and would definitely go again, so if you are planning a trip to the city of love I hope my post has given you a few pointers.