In December I finally had a chance to visit Paris again, even if it was only for two and a half days. It was a quick getaway that happened at exactly the right time to re-charge my batteries before work hit me hard for the rest of the month.
I arrived on the first Sunday of the month and the optimist in me thought to visit museums for free. 🙂 This is the closest I got to a museum – this is Rodin’s. Louvre and Musee d’Orsay were out of the question, the queues were unbelievable! Still, just walking in the gardens of Musee Rodin was a beautiful experience.
![DSC_1341[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_13411.jpg?w=600)
So, since my free entrance to Louvre was out of the question, I decided to pay for it and used most of my Monday to stroll around it. I seem to have been fascinated with staircases this time around but I’ll post just one picture of them (ok, maybe two). 🙂
![DSC_1370[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_13701.jpg?w=600)
There are so many beautiful things to see in Louvre. I’ve been there once already, my first time in Paris, but I really wanted to visit it again.
![DSC_1383[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_13831.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
![DSC_1389[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_13891.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
The jewelry on display is “magnifique”!![DSC_1394[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_13941.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
![DSC_1396[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_13961.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
This time I was actually able to snap a rather ok photo of Mona Lisa.
![DSC_1401[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_14011.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
It is not a worthy trip to Paris if you don’t visit a perfume shop and this time, my perfume wanderings took me to Jovoy (no pictures from there but a perfume did come back 😉 ) and to Caron which had an amazing Christmas display in their window. I didn’t buy anything there but the SA was amazingly nice and cooperative and explained everything. I went away with arms smelling of many perfumes and a sample of Poivre.
Honestly, I feel old French perfumery is calling me back to its folds. I seem to enjoy it more and more.
![DSC_1422[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_14221.jpg?w=600)
Of course that no trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to Guerlain. This time a friend and I decided to visit the famous tea room (Le 68 Guy Martin) at Guerlain and it was the first time I discovered what the French insolence feels like. You see, you need a reservation for the place and we didn’t have one. But as it wasn’t really full we somehow managed to convince them to let us in for tea and cake.
That was misstep number 2. You see, you cannot come around 2 for tea and cake. 😀 Because that is lunch time. As we were very haughtily informed. Still, they obviously made an exception in our case.
![DSC_1423[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_14231.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
And since I didn’t know if taking a photo of my dessert would be misstep 3, I took it quickly so it’s not the best one.
That said, once we started eating our dessert and being so obviously appreciative of it, the chief waiter (one being frenchly mean to us) actually appeared with a smile on his lips. Honestly though, this was I believe the best dessert I ever had in my life. And I can’t even remember its name and can’t find it on the restaurant’s menu either (some kind of chocolate profiterole).
![DSC_1424[1]](https://alliamaredhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dsc_14241.jpg?w=600)
My Guerlain visit ended with a purchase of Shalimar tea. Again the optimist in me thought I’d buy more than just Shalimar tea, but once I saw the prices, additional tins were out of the question. 🙂 Oh well, at least I tried one of them with my dessert. 😉
Tagged: Caron, Guerlain, Jovoy, Le 68 Guy Martin, Louvre, Mona Lisa, Musee Rodin, Paris, perfume thoughts, Shalimar, staircase, tea shop
All I am - a redhead 
Beautiful, just beautiful, Ines! Thank you for taking us along on your Paris getaway. I don’t know if I’ll ever get back to Paris again, but I’m so happy that I got to see my first sights of that most enchanting city with you.
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Suzanne, if you ever go back to Paris, I would love to meet you there again! 🙂 I wish I could visit more often, Paris is a place where I feel at home.
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This is so cool, Ines! Wow, can’t believe the queues for the museums are that bad in December. What a shame. I want to visit the Musee d’Orsay so badly. At least you made the most of your time in the Louvre and got some great pics.
Too funny about the haughty tea room staff. Well done for getting a table and sticking to tea and cake. I wish you could find the name of the dessert so I could remember for when I visit 🙂
Glad you got some Shalimar Tea. Yes, not exactly a bargain but worth bringing back one special tin.
Will you share the name of the perfume you bought in a future post?
Portia will be visiting Croatia very soon.
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Where to start?! 🙂 Portia is visiting Croatia?! I’m out of everything. 🙂 I hope it means Zagreb so we can meet.
As for perfume, it’s Insulo by Jeroboam, another vanilla for my collection. 😉
Well, I don’t think you can go wrong with dessert there, but anything that says chocolate and profiterole is the way to go. 😀
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Unfortunately I think Portia is visiting the other end of the country. She is hosting Perfume Lovers London at the end of this month which will be too much fun. Then I’m going to meet her and Jin for 3 days in Venice. Can’t wait.
Congrats on your new vanilla purchase!
Chocolate and profiterole – noted 🙂
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Almost everyone visits the seaside than Zagreb. I would too if I were a tourist in Croatia. 😉
3 days in Venice?! Woohoo! Looking forward to your pictures then! 🙂
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Oh that’s too bad but at least you empathise 🙂
I’m so excited about Venice, Ines, I can’t tell you. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. There most definitely will be pics!
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Yaaay! Venice will be amazing! 🙂 I was there for just one day as a tourist and loved it. Oh, the time you will have….
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ooh Venice!! I spent such a short time there but it is one of the very few places I’ve visited that lived up to and exceeded my expectations. I think it helped that we stayed far away from the city center (in Canneregio). Also I had heard such horror stories of the food tourist traps that I did way more research than such a short trip warranted (but one of our best meals in Italy was in venice – so maybe it was worth it!). So excited for you! Have a lovely time!
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Aah, thank you so much, Lavanya. It’s great to hear that Venice exceeded your expectations. I’m glad I’m seeing it in winter without too many tourists. Perhaps I should be researchng restaurants though!
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We went in winter too ( end of November) – that may have been part of the charm. Though rainy. As for food – Jin and Portia have been there before , I think – so you are in good hands..:-).
Osteria Alberta I think was the name of the place where we had an amazing eggplant Parmesan.
(There is a slow travel forum which is usually an excellent resource with lots of locals chiming in. This was years ago – I haven’t visited the forum recently. Just an FYI).
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Oops just checked – it was Osteria da Alberto.
Sorry Ines- for being all over the comments.
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No need to apologize. I love this! 😀 I get to learn something too.
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What What? Two posts, in what seems like as many days 😉 keep em coming. I love the pictures especially the one of Nike, I think it’s Nike?, I think that statue is so amazing. I want to be her in my next life 😉 and whereas you might have brought me closer to tuberose, I feel a little smug that you are now getting back to ‘classic french’.
Ah that dessert…
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Ha! Did you see? I’m getting better. 😉
Yes, the picture is Nike. First time I read it, I thought it said Nike as in sports company. 😀
Smugness is in order. 😉
I think this was the first time ever in France that I enjoyed their desserts. Usually I just skip them…
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haha, yes, it’s the other way around. First Nike (with the wings) then Nike with the sports wear 😀
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Splendid photos of your trip, and I am surprised at the queues for the museums in December, but then maybe Paris is busy year round. Glad you stuck to your guns and got served at the wrong time of day in the fancy tea room. It’s like in pavement cafes where you have to take care to sit in the ‘anytime beverage only’ seats if you just want a cup of tea rather than the ones that convert to lunch places at 12pm – it is all a bit of a minefield, their etiquette. 😉
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I should have been more clear. First Sunday of every month is free entrance to museums so everyone goes, tourists and domestic. That’s why I went on Monday.
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My Oh My, we have to be soul sisters, Ines, for I love Paris as much as you seem to love it! I feel at home there, as well. Furthermore, I haven’t bumped into insolence though…
I didn’t know about Guerlain’s tea house *blush*, but I know my patisseries!!!
You are well aware of Laduree, but I should recommend Pierre Herme, Lenôtre, Fauchon and most of all the underrated Paul, where I had the best chocolat chaud and pistachio macaron!
I still haven’t entered Musee d’Orasy because of the longest queues I have seen in my life…
Keep the postings comiiiiiiiiiing! Thanks for the Paris refreshment!
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I finally tried Pierre Herme on this trip and I wasn’t disappointed. 🙂 Amazing! 😀 Thank you for other suggestions though (Laduree macarons often come home with me).
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I keep reading Pierre Herme vs Lauduree posts. For the record, which is your favorite? 🙂
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Loved your post Ines and all the beautiful things you saw and ate! (and smelled!)
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Thank you! 🙂 I love being in France. Another France post to come soon. 😉
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Even though I’m a strange Guerlain fan who doesn’t like most of the classic Guerlains, including Shalimar and Mitsuoko, I would love to try those teas. As to the desserts, I feel hungry right now (it’s 12 a.m. and I’ve just came back from my friend’s birthday) ; -)
I’m glad you’ve got the break before diving back into work.
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No matter, as long as you’re a Guerlain fan. 😉
I still haven’t tried my Shalimar, but the one I had there was amazing! I think you would love them, the only problem is they are an expensive taste. 🙂
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