Out and about in Paris
We’ve really been enjoying our more leisurely approach to Paris this trip. We’ve done some shopping, lots of walking and eating. After our (snowy) first day, the weather has warmed up a little, but it’s still cool enough for coats and scarves outside.
I haven’t been posting travel outfits, because they’d all look like some variation of this. ☝️ I’ve been wearing my down coat whenever I’m outdoors, and there’s no full-length mirror in our apartment, so no mirror selfies.
The beanie above is from Linda V. Wright’s shop, Crimson Cashmere. I’ve followed Linda on Instagram for years, and have always wanted to meet her. But the few times we’ve swung by the shop on prior visits, she was out of town. On Monday I finally managed to catch her there, and she’s just as lovely in person as in her Instagram feed. (BTW, her personal Instagram account was recently hacked, so she’s now posting at the Crimson Cashmere account HERE.)
Afterward we took advantage of Monday’s blue skies to get some serious walking in.
Tuesday we visited Atelier des Lumieres again, to see the Cezanne/Kandinsky exposition. ATL never disappoints. I think their shows just get better and better. If you will be in Paris and have a chance to catch this one, GO! There are so many good exhibitions in town at the moment, and we hope to see more next week.
An aside: I’ve been noticing how few “bouquinistes” actually sell books anymore, so when I came across one, had to snap a photo.
Wednesday I enjoyed a long-awaited lunch and shopping date with Greetje of No Fear of Fashion who was in town with her husband. We started off at Le Bon Marché and then made the rounds of our favorite shops in St. Germain. We both returned home with shopping bags…😉 🛍
Today le Monsieur and I are catching a train out to Épernay (Champagne region) for a couple of days. More to come…
Paris walkabout…
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Thank goodness for packable down, right? Thank you for sharing the photos – I return to France in 7 weeks and cannot wait!
BTW be careful in the UK! I brought home an unwanted souvenir – COVID. Probably no surprise as last week, when I was there, 1 in 13 Brits had an active case. I’m at the tail end of it now but it has not been pleasant; thank goodness for the vaccines as I don’t want to know what this would have been like without some protection.
Debra,
Any idea how/when/what situation exposed you to Covid? I have read where Covid is on the rise in Europe: UK, as well as France and Italy (hubby’s hometown), where we will visit in a couple of weeks. I just wonder if there are smart choices to make to lessen exposure, while still following our travel plans. Thanks!
Wear a properly fitting N95/P2 mask (not cloth and your glasses should not fog if worn properly) when in crowded areas, sanitize your hands after removing mask (keep in a separate little bag when not in use) and wash hands thoroughly when possible. When dining out, try and use outdoor seating if possible. Basically the same principles you would follow at home. This is what health authorities are recommending as a continuing protection against Covid. Have a great trip. I am hoping to get to Italy if and when case numbers settle down. I turned down a wedding invite for June in Ireland because of rising case numbers. I envy those who are getting on with life, including international travel
I’m in Paris with 3 girlfriends. We all have Covid! We can’t leave as scheduled. 5 more days here. Still cold and rainy but Bon Marche is still excellent.
SoCal gal
Sandra, I hope that you and your friends are not uncomfortable as you wait it out. If you have time, can you let us know if you had to stay after having had a positive Covid test the day before or day of the flight home and how you made last-minute arrangements for accomodations for the 10 days required before flying to the U.S., after a positive test?
Our trip is scheduled for May. It is not getting Covid which makes us wary but, if one of us is positive, having to find a place to stay and arrange for food delivery and the certificate of recovery.
Thank you very much from Northern California Nancy
Re Covid stay. We hv to stay until we test negative or gave a dr examine us after 7 days of first test and he could write an official document of some kind to let fly home. It’s the US cdc that has the rule. France doesn’t care.
Oh no! Hope you’re feeling OK and able to get home soon.
I’m sorry, Sandra! I was lucky enough to test negative the day before my trip, but my son was positive and thus is still in the UK (I left last Sunday). Happily we were able to find a nice Airbnb for him and as he and I had prepared to stay another week (just in case), he’s simply ‘working from home.’
I think European travel now requires expecting the unexpected. Susan mentioned that she and her husband had planned less this trip, and I think that will be my mantra, too.
I really enjoy your travel capsules and your daily travel notes. We will be in Paris in September and 4 of us would like to do some shopping while there. We realize we would not be comfortable shopping in ‘designer’ shops but would like to do more affordable, regular shopping. Are shopping guides available or some shopping area suggestions? Would appreciate any advice you or your readers can offer us.
I second HOlly’s request! I wouldn’t know where to start and would love some names.
Hi Holly, I’m actually compiling a list of favorite affordable shopping spots that I’ll post next week.
Oh, thank you, Susan! I look forward to the post.
It’s so great to see two of my favorite bloggers together – love it! You and Greetje come at things from a different perspective and I really appreciate the variety. Enjoy your time in Paris, it sounds wonderful and I love the photos and commentary.
Tsss.. I didn’t know you liked us both. What a pleasant surprise.
Greetje
I totally agree. What a day brightener to get to see my two favs together!
Love seeing your photos of Paris and the one of you with Greetje is a treat! I’ll bet you had a great time together!
The Crimson Cashmere website has an irresistible poncho video. It made me think I could also be a poncho wearer, but I don’t have the je ne sais quoi to carry it off like the (very) French woman in the video. I wanted to BE her. (I bought a poncho, but it didn’t transform me. I never wear it.)
Have fun in Epernay. I had planned to see it on a day trip from Reims, but there was a train strike. It was a happy accident. I was forced to explore Reims in more depth than I had planned, and it is now one of my favorite places in France. If you have been to Reims, I’d be interested to know how Epernay compares. Santé!
Two of my favorite bloggers together and looking fabulous!
Hi Susan! I hope you are really enjoying your visit to Paris. I have read your blog for years. Being an Arizona native(I now live in the Texas Hill Country) I identify with your SoCal style. Seeing you with Greetje is a treat for me. I follow her blog as well. Enjoy! Safe travels!
Susan, merci for your updates….so much fun to read. Please remind me of the make of your down coat.
Hi Kathleen, it’s from Lands’ End. Here’s the current version: https://bit.ly/3oEMO5K
What neighborhood are you staying in? I would love to see some photos of your AIRBNB. We really enjoyed the Lumieres in Les baux de Provence. While we’ve been to others these are still are favorite as they are in a quarry. Nice and cool in the hot summer and the art work on the large quarry walls is amazing. We’re planning on going again this summer and look forward to it. Enjoy your trip.
Thanks! I’ll be posting some photos and details of our apartment after our stay.
I’ll be in Paris in 3 weeks so am very interested in what you’re discovering. And I’m planning a day trip to Epernay, so can’t wait to hear about your visit.
What a surprise to see that not only one but four of your readers also follow my blog. So nice.
It was a wonderful afternoon with you. Too short of course.
Greetje
Yes, it was altogether too short! But hopefully we won’t have to wait another 3 years for the next one…
Many more than four of us follow you both haha
I was lucky to live in Paris for a few years and Cyrillus was one of my favourite shops! Enjoy your time in France – I’m envious!
Love the adorable high/low photo of you two! I’m 5’1″, and in college, my girlfriends were oddly split into the 5’1″ and 5’9″ camps (none in-between)!
I too was supposed to be in Paris right now for all that cool rainy weather but fate intervened in a strange way and I tested positive for covid TWO days before my flight from Montreal. That was a shock! Was able to rearrange it all for the end of the month. I guess I was naive in thinking two vaccinations and a boost would do it!
But thank goodness for the home test. I only took it because my husband was ill, I had few symptoms and could easily gotten on that plane with all those people. Which is probably what’s happening daily now.
I, too, follow both Susan and Greetje….what fun to see you two together! It was like a “surprise present!”
The photos of you and Greetje brought a big smile to my face! I follow you both and love the fashion forward style of you and Greetje. I hope you had a great visit and that we get to see some of the items in those shopping bags real soon! Enjoy your trip, stay warm, stay safe and stay well.
Looks like such a great trip! I’m glad you are having fun. Can’t wait to see what you do next!
How fun to see you and Greetje together! I’m another reader who enjoys both your blogs.
So nice to see you and Greetje together in one of my most favorite towns in Europe. I am following both of you already a couple of years, don’t leave( often )comments but enjoy both blogs, though both differ in fashion taste. Enjoy your trip in Europe Susan, kind regards from NL
Beautiful photos! What is the green/orange top under your chore sweater? The colors are gorgeous!!
Thanks, Claudia. It’s a top I bought in London earlier this year.