Room With A View: Paris!
Our first afternoon in Paris didn’t go quite as planned. We hit some crazy traffic on our way into town from the airport, and then upon arriving at the hotel we’d booked months before were told (very apologetically) that our room was still under renovation and we’d have to be moved to another hotel. After another taxi ride, and a long wait in line to check in, we were finally able to stash our bags and take a nice walk before dinner. But I can’t complain about the new location…near the Louvre and Tuileries, some great shopping, and easy access to the rest of the city.
Wearing: earrings (similar) | jacket | tee (similar) | jeans | shoes
Sadly, we’re only here for one more day and one evening; we depart for home early tomorrow. But I plan to have a great day in Paris…including lunch with Tish! The weather is beautiful, and the city is calling. What a great way to wrap up an incredible vacation!
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Please post what the femmes d’un certain age are wearing in the city. I leave in two weeks and haven’t completed my packing list.
Bienvenue en France! More photos!!!!
Too bad that you had to waste a few precious Paris hours in traffic and hotel reservation woes, but looks as if you’re over that already and making the most of the time you have left in your favourite city. Have a wonderful day there!
Ditto Linda’s comment, I will be visiting Paris in July…..
Both you and your traveling wardrobe look superb! The watchwords in France have always been “hurry up and wait,” but my neatest memories have usually come during the “wait” part. Your comfy clothing choices and optimistic attitude will always create an ideal vacation anywhere!
You look fabulously happy being back in Paris! Enjoy
I’ve finally thrown in the towel and take the train into Paris from Charles de Gaulle. It’s not always madly convenient, but it’s rarely delayed, and the cost is a fraction of a cab – especially if you sit in traffic! I’m eager to know what hotel you’re in, too…
happy for you hugs,
Janice
Since you have several friends in Paris on your next trip it may be a good idea to ask them to confirm your hotel reservation before your arrival.
Hi Emily, actually the hotel itself confirmed our reservation a few days before we were scheduled to arrive. They apparently miscalculated how long the renovation work would take.
That’s why we never book into a hotel that’s doing renovations. First of all they never can be sure when they’ll finish – they might honestly believe they will be done – but usually things take longer than expected, and often in Paris (eg the renovations to both the Musee de Picasso – and the Paris Ritz went years over scheduled dates) and, secondly, renovations often mean noise, workmen and vehicles blocking access, dust etc.
Only once was I forced to break this rule – when I attended a conference in Bucharest, only a year or so after the end of the Ceaucescu regime. The hotel had been closed for a major reno for some years and they were reopening in time for this big deal conference (in the Ceaucescu Palace). The hotel had clearly once been a lovely historic building – it was art nouveau – but had just been re-furnished inside as Louis XV, the two didn’t quite work. The garden at the back was still untouched, rather overgrown with enormous trees and shrubs that must have been beautiful when kept in good condition. There was also the old empty swimming pool with its original tiles – created to make it look rather like the sea with waves. It was looking rather sad and unkempt – autumn leaves blowing along the base. We hoped they’d restore the gardens and pool more simply and authentically to the original style.
But it wasn’t quite finished inside and had been done in rather a hurry. The electrics didn’t work in some rooms, each day when we got back from the conference centre we kept finding new furniture – desks, chests of drawers, mirrors, paintings in our rooms. Quite charming in a way. The staff still had their fingers in page 2 of the manual. All were lovely and so keen to be helpful but still far from understanding how to provide appropriate service.
But so glad it worked out well in the end for you in Paris! Best wishes, Pamela
Hi Pamela, if we’d had notification of the renovations, we might have done likewise. But this was a complete surprise. 🙂
Bad luck. One to be wary of in the future then.
When planning a stay at a hotel we haven’t visited before I always consult Tripadvisor reviews. Sometimes it’s possible to pick up useful information. But you probably do this already – and the reno wasn’t mentioned there either.
Did they organise the alternative acccommodation for you – or did you have to find it yourself? Best wishes, Pamela
Ah, you almost brought a tear to my eye. I was just looking at our photos from exactly two years ago when we were in Paris. We stayed very near your location and made sure to stroll the Tuileries daily. I’m so glad you are enjoying your time there.
Oh, and ask Tish about a wonderful leather goods shop which is very near you, she recommended it on her blog and I visited while there …twice. I did not leave empty handed either time.
Last month we went to Paris and stayed a block from Place Vendome.
A wonderful trip.
You’re right, though, I saw lots of women in metallic sneakers. Especially if they were touring (Louvre, Notre Dame..).
Now currently in Antibes and just spent the day in Cannes, with lunch at one of the official hotels for the Film Festival. Fabulous people watching. Particularly noticed here the number of white sneakers rather than metallic. Chanel bags all over – the classic flap, boy bags and a few more slouchy variants – range of colours: blacks of course, white, lemon, silver and lizard skin. Saw a couple of very pretty pinks in the Chanel boutique. Lots of colour in Cannes dressing and some beautiful gowns – as well as a few extraordinary ones. The occasional brocade kimono over white silk pants and tops. Best wishes, Pamela
I know, it’s like if you have been to Paris, immediately when a picture scrolls up you get that feeling you had when you were in that very place.. Well, at least I do!
I really don’t understand where the idea of a style blogger doing a black top and jeans with white tennis show merits attention.who could not come up with this
Marta, when I travel I’m not dressing for “attention,” but rather for comfort, practicality and appropriateness. I’m not attending fashion shows or parading for street style photographers. I’m on my feet for hours at a time, taking public transport and having to shlep my own bags.
I meant basic attention as in advice
I’m truly sorry and no offense meant
I think I don’t get the point of the blog
The travel part doesn’t make sense to me as far as Style. Comfort and commonplace are easy.
Not for everyone. Perhaps you should start your own blog, and spend less time on critique of others.
Sorry that sounded negative!
I just think you could do better!!!
Marta, I’m genuinely curious now…what would “better” mean to you?
A unique look that inspires others to push the style up in their own look. Your hairstyle captures what I mean. It looks great and it is a perfect style for you. A look that not everyone can do. I had not been following that long before your trip but the looks you modeled at home were far more stylish. I would love to see you up your travel style.
I truly do love your blog. I will quiet down now and just enjoy following your adventures. Thanks for your kind responses
Thanks for clarifying, Marta! I understand your point and while travel has different functional requirements than being out and about at home, I would like to try to incorporate more variety.
Marta, The ‘point’ of most blogs is ‘affiliate marketing’. Some, but not all.
Once you understand that the slide shows and content are a big shill, you sit
back and enjoy. You have a choice to read or not and to click on links and buy
or not.
Your holiday sounds and looks wonderful. Wished you had more sunshine (as you could have expected). It is one of those things in life we cannot control: weather.
Greetje