This year, my mother turned 70 and I turned 40. In the spirit of celebrating one another and enjoying this short life, we took a trip to Paris together.
We chose December, in part, because it is my birthday month, but also because neither of us had visited in the winter before. So, why not explore Paris beneath winter twinkling lights and visit the Christmas markets, as well? In between, we planned to stroll and shop, stop for cafe au laits, and take it all in. Really, whatever one decides to do in this city is the right thing, because as Audrey Hepburn said, “Paris is always a good idea.”
We arrived on a cloudy and cold Sunday afternoon and headed to the beautiful Hotel Brighton on Rue de Rivoli. I was sleepy at first, as the taxi left Charles de Gaulle and headed through the unremarkable grassy flat land around the airport. But, as soon as the limestone and wrought iron buildings appeared on the horizon, my heart skipped a beat. I love this city.
Fortunately for us, our room was not only ready, but also beautiful, spacious, and complete with a view of the Eiffel Tower. After a sudsy bath to wash off a day of travel, we donned our winter coats and headed out to stroll. Our first stop was just around the corner to the well known Angelina’s for a cup of hot chocolate (and shot of caffeine) for our walk. Delicious and thick, this is not a cup of cocoa you have as a nightcap after a Parisian dinner. This was like a mini meal in and of itself. I felt revived.
We strolled through Place Vendome to admire its beautiful and seasonal decor. We even puffed out our chests a bit and played the part of hotel guest in order to walk into the Ritz for a look. Wowzy … I get it.
The day’s sun was setting as continued our stroll, which made the city all the more exhilarating. We made our way toward the opera building, lit up in its grandeur, and then behind it to steal some shopping minutes in Galleries Lafayette.
The store was bustling with holiday shoppers and festive spirit. Though incredibly fortunate to have been to Paris a handful of times prior to this trip, I had never ever been to the rooftop of the Galleries and, boy, was I missing out. It was beautiful! Free and open to all – this is the place to go for city views. Each time I see Le Sacre Coeur lit up at night, I get all fuzzy and jelly feeling inside. It might be my favorite view of Paris. My mom and I played the role of tourist well and snapped our selfies. I felt like I could hear the music of Ratatouille in the air.
Next, we strolled to Printemps for more window shopping and holiday spirit. We picked up a few gifts for the kids, mostly French children’s books and little munchies. After the walking and shopping, we were ready for dinner. The warmth and scents of Cafe de le Paix greeted us, and we happily sat down for some yum. Sadly, we couldn’t sit in the restaurant without reservations, so mom’s dreams of sole meuniere were crushed. And yet, we still enjoyed delicious bites at the cafe and watched the Paris evening go by. We were contented and thankful … and tired.
The walk back to our hotel was peaceful and twinkling. Of course, we fell into bed, but not before enjoying the Eiffel’s dazzling 9:00 show right outside our window. Audrey was right: this was a good idea.
Paris, day one, fini avec cœur reconnaissant: finished with a grateful heart.
