BEAR'S last day in Paris

BEAR sends you a last bisous/kiss from Paris. It's been such a lovely trip and the weather co-operated perfectly - plein de soleil et pas trop de pluie! BEAR did not ride a Velib - too busy running. BEAR did go to a FAB croissant tasting at Amy's, who didn't know she live in a 'chambre de bonne' once a maid's room. Amy fell in love with all the gorgeous views of Paris.

As one is inclined to do if one lives on the 6th floor up in Paris.

Ah ze croissant tasting.Miam-miam!

BEAR was in 7th heaven on the 6th floor.

Carol was in 7th heaven with all the pate de tartiner spreads (caramel au beurre sale, cocoa-honey, noisette, bla bla bla ) she brought along to put on those croissants. Carol forgot to take serious notes in her ummm state of spread-ecstacy.

Off to meet ex-pat gallerist Grace in Montmartre of galerie Chez Grace.

Grace took BEAR to Cafe des 2 Moulins - Amelie's cafe from the adorable movie on rue Lepic - YUM!

BEAR had quite a full day of eating on Saturday, that ended with a divine home-cooked dinner and delicious cabernet franc from Chateau du Petit Thouars.

MON DIEU

Our Sunday flight was at 7 PM (19:10) so we killed time in W.H.Smith admiring bear stickers.

And jam stickers.

A last later run to the Raspail Bio marche.

For pommes to eat on the plane.

And a gift for our kind hostess, who dreams of eclair seame noir from Sadaharu Aoki

The curtain was coming down on Paris pastries for BEAR- it usually does by 2 pm on Sundays in Paris.

At Charles de Gaulle, BEAR cleverly grabbed a salade verte before boarding. AirFrance meals are not what they once were. A bit of browsing in the dutyfree is a must.

Especially Eiffel Towers...

BEAR as usual, checks out all the bears - Fauchon Bears are awfully appealing.

After a smooth AF flight and lots of zzzzzs,

BEAR bids New York BONJOUR

et BONJOUR PBers!

Home in Paris

What do YOU do your first day in Paris?

It could be anywhere you love to visit really...

Do you rent a Velib and go cruising around town?

What makes you feel immediatement at home in a place you've visited before?
A stop at your favorite patisserie per chance, like SECCO?
Do you plan on cooking a meal (if you rented an apartment) and go off to your favorite marche?
Buy a few fleurs for your room, say at La Nom de la Rose, even if you're staying in a hotel..?
GO SHOE SHOPPING!
Or browse in a wine shop..?

Do you get all sportive and need to take a jog in the Luxembourg Jardin to feel homie?

How about buying a bunch of French magazines at a presse kiosk even though your French is rather rusty or non-existent?

Then you head for your favorite cafe where they even remember you from the last time, like Le Select...

Must-haves = box of macarons!

Some French chocolate!

Bread or those cookies by Poilane bien sur.

A quickie run into a department store to catch up on the latest tendances/trends like Le Bon Marche?

Do you take a Metro or a mini tour on a Paris bus like the No.95 that goes everywhere you want to go..?

Do you stand in the rue studying the ardoise/menus pretending you're going to eat there..?

Did you book a table ahead at your favorite resto?

Is visiting the Eiffel Tower an absolute must-see for you first day?

Do you also keep an eye out for something special to bring home to remember your trip?

My first day in Paris, I try to pretend it's my last day so I can remember to appreciate every single nanon second of it. But usually I forget. I get caught up in the visual buffet and forget to remember until it is The Last Day...

Tell me what YOU do first day in Paris.

BONJOUR PARIS!