Post-Vacation Daydreaming

For the last few weeks I've been trying to get back into the swing of things after my trip to Paris and London. It hasn't been easy. My mind keeps wandering back to the cafes, the pains au chocolat, the Eiffel Tower spotting, the polite British accents, and, yes, even the hustle and bustle of the cites. I don't know if it's because I didn't spend enough time with Lisa in cities that require more than three days to explore, but I feel unfinished -- like there was more to do, more to see, and more things to talk about.

Since I can't seem to shake this ripped page feeling of ambivalence, I've decided to stop trying and go full tilt into daydreaming. And this blog is a good way for me to stay addicted to my Parisian affliction -- perhaps an unfortunate gateway drug into a dizzying attempt to re-energize my life. Nevertheless, it gets me thinking -- remembering -- the surface moments of visiting stores new to me, browsing through fashions I never get to see in the desert climate of Arizona, and fashion-watching on the streets of the most stylish cities of the world.

One of my favorite moments is when I received a reassuring lesson in French lingerie -- you don't have to be a double d to find alluring underthings. And, as my mom said to me after I excitedly told her about my discovery, "It seems like the women over there aren't as fake as they are in the U.S." I'm not sure if that is entirely the case, but it does seem they cater to the smaller-sized ladies (which can actually be a curse for those who don't naturally fall into that category).

Anyway, I was pleased when Lisa ushered me into a lingerie shop called Princess Tam Tam, and I was able to pick up a couple of perfectly-fitting bras. Unfortunately for me the store presently only exists in Europe...and...they don't ship to the U.S. Fortunate for me, though, is that my best friend can ship them to me. Or, better yet, I can just use my lingerie needs as an excuse to make another trip back.

And in London, while seeing a variety of stores that don't exist yet in Phoenix but I've frequented online (Zara, Mango, and TopShop), Lisa, once again, introduced me to a new-to-me store called COS. At the time, I didn't know much about the label except that the clothes looked rather luxurious but also fairly affordable. Their fall/winter collection was full of voluminous wools and muted hues -- perfect for London's melancholy tinted days. Later on, I found out the label is an off-shoot brand of H&M, and, again, only available in Europe (and apparently also in Asia and the Middle East). I guess this provides me with another excuse to get my lingeried butt back to the Old World. Until then, my wanderings on their online store will have to suffice...

Please Mind the Gap, Love

If my stay in Paris wasn’t enough to fill my heart with joy, my memorable trip to London made it burst. This was my first time to the city known as “The Smoke,” and although Lisa had visited a couple times before with her daughters, this would be the first time she was child-free. We were both determined to have a fun girls getaway, and I think we succeeded.

After our short train ride through the hills and valleys of France and England, and through a somewhat ear-popping excursion under the English Channel, we found ourselves in London’s King’s Cross/St. Pancras station. The packed stations was a little daunting at first, but after figuring out what kind of Tube pass to get, we were on our way to the hotel.  Lisa, being the metro-guru that she is, knew exactly which line to take. And luckily for us, the Piccadilly Line to our Gloucester stop was super easy. And, what was even better was that our hotel was a hop, skip, and jump from the Tube station. The only difficult moment we had was lugging our luggage up two flights of stairs. (It was a good work out nonetheless.)

Once we got settled into our hotel room, we started getting ready for our afternoon tea reservations at The Wolseley – apparently a well-known (and dare I say swanky) spot for a traditional English tea experience. Lisa and I had the basic tea service – our choice of tea (I chose the The Wolseley Afternoon Blend) and two scones with homemade jam and clotted cream (also known in America as butter). It was delightful and astonishingly very filling – a perfect cap-off a first afternoon in the city.

With a little shopping after tea, purchasing gifts (including tea and jam) and enjoying the scenery, we heading back to the hotel for a little rest. That evening we stayed near the hotel, traveling only a block or so for dinner at an Italian restaurant. The weather was a little wet and chilly that first night, but being from Phoenix, I enjoyed it tremendously.

The next day was heralded “Tourist Day.” Lisa and I decided to hop on a bus tour of the city. It was the easiest way to see all the sights for a somewhat affordable price. We took copious amounts of pictures of all the landmarks and hopped off near the Thames River across from Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. What amazing architectural and historical sights we saw! I was in awestruck by the intricate work of each structure and the significance they have not only in England’s history but also in America’s.

We also saw many other unique and ornately designed buildings throughout the City of London and surrounding boroughs. We drove over the London Bridge, saw the London Tower and The London Eye (which I didn’t make it to this time around), snapped pictures of numerous pubs, and took note of the shopping areas we wanted to visit the following day.

After a full day of sightseeing, we got ourselves ready for a fancy evening at Gordon Ramsey’s Maze Grill on Grosvenor Square. After a humorous and lively taxi ride to the restaurant – one filled with talk about polka-dot knickers and the happenstance of “finding” a hotel – we found ourselves in a very exclusive-feeling establishment. Those Londoners really know how to make a lady feel special. From the courteous hostess to the nice bartender, and to a wonderful (albeit expensive) meal, it was another lovely London experience. (Sorry I have no pictures of it – I didn’t want to come across as too obnoxiously touristy.)

Lisa’s  and my final full day in London was spent shopping. We made our way to Notting Hill’s Portobello Street Market. And what a market it was! Never before have I seen so many people all in one place and speaking so many different languages. It was like being at the United Nations of Flea Markets.

There were so many goodies and goods I was in shopping and eating heaven. Baked goods galore, fresh fruits and vegetables, and all sorts of delicious smells wafted through the streets. There were also an array of stalls devoted to antiques, souvenirs, clothing items and accessories. I was drawn to some of the antiques – particularly an old bookstall that had 19^th century books ranging from an old Bible to tiny pocket-sized books of Shakespeare’s plays. A book that caught my eye was a 1880s edition of a Keats poetry book. I grabbed it up and had no qualms paying full price.

I also found an antique stall that carried old letterpress letters, which I had been looking for in Phoenix for quite some time. I found the letters I wanted – my initials T-J-K – and a stand to house them on. I even haggled the price down a little bit.

After getting our fill of the market scene, we made our way to Oxford and Regent Streets for real store shopping. It was crowded crazyville and I was a little overwhelmed. (I think Lisa can attest to that.) But Lisa found some great deals and I found several things I put on my mental list of things-to-get-when-I-come-back.

We then somehow found ourselves back on the bus tour from the previous day (the tickets were good for two days). We gave our feet some time to recuperate and my introverted mind a moment or two to decompress. After my crowd-induced mini-meltdown settled, Lisa and I made our final shopping stop at Harrods – the mecca of department stores. Lisa described it as the Caesar’s Palace of shopping centers. She was right. From its ornate interior to its luxurious designer offerings, it was quite a remarkable structure to behold.

Before we left our beloved London, we were given one last gift from this hospitable and gracious city. A very strapping young man offered to help carry Lisa’s and my luggage down to the Tube platform. We both watched in swooning gratitude, as he lifted our luggage in each hand – tattooed muscles bulging – and carried them down the stairs for us. With much appreciation and a warm heart for this city that seems to keep on giving, we thanked that kind Londoner and made our way back to Paris.

Both cities have found a special place in my heart – Paris for its effortless beauty, scrumptious food, and amorous spirit; and London for its convivial atmosphere, sardonic humor, and awesome history. Although my stay was filled with a sufficient amount of memorable experience, I know that these two places have burrowed their way into my soul and that I’ll never be quite complete without visiting them again and again.

Until then, love, cheers!

Mon Merveilleux Voyage à Paris

It's been a week since I left the City of Lights, and I am still daydreaming about my adventures.  It had been seven years since my last visit and 10 years since my first. Maybe because this time around I'm older, more experienced, and a little more relaxed (yes, relaxed -- I can be relaxed, sometimes), I had a much more fulfilling experience and now a persistent tugging at my heart to return sooner rather than later.

For my third visit to Paris, I stayed close to the heart of the city -- Arrondissement 7 to be exact -- right near the Eiffel Tower. In fact, just a block away, this was my view.

After my previous touristy trips, this time I stayed away from the museum and famous landmarks. And even though I was just blocks away from that iconic tower, I resisted the urge to travel up its industrial legs. Instead, I merely enjoyed the scenery of this massive metal structure, taking pictures of it each time I saw it peeping into the skyline.

Most of my visit was spent enjoying each day with my best friend Lisa, walking the streets of Paris and witnessing its heart and soul. And although it's not perfect by any means -- the people can be cold, it can be crowded and smelly, and it's very expensive -- it has a beauty and a light that can only be understood by being present in it. That is what I hoped to discover during my trip, and that is exactly what I found.

During my four days in Paris, I walked through an eerie, magical cemetery in Montparnasse, paying my respects to some of the greatest artists and thinkers of the 20th century. I enjoyed an extended lunch in the Luxembourg Gardens, daily mid-afternoon cafe stops, a stroll (or a hike, depending on who you ask) along the Seine, and a shopping excursion through the narrow and ancient streets of Saint-Germain-des-Pres.

I also saw two blind people run into each other (it was like seeing a double rainbow!), nuns shopping in Le Bon Marche (an upscale department store), and a herd of dogs playing in the Seine. I experienced the kindness of a waiter, who patted me on the back and said "it's gonna be okay" when I messed up my order in French, and the seediness of gypsies trying to scam Lisa and me into buying a gold ring. And then, there was the threat of swarming bees and kamikaze pigeons trying to partake of my  lovely French lunch.

Each day brought something new, and each moment became a memory that I will cherish forever.

And although I tried to bypass the tourist traps of the city, I did decide to take a boat ride along the Seine. Lisa and I enjoyed the weather, the scenery, and the occasional goofy pose.

One of the other touristy moments of the trip -- but probably the best -- was when I bought a "love padlock" to lock onto the Pont de Arts bridge. It was for my grandmother who had passed away in July. In black ink, I wrote the name of my grandmother, Nellie King, encircled it in a heart and locked it on the bridge to commemorate my love for her. I kissed it and said to myself, "you made it to Paris, Grandma!"

It was a cathartic and heartwarming moment for me. Now and forever (or at least until the Parisians get sick of these locks and cut them off -- which I hope doesn't happen for a very long time), I will be able to return to Paris, not only to enjoy its beauty and its heart, but to visit my grandma on a bridge surrounded by the love and light of a city that continually fulfills me in so many ways.

Until the next time... au revoir, my lovely Paris!

P.S.: Stay tuned for my next post on my adventures in "The Smoke," aka London.