Paris in the Beginning
Last week I [begrudgingly] returned from Paris after spending five wonderful days in my favorite city in the world. It was a really great trip. The perfect blend of seeing friends, participating in planned activities, and spontaneous wandering around.
It reminded me of my early days in discovering Paris, the beginnings. I first visited in 1989 with my family. We were there for the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day and it was fabulous.
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It ignited the francophile in me and sealed my fate. But it was only the initial spark. It would be more than a decade before I could begin to immerse myself in Paris.
When I moved to France to work in Switzerland I made a commitment to take advantage of every weekend, of every holiday to explore Europe and in particular Paris. From where we lived behind Geneva, Paris was a five-hour drive. For three years Mr. Misadventures and I drove to Paris at least once a month, if not more.
In the beginning, like any new relationship, it was magical. And every trip allowed me to fall deeper in love. I think the deeper you fall in the beginning the more you forgive later.
Since my mother-in-law lived there, some trips included visits to her, or at least meals or a play. She lived in a very tiny apartment (par for the course in Paris) and it was nearly impossible to sleep there. Instead, we stayed in a little Ibis in Meudon La Fôret.
Because it was inside the Forêt Domaniale de Meudon it was surrounded by trees, yet super convenient as it was on a direct road into the city.
It became “our place.” We would wake up and enjoy a simple breakfast and then head out to explore Paris or Versailles. Sometimes in the afternoon, we would return for a rest after which we would have a panaché in the bar before heading out to dinner or a play.
Gradually we moved more and more into the city and stayed at one lovely Paris hotel after another in the Accor chain, it was perfect for our budget since we were visiting so often. It is why I still have an affection for them today.
We always met great staff from all over the world who were also enamored with Paris. It was like being in a club, the secret password is our insatiable desire to experience more and more of the city.
Those trips hold a special place in my heart and they were heavy on my mind for some reason on this last trip. Maybe it was because we were there for longer than usual.
While five days may sound like a short amount of time to visit Paris it was the most amount of consecutive days that Mr. Misadventures and I had ever spent. We usually come for about three days on our way to and from somewhere else.
Staying longer this time reminded me of Paris in the beginning when I was soaking it all in. I didn't know how long I would be staying so I wanted to take advantage of every hour. It was the same for the last trip. It had been way too long since my last visit and I don't know when I will be returning.
But I know I will return and that is all that matters.
How about you? Is there a hotel or a hotel chain that holds a special place in your heart?
These photos are so dreamy and have me kicking myself that I would get a terrible flu during my time in Paris! Not fair.
@Kristin, you can’t help getting sick, but I know it is a total bummer!
Wow…that first picture is really fantastic! I WILL visit Paris one day…
I do have a favorite hotel chain but it’s a little stupid…I really love Embassy Suites hotels because we stayed at one during one of my earliest vacation memories and they all seem to have falling water in them…we stayed at one on our latest vacation and I was reminded of how much I liked them. I think it was a Disneyworld trip and there was a big Mickey Mouse head on the wall near the top (maybe next to or instead of the Embassy Suites logo).
@Lisa, not a stupid answer at all. The Ibis hotels I mentioned are in the same category as Embassy Suites. I doesn’t have to be a fancy hotel to hold a place in your heart. There are many reasons why are sentimental about objects or places and it is highly personal!
I’m obsessed with Faena in BA since we were married there! I just found out that they are opening a sister property in Miami soon. I’m sooooo excited!!! I LOVE that last photo wow! So glad you had a fab time in Paris!
@AndiP, that is one chain I have not heard of, I will more likely get to Miami before BA so I hope to check them out.
So beautiful! I would love to visit Paris someday soon.
@Candice, I hope you get there!
would love to go to France. Such a beautiful country with great history
I’ve never been to Paris either.. has always sounded and looked like an amazing place to go. I really don’t think i’ll ever get the opportunity. You are so lucky to be able to make trips such as these!
@Gina, never say never, amazing things happen all the time!
I don’t get to travel much and can’t say I’ve traveled to the same place more than once except for Orlando area, Florida. I’ve never been out of the country but I’m sure Paris is one of those places that each time visited there are numerous new experiences.
@Paula, so true, like New York or San Francisco as well.
Love these photos. Paris is still on my places to visit list. Such beauty!
@Amber, I hope you get there one day!
These are such gorgeous photos. One of my “determinations” this year is to get into Paris more and enjoy it. It’s so easy to stay in my own little corner with my dog and my garden, but we are just a few train stops away.
i love paris, it’s such a beautiful city full of wonder, even though it isn’t the cleanest city in the world, the architecture is so gorgeous!!!
My favourite chain is always the Ibis hotel.. cheap and cheerful for the most part, but they totally, utterly suck in Paris unless you stay at Ibis Pantin.
Pretty place. I took French in high school and all I remember is how to count in French and a few words. Love to go one day to France.
I’ve never been to Paris but am living it through your pictures. Thank you!
It is a dream of mine (like so many others) ti visit Paris someday. For now I read about other peoples wonderful experiences there.
@Melissa, I hope you get there one day!
A friend of mine planned a beautiful week-end in Paris to go to the Opéra Garnier and we stayed in the Hotel “Caron de Beaumarchais” in le Marais. It was a nice experience, like we were staying to the château de Versailles. Definitely one of the best days I had in Paris.
@La Nomade, sounds divine!
really nice i really wanna visit paris sounds like a beautiful place
@Krystel, it is! My favorite place on Earth!