Month: May 2011

Decorating our new home in Versailles…

Ah! The majesty of the Chateau de Versailles. The original built by Louis XIII, enlarged by Louis XIV and continuing to be embellished through the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI, vacated the day after the French revolution and so on…our heads are spinning from the action of those days, the sheer opulence and the pomp and ceremony; our African Frenchman shares fascinating facts in his best french accented broken english…rather a novel way to learn the details of Louis, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, Josie et al. The hall of mirrors quite spectacular and the gardens stunning in their elegance.20110530-124410.jpg

Finish this our third day with a lovely evening in the company of Fifi and Dickie’s friends Bruna and Rob, dining off the Champs Élysées then strolling it’s length to photograph each other in front of the Arc de Triumph…as you do.20110530-124459.jpg

Bruna is adorned in fabulous trinkets thanks to her latest purchasing expedition for ‘Harlequin Market’ her jewelry store in Paddington, Sydney. She’s sporting the latest Hermes bangle…deeply coveted by Pixie…and plans to take we girls to’the’ street to be seen in…we feel our bank accounts contract at the mere thought! Rob will keep the poor hapless Dicky entertained for we have come to a marvelous conclusion…our beloved Paris really is the domaine of us girly girls…I attempt to appease with photos of the latest concept cars.

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Loving the big red bus…

Settled in, board the big red bus and take in an overview of Paris’s 20 Arrondissements and icons. Bearings for Dicky, a refresher for Fifi and Pixi, and foundations for the week’s plans.

Feeling right at home in our light and airy little Pension on the Saint Germaine Boulevard surrounded by a myriad of little cafes, restaurants, book stores and art galleries typical of the Latin Qua20110529-080733.jpgrter, action central, meeting place to bring in the weekend…close to the Seine, a hop from Notre Dame, stones throw from the Louvre and a skip to the Musee de Orsay.

Dicky still hasn’t forgiven for having to lug luggage up 67 narrow spiral stairs, his back moaning and not a golf club …the perfect Dicky ‘man cave’…in sight. Exacerbated after being dragged to our ‘girl cave’ wonderland…the Galleries La Fayette

20110529-080809.jpgExquisite lingerie and Dyptique candles…check; long, long walk home through the streets of Chanel, Dior, Cartier, Hermes…check; a linger on the Pont Neuf to absorb the Parisian culture…check, Centre Georges Pompidou  to view the best modern art exhibition…check, Sephora, the absolute in cosmetics and fragrance…check; ‘goldfish’ photographic moments at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and all rounded off with a juicy steak washed down with a petite little vin Rouge and bed!

So much to see and do…so little time…and time is running out!

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Settling into left bank Paris…

Feels like we’ve ‘come home’… is this due to settling into one lovely apartment and spreading ourselves out for seven whole days? Do we put it down to familiarity for this is the third visit for Fifi, forth for Pixi? Or is it simply because this most beautiful of cities – the city of lights – is again casting her spell?

It’s been a long journey this past five weeks…5,200k, three countries, three different20110526-071507.jpg languages, so much to see, yet we’ve seen so much…saying goodbye to our beloved Poppy car a poignant experience, revisiting our Blog affording us opportunity to differentiate between primacy and recency.

Philosophsing aside, practicalities call…it’s time to regroup… four weeks worth of washing, admire the big bunch of Peonies our kind host has provided, sip the delectable Burgundy she has left, stroke the crisp French linen on our king size beds, a little Angus and Julia Stone on the IPod dock, feet up, plan the coming days. Saint-Germain-des-Pres. Conveniently located on the left bank, bustling, lively and chic. Paris requires a week all to her self for exploration…plus a fine constitution for managing the 65 stairs up to our apartment!!

Reliving initial wonderment through Dickie’s eyes for this is his first time in Paris? Moving beyond the obvious and into the culture and heartbeat of the city? Perhaps a little of both…

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