Cycling in Paris

Spring is finally here!! After what feels like the longest winter, it is truly a treat to enjoy some warmer temps. I have been looking at purchasing a leisure bike and thought about my lovely bike tour in Paris. I thought I would share some options about cycling in Paris. A wonderful way to enjoy Paris, is on a bike. I'm not talking the Tour De France, just leisurely bike ride around town. There are a few different way to accomplish renting a bike in Paris. I think Paris has one of the most innovative and easiest ways to rent a bike. Here are a few options for you if you decide to cycle around Paris.

Option 1- Vélib'- A bike rental system launched in Paris in 2007. Here is how it works. You can buy a a 1 or 7 day ticket online, or subscribe to a long term subscription. Show up at any of the stations throughout Paris, swipe your card, unlock your back and you are good to go. The first 390 minutes are free additional 30 minutes are €1 and the 2nd 30 minutes are €2. Pretty economical for a leisurely bike ride or to get from one part of the city to another. There is a network of 1800 stations and are available for 24 hours a day.  Check out the Vélib' website for more in-depth information about this service.

Option  2-  Organized bike tours in Paris. A more structured way to see the city. One company that we have used in the past is Fat Tire Bike Tours. Many options abound with this option. You can choose day or night tours, Versailles or Monet garden tours. An easy going, well informed tour guide will meet up you and get the bikes and off you go. A very relaxed and fun tour.

Option  3- On your own bike rental. Many visitors choose this option. You can rent the bike and accessories for the day and plan your own bike tour. Baskets, locks and helmets are additional accessories available. A picnic along the Seine and then a stop at the Cluny Museum and then a nice ride over to the Eiffel tower. Some rental companies will drop off and pick up the bikes at the end of the day! There are many bike tour route suggestions available on the internet as well.

Feel free to ask us any questions! We are always happy to help out with anything Paris!

Journal on your Journey

We all travel for many different reasons. One of the main reasons we travel is for the experience. Every trip I have taken has special memories. Often some of my memories are triggered by something someone has said, a photo or a Facebook or Twitter post.  I cannot tell you how many times I wished I had written down the name of that Parisian cafe that had the best Kir Royale or the excitement I felt when we were the first people to enter Versailles for the day!  There is no specific way to journal. A travel journal is the ultimate souvenir. You can add photos, ticket stubs, draw or doodle, you are only limited by your own imagination. You can also write the good and the bad, places you would like to revisit or recommend. In the world today, everyone wants review or a recommendation. Your travel journal will help to not only keep memories alive, but help to plan to future trips.

Now you ask.. where do I begin. For the techie, there are many travel journal apps available for android and Apple operating systems. Some are free and some cost a few dollars. Since this is a personal record, I would chose one that can be exported and saved on a hard drive. I like the idea of having a journal on my phone as I almost ALWAYS have it with me. Some are even voice activated!

Another option is the hand written journal. As I stated previously, this is the ultimate souvenir. Travel journals are not expensive and there are many to choose from. Memories abound in these hand written gems. Sometimes seeing a loved ones writings will evoke even more memories. It is also nice to sometimes touch that ticket stub from the "Les Miserables" production you saw in Paris, bringing back the anticipation and excitement. Calling you to return to the City of Light :)

When writing or typing your recollections, remember not to feel overwhelmed.. just write (or type).
There are many places to purchase journals. Barnes and Noble, Etsy, Amazon and even your local drug store. For all the techies, check your app store for travel journal apps. Please feel free to ask any questions, we love to hear from our followers!

Look for our future Twitter promotion to win a Paris themed travel journal!

Macaroon or Macaron?

Confusion sometimes abounds between these two cookies. Macarons (pronounced mah-kah-ROHN) and Macaroons (pronounced mah-kah-ROON) are not the same at all though they share some of the same ingredients. Let's start with the Macaron.

Dainty and elegant the Macaron is the beloved cookie of France. Very trendy in Paris. A sandwich cookie made with a light meringue and filled with delightful fillings. One must almost be a french pastry chef to pull off a perfect Macaron.

Now let's move on to the Macaroon. I will admit, these cookies evoke some fond memories for me. My mom would make these cookies typically around Easter. They were easy to make and delicious to eat. In France, the coconut macaroon is known as the "congolais". Another name for the coconut macaroon is "le rocher à la noix de coco". The almond flour version is simply called "le macaron" in French.

Macaroons are made with egg whites, sweetened condensed milk, sugar and, coconut! Easy to prepare and dropped on a baking sheet. Not one french pastry chef class required!

There are recipes galore found all over the internet for both the Macaron and the Macaroon. Below are a few links for both. If trying Macaron recipe, make sure you have enough time to make these delicate cookies and do not be disappointed if they are not perfect the first time. Keep trying! If time is of the essence, whip up a batch of Macaroons for the family.

Macaron Recipe-http://www.marthastewart.com/318387/french-macaroons
Macaroon Recipe- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coconut-macaroons-recipe3.html

The Arc De Triomphe

The Arc De Triomphe is the most recognizable Paris landmark after the Eiffel Tower!The Arc De Triomphe was built by Napoleon and is visited by millions. The Arc De Triomphe is the most illustrious symbol of French history. It was built to honor the military triumphs of Napoleon's  armies. Work began in 1809, but was not completed until 27 years later ( the foundation took 2 years!) Napoleon never saw the completion of his project. However, all 128 major battles and the 660 Generals that took part in the battles have been carved on the sides of the Arc De Triomphe. The entire structure is adorned with sculptures depicting battle scenes and allegories. Victory parades flowed through it in 1919 and Victor Hugo lay in state beneath it in 1885. Access for visitors is via an underpass. The roof of the Arc is accessible by a narrow staircase or small lift. The view from the top, out over Paris, is simply glorious!

Le Panthéon

Inspired by Rome's Pantheon and originally intended to become a church. A neoclassical architect, Jacques-Germain Soufflot finished the Pantheon just before the revolution. Of course, the revolutionaries had no use for another church, and thus designated it as a resting place for the "Founders of Liberty" a rival to the royal mausoleum at St. Denis. After the Revolution, the Panthéon yo-yoed between a church, a necropolis and, church headquarters until in 1885 it became a lay temple and tomb. The interior is shaped like a Greek cross with and iron framed dome in the center. The illustrious dead are entombed in the Pantheons lower level. It is one of the worlds most exclusive clubs. To take up residence, you must meet certain requirements. One must be a high achiever, french, dead. All but 2 of the 73 entombed here are men. Marie Curie a pioneer in the field of radiation and Sophie Berthelot who only got in because of her husband, chemist Marcellin Berthelot.
Other famous French that take up residence at the Panthéon include, Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, a president, Sadi Carnot. Some residents took longer than anticipated to be interred in the Panthéon.
Alexander Dumas joined in 2002 with his coffin draped in blue velvet and the Three Musketeers motto "One for All, and All for One" embroidered on it. It also took the buildings architect,Jacques-Germain Soufflot, 59 years after his death to be granted residence here. The Panthéon is located in the Latin Quarter, in the 5th Addrondissement.

Galeries Lafayette

Shopping in Paris is a must!!  Even if you do not purchase a thing, it is worth the experience. One of our favorite places to "shop" is the Galeries Lafayette, located on the Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The Galeries Lafayette is housed in a magnificent and stunning Art Nouveau building.
First inaugurated in 1893, the Galeries Lafayette department store is a Paris fashion institution. Located near the stately Opera Garnier, this is an essential stop for fashion enthusiasts: men and women's designer collections are always kept at the cutting-edge, and the latest trends in jewelry and accessories, home furnishings, or cosmetics can all be perused under one roof. Galeries Lafayette also houses one of Paris' gourmet food markets, Lafayette Gourmet, that will be sure to tempt foodies. Modeled after a mid-eastern baazar, the store flaunts elegant Belle Epoque architecture.

The Cluny Museum~Paris France

Upon entering the Musée de Cluny, you will find yourself in exceptional surroundings which join together two prestigious buildings in the heart of Paris: the Thermes Gallo-Romains de Lutèce (Gallo-Roman baths), built at the end of the 1st century and the Hôtel des Abbés de Cluny, built at the end of the 15th century. You also have access to a large collection of art from the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and the British Isles. Colorful, diverse and sometimes strange, the collections include paintings, sculptures, tapestries, stained glass, and silver and ivory pieces which give you an insight into the history of art. Some of the masterpieces displayed here include the Lady and the Unicorn (a tapestry of the well-known fictional story), sculptures of the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle, and La Rose et l’Autel d’Or de Bâle. The medieval inspired garden is another place to see when you visit as it provides a link between the collections, building and urban surroundings. Many events and activities are held at the Musée de Cluny such as exhibitions, conferences, book readings, medieval music concerts, guided tours and workshops. All these events mean that everyone has the chance to discover the origins of the contemporary world through the Middle Ages.

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