Detaille - Perfume since 1905

I am fascinated by perfume and love everything about it, from the science behind mixing new scents to the beautifully crafted little bottles. I visited the Goutal boutique at the beginning of my year in France and so decided that I should end my time with another trip, this time to the Detaille shop in the 9th arrondissement. Detaille scents date back to 1905 and were first created for the Countess of Presle in the form of a scented balm to combat the dehydration caused by driving, something women were only just beginning to experience. This uniquely feminine and historical past have shaped the brand today and it remains an exclusive and luxurious label to this day. The shop was classic and beautiful with mirrored display shelves and sweet little perfume bottles lined-up perfectly. The lady was equally lovely and spend a long time explaining the history and all the products to me, adding a very special personal touch. In my opinion, the nicest thing was then mini-museum that they had created with all the old packaging on display, as well a the original bottles and the sales records from when the shop first opened. 

I love that Parisians respect independent and artisan boutiques, enjoying and indulging in luxury products that are steeped in unique histories. There is something much more special and exciting about buying perfume from a sweet little shop from a friendly and knowledgable person who plays a part in creating and designing the product, rather than from a clinical sales assistant in a department store. 

Mood - Appreciative

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Parc Monceau

In my opinion the prettiest park in Paris is the parc Monceau, closely followed by Buttes-Chaumont. Both are perfect for an evening drink and maybe even a picnic surrounded by Parisians doing the same.  That is the beauty of the parc Monceau, it remains a park for the Parisians rather than for tourists, unlike the jardins de Luxembourg and the jardins de Tuileries. I spend a while exploring the park, walking around its perimeter and the lake, just appreciated its character and beauty. I had an afternoon by myself and knew this would be the perfect use of my time. Sometimes being alone in a park is the best way to see it as I was not distracted chit-chatting with friends and my eyes were fully focussed on the life and nature surrounding me. 

The highlight of the park is undoubtably the lake which is surrounded with Roman ruins in the shape of an old Colosseum. Wild flowers spring up around the stone and giant fish glide slowly in the murky water creating a peaceful haven. 

The sweet little carousel and old fashioned swings make this park a favourite for petit parisiens and adults alike. Children run freely across the lawns whilst groups of friends sip their wine having a good old gossip. I really felt part of the city lifeblood, part of the rhythm of its people and I felt like I belonged to the tribe of city-dwellers who called this park their garden. 

I did get a little carried away taking photographs but it was such a lovely, lazy summer's day and everywhere I looked I saw things too delightful not to photograph. Capturing memories. Of course being by yourself makes it very difficult to take photos with you in them and therefore I ended up taking a few too many rubbish selfies. 

Mood - Summery 

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Big Fernand

One of my life ambitions is to find the world's best burger. I realise this is not a very original dream or even achievable, but I am willing to give it a good shot. My quest recently took me to Big Fernand, the self proclaimed 'atelier du Hanburger' to check out the hype. I enjoyed being able to tailer-make my burger, choosing the type of bun, filling, topping, sauce and sides and was able to put together the dream Bethany burger. Add to that a side of chocolate milk and I am one happy little bunny. It was delicious, filled with meaty goodness in a brioche bun with suitably oozing and rich sauce. Pure goodness. 

The restaurant is small but cosy with dining-hall style tables creating a friendly atmosphere. Despite their being a queue out of the door we were served pretty quickly by the vey friendly burger boys in check shirts and caps. 

I think the chocolate milk may have gone to my head and made me a little crazy! We finished up with a little walk around Paris, enjoying the sunshine and playing around in la Comedie Francaise. 

Mood - Hungry 

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Madeline

On the way to work on the metro I passed several stations that I have never really stopped at and explored. Madeline is one of these stations, so close to my apartment but somewhere I rarely visit. I remedied this a few weeks ago and spent a few leisurely hours just wandering the area, watching ladies lunching, window shopping and appreciating the sunshine. I wandered into the Madeline church to find a shady spot and to examine the beautifully carved wooden doors.

I was just in time to watch a mass and I decided to stay, appreciating the cool pews on my sun-kissed legs and enjoying the sweet sounds of a children's choir. 

The moment of calm and peace was in direct contrast to the busy street that I had left behind minutes ago. It is just amazing to me that within a city places of such calmness can be found and are often appreciated so much more because of their rarity. 

The pink flowers surrounding the church created the prettiest of surroundings and the perfect little place to while away an afternoon people watching and enjoying the city. 

Mood- Peaceful 

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Le Moulin Rouge

I have a mental list of things I need to achieve before I die/ make it to thirty/ leave Paris/ get married etc. Basically I am a list maker. All my lists included seeing the cancan performed at the Moulin Rouge and recently I was able to cross this off my list with a big fat mental tick. Cliched, yes, touristy, yes, amazing, definitely yes! What made this even better was the fact that I was invited by a friend who is also a dancer at the Moulin itself. E and I quickly settled ourselves into the red velvet plushy chairs and prepared ourselves to be amazed, and amazed we were. Beautiful dancers with endlessly long legs and dazzling costumes jumped and twirled creating an incredible spectacle of decadence and naughtiness. The dancing was punctuated with brilliantly funny acts, including a talking dog, acrobats and the best juggling I have ever seen. I think you have to see it to believe it, but this isn't just your average circus stuff, oh no, this is performance and entertainment to its best. The highlight for me was undoubtably the cancan, seeing girls kicking, flipping and jumping to the quintessential French song just about made me the happiest girl alive, the only thing missing was of course Ewan McGregor. I have to say, the flowing champagne probably added to the experience as well! 

Thank you A for inviting us to watch you dance and for making a life-long dream come true. You're the best! 

Mood - Feeling a little closer to finding my Ewan McGregor.......

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Opera Garnier

SP and I lived together for only six short weeks but we managed to pack in a huge amount of fun together, including Bastille day celebrations, the tour de France and a week in a French chateau. The expression quality not quantity definitely applies here! We also managed to fit in a trip round the Opera Garnier which is, in my opinion, one of the most impressive and pretty buildings in the city. Known as the home of French ballet and les petits rats, I was especially eager to explore. We were treated to a spectacular visual feast of intricate and sparkly costumes, an elaborate Chagall roof and room after room of elegant beauty. 

I loved the cool marble floors with intricate mosaic patters and the curving steps that let up to the stage. 

For me ballet is an intriguingly paradoxical world that contrasts exquisite beauty with extreme pain and hard work. It presents the human body at its two extremes, at its most perfectly beautiful and controlled but also at its physical limits. For me the building was a representation of this, with the dazzling perfection of the architecture and decoration that houses the fraught and painful world of dance. Making dreams come true but also simultaneously brutally crushing them. This is a world and a place that visual imperfection has no place. As an outsider this beauty is nothing less that breathtaking and is quite simply stunning. We wandered through the endless maze of rooms, each more interesting than the last, culminating in the golden hall of mirrors,  reminiscent of Versailles.

The balcony looks out on the Avenue de l'Opera and provides a quintessential view of Parisian life. Starred Haussmanian boulevards stretch into the distance and provide a frame for the hustle and bustle of the city, with parisians soaking up the sun on packed terraces and taxis frantically circling the roads looking for customers. 

I would recommend a visit to the Opera Garnier, especially for those wanting to escape the busier tourist traps and wanting to see impressive and uniquely Parisian buildings. 

Mood - In the mood to dance 

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