Recharged in Paris

For a trip of more than 40 days, the longest ever for me, I need to stop at some place where I feel comfortable, and can enjoy some down time from all the trip planning. Paris won over London.

Paris can always slow me down. After the first time when I toured all the main attractions following an exhaustive itinerary, the city became my top destination for admiring famous paintings, shopping and window shopping, food, and walking around while doing nothing.

This time I had some plan in mind, such as taking a day trip to Giverny. However, when I actuallu got to Paris, the whether was too lovely to leave the city. It is super sunny but not as hot. So I spent three days in the city without a map or a plan. Now am feeling fully recharged to continue on the journey.

Paris in August

A valid question is that "is Paris shut down in August", considering every August all the colleagues in Paris turn on auto reply and jet off for their summer vacation. Summer can get unbearable for a city without extensive air conditioning. 

The city is still alive! And when the weather cooperates like these three days, it can be even better. Streets are quieter to wonder around. Days are longer and many activities are happening.

Along the bank of River Seine, Paris Plages is attracting all the crowds. The idea is to bring in the sand and pretend you are enjoying the beach. How cute if not desperate. 

Parisians have some innovative eays tomfight the heat, such as-- water spray!

I also did most of the things I usually do when visiting Paris-

Pharmacie shopping for French skincare

It gets easier and easier to purchase French skincare abroad. However, visiting French pharmacie has become a routine for me. Seeing all the French brands squeezed into one place is very satisfying. 

The most famous pharmacie is probably City Pharma (26 Rue du Four, 75006 Paris), because it stocks most brands at very competitive prices. Many complained about City Pharma being too crowded and hard to maneuver. It is pretty quick and easy for me though (living in Hong Kong for three years does bring up my tolerance for crowdedness). I can get everything I want within 30 minutes. Two tips: 1) go in with a list; 2) check out on the ground floor for much shorter queue.

Without makeup bag essentials for two days, thanks to the thief at Oslo central station, I'm finally restocked with my favorite lip balm, hand cream, etc.

Luxury shopping

Since I don't make any money any more, and I've been spending a lot on this trip, I restrained myself from visiting all the designer stores. I do learned quite a few tips regarding shopping in Paris over the past visits.

For tax return purpose, department stores are better than standalone boutiques because you can combine purchases to meet the minimum spending of 175 euro. (Standalone boutiques, especially those along Av. Montaigne, are much better for window shopping) Expect a queue at most luxury brands off Japanese and Chinese customers though.

Between the two biggest department stores, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, I prefer Printemps. Printemps has better layout, more brands (Goyard as an example), and is generally less crowded. The only problem is the toilet is not free, which is stupid on Printemps part. Moreover, tourists can register online to get extra 10% off on most merchandise.

Food

All the cafes, bakeries, even McDonald I have tried are very good. Everything sounds delicious in French... 

Never a fan of macaroon. I've tried Laduree, Pierre Herme, and many other small shops. None has impressed me. Macaroons to me are too sweet with too much faked poshness.

While others bring home Laduree from the trip, I always pay my last visit to Carrefour to stuff my suitcase with LU's Petit Beurre. This version of butter and salt is not widely available, but most Carrefour City stores have it. It's the perfect amount of butter and salt, resulting in the most delicious texture and layers of flavors. Any cook, even non-cook like me, knows what a heaven,y combination it is of salt and butter.

Mondelez, please bring this biscuit to the US market!

I did go to several attractions for the N'th time: spending a whole afternoon and evening inside the Louvre (several visits are far from enough for the huge collection), celebrating the 850th anniversary of Notre Dame, and walking along the Pont des Arts simply because it appeared in a recent movie Now You See Me.

Why would anyone use combination lock? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of eternally locking down love for each other? Or those couples really believe you should be free to fall in as we'll as fall out of love? LOL

One more discovery: could you recognize Notre Dame from the back?