one park that certainly feels elsewhere than paris is the parc des buttes chaumont (i also mentioned it in my rosa bonheur post.)  located in the 19e, certainly in a spot most tourist probably don’t (or shouldn’t) venture too, it’s a treasure chest amongst an ordinary parisian neighborhood.

i believe the parks are my favourite places in paris.  they help you forget all of the traffic and noise and obligations that lies beyond its gates.

this park is a runners/childs paradise with beautiful scenery and high and low hills and paths that wind throughout the greenery and stumble upon sidewalk cafes or hidden puppet theaters.

if you find yourself in the neighborhood, or planning an evening at rosa bonheur, go a little early and enjoy this hidden gem.

*bisous*

after a summer abroad in the south of france and a day trip out to the west of normandy, i really consider myself a country-girl.  sure, city life is fun, but something’s different about the open space in the country.  the way the wind feels… the sounds of the bugs… the oxygen from the trees and the flowers…

one of the top attractions in france is the small town of giverny where claude monet famously lived and painted within his gardens…

i’ve never seen such an amazing variety of plants and flowers kept in the utmost of care.  everything is truly magical and the space invites room for thought and fresh air.

i always considered monet to have a impressionistic/dream-like style, but after visiting his house i realized he painted everything just as he saw it.  even the way the flowers curled or shaded themselves with colour, was as if monet played the role of the higher power and this garden was the result after his 7-days of creation.

monet’s house was so inspiring in so many ways.  (no photographs were allowed)

the furniture was simplistic, rustic, and typical country-styled, but there was rarely a glimpse of wall space because framed works of monets, cezannes, and hokusais were spanning from floor to ceiling.  (i had no idea monet was an art collector, or even that he was so inspired by the japanese culture.)

if you are a fan of monet, his house is better then any museum exhibition that could ever be offered on his works.

with all being said, it was hard to fully appreciate everything because there had to of been several thousands of people there!  if you wanted alone time to ponder and soak everything in while you strolled across the water lily ponds, forget it!

yet despite being deprived of the full spiritual experience this place truly deserves, it was still so very awe-inspiring and something that should not be missed in the least!

*bisous*

i can count how many times i’ve watched french television on one hand, but today i happened to be in a room with a tv and saw this super cute commercial.

the marie antoinette lover in me couldn’t resist sharing with my fellow marie-lovers/francophiles… also check out this link to watch a super cute and inspiring “making-of” the commercial (which i might actually love more than the commercial.)

maybe i’ll start drinking badoit just because of this commercial. now that’s successful advertising and marketing!

*bisous*

the restaurant is conveniently located within the park, so i killed two birds with one stone.  the park itself is magical and something you wouldn’t expect to find within paris at all (a future posts and pictures are soon to follow) it’s forest setting places you somewhere elsewhere.

i’ve heard great things about rosa bonheur as a mixture between a restaurant, patio, dance club, hang out spot, etc. etc. etc.  i’m not even sure if rosa bonheur itself knows what it is, but somehow it all seems to work together.

my friend described it as something very similar to a german beer garden, and i myself felt some brooklyn-ish vibes in there.we arrived around 6:00 and left around midnight, witnessing the space from a casual patio hangout, turn into a tapas lounge, which then turned into a dance club.

every two hours the ambiance from the lights to the music to the people changed.

what i really liked about rosa bonheur is that it’s a true locals hangout spot.  no tourist are found here and rarely will you find yourself speaking english.  it’s a true submersion into the young, local, french culture.

highly recommended if you want to have a fun night in paris-town, but skip all of the techno dance clubs.

*bisous*

photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

i put together a spotify list of all of my current french favourites!  enjoy!!!  (don’t miss the hidden scroll bar too!  there’s more tracks!)

*bisous*

photo 1

however, sometimes you find yourself lost and paris is the best city in the world for getting lost because you come across really awesome finds!

yesterday i was looking for the awe-inspiring musée national gustave moreau (and once i finally found it, i took some cool instagrams… ) but upon getting lost in the winding rue’s of montmartre, i stumbled across the ever-so-cool sain, savoureux, et simple food store, causses.

i felt like i stumbled into a magical and cool ‘wholefoods meets brooklyn’ concept food store.

not only did their produce and cheese selection look killer, they had an amazing selection of self-branded, as well as locally produced, products from spices to cookie mixes!

if you find yourself exploring the moulin rouge/sacré cœur neighborhood, definitely check this store out and purchase your “take home gifts from paris” for your friends and family because a natural, locally made ‘rose flavoured biscuit’ mix is way cooler than an eiffel tower key chain (at least in my opinion.)

trés cool!

*bisous*

photos 1, 4, et 5

Filed under: parisian life Tagged: causses, food, montmartre, paris ]]> http://breakfastfromparis.com/2013/04/28/causses/feed/ 0 ljohns321 cau03 cau01 cau02 Causses_417 Causses_063 http://breakfastfromparis.com/2013/04/25/springtime-in-paris/ http://breakfastfromparis.com/2013/04/25/springtime-in-paris/#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:47:57 +0000 ljohns321 http://breakfastfromparis.com/?p=7576 ]]> you always hear the phrase “springtime in paris,” but until now it’s remained a mystery to me.  we’ve had such a long winter (that is still happening depending on the day.)  however, within the past two weeks and several visits to the tuileries gardens, i’ve noticed blooms within the soil and leaves sprouting in patches on the trees.

i spent the most lovely morning in the tuileries, sitting next to the fountain and soaking in the sunshine, writing thoughts and dreams into my journal.  it was a complete feeling of bliss, one we often forget about from time to time.

and it was days like today in which fairy-tales were created.  you could actually feel magic within the gardens, and i know that sounds unrealistic, but it’s true!  tiny pastel coloured boats sailing on the shimmering water, little kids running through the garden mazes, baby ducks taking their first swim in the fountains, blue skies, white marbled statues, the taste of fresh coconut gelato on the tip of the tongue… even the way the trees were shading a path for me to follow as their lush, green leaves became the canopy within my secret garden.

this is what you dream about paris and dreams do indeed come true.

*bisous*

The bookshop has an incredible selection of french and english books of all subjects, but essentially it’s as if you made a museum with the most impressive coffee table books and put thousands upon thousands on shelves from the floor to ceiling.

a blog reader actually recommended this place to me and i am so thankful.  it’s such a magical experience to relax in the gardens then walk over to galignani’s and find a comfy chair with a handful of expensive, beautiful, inspiring coffee table books.  i’ve found myself making this a routine every weekend for the past month.

i think i’ve found my special place *swoons* It is certainly my first recommendation for any book/design lover.

*bisous*

photos 1, 2, 3

Filed under: paris love letter, parisian life Tagged: bookshop, galignani, paris ]]> http://breakfastfromparis.com/2013/04/21/paris-love-letter-bookshop-galignani/feed/ 3 ljohns321 15186ddae744cae8f3d91301145f4ea4 b458960f0a02ecd668e8b57e2ac8389e librairie-galignani-621798 http://breakfastfromparis.com/2013/04/09/marche-aux-puces-de-st-ouen/ http://breakfastfromparis.com/2013/04/09/marche-aux-puces-de-st-ouen/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:04:15 +0000 ljohns321 http://breakfastfromparis.com/?p=7550 ]]> word of mouth says that paris is famous for having some of the best marché aux puces (aka- flea markets) in the world.

the antique lover in me has tried to stay away as long as physically possible (8 months) because i knew that i could neither afford anything or ship anything for that matter, and we both know that nothing is worse than falling in love with a vintage couch and making yourself part ways for ridiculous reasons such as these.

well enough is enough, i said, and off to the most talked about market i went!

may i present…… the marché aux puces saint ouan!

i’ve heard people describe this place more as a museum than a market (one reviewer said they actually found a milk pail owned by marie anotinette at this market!)

(also, isn’t that mantel just stunning!!!)

the neighborhood is anything but glamorous (and a little “questionable” at that) surrounded by dozens of faux markets (with airbrushed t-shirts and used cd’s *shivers*) “this can’t be it!!!!” everyone asks themselves.  and finally after a little bit of walking and a few corners turned, you find yourself in what seems to be a bought out storage unit, but all of the units are opened with magical treasures and decors inside.

many vendors have actually converted their units into stores or themed environments.

they had everything! from furs to ostrich feathered fans, to louis xvi styled furniture and barrels of lost chandelier pieces, from chanel to sculls.

it was mind blowing and overly inspiring (i’m secretly planning a trip back this coming weekend.)

okay, okay, so i did weaken a little bit and bought a rené gruau print.  it was just too cute!

*swoons* i’m having a french love affair with a flea market….

*bisous*

i spent last weekend discovering the awe-inspiring Coulée verte (all 3 miles of it!) and I signed myself up for a Julia Child summer cooking class at Le Cordon Bleu (I won’t deny it, how can I not be overly excited about this!) but it’s been almost 9 months since being away from friends and family (and my furniture! is it weird that i miss my furniture and coffee table books and trinkets?)

i desperately want to go to barcelona or italy and tried to find a friend to go with (a task that understandably deems itself too expensive.) so i said to myself “that’s okay! go alone! have a “lindsay-trip.” take time for yourself!” but the hotel and flight tabs have stayed up in the background for 2 weeks.  i just can’t bring myself to purchase the tickets.

is it because i finally have money to do this and afterwards i won’t have it anymore (i’ve been trying to kill my habit of spending money as soon as i have it) or is it because i don’t want to feel more alone than i already do?

i am ready for fresh beginnings in paris! for happy moods and smart decisions and motivation for bettering myself from myself.

advice, anyone?

*bisous*

Filed under: parisian life ]]> http://breakfastfromparis.com/2013/04/05/a-long-winter/feed/ 3 ljohns321 Screen Shot 2013-04-05 at 2.43.45 PM