Weekend in Paris with SusanIt was so lovely to spend a weekend in Paris with Susan (Une femme d’un certain âge).  I had met Susan last year when she visited Amsterdam. That was a cold and rainy day and our plans to cruise through the canals of Amsterdam and have a picknick, were totally ruined. Nevertheless we had time to get to know each other. Susan is a wonderful woman with strength and power and a good sense of humour. When she planned her week in Paris this December, she contacted me to see whether I could join her. Yay, of course! Really the perks of blogging: meeting fellow bloggers. They are all so nice and my heart is big. I can love them all.

So last Saturday I hopped on the train in Amsterdam and was in Paris 3 1/2 hours later. A quick metro ride to the hotel where Susan was staying as well and we were on our way to be dazzled by Paris. Susan had already explored the neighbourhood and took me to a lovely Paris café for lunch.

Below: Susan with her beloved puffer jacket, which turned out to be perfect for the weather: not too warm and not too cold. Lightweight and you can roll it up into a small packet.

Susan

Below: I followed Susan’s smart travel wardrobe and dressed in a pair of black trousers and black booties. Variations at the top. This first day, my green leather jacket. The big bag contained my normal stuff and my camera. The colour of the bag is reflected in specks in the scarf (and in my gloves). It was a little bit windy that Saturday but not much. Cloudy but no rain. Good enough for me.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: this lady walked into the café and I couldn’t resist asking if I could take her picture. That coat was sooo good. Of course I thought she was a Parisian. Nope. American.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

After lunch it was time for shopping. Plenty of lovely shops near the Boulevard Saint Germain. Every shop was temptation and if I just looked in the window and said “oh how lovely”, Susan responded with “Do you want to go in?” Usually followed by her opening the door and stepping in. Fashion bloggers… such enablers.  😆

Below: like this small jewellery shop Cécile Jeanne. I think we were in their shop at 16 Rue du Cherche-Midi, but they have more shops and also sell online. Amazing stuff.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: I bought these red earrings but changed them 15 minutes later for the same ones in fuchsia. If you look at their collection I bet you will agree it is very good of me to walk out with only one pair of earrings. I could have bought half the shop.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

After being in and out of a couple of shops, Susan showed me the shop of Hermès in Saint Germain des Pres. Which is in a former swimming pool.

Below: they had done the decorations so well. It was jaw dropping. You can see more pictures of the shop here (with no customers).

Hermes

After that it went bad…. We saw gloves in a window display. And I wanted a pair of long black leather gloves to go with my kimono jacket. So in we went. The shop is called Alexandra Sojfer, 218, Boulevard Saint Germain and specializes in umbrellas, gloves, etc etc. Little did we know. The sales lady was so good that I left the shop with expensive gloves (soft as butter though and very beautiful) and… a rather expensive necklace. (Susan bought the same necklace in a different colour combination.) Did I need another necklace? Hell no, I have so many necklaces I never need to buy any more. Did I have any money left after all my shopping in the past months? Hell no. The good thing is, I get many compliments on this necklace. I wore it twice to the office this week and it really attracts people’s attention.

Saturday night we went to diner at Le Comptoir, 5 Carrefour de l’Odéon. We went early (half past six) as we knew there would be a queue if we came later.

Below: Susan at Le Comptoir. Dinner was excellent, staff was kind, friendly and quick, prices were very, very reasonable.

Susan at Le Comptoir

The next day we decided to take more pictures of Paris. We went off early (9.15). I said to Susan: let’s take pictures of ourselves early and then be done with it. Because my hair will look worse and worse as the day progresses. 😆

Below: me against a lovely green door, wearing my beloved charcoal kimono. And yes the belt is the same material but blue.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: Susan. I think the sign says: “will there be room for you”, but I am not sure. We both did the legs cross-over look. 😎

Susan

Below: always nice these little water things.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: 2 pretty buildings.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: look at these tutus for the little ones. Aren’t they cute?

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: on our way to the Eiffel tower we passed the Place des Invalides.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: Susan photographing a Jugenstil Metro sign.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: this lovely little pug reminded me of Suzanne Carillo‘s dog. Then, just as I was taking the picture, the pug went from CUTE to “WHAT?! WHAT?! Did I say yes to being photographed? Did you ask?”

Weekend in Paris with Susan

We arrived at Rue Cler, which is said to be a lovely market street (see here). It was indeed lovely but it was Sunday, winter and early in the day, so I don’t think we have seen the max of this street. Still lovely though. Nice boutiques like the shop of the French brand La Fee Maraboutee. We sat down for a coffee at a lovely little place; l’Éclair (below).

Below: Susan looking naughty (she decided to take a chocolate croissant). Also see the top picture of this post. That was taken a few minutes later by the waiter. I think that 20% of the waiter’s time is spent on taking stupid holiday pictures haha.

Susan

Below: chocolate croissant for Susan and a mocha éclair for me. Plus coffee of course.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: at the end of the street, we saw there had been a party the evening before……

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: on our way to the metro, near the Seine we noticed this green building: Le Mur Vegetal of Musée du Quai Branly. (More pictures here.)

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: to round off a lovely weekend, we had a fabulous lunch at Le Bon Marché. I had the best salad I ever ate.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: the window display of Le Bon Marché. Their theme this year was “It snows”. These snow balls were moving. Great to see.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

Below: OK, one big photo of the Eiffel tower. If you want to read more, do visit Susan’s post about our weekend.

Weekend in Paris with Susan

When I came home I gave all my credit cards and debit cards (but one) to Ron and asked him to check my bank balance each week to see whether I am keeping my promise not to buy anything until April (at least). He doesn’t particularly like this task as he prefers me to have more self-control. But this is all the self-control I can muster up. Ron is afraid that in April he might have forgotten where my cards are hidden. So he put them in a bowl with water …… in the freezer. My accounts are literally frozen haha.

Fortunally I have some more outfits in stock, so I think I can keep the posts up till April.

Greetje

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