Twelve Hours in Paris

I really don’t need any excuse to visit Paris. It is one of my favourite cities for a myriad of reasons – the river running through its heart, the gruffness of locals, the architecture, the history, the food – I could go on forever and I’ve mentioned it in various posts on the blog before, both here and here.

However, when I saw that I was running low on some French pharmacy supplies and a fantastically low fare cropped up thanks to Eurostar and @London on Instagram I couldn’t miss the opportunity.  I booked for a day trip with hubby in mid-December, catching the 7:01 train from St Pancras and heading back from Gare du Nord at 19:15.

Arriving a little after 10:00 we headed direct to the Metro. I tried to use one of my carnet tickets from a previous visit and it wasn’t accepted by the turnstile. Frustrated, we headed to the ticket machine to purchase more but noticed a man nearby trying to get our attention and say something in French. As a Londoner, I instantly adopted my commuter bitch-face; a cross between “don’t dare talk to me” and “I’m not interested mate, naff off,” thinking he was hassling for attention or money or something. I can’t tell you how utterly mortified I was to hear him say in English that our tickets weren’t working because public transport was free today due to the high levels of pollution in the city! I mean, honestly, I went full Brit and died, dead. Once I realised my mistake I practically chased after him with apologies and mercis, completely red-faced and mortified. Boo hiss to city fumes, yay hurrah to a freebie! London should follow suit and adopt this immediately. 

I’d had breakfast on the train and possibly a light snack before I left the house, but my first stop was my favourite breakfast/brunch place Holybelly. We queued (you always queue here) but not for long and got straight to ordering the Savoury Stack with a cup of London Fog to wash it all down. 

Despite knowing I’d have to lug my purchases around all day, the next stop was City Pharma, the best pharmacy in all of Paris. You get bargains, attitude, advice, squished and poor from all the things purchased in one two-storey shop. I won’t remind myself of the small fortune I spent there but let’s just say I went way over budget, like WAY, but ensured I bought enough to tide me over to mid-May so it was totally worth it. *eyebrow* 

Purchases included favourites like Nuxe hand cream, lip balm and perfume; a huge bottle of Bioderma body cream and hand lotions; cans and mini cans of Caudalie grape water spritz; blotting paper, Vichy Aqualia day cream and a few small gifty things for family for Christmas. I think that was mainly it!

Walking back in the warm sunshine along the Boulevard Saint-Germain we took our time, popping into a cute vintage/retro shop that had me having many a flashback to my childhood and stroking the soft antique furs on coats and stoles. I have a personal rule to never wear anything I wouldn’t eat – cows/sheep/pigs/rabbit are fine as it were, but fox/bear/mink aren’t.

I saw signs for Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge – the museum of the Middle Ages, a place I’ve walked past so many times and always wanted to go in. In the spirit of adventure we walked around the block to the entrance, through security (this is now sadly implemented in most public buildings) and into a darling little courtyard. 

Walking inside I’m left wondering why I’ve never been here before – the space transforms into a tardis of antiquities and the most beautiful light. I’m annoyed I didn’t take more photos. Rooms were so varied with lofty ceilings all in stone downstairs to cosy darkened wood galleries upstairs. 

My other reason for visiting was to see the exquisite tapestries of the Lady and the Unicorn. I’d read about these beautiful C16 wool and silk hangings in history books before and love the romance of them being lost and then found in a castle. There are six in total, much larger than I had expected, filling the room from floor to ceiling. They depict the five senses with the sixth, À mon seul désir unconfirmed but thought to be a comment on how humans are the only species with unique desires. 

By this time my tummy was grumbling for a very late lunch and I almost sprinted to my other must-stop for food, Cafe St Regis. I’ve spoken about the lovely vibe in this place before; I’ve even eaten here alone and felt perfectly comfortable just people watching and resting, whilst filling my belly with delicious food and a Sweet Home Alabama. 
Needing to walk off our feast and with a few hours of crisp sunny weather left, we ambled along the banks of the Seine like the tourists we were!

I never tire of going through the courtyards of the Louvre. Take away the throng of the crowds, imagine the courtiers who have waked across these cobblestones. I wish I had glasses to view the past. 

With twilight came the time for us to make our way back to Gare du Nord for the train home, via the boulangerie to stock up on baguettes, tartes and macarons for dinner. Only 14.5km walked too which meant my legs and feet weren’t in bits by the end of the day.  A perfect Parisian trip!