Diary No.6- A Stroll through Paris

Dear Reader,

I am currently coming to you from a rainy and chilly Hudson Valley in New York, and to be completely honest I love it! There is a level of warmth and relaxation that staying at home and watching the rain cause millions of tiny ripples on the Hudson River brings. While I was contemplating this beautiful view from the comfort of my couch, the memories of my anniversary trip to Paris and London this year began flooding in. Especially because in both iconic cities it happened to be raining most of our trip (we were there in the April time). While I feel this may prove to be undesirable to many, for me it was that much more beautiful and strangely enough invigorating. Now I had never visited either city, nor did I ever have a desire to go to Europe because to me I felt it was too mainstream (and also I felt I could never do it so I told myself I did not want to do it anyways). You see growing up in a place where many of those around you are content with just having their home, nice car, a stable income, and a family, made it very hard for one to envision that you could travel and see the world. Not that any of these things are wrong, but it was rare for me to see people ever leave the area where we lived in aside from shopping trips to large Texan cities like Houston and Dallas, or to large fashionable Mexican cities like Monterrey. Now I absolutely love these cities and enjoy visiting them, but once I began traveling I became addicted, quickly realizing that there is so much more out there than South Texas, and that while I truly cherish my hometown and the people there (with a culture you will not see anywhere else) I wanted to explore. My wife whose favorite city in the world is Paris and who is not afraid to explore (granted always in style) got me to spread my wings, and well needless to say Paris and London blew my mind away. So as the fond memories one by one rushed into my mind I thought why not take others on this stroll of Paris and maybe this may inspire others to spread their wings or to add on their google maps potential destinations to their Paris Itinerary if you find yourself there anytime soon. Of course this all must be accomplished in a stylish manner, especially when you are in the fashion capital of the world.

Balmoral Hotel

We made sure to get a red eye flight to Paris from New York City, this would allow us to arrive early to Paris and make the most of the first day there (along with getting our bodies accustomed to the time change). We were heading to our hotel from Charles De Gaulle airport at around 10:30 am, and since we were not expecting they would have our room ready (since most hotels do an early check in at noon), we planned on leaving our things at the hotel reception and maybe walk around, head to our lunch reservations, and return to the hotel for our check in at 3 pm. To our surprise when we arrived at our hotel around 11:30 am the extremely friendly staff informed us our room had been ready for a couple of hours already and that after serving us some coffee and croissants we would be able to go into our room.

Who were we to say no! When I say the service at this hotel was immaculate, I mean it. The staff was friendly and always ready to help, even when as an annoying American tourist I unexpectedly got caught in the rain on one of my morning Champs Elysees runs and upon returning to the hotel I drenched their lovely foyer with water. They may have thought I was crazy but they laughed it off and just made my wife and I feel right at home. While it is a 3 minute walk to the iconic Arc de Triomphe, it is located on a quaint little side street that gives you all the Parisian charm, close to all the bustle, but not completely transformed into a crazy tourist hole.

Vedette Paris

Our first meal was a surprise that my wife arranged for us, a delicious lunch on a river boat on the Seine with a view of the Eiffel Tower which surprisingly was sparkling at noon time. The service was good and the food delicious, I would definitely recommend their fish and chips, accompanied by one of their delicious cocktails such as the Lune De Miele. There is no doubt that this restaurant created in me a sensation of peace and awe, I felt we were doing Paris right. Afterwards we had a lovely stroll along the banks of the Seine watching the boats and taking in the views around us.

Bvlgari Hotel Bar

On one of our strolls around the city of Paris we stumbled across the Bvlgari hotel, which I feel just now recently I have seen influencers everywhere talking about, so I like to tell myself "Self you discovered this hotel." With this being said we just walked in to see what it looked like inside, and 20 seconds in we were greeted by a hostess. When she asked if we needed anything and I glanced at the bar behind her, I found myself ever so casually saying "yes my wife and I are on a stroll and I got a craving for a cup of coffee." Her response was immediately "Follow me Monsieur," and we were ushered to a quiet little table that had a view of the whole bar with impeccable service from some of the most stylish waiting staff I have ever seen in my life. Needless to say the drinks were wonderful, the ambiance perfect, and the service (especially their style) was inspiring. This with no doubt became one of my fondest memories of the trip.

Guerlain Spa Champs Elysees

One thing I have officially turned into a tradition is that whenever I arrive somewhere new I will immediately look for a spa, whether at a luxury hotel such as the Ritz or an iconic institute like Guerlain. My wife's anniversary gift to herself was a spa treatment for the two of us (I was fortunate to be included in her treat for herself) at the Guerlain Spa the evening of our arrival. She created a monster. Starting your vacation in such a relaxing manner is one of the most wonderful things anyone can experience, especially when the service is of such high caliber. This spa has a view of the Champs Elysees and the rooms are private, cozy, and smell of some of the many fragrances Guerlain is known for. They did also have a points system which scored my wife a couple of lovely free gifts and discounts on some of their products that you can find only there. From the relaxing tea we had to start off the session to the bee embroidered slippers, this is how you properly start your adventure in Paris.

Louis Vuitton Cafe Pont Neuf

Right now everyone is going insane for the new Louis Vuitton Restaurant and Cafe in New York City, which one cannot deny is lovely. However, before this location had even opened its doors, the Louis Vuitton Cafe in Paris next to the landmark Pont Neuf was alive and thriving. Service was quick and excellent, and in comparison to it's American counterpart, it felt like the prices were more reasonable for the menu items. We went there just for coffee and pastries and it was worth every Euro. Surrounded by a semi industrial space, decorated with the unforgettable Louis Vuitton monogram on their cutlery and their food, and with beautiful views of the Seine, it is an experience that activates all your senses and leads to some excellent photo ops. (My cover photo gives you an idea what I ordered that day).

5th. Arrondismo, Pantheon, Notre Dame, Ile Saint-Louis, Galerie Vivienne

One of our strolls took us through these 5 locations, and it was probably my favorite day there. We started off at a little crepe stand called Creperie Pinocchio (you should check their Instagram the owners love posting and reposting). This stand is found in the 5th. Arrondismo, and in my opinion felt where the real Parisian ambiance was at. We were far from the tourist areas surrounding the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower, interestingly making me feel like I was in pure Paris. After a wonderful conversation translated by google with the owners of Pinocchio we walked around the little shops and cafes where I did not hear a single word in English and people wrapped up in their stylish coats, scarfs, and fedoras sat smoking (I learned Parisians love smoking), and drinking espresso while people watching and judging together. I was fantastic. By the time I knew it we were by the Pantheon, then walked the winding roads to Notre Dame which was still under construction. We then strolled to Ile Saint-Louis where we pit stopped at Noir Cafe for a delicious hot chocolate, crossed into the 4th Arrondismo and as the rain started jumped in an Uber which drove us to Galerie Vivienne (their classy version of an American Strip Mall). Here a quick shopping spree at a local consignment shop and at a Parisian leather goods boutique called Louvreuse led us the the 50th best bar (do not quote me on it, but for sure in the top 50) according to Conde Nast for 2024. The speakeasy Danico, which has a revolving menu inspired by different countries and that was in their Japan phase, presented a dimly lit yet immersive ambiance in the old galerie behind a delicious italian restaurant. You can purchase their menus which are little artistic sketch books adding to an over all wonderful experience.

Bar Hemingway at the Ritz Place Vendome

Our final stroll through Paris on our last evening took us to the unforgettable Place Vendome, which according to the brilliant fellow Texan, Daniel Roseberry (Creative Director of Couture House Schiaparelli) "it is the place that makes you walk a little straighter." He could not have been more right, because walking into such an elegant area of Paris has the instant effect of straightening your posture and floating along the Place with everyone else. The Place Vendome is home to icons like Damiani, Chopard, Schiaparelli, and the epitome of French Luxury, The Ritz which at one point was even the home of Coco Chanel (who can blame her The Ritz is perfection) and her original shop on Rue Cambon is on the backside of this powerhouse hotel. Walking it's hallways felt ethereal and they led us to a 25 seat, first come first serve speakeasy named after it's most famous patron Ernest Hemingway, The Bar Hemingway. I completely understand why Hemingway loved it here. I felt I was living back in the time of these grand artists, writers, and designers, evoking some of the deepest emotions I had ever experienced. I felt I connected with Hemingway, imagined him writing away while sitting at the bar. I felt as if at any point Coco Chanel herself would stroll in wearing her classic jersey dress and tweed jacket, carrying her favorite handbag, the Louis Vuitton Alma after a long day at her boutique just a 30 second walk from the bar. I felt the presence of so may iconic figures that favored the Ritz over the decades and could not help the feeling of awe that engulfed me. From the moment we arrived my wife was gifted a white rose, a tradition they have for all women who come to the bar. I then proceeded to sneak out to the Killian Paris Boutique (I will talk about this perfumery in the future on this blog), which is a 2 minute walk from the bar. Why, you may ask? Well I picked up a limited edition fragrance my wife had smelled there a few days before that she loved (Sun Kissed Goddess), and purchased it from the same friendly lady that had helped us. She then proceeded to quickly spray the outside of the bag with the fragrance, which I promptly presented to my wife upon my return to the bar as her anniversary gift. After my brief eulogy to her that I am proud to say brought tears to her eyes I proceeded to ask the bar tender if he could smell the bag and craft me a custom cocktail with my wife's fragrance as inspiration. It has been the best cocktail I have had, and unforgettable is an understatement. It was the perfect way to end our Europe escapade, at a bar that boasted phenomenal service and that represented the glory of Paris in every possible way.

The City of Light

Have you ever watched The Devil Wears Prada? If so, you may recall the memorable scene where Andy finds herself in a Mercedes taking in the views of The City of Lights, smiling to herself unable to believe that she was there. I now know exactly how she felt, and what I have shared is just a tiny taste of what Paris has to offer. So if you are ever in a position to visit this inspiring city do not hold back, do not allow what others do, think or say stop you from exploring. A true gentleman is responsible but he also takes his chances and when in the right company, whether that be your significant other, a good friend, family member, or even yourself, every light filled moment is worth it.

Yours Truly,

S.E. Vega