Midnight in Paris

Zara Dress | Milly Bag | Forever 21 Flats & Belt

The last day in Paris we slept in a bit because our bodies were nearly shutting down at this point. Started with a lunch at Chez Robert et Louise (review w/ 10 other great restaurant recs here) and some vintage shopping in the Marais (found some gems at Violette et Leonie). To work off lunch, we hopped on the Vélib' bikes and rode down to the Eiffel Tower for wine and a picnic on the lawn at dusk. We then headed back to the Marais for a traditional french dinner and Berthillon ice cream (get early & often anywhere you can in Paris). Our generous host and lifelong Parisienne, Jacques, drove us around to just about everything you could want to see including a midnight drive down the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the original Chanel and Louis Vuitton stores, Sacre Couer / Montmarte among others...stopping for drinks at really cool bars in between namely Candelaria (think La Esquina-esque speakeasy) and Hotel Costes (fancier, call early to reserve a table in the garden).


And with that, I will no longer talk about my trip to Europe (that's probably a lie). Back to our normally scheduled programming with a 'Weekend Update' post on Monday. Happy Friday to all!

{lunch at Chez Robert et Louise in the Marais}

{maybe the most beautiful day ever?}

{picnicing at dusk}

{the first light show when the clock struck 8:00 pm}

{the original Chanel...I kissed the doorstep}

{traditional french meal: tomato tarte, foie gras (which I discovered I actually like} and duck}

{Berthillon ice cream...heaven on earth}

{midnight in Paris (literally)...the view from Sacre Coeur overlooking Montmarte}

Paris in Polka Dots

H&M Dress | Milly Bag | Aldo Shoes | MAC Pink Nouveau Lips | Burberry Watch

After Beaune, we headed north to Pa'riii. Ahh, the nostalgia taking over me just writing this. Like Beaune, we had the great fortune of staying with locals in Paris as well, which I must say...is the way to go if at all possible in my (limited) experience traveling in Europe. My boyfriend's Aunt / cousin that hosted us happened to live in quite possibly my favorite neighborhood in the City: the Marais. Think up and coming, cute restaurants and vintage shops a la Brooklyn (for the New Yorkers), Bucktown (Chicagoans) or Haight & Ashbury (San Franciscans).

We woke up early to a traditional French breakfast of fresh croissants and chestnut jam (if anyone can tell me where to buy this in the U.S. I will name my first born after you) before stopping by the Marché Popincourt or farmers market (complete guide to food markets in Paris by arrondissement here). We then capitalized on the City's unbelievably convenient and user-friendly bikesharing program or 'Vélib,' which is free for the first 30 minutes*, to get down to the Louvre. Since I spent a day at the museum on my trip to Paris in college, we parted ways and I went shopping in St. Michele and St. Germain before meeting for a late (and great) lunch at L'Avant Comptoir (great reviews here and here as well).
* Unlimited half hour trips can be taken or pay €1.70/day...a great way to get around this bike-friendly city

{traditional french breakfast of orange juice, espresso...

{...baguette, croissant and chestnut jam}

{Marché Popincourt}

{the city's free bikesharing program, Vélib'}

{Palais Royale}

{Le Louvre}

{an artiste in action along the Seine}

{lunch at L'Avant Comptoir in St. Germain}

Beaune

{Beaune in all its beauty}

Pardon the brief interruption last week as I was in Chicago for work and then home visiting my family. And sorry for the continued Europe posts but I have to do it now or I never will. Plus I couldn't stop before I got to the best part of the trip: visiting our friend Jane in Beaune, France. The most beautiful country landscape, personalized tastings with winemakers on the 'domains' that have been in their families since the beginning of time, and the best food I've ever had (and a lot of it) all combined to make it my favorite part of the trip. Here is just a sampling of some of the photos for your viewing pleasure. 

{just the cutest little town ever}

{the vacant apartment above Jane's office that housed us...I want to move into full time}

{dinner the first night: the most amazing Spanish proscuitto-like ham}

{gazpacho, lamb and duck at dinner the first night}

{the light shows that go on all night, every night on the old clock tower and church in the village}

{an after dinner digestif: 1993 Marc}

{up & at 'em early the next morning for a bike ride through the country side}

{riding in the back of a truck up the hill to the first tasting of the day}

{the first domaine we visited full with a complete tasting (& how to do so properly) and explanation of how the wine is made}

{the start of a 5 hour lunch}

{9 courses later, they had to roll us out of there (literally)}

{and then we took a nap in the grass right outside the restaurant by the fresh lavender (because we couldn't move}}

{loved these flowers which were on houses everywhere}

{tasting number 2 at Domaine Buisson}

{watching the sun set over Saint Romain on one of the best days of my life bar none}

{dinner night 2 at Vins de Maurice: all ingredients purchased from the farmers market that day and amazing}

{a quick lunch and exploring Beaune on our last day}

Lunch in Lyon

{wearing a ($10) Zara tee, Urban Outfitters jeans (yes, three days in a row) and H&M panama hat}

After Avignon and Chateauneuf du Pape, we continued north along the lavender/olive tree/sunflower- lined highway (gorgeous) 2.5 hours to Lyon. Although we were only there for an afternoon, I've definitely pinpointed it as somewhere to go back and explore further. It seemed pretty young and vibrant and more gentrified than the other French cities we had visited up until this point, most likely because it's bigger. We stopped for lunch at Paul, which we later discovered is more or less a French fast food chain (think Au Bon Pain, I guess, but much cuter/more rustic and 10,000x better bread & food)...but really good if you ask a fat American like me. After lunch we window shopped around Rue President Éduoard Herriot & Republique and then of course had to stop for ice cream before hitting the road to head to Beaune. This time: Terre Adélice. Over 150 flavors of heaven and really obscure/interesting ones including balsamic vinegar, caprese, foie gras, lilac, mascarpone, olive, sesame, truffle, wasabi and verveine among others. I stuck to the one French word I know really well: macaron.

{the buildings along the river brightened up an otherwise overcast day}

{a cute antique print store in old town}

{a quick baguette at PAUL, which we later realized is not a cute/unique restaurant specific to Lyon but at every rest stop, airport, etc. but really good nonetheless}

{one of the many outdoor restaurants overflowing with students/young adults}

{a cool doorway to a bookstore between Rue de la Republique and Rue President Éduoard Herriot}

{about to make out with some macaron ice cream at Terre Adélice}