A trip to Paris

A few months ago we had a lovely surprise when my brother and sister-in-law invited us to join them in Paris. They’d booked a lovely, big apartment in the centre of the city but, unfortunately (for them but not for us!) my niece and her boyfriend were now unable to go. We jumped at the chance and booked a cheap Boxing Day flight before they could change their minds 😜

We were up at 4 to catch the flight from Manchester at 7.55. All went smoothly, and we landed in Paris on time before getting a taxi to the apartment where Richard was waiting to let us in. The place is amazing… charming shabby chic, but not exactly luxurious, despite the hefty cost. I feel quite at home here!

We’re at the top of a listed 17th century townhouse, in what would have been the servants’ quarters. The apartment is accessed through a huge door into a large courtyard, and up several flights of beautiful, winding stairs.

Inside, there’s a hallway with doors to a toilet and bathroom with dubious plumbing, and a well equipped kitchen, all with uneven tiled floors. At the other end of this floor there’s a long, beamed lounge and dining area, with creaky wooden floorboards and an open spiral staircase to a rickety mezzanine area. Our bedroom is under the eaves, up a steep narrow wooden staircase. The place is very light, spacious and comfortable, and it has lots of quirky features, including a motorbike in the lounge!

After dumping our cases, we had a wander round the local area, which is in the Marais region of Paris. The Place des Vosges is one of the oldest squares in the city and was commissioned by Henry IV in the 17th Century. Grand houses with beautiful brick and stone facades surround a green square, and art galleries and cafes are tucked away in arcades beneath them. After walking back through the gardens of the Hotel de Sully, we browsed shops selling local produce and returned to the apartment with bread, cheese, wine and fresh oranges for lunch.

Tired from our early start and still recovering from bad colds, we lazed around for the rest of the afternoon, making plans for the next few days. Then, after sinking a couple of bottles of fizz with Richard, Rachel and Thomas, we headed to a cosy bistro for dinner… I’ll definitely be putting more weight on during the trip with all this delicious food and drink!