Who's Looking at You

This woman had a fabulous handbag... handpainted Louis Vitton

Paris is a great place to "people watch." As artist Kathryn Detwiller commented on my recent post, Design with Flair, she stated, "...You are right about the French...everything is a delight to the eye. I think it is in their genes." 

and they start young.  (Look at THIS face - Move Over Mona!)

From the observed...

To the observer...

Paris is the always a fashion show.  

Where is your favorite place to "people watch?"

Live like a Parisien

even if it is only for 5 days.

Hotels may offer amenities (and often tiny rooms abroad), but apartments offer authenticity. If you do your homework you can find the right fit, even if you book down right down to the wire - as we did!

There are several sites online that we visited.  VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) offers rentals all over the globe.  You choose your location, your dates, your budget and the availability pops right up with photos, and often reviews, which we found very helpful.

We saw several that we liked, but kept coming back to a bright one bedroom apartment in the Saint Germain neighborhood of Paris offered by Drawbridge to Europe, Inc.  Fortunately, it was still available.  We booked it and were not disappointed.  Situated on Rue Notre Dames des Champs in the 6 arrondisement in Paris, it was a quiet street with a metro right on the corner.

Situated above a shop called Bagels and Brownies, there was a line there every day around lunch.

A flower market nearby added some Spring Colors to our Apartment

Desk overlooking the courtyard

Courtyard View

French Doors gave privacy to the bedroom.

We also had a kitchen, complete with fridge, stove (which we never used)
and a microwave- which we did: to cook our dollars (not on purpose!, try finding someone in Paris to change partially burnt $ for Euros!!!!)

How do you live like a local when you travel?

Before You Go... One Word

Passport.

Yep, that's it.  Have one, and make sure it has not expired, and will not, expire in the next 6 months.
Tres importante.

I learned that the hard way, AT THE AIRPORT en route to Amsterdam several years ago.  In the end, it all worked out out, several hundred dollars and a day later, I joined Scott in Amsterdam.

This time, it was Scott's password that was expired. Having learned that lesson,  I pulled his out when we booked our flights.  It cost us a little more to expedite it as we were within two weeks of departure.

Down to the wire, that's us. A nail biter.  But, it did arrive.

As did we.


What's your passport story?