Paris. It seems every enduring love story ever written or filmed has had a moment in the great capital of France. A peek at history reveals a long list of authors and artists who sought out the City of Light for inspiration and revitalization. And who doesn’t know of an aspiring fashion designer or writer checking into a hotel along the Seine River for a dose of creativity? This city replenishes the soul. From the rhythmic clacking of a woman’s heels walking across a cobblestone street to traffic horns and busboys hurdling clinking coffee mugs, even noise sounds divine in Paris. Whether a first-time visitor or a devoted Parisian Francophile, the city has countless treasures, some known, others hidden. It is a city that encourages people to indulge in many ways, from food to fashion and everything in between, which is why it’s time to book your plane ticket.
Sixty-year-old bookstore Shakespeare and Company, created by American George Whitman as a haven for writers and readers, still operates at 37 Rue de la Bûcherie. Today maintained by Whitman’s daughter, the store welcomes tumbleweeds, an endearing Whitman term for guests who “drift in and out with the winds of chance.” In exchange for a bed at the store, tumbleweeds must read a book a day, help at the shop for a few hours a day and produce a one-page autobiography. During the day, squeeze into the rabbit warren hallways piled high with books or listen to poetry readings outside by the Seine.
Cultivate a better understanding of the perfume world at the Ex Nihilo boutique on the luxurious Rue Saint-Honoré. A newcomer to the Parisian fragrance scene, the perfume house has made education a priority. The interior design of the store mimics a lab, which is fitting, since the company hosts “ateliers olfactifs,” one-on-one workshops with a fragrance expert (by appointment only). Spend the day discovering fine perfumery materials, awakening your senses and customizing your own bottle.
Paris has a dizzying 204 museums, and while they are all jewels in their own right, one is particularly special. On the outskirts of the 16th Arrondissement is the Musée Marmottan Monet. Once a grand home on the edge of a park, the museum now holds a superb collection of impressionist art in its well-appointed rooms. Spend quality time with Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Paul Gauguin and, of course, Claude Monet.
It’s time to indulge in chocolates. First up is Pierre Marcolini. Long recognized as the best chocolate maker in Brussels, Marcolini is taking over Paris with his sleek black and gray boutiques (photo below). The chocolatier is known for his unique combo of chocolate and other ingredients, from melon to tonka beans. Some even say his French macarons are the best in the city. If you’d rather have a cup of hot chocolate, then it’s off to Angelina, located next to the Tuileries Garden. The interior, a mirror-paneled Victorian dining room, is almost as heavenly as the hot chocolates.
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