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Baking Sweet French Classics at the Ritz
After enjoying a light lunch on the patio of the Ritz’s Bar Vendôme, I was kindly guided down the elegant, toile-adorned staircase to the kitchens of the École Ritz Escoffier. I was on my way to attend their ‘Sweet Classics’ baking class. Earlier in the year, as I was planning this trip to Paris, I had discovered that the Hôtel Ritz had just re-opened after an extensive four-year renovation. Always on the look out for new French baking and cooking class opportunities, I began to wonder whether they might not offer some. Happily, a quick look at their website confirmed that indeed they do. So, of course, I had to…
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Sisters of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a New York icon known around the world. She stands as a shining beacon on Liberty Island, offering the hope of sanctuary to the tired, poor ‘huddled masses’. For decades, she was the first concrete sight of the American dream for millions of immigrants entering the United States. In fact, her real name is ‘La Liberté éclairant le monde’ – ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’. Liberty in Paris But did you know that she has a European sister? It’s true! She can be found in the middle of the Seine in the heart of Paris. While the original statue was a gift from France to the…
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The Triumphant Arc de Triomphe
At the top of the Avenue des Champs Élysées stands the majestic Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, Napoleon’s grand monument to his many military victories. It is a mesmerizing sight, one that I have difficulty taking my eyes off when I am nearby. Fortunately, on one of my recent visits to Paris, I had the opportunity to admire it often as my rental apartment was just a few hundred metres from it. And while I had admired it from a distance before, this time I took a much closer look. As a novice looking at the Arc from street level, one might wonder how that is possible to get up…
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Garden of the Queens – Part 3
Paris is a city of apartments so people have very little if any personal green space. The public gardens thus become their back yard. This is clearly evident as you stroll into the English garden of Jardin du Luxembourg – Luxembourg Gardens. This is a space where joggers can run the circumference of the park while others soak up some sun by the octagonal basin or play a game of tennis. The garden is also a place for children. Here they can watch a puppet show at le théâtre des marionnettes or take a pony ride. La Vie En Rose Beyond the ponies lies the lovely Jardin de la Roseraie.…
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Garden of the Queens – Part 2
I first chanced upon Jardin du Luxembourg after visiting le Panthéon national monument. As I strolled down Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, I was happy to discover that the gardens were just below it. Walking along the garden fence, I enjoyed the free photographic exhibition that was mounted on it. And as I entered the Odéon gate next to le palais, I came upon the most famous feature in Luxembourg: La fontaine Médicis. Built in the form of a grotto in 1630 by Queen Marie de Medici, the Medici Fountain is a sight to behold. A long, reflective bassin de l’eau is flanked by plane trees and beautiful, giant swags of ivy. At…
