A Lady in London

I love Paris. I could spend the rest of my life there. I would never tire of the beautiful architecture, delicious food, and world-class art. But while seeing Monet’s water lilies on canvases in the Musee d’Orsay and Musee Marmottan is one thing, seeing them in person on a Giverny day trip from Paris is another.

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Paris’ Right Bank is synonymous with the establishment. From the Elysee Palace to the elegant shops on Rue du Faubourg St Honore, it represents all things traditional. In a city with as much history and culture as Paris, tradition can often mean great things.

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Paris is a competitive city. The fierce rivalry between Paris’ Left Bank and Right Bank dates back a long way. The former is known for its artistic, bohemian ways. The latter, being more upscale, is a bastion of the establishment.

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With all of the spa treatments, Louvre tours, and personal shopping appointments we enjoyed on our press trip to Paris’ Hotel Le Bristol, my fellow travelers and I worked up quite an appetite. Lucky for us, the hotel had no shortage of high-end cuisine on offer. Even luckier, the staff was incredibly generous in inviting us to experience all of the various culinary options.

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My press trip to Hotel Le Bristol in Paris continued to impress. The after-hours tour of the Louvre was amazing, and I couldn’t wait to see what other unique experiences the hotel could offer its guests. I didn’t have to wait long. The following day we were scheduled to meet with a personal shopper who would take us all over the Right Bank. Lacking any talent in the shopping department, I was excited to have an insider’s help in finding the best boutiques in Paris.

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As my press trip to Hotel Le Bristol continued, I didn’t think there could be anything more impressive outside of the hotel than inside. How could they top the gorgeous suites, the excellent cuisine, and the relaxing spa treatments? By giving us access to things we couldn’t get on our own, that’s how. This came in several forms, the first of which was a private after-hours tour of the Louvre. Normally reserved for the hotel’s VIP guests, we were the first press group to experience this luxury firsthand.

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A week ago I received an email inviting me on a press trip to Paris. Given my love for the city, it I didn’t hesitate to accept. But even if the trip hadn’t been to Paris, I would have jumped at the chance to go. Why? It was a press trip to Hotel Le Bristol, one of Paris’ top five-star hotels, and one of the only European family-owned hotels of its caliber in the city. With a three Michelin starred restaurant, an amazing spa, and gorgeous decor, I couldn’t wait to experience the hotel first-hand.

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When a friend invites you to a party in Monaco for the christening of his new yacht, it’s hard to say no. In fact, a resounding ‘yes’ is more likely the response. It was certainly mine.

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The best part about flying into Nice Airport is the view. The runway is right on the sea, and as the plane makes its descent, there are gorgeous views of everything from the waterfront Promenade des Anglais to the tree-studded mountains in the background.

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I never thought Bordeaux would be such a big city. Every time I pictured it in my mind, I imagined rolling hills with green grape vines and crumbling chateaux. I did not picture a bustling urban space with chain shops and busy streets.

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I didn’t mean to run a marathon. It kinda happened by accident. Like most things in my life, I was there for the food. And the wine. And the beautiful scenery. I guess I just got caught up in the moment and decided that running a marathon without training for it would be a good idea.

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I wanted to visit Avignon for ten years. When I studied in Nice my teachers used all sorts of stories, songs, and rhymes to teach us French. There were the Tintin cartoons, the “Champs-Elysees” song, and many others. One of the most memorable of these was the nursery rhyme about a certain bridge in Avignon. ‘Sur le pont d’Avignon,’ it went, ‘on y danse, on y danse’. There we dance, there we dance.

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Last week I got two very exciting invitations for press trips to Europe. The first was for the Eurostar Explorer Train, which would take me to one of six cities in either Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, or France. The second was for a business class flight to Berlin to celebrate the launch of an airline’s fifth daily flight from Heathrow to Berlin Tegel Airport.

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My boyfriend is an aviation expert. He’s one of those people that can look into the sky, see a speck of a plane, and know exactly what kind it is, what airline it belongs to, and what the best seat in each cabin class is.

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I have a secret. I’m an in-flight magazine junkie. BA High Life, American Way, you name it. But the Eurostar on-board magazine just might be my favorite. Why? Because it really only covers three destinations and I’m always going to one of them.

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