Monthly Archives: July 2017

Shopping in Paris

by Wendy
This is not a post about shopping at Chanel or Yves Saint Laurent on the Champs Elysees. This is a post about picking up a few interesting souvenirs here and there in Paris.

Shakespeare & Company Bookstore – If you, or someone you’re thinking of, loves books, this is the place for your souvenir. While not the original location of the shop Sylvia Beach ran in the 1920s, this is a seriously cool bookstore with its own literary history dating back to the 1950s. There are rows of used paperpacks in stalls outside, suitably portable for carrying to a nearby cafe. There is a maze of rooms with crowded shelves, chairs to settle in and read, and at least one cat. There is a program offering writers a place to sleep in exchange for work around the store and drafting a short autobiography. This is where the star-crossed couple Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meet once again during the opening scene of the movie Before Sunset. It was a treat to visit this store, and I happily wandered around for awhile. Before I left I bought Jack a book of Apollinaire’s poetry with English translation, accepting the clerk’s offer of the special Shakespeare & Company stamp on one of the pages. Continue reading →

Overheard in Paris

by Wendy
It’s funny and endearing how many Americans will call out, “Hey, where are you from?” when hearing an accent similar to their own while in a foreign city. Sometimes they even stop to have a brief conversation. Or ask if you’ll take their photo.

When surrounded by another language and doing your best to understand, your ears do perk up a little when you hear a fellow English speaker, native or otherwise. Especially when you overhear amusing comments, like these in Paris. Continue reading →

A Meal Fit for the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms

by Sunny

follow me on Twitter @sunnylooksleaps

First things first…no season 7 spoilers ahead 🙂

Maybe you don’t have HBO or enjoy 1,000+ page books and you’ve never heard of/seen Game of Thrones. You’re not sure what the hype is about.  All of the Tweets and Instas of Game of Thrones watch parties and countdowns to Season 7 baffle you.  Well, whether you’re new to the game or a diehard fan, I have a fun story to share about a Game of Thrones themed dinner Jimmy and I attended the night before the Season 7 premiere.

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Paris Transportation Tips

by Wendy
Here are a few transportation tips to consider when planning your visit to Paris.

Transportation to/from Charles de Gaulle Airport – Look into the Roissy bus. I’ve taken a train, taxi and shuttle before, but thought the bus option was super easy and efficient, especially if you pack light. The Roissy bus stop right outside the airport terminal was not hard to find, even in our jet lagged state. There is a kiosk nearby which sells tickets (about 12 euros). The Roissy bus dropped us off near the Opera Metro, and then we walked to our hotel. That’s the catch: the bus only goes to this stop and then back to CDG airport. If you are staying in a different neighborhood, you would need to plan a second mode of transport, such as Metro. During our ride, the bus was not crowded and only took about 45 minutes, but it was early on a Sunday morning. Continue reading →

Coronado, California

by Sunny

follow me on Twitter @sunnylooksleaps

Every year, we vary our Spring Break destination and are rarely disappointed.  This year was no exception.  Originally planning to stay in San Diego, Hotwire had different plans for us.  When we spotted the mystery resort on the “island” of Coronado at a heck of a price, we decided to go for it.  Coronado was charming, relaxed, convenient, and beautiful – the perfect California getaway. We fell in love with Coronado, California during our 4 day trip in April. Here are our top 6 reasons to love Coronado

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A Walk in Paris

by Wendy
It goes something like this.

Bonjour Paris! Time to explore the city. Maybe visit Notre Dame and walk along the Seine?

Where do you want to go for breakfast? This cafe looks nice.

This cafe is the best! I could stay here for hours. Should we have another coffee?

Is Notre Dame this way?

Look at the dresses in those store windows. Tres chic! Which one would you choose? Continue reading →

Family-Style Paris

by Sunny

follow me on Twitter @sunnylooksleaps

This was the year: our first family trip to Paris! Jimmy, MJ, and I were excited to embark on our first family adventure overseas.  While this was uncharted territory for us, luckily we had my sister, Wendy,  a Paris veteran, join us on our journey.  The trip was amazing and memorable.  As the trip approached and we started sharing our summer trip plans with friends, the general reaction was, “And you ARE taking MJ?!”  I guess for many, Paris is one of those romantic couples vacations, or a high school graduation type trip. Nothing wrong with either of those, but Jimmy and I love to travel and to share travel with MJ.  Not only did our 7 years old get to see France with her parents, but also her fabulous aunt.  Here are some of our tips for visiting Paris family-style!

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