I’m Going with Oh to…

Go with Oh, Paris, Places, ThingsMay 07 201245 Comments

On Friday I announced that I would start my Go with Oh adventure in November. You already know that I’m definitely going to Florence, and today I’m divulging another city I’ll visit.

I’m going to Go with Oh to Paris!

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I’ve wanted to visit Paris for as long as I can remember. Numbers 36, 37, and 38 on my bucket list involve Paris. I’m going to mark those three items off with zeal. I’d be a fool not to include the City of Light in my month-long itinerary. After all, it’s PARIS!

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The quest for the perfect pain au chocolat alone is worth the trip. Despite having a fabulous French restaurant less than a mile from my Houston home, I’ve never eaten a French meal. Sure I’ve had French food (quiche, onion soup, crepes, steak frites), but I can’t say I’ve had a proper French meal. I am dying to dive into boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin. I’m going to eat cheese and éclairs until I pop. Don’t even get me started on the wine and Champagne I’m going to drink.

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Although I’m excited about eating my way through the city, I’m even more excited about experiencing the sights and sounds of Paris. With my trusty travel partner in crime, Lola, I’m going to visit all the typical tourist sites. Lola’s been to Paris on several occasions, so I’m looking forward to seeing her favorite haunts and finding some new ones together.

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The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, and Arc de Triomphe will certainly be on our itinerary, but I want to dive deeper into Paris. I crave the opportunity to experience the city like a local. Instead of searching for cheap hotels, I’ll be staying in one of Open House Group’s Parisian apartments, which I believe will help give me a taste of what it’s like to live as a Parisian.

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Paris will be the last stop on my Go with Oh tour. I purposely did this because I want to see Paris adorned for Christmas. If it’s anything like I imagine, I imagine the Paris hotels and shops bedecked in the most fabulous decorations ever conceived. I’m not sure how one of the most beautiful cities in the world could get better, but I have a feeling the City of Light shines even brighter during the Christmas season.

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There you go! Now you know two of the four cities I’ll visit during my stint as guest blogger for Go with Oh. Check back on Wednesday when I’ll announce the third city. Also, check out Lola’s and my Pinterest board, Going with Oh to Paris. It’s divine!

Do you have any suggestions for Paris? Merci beaucoup!

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45 Comments

lola dimarco :: May 7, 2012 at 7:20 am :: Reply

j'aime it, Leah! the pictures in this post are gorgeous. OUI, i do hope Paris looks just like this at Christmastime. It truly will be a dream come true to spend time in the City of Light with you. xo - lola lola dimarco recently posted..did you know, i won the lottery?!

Leah Travels :: May 7, 2012 at 12:34 pm :: Reply

I got a slight chill looking for those winter in Paris pictures. They are a stark contrast to the 90 degree weather in Houston right now. We're going to have the most spectacular time!

Maria Alexandra @latinAbroad :: May 7, 2012 at 8:07 am :: Reply

OMG, you WON!! Yay Leah!! Yes, I'm a little behind...this RSI symptoms got me a little away from my computer lately :( but anyway, this put a big :D on my face!! I know how bad you wanted it, so happy for you! Can't wait to read about all your adventures. I've never been to Paris either, so will be nice reading it from a first-timer :) Maria Alexandra @latinAbroad recently posted..Dali Museum Florida and its Tree of Wishes: Photo essay

Leah Travels :: May 7, 2012 at 12:35 pm :: Reply

Ahhhh....thanks so much, Maria. You're right, I think I wanted this more than anything else ever. I"m glad I'm not the only Paris virgin in the travel community. I hope I can do the city justice.

Sandy Moore via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 8:37 am :: Reply

I've been to Paris many times, and you will LOVE Paris! A fabulous choice! Can't wait to find out your third choice! If you haven't been to London.....I'm just saying!
Fiona :: May 7, 2012 at 8:56 am :: Reply

Wow! Congratulations on your Go with O Paris trip, it's one of my favourite cities and YES the food IS as good as everyone says! Don't forget to visit Laduree too!! Fiona recently posted..The Dublin Edit: Bite Restaurant Review

Leah Travels :: May 7, 2012 at 12:37 pm :: Reply

I loved finding your article on Paris in the winter, Fiona. It's full of great tips that I'm sure I'll reference as my trip gets closer. Thanks for the tip on Laduree! Let me know if you think of anything else. Thanks!

Leah Travels via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 9:22 am :: Reply

I know I'll love Paris! How could one not? I have been to London, but it's so worth going back to. There were so many things I didn't see.
Sandy Moore via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 10:03 am :: Reply

You need to go someplace you haven't been to yet! Venice before it sinks?...... :-)
Sonja Blum Jones via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 10:09 am :: Reply

how have younot been to paris?!? as cheesy as it sounds the restaurant in the eiffel tower is v good. michellin star chef. and it isnt a bad location! ;)
Heathers Harmony via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 10:21 am :: Reply

Congratulations!!!
sabrina :: May 7, 2012 at 10:51 am :: Reply

Loooove Paris! Lived there for six months a while backs and it was so much fun!! You'll have a blast. sabrina recently posted..Only in Texas: Cows on Campus

Leah Travels :: May 7, 2012 at 12:38 pm :: Reply

Alright, Sabrina, you aren't getting off with telling me you lived in Paris for six months and then NOT give me some tips. I'll be knocking on your virtual door come the fall.

Sabrina :: May 10, 2012 at 11:02 am :: Reply

Oh, I guess that would have been smart to tell you some of my favorites :) I guess on op of the list is the Sainte Chappelle. It's a-m-a-z-i-n-g and breathtaking. If you've never been, you have to go. One of my favorite bars was the Irish Pub close to Pigalle - very touristy, but the best shandy ever (and in walking distance to my apartment back then). No matter how often we went, looking at the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero at night is unbeatable. And, if you're lucky with the weather, go for a picnic in front of it (on the other side) on the Champ de Mars. We did that for my b-day one year with baguettes and fresh tartelette de fraises and sodas - so much fun! My favorite walk in Paris starts at the Arc de Triomphe, goes down the Champ d'Elysees (where you have to buy a Hagen Daaz of course), then between the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais toward the Seine to the Pont d'Alexandre where you have a gorgeous view of Les Invalides. You don't cross the bridge though and keep walking by the Seine until you get to the Place de la Concorde (quick detour to the Madeleine), then through the Tuileries to the Louvre. After that it's back to the Seine to Pont Neuf and on the Ile de la Cite for a tour of the Saint Chapelle, Notre Dame, little markets and squares, etc. Don't forget the little Ile Saint Louis while you're there. If you're not super tired after all that walking you can cross over to the other side of the Seine and go see Saint-Germain :) Sabrina recently posted..Grocery Shopping in China: Street Carts and Grocery Stores in China

Leah Travels :: May 10, 2012 at 1:01 pm :: Reply

This is great, Sabrina! I know that I will reference this as the trip draws closer. I sure hope the weather is nice. I can handle cold, but wind and rain aren't going to work for me. ;-) Thank you so much!

Sabrina :: May 12, 2012 at 9:24 am ::

I really hope you're lucky with the weather. Paris can be pretty rainy and dark unfortunately. It's so much more fun when the weather is nice. I'd suggest you have backup plans for bad weather: museum (like the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, etc.), restaurants and cafes to sneak into to stay warm, visiting places that are also beautiful from the inside (like the old opera and les Invalides), maybe shopping (like the huge department stores on Boulevard Haussman which are a sight by themselves), and.... a good raincoat and an umbrella ;) Sabrina recently posted..Grocery Shopping in China: Street Carts and Grocery Stores in China
Leah Travels :: May 14, 2012 at 8:27 am ::

Lots of great info here, Sabrina. Good call on the alternative plans due to weather. I think the best thing is to be pretty loose on plans as to accommodate the iffy weather that time of year.

Leah Travels via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 10:52 am :: Reply

I know, Sonja Blum Jones! It's a sin, right? My husband refuses to go (and NYC, too), so I just haven't made it yet. But all that's about to change come winter. ;-)
Leah Travels via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 10:52 am :: Reply

Thank you, Heathers Harmony! I'm very honored.
Leah Travels via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 10:53 am :: Reply

Sandy Moore, perhaps Venice will be on the itinerary. You'll know by the end of the week. ;-)
Sonja Blum Jones via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 11:09 am :: Reply

i hear ya. ive been twice with geoff...and both sets of parents so hardly the romantic city i hoped for. oh well, one day!!
Sandy Moore via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 11:17 am :: Reply

Florence, Venice, Pisa and Rome was my first european vacation when I first started flying. I went with my good friend Lynne, also a F/A, (she is the one who went to NZ the same day you did, but different flight out of LAX). My first train ride, and I learned that "direct" didn't mean non-stop. Longest train ride ever! ha!
Rachel :: May 7, 2012 at 11:50 am :: Reply

Trying not to be jealous and failing miserably. ;) Some of my favorite things to do in Paris: Sainte-Chappelle's stained glass windows are the most beautiful I've ever seen. It's a stone's throw from Notre Dame on Ile de la Cite, so do both if you can. Get a picnic lunch and go to one of the squares or parks for some people watching. Place des Vosges is a good one. After a stroll around the Tuileries on a chilly November day, you're definitely going to have to warm up with the best hot chocolate in the world at Cafe Angelina on the Rue de Rivoli. Rachel recently posted..On Christchurch and disaster tourism

Leah Travels :: May 7, 2012 at 12:40 pm :: Reply

Anyone who recommends a great hot chocolate is OK in my book. These all look like things I'd enjoy for sure. Thank you for the great tips, and feel free to add to them later. I'd love to hear more.

Mrsoaroundtheworld :: May 7, 2012 at 3:32 pm :: Reply

Have lots of suggestions to share with you! Paris is amazing and you will love it!! Mrsoaroundtheworld recently posted..My Favourite Photos of the Week – Flowers

Leah Travels :: May 7, 2012 at 3:56 pm :: Reply

Oh, I can't wait to hear your recommendations. I know they will be brilliant. I'll be taking notes. ;-)

Leah Travels via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 4:16 pm :: Reply

Oh no, Sonja Blum Jones. That sounds less than ideal.
Leah Travels via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 4:18 pm :: Reply

Sandy Moore That's a great way to start a new job! I hope to take a day trip to Pisa from Florence. I bet that train ride was terribly long, especially before the current high-speed trains existed.
Sandy Moore via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 4:38 pm :: Reply

Took an over-night direct train from Venice to Rome.....then had to get to the airport in Rome, which was NOT close to the train terminal at all! If I remember, felt like the other side of the city! I lost count of how many stops we made on the train. Funny. My first trip abroad, and I really was a novice at packing, and I had to drag my huge suitcase everywhere, this was BEFORE wheels! I felt like throwing my clothes away by the end of the trip, just so I didn't have to look at that darn turquoise suitcase. Plus I didn't wear comfortable shoes, and I had to trade shoes with Lynne, who wore 1 1/2 size larger than I did, just so I could walk! She was willing to do anything just to stop listening to me complain about how much my feet hurt! But this was such a fun trip!!!!! Great memories and lots of laughs!
Steven (Travel Freak) :: May 7, 2012 at 4:50 pm :: Reply

Great choice! I lived in Paris for a while and can't wait until I can go back. I'll be sure to think of some personal rec's and send them your way over the next few months! Steven (Travel Freak) recently posted..Traveler Tip: Adopt a Museum

Leah Travels :: May 7, 2012 at 6:10 pm :: Reply

I'd love that, Steven! I'm game for anything, especially anything unusual and not very well known. Don't forget!

Leah Travels via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 6:07 pm :: Reply

Oh, what a great memory, Sandy Moore. I bet flying in the 60s was such an amazing experience. So much has changed, and not necessarily for the better. I wish you'd write all this stuff down. Maybe you can write something for my blog? I'd love that.
Linda James via Facebook :: May 7, 2012 at 9:31 pm :: Reply

*seething with jealousy* Leah, Paris is bloody cold in November. All those French people have a different word for everything, they drive like maniacs, the cobblestones will break your ankles and the food and wine is just absolutely wretched. You'd better hand over that ticket right now. Don't you understand that I'm just looking out for your welfare? And whatever you do, never, ever have chocolat chaud with Nutella crepes at cafe Flore-en-l'Ile on the Ile-St.-Louis. You'll regret it! (Yup, been there four times. There will be more times.)
Roughley Originals Photography via Facebook :: May 8, 2012 at 8:20 am :: Reply

tres envious ;)
Leah Travels via Facebook :: May 8, 2012 at 8:29 am :: Reply

That is so good to know Linda James. Thank you so much for the warning! Sad thing is that I'm a masochist, so all that you mention is right up my alley. I absolutely loathe (love) Nutella. Let the suffering begin!
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Linda James via Facebook :: May 10, 2012 at 8:20 pm :: Reply

If you intend to take some good piccies (sooo many photo ops), don't miss Pere Lachaise Cemetery, way out in the 20th district, a nd don't miss the Basilique St-Denis, one of the most magnificent cathedrals you've never heard of - full of royal tombs. It's the Westminster Abbey of Paris.
Frank DiCesare :: May 13, 2012 at 7:46 pm :: Reply

The Louvre is extraordinary, as is the Orsay (You'll get to meet Van Gogh's "Dr. Gachet" up close and personal. Yes, he painted two of them.) Luxemborg Gardens is beautiful, too. Hemingway used to walk around there with Gertrude Stein back in the early 1920s.

Leah Travels :: May 14, 2012 at 8:36 am :: Reply

I wouldn't have known it was misspelled, so I'm not worried about it in the least. ;-) Any place that Hemingway visited is a must-do for me. I'm not sure how it will look in the winter, but I'm willing to find out.

Frank DiCesare :: May 13, 2012 at 7:48 pm :: Reply

Pardon the misspelling, that's Luxembourg Gardens, or as it's known in French, Jardin du Luxembourg!
Andrea Herrera :: May 14, 2012 at 1:25 am :: Reply

I can't contain my excitement anymore, my husband and I will be celebrating our honeymoon in paris. Thanks for sharing these photos, I'll make sure our visit will be a blast too! Andrea Herrera recently posted..Green Clean: The Eco-Friendly Laundry Room

Leah Travels :: May 14, 2012 at 8:38 am :: Reply

What a wonderful place to celebrate your wedding, Andrea. You're such a lucky girl. When will you be going?

Frank DiCesare :: May 14, 2012 at 8:40 am :: Reply

If you haven't already done so, read Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" before you go to Paris.

Leah Travels :: May 14, 2012 at 9:03 am :: Reply

You are the third person to tell me that. I think I'll pick it up. Ohhh...maybe it's available through iTunes. I can listen to it while I work.