in october

#02 - Paris, France

My new job scuttled my tentative plan to head to Xinjiang, China in May, and while casting around for a potential destination for October, my friend and I chanced upon some very nicely priced tickets on Emirates that rather sealed the deal for us. So rather impulsively, we committed ourselves to spend two weeks in London and Paris. I'm not sure how this happened.

In any case, it's my friend's first to both cities but not mine, so I get to play tour guide and we may add a detour to Brussels (is it slightly sad that the city advertises itself as "80 minutes away from Paris"?). I would like to have gone to somewhere I've never been, but my last visit to both cities was in 2007, and I don't think anyone complains about seeing them again.

Comments

ammu said…
Ooh! you have to go to Les Senteurs on Elizabeth Street in London. And Liberty of course :) Check out Trishna restaurant in Marylebone for the best garlic butter crab ever. And Comptoirs des Cotonniers - who have stores all over the place - gosh I miss them!
Have a lovely time!
Lindsay K said…
How exciting. Travel is so fun. You should check out the Madame Gres exhibit at the Bourdelle Museum in Paris. I'm trying to fit in a non-work trip just for that.
onlycoolcats said…
I would like to see Paris, hopefully it will happen this year.
That's embarassing but I have never been to france before ( blush)
Unknown said…
exciting exciting!!!
yanqin said…
Ammu: Thanks for the recommendations, it's adding to the excitement.

Lindsay K: Sounds interesting, but I think it'll be over by the time I go. I'm trying not to look at all the exhibits I'm missing now, so that I don't feel so bummed out. If you do go, do a post!

onlycoolcats: Paris isn't running off any time soon, so I say no hurry :)

Plus, it's not like cities in developing countries that are changing so fast that you need to visit them before they change too much.

If Jane: Gives me something to dream about...
luka said…
hi i think you should totally come to amsterdam! actually i personally think a'dam is much more special than brussels. the vibe, the canals, the old buildings, it's like a museum itself. and if you do come around and i have some free time to spare, i would like to show you around, like where to shop, where to eat, where to simply take a nice walk, etc.
yanqin said…
luka: I love Amsterdam, I visited a few years ago, and you're right about it being a city full of character. The people are really nice too!

Lovely of you to offer to show us around, it would be so fun. But it will depend on how many days we plan to spend in London and Paris - we thought of Brussels for proximity since my friend definitely wants to spend more time in London and Paris, being her first time there.
miss sophie said…
london and paris and anywhere else? i'd love to be able to go every year if i could! :) i wish i had more time last summer when i went. not sure how things are these days, but i've a feeling Xinjiang is probably still a bit of a thorny place after the demonstrations 2 years ago. will you be on the lookout for any shopping gems? :)
hannah-rose said…
my mum always told me that you should travel to a place assuming that you will go there again. Oh man! how fantastic! I'm going again to Paris in July and I feel utterly, utterly spoilt really - although I am paying my way as usual. But still... it's so nice to go back to places that you love.

go to brussels! you won't regret it! Bruges is nice too, and if you're looking for places that are close to france think of geneva as well...

X
yanqin said…
miss sophie: I think travellers have been making their way to Xinjiang for ages, and since the skirmished haven't escalated, it's probably alright to go. I really wish I could make it happen.

I will probably make the rounds of my favourite shops and brands not found in Singapore, but since I'm going in fall, there's probably not all that much that I can buy to wear at home where it's summer all year round. But the euro and pound are good value against singapore currency now so it's almost always cheaper to buy anything there than here, fashion-wise.

Any recommendations? I think shoes would be a good thing to look for - transeasonal!

hannah-rose: Fantastic! I've been feeling inspired by photos of your trip. I'm definitely seriously considering Brussels. but I love that two weeks gives me a bit of time to be spontaneous.

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