Travel Log: Paris, France

During our Paris trip last year, we stayed at our timeshare outside the city near Disneyland Paris. It was roughly a 40 min train ride into Paris. I didn't mind the extra time needed to get to the city since mass transit was available in the evening. We didn't need a taxi at all. 

I recommend arriving to Paris on Sunday or Monday to take advantage of the Paris Train metro pass, Navigo Decouverte. It's a smart card for a week/month that is valid on bus, metro, RER, Ile-de-France (Transilien) trains. The Navigo Decouverte pass price is available to visitors and valid only from Monday at 00:00 to Sunday 23:59:59. Additional details about this pass can be found here.

Before we left Paris, we stopped by the infamous love locks on the Pont des Arts bridge. We attached our padlock to the bridge but unfortunately, the locks were removed last June. I'm glad we didn't purchase a fancy padlock for it to be removed this year.

Compared to other cities in France, Paris seemed to be english-speaking friendly. I didn't have a problem getting around or ordering at restaurants. The one change I will make the next time we're here is planning a trip in May than in March since it was cold and rainy.

Paris: Louvre Museum

1. Mona Lisa - Leonardo de Vinci

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana - Veronese

3. Death of the Virgin - Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio

4. Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Love - Antonio Canova

5. Venus de Milo. Found in Melos in 1820.

6. Cy Twombly's Ceiling

7. Liberty Leading the People - Eugene Delacroix. 1830.

8. The Raft of the Medusa - Theodore Gericault. ca. 1818-1819.

9. Captive (The Dying Slave) - Michelangelo

10. Death of Sardanapalus - Eugene Dalacroix. 1827.

11. Borghese Vase

12. Pyramide du Louvre - I.M. Pei. 1985-1993.

The Louvre Museum is one of the world's largest museums. The facility spans over 60,600 square meters. I was able to see all of the famous masterpieces that was on my bucket list. However, there were some exhibits that were closed due to renovations such as the Winged Victory of Samothrace. This gives me all the reasons to come back. It's hard to take everything in on one trip. 

Recommendation: Have a strategy to visit the artworks and exhibits that you want to see especially if you don't have the whole day to spend at the museum. To avoid the long lines at the Pyramid, enter the museum from the Carrousel de Louvre, an underground shopping/restaurant area that connects to the pyramid. 

Paris: L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon Saint-Germain

Bread basket

L'Aubergine

Aubergine, seasonal vegetables, mozzarella and basil

Le Jambon Iberico de Bellota

Escorted toasted bread with tomato

La Sole

Dover sole Meunière

Potato Puree

Mash potatoes, butter, heavy cream

Le Chocolat Tendance

Creamy Manjari chocolate mousse, dark chocolate sorbet and Oreo cookie crumb

Mignardise

Madeleines cookies and caramel candies

Paris has two Michelin starred L'Ateliers. The one in Saint-Germain has a 40 seat kitchen counter as well as a salon. The location is led by Executive Chef Axel Manes, known as being one of the youngest chefs to be awarded a Michelin star. What made this visit special was the staff was very welcoming. As we ate, the staff took photos of themselves with my camera and kept feeding us until we were stuffed. I think I had two bowls of the mash potatoes and each us was given our own mignardise plates. While every location seems to have the same execution in technique and menus, it's this precision that makes the Robuchon properties a culinary destination. 

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Saint-Germain

5 Rue Montalembert

75007 Paris, France

+33 1 42 22 56 56

http://atelier-robuchon-saint-germain.com/en/accueil.php