As I mentioned before one of the things I like most about giving my tours is the diverse and interesting people I meet from around the world. I’ve run the gamut in the last eight years with clients from all five clients, from families traveling by private jet to teenage Girls Scouts scrimping and saving for two years to come to Paris to make their travel dream come true.
Last month I had a gay male couple from a small town in rural Denmark. They were staying in the Marais but wanted to explore the area more and get the inside scoop. When I asked them what they did for a living, they said they owned a pencil and stationery company. Jens, the owner told me that he bought a pencil company from 1914 a few years ago and was rebranding it.
At the end of the tour we exchanged pleasantries and business cards. Jens said he would send a sampler of some of his stationery products from his company Viking, which I thought that was such a kind gesture. He said he and Daniel liked the tour so much they wanted to do another one next time they returned.
The following week I received a large box in the mail, thinking why did they send such a large box, considering I was expecting a few pencil samples.
The first thing I discovered in the box was a handsome red leather journal embossed with my name. That was the first WOW! Along side it was a black cardboard portfolio. I undid the elastic and inside was a wonderful array of beautiful pencils, colored pencils, erasers, markers, and pencil cases, including a leather one with my name embossed on it. An even bigger WOW! I used to get so excited when I was a kid going shopping for my back to school supplies and it was like experiencing it all over again except the products were much more sophisticated than Bic and Crayola. Getting tactile, I gently caressed my notebook and then smelled the wood from the pencils. I especially loved the adorable box of mini colored pencils.
Throughout the 20th century the Viking #29 yellow pencil was the preferred pencil in Denmark and used in offices and homes and in almost every Danish school.
Thanks so much Jens and Daniel for giving me such a wonderful Back to School gift way before September.
Here is the website but for now it’s only in Danish but the English version will be live next year.
http://www.creas.com/produkter/brands-og-leverandoerer/viking.aspx
Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more. In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.
Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 195 euros per person (about $210)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
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