Eye Prefer Paris is an ex-New Yorker's insider's guide to Paris. Richard Nahem writes his blog from his fabulous 18th century apartment in the fashionable Marais district of Paris
This is the 12th edition of my Abstract Metro Photos. My first series was in August of 2014, almost five years ago. (Click hereto see first series). I’ve included a series in both of my photos exhibits. The series has evolved since then and I would like to have your feedback from the first series and this series.
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
I had the pleasure of being invited to a very special music eventlast week. The chapel at Versailles inaugurated its new organ and there was an introduction and mini-concert for a small, select group.
The design of the organ was inspired by an André Silbermann organ at the Museum of Decorative Arts of Strasbourg dating from 1719. Silberman was one of the great organ designers of the 18th century. The production of the new organ was executed by Quentin Blumenroeder, a manufacturer of organs and harpsicords in the tradition of antique instruments. It took more than 3,000 hours to complete the organ and a team of of more than 10 artisans included a sculptor, gilder, painter, cabinetmaker.
The new organ was covered in a dust-cloth and once the audience sat down, Quentin Blumenroeder commenced the inaguration and the dustcloth was removed to reveal the stunning white and gold masterpiece. He shared in great detail about the building and execution of the organ in a passionate manor.
After the introduction, a series of well-renowned organists including Ton Koopman, Jean-Baptiste Robin, Fabien Armengaud, Nicolas Bucher, and Gaetan Jarry, played various classical pieces. Another smaller organ was on stage and at one point there was a duet on both organs.
The sound wafted over the entire chapel, filling the space with beautiful harmony and I closed my eyes for a bit to absorb and get lost in the music.
There was a lovely Champagne and hors d’oeuvres reception after the organ inauguration in one of the side rooms of the palace.
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
I was recently invited to spend a few days on the Tango, a luxury barge-hotel docked in Bordeaux, which makes weeklong cruises down the Gironde River and in and around the Bordeaux region. The Tango would provide accommodations, three meals a day, and two days of sightseeing. With a tempting offer like that, I said YES!
I arrived on Monday morning about 11:30AM (the train from Paris to Bordeaux is a quick 2 hours) and it was a clear, sunny day. The boat was easy to locate from the train station, just 15 minutes by tram. Daniel Sak, the owner and Captain of the Tango and his assistant Daphna greeted me warmly and welcomed me on board. I surveyed the outside of the handsome, well kept boat and a Jacuzzi overlooking the architecturally beautiful skyline of old Bordeaux across the river, which sold me on the boat right away.
Daniel prepared a delicious Mediterranean style lunch of the freshest, tastiest red and yellow tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and tabouleh, followed by aromatic baked chicken with mushrooms, ratte potatoes, roasted garlic, peppers, and carrots. While feasting on this fabulous meal on the upper deck outside enjoying the gentle breeze and sunshine, Daniel poured a great Bordeaux and he and Daphna shared about their fascinating lives. Daniel is half American and half French, spending part of his life in California and the rest in Europe. He bought the Tango, a barge built in Nancy in the 1930's, when he was 17 years old in 1999 and has been operating it for twenty years. He took over two years, painstakingly rebuilding and converting the boat into a luxury barge and floating hotel. Up until two years ago, the Tango specialized in wine cruises on the Canal du Midi in Southern France, but last year Daniel decided to change it up and dock the boat in the center of Bordeaux, expanding the scope of the cruises. He had to attain a new boating license to sail the rivers in this region of France. Daphna grew up in Mexico and Texas and assisted on many canal boats before she began working with Daniel last year. She easily glides into speaking fluent French, Spanish, and English and she and Daniel are a great team; welcoming, friendly, and hospitable.
The cabin of the boat has two suites and two other guest rooms, a total of four rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, accommodating up to eight people. I had one of the suites; a natural wood cabin with soft white bed linens, brass portholes, and the coolest feature was the round shower in marigold tiles. The deluxe suite was had a white bathtub with feet, and beautiful Art Deco style wood cabinets. The main lounge has a full bar, long dining table, tufted leather couches, and an electric guitar setup, as Daniel sometimes entertains the guests after dinner.
That afternoon we took an excursion to an organic vineyard and the town of Saint-Emilion. (I will write more in depth about this excursion in another blog post soon).
The next day we slowly sailed up the Gironde River for a few hours, taking in the stunning scenery of the limestone facades of Bordeaux, contrasting the modern glass tower of the Cite du Vin, the new wine museum, and also the newest architectural wonder built in 2013, the Jacques-Chaban-Delmas Bridge, the longest vertical-lift bridge in Europe.
On my last evening, Daniel outdid himself in the kitchen by preparing his legendary chili, which by all measures was terrific, and could easily stand up proudly to any chili in the U.S. Another treat was a bottle of red wine from Daniel’s own vineyard. Lastly, the cherry on the cake of my excellent voyage on the Tango was the view of spectacular fireworks display on the river.
Here is some practical information about the Tango.
The boat is available for private charter 6 night cruises - From Sunday to Saturday- for 4-8 people. Three meals a day are included except for one lunch in a restaurant overlooking the river, which is included in the price.
Five-day cruises with half-board are also available.
A typical cruise route stops in the following ports: Bordeaux, Médoc, Blaye, Saint-Emilion, Bourg, and Branne.
Cruises run between the first of May and the end of October.
After the cruising season, starting in November, the Tango will be converted into a floating hotel, permanently docked in the heart of Bordeaux.
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
I had a hard time selecting a single door this month, so I am posting a potpourri of doors from different parts of the city, mainly from Saint Germain and near the Opera Garnier.
Saint Germain
Boulevard des Italiens, near Opera Garnier
Boulevard des Italiens, near Opera Garnier
Boulevard des Italiens, near Opera Garnier
Saint Germain
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
The Eiffel Tour/Tour Eiffel/ La Dame du Fer (The Iron Lady, not to be confused with the derogatory name given to Margaret Thatcher) celebrated its 130th anniversary last week on May 15.
To mark the historic occasion, the city hired the famous set and lighting designer Bruno Sellier, who designed the Notre Dame light show in 2017 and 2018, to design a special light show. The show was only displayed last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night, at 10, 11, & 12PM.
I went to Place Trocadero on Friday night to catch the 10AM show. Apparently, I was the only person who though of doing this; Exiting the metro, it was a swarm of people trying to claim their spot on the plaza of Palais de Challiot, which has one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower.
At 10PM, the usual five-minutes of the sparkle lights went off, and after a long wait (Impatient ex-New Yorker I still am, I said WTF, waiting for the show to begin). It was worth the wait, and the light show was beautiful and exhilarating, with a color range from black, to cobalt blue, hot pink, red, and gray. The lights moved so rapidly up and down the tower, that sometimes I hardly had time to capture it with my camera.
Do you have some favorites here?
I can make a photo print of any or all of these photos have printed and shipped anywhere in the U.S.
• Photos measure 10 X 12 inches Price $60
• 12 X 15 inches Price $95
Shipping is $13 in the U.S.
Please email me @ [email protected] if you would like to order a print.
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
After visiting the Princess Grace exhibit at Christian Dior Museum, I exited the garden and took the long stairway down to the beach. The long stretch of beach was wild and rugged with boulders and craggy rocks leading to the Caribbean color palate of the sea. Looking up to the cliffs I saw patches of rock and grass, topped by large houses perched on the edges.
I discovered there was an old part of the city after walking through the archway of an ancient exposed stone building. It had the typical charm of towns similar to this spread all over Normandy, dotted with stone houses with painted shutters and greenery with seasonal flowers overflowing on the outside.The rue de Juif had lots of wonderful art galleries with mostly paintings, although there was a ceramics gallery with the work of one artist and also a photography gallery. I appreciated the galleries were not the usual tourist type with clichéd and predictable paintings.
Needing some warm sustenance to take the chill away from my walk on the windy beach, I stopped and had a simple but delicious egg and cheese crepe at the quaint Creperie Coutine.
Missing Notre Dame in Paris, I came upon Notre Dame du Cap Lihou, a church that started construction in 1440 by the English and consecrated in 1641, three centuries later. Christian Dior was baptized in the church in 1908. The main chapel has model sailboats hanging in it and the stained glass windows look to be contemporary.
I took the 6:45 train back to Paris after a long but satisfying day.
Creperie Courtine
10 Rue Cambernon, 50400 Granville
Église Notre-Dame du Cap Lihou
3 Place du Parvis Notre Dame, 50400
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
Last week I took a spontaneous trip from Paris to see the Princess Grace Exhibit in Granville, Normandy.
It was a bit of a long day trip, 3 hours and fifteen minutes each way from Gare Montparnasse.
I arrived about noon and it was a blustery day, with the sun teasing in and out of the thick clouds overhead.
The Christian Dior Museum is the home where Christian Dior grew up in the early 1900s. In his memoir, “ Christian Dior et Moi”, he states, "I have most tender and amazed memories... of my childhood home. I would even say that my life and my style owe almost everything to its site and architecture." Named Villa Les Rhumbs, Dior’s parents bought the house in 1905, but in 1932 his father had to sell the house because of financial ruin in The Great Depression. The town of Granville purchased the villa, and the garden was open to the public starting in 1938. In 1997 the house was converted into the Christian Dior Museum, and now features temporary exhibits of the great couturier.
In the fairy tale story of the American movie star falling for Prince Charming, Grace Kelly meets Prince Rainier III of Monaco during the Cannes Film Festival in May 6, 1955, while presenting the Alfred Hitchcock film The Perfect Crime. She’s seduced by his charms and six months later the couple announce their engagement at her family home in Philadelphia. The next day she wears a strapless gown decorated with flowers by Christian Dior. This starts the longtime loyalty to the House of Dior and from 1961 to 1989, Marc Bohan, the head designer, exclusively dresses her.
The 90 designs show a wide range of suits, gowns, day dresses, casual clothes, and accessories. Many are timeless and some seem dated, clothes that were better suited to the time they were worn in, but don’t seem relevant in the present day. Others, while not the most sexy or chicest of looks, are appropriate representations of what a woman of her stature and social standing wore in those times and places.
The well-curated exhibit in addition to showing various fashions, also chronicled the very public life she led, displaying magazine covers, portraits, photos, and artifacts over the decades. One room has the baby clothes she asked Dior to design for her children, thus launching Dior Baby. Of course there were many evening gowns, mostly in chiffon and muted colors, but there was a surprise splash of red and purple thrown in. Every year Princess Grace would throw a gala theme party at the royal palace, the hotly contested event of the year, drawing an international crowd. She would have designers and artists design the lavish backgrounds and sets for the ball and would have a gown designed to match. One of the most iconic gowns was a shear, ombre chiffon caftan, with colors graduating from yellow to orange to red, and jeweled neckline.
After the viewing the exhibition, I strolled through the lovely gardens, admiring the tulips, rhododendrons, poppies, forsythia, and other spring flowers. I sipped soothing mint tea in the outdoor café with wisteria festooning white wood trellises, relaxing in the tranquil setting. One area of the gardens featured a bust of Dior’s head with a blue mosaic fountain and another spot had a view of the turquoise sea in a frame of ivy.
Tomorrow I will write about the rest of my day in Granville. Stay tuned.
Grace de Monaco, ¨Princesse en Dior"
Until November 17, 2019
Christian Dior Museum, 1 rue d’Estouteville, Villa Les Rhumbs 50400 Granville
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
I stayed at the 25Hours Hotel in Vienna a number of years ago and liked the fun, cool vibe of the hotel with its themed rooms and helpful young staff.
The 25Hours Hotel Terminus Nord across from Gard du Nord recently opened and I was invited to stay for night and also have dinner at the Neni restaurant.
The utilitarian lobby was small and I was checked in easily. There was a coffee bar and one of the desk clerks made me an excellent café noisette.
I was given a medium+ room, about 220 square feet, painted in cheery yellow, which included an old fashioned bathtub with four feet and a wrap around shower curtain with a rain shower head. The quirky décor had an eclectic blend of mid-century modern and African inspired quilt and throw pillows. The room was comfortable and everything worked well except for one small thing. Next to the bed was a myriad of unmarked switches and I had to switch them on and off about 20 times to learn what lights they turned on and off. Besides that quirk, I think the hotel is a good value with rooms starting at 174€ night. If you have an early morning Eurostar to London or other trains leaving Gard du Nord, it’s a perfect location. It’s also near the Canal Saint Martin area.
I went to dinner that night at the hotel restaurant Neni. Israeli-Mediterranean cuisine has become quite trendy in recent years in Paris, with some especially good restaurants. Neni proved to be one of the best I’ve eaten at. I started with creamy but texturedbaba ganoush with warm pita bread, that’s about as good as baba ganoush could be. Next up was the Jerusalem plate made up of spiced grilled chicken, tahini, red bell peppers, and humus, a wonderful mélange of distinctive spices.
I’ve never been super fond of mid-east pastries, preferring to indulge in French or Viennese delicacies. However, dessert at Neni blew me away. Knafeh, a specialty of Jerusalem, is a super light, folded crepe stuffed with mozzarella and ricotta, toped with chopped pistachios and homemade, yogurt ice cream. ( the description alone makes me swoon). The warmth of the crepes and soft cheese against the chill of the yogurt ice cream was pure culinary bliss.
Soft tones of green, ruby. and pink velvet covered the dining chairs along with Oriental rugs, hardwood floors and white marble table tops.
I returned once again to Neni and have raved about it to friends and tour clients.
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
There seems to be a pattern expats have when they move to Paris and I suspect it’s the same for expats around the world. They tend to go at least once a year to their former U.S. hometowns, usually for the holidays or in summer but after about 5 years, the visits dissipate and expats go every other year or even wait five years.
I used to go back to NYC at least twice a year but now just once a year since 2007.
Each time I return to the U.S. I have to remember certain social practices are different than here.
One of the adjustments I have to make. is tipping in restaurants. In Paris, it’s fairly easy, the tip or what they call service charge is included in the check and depending on whether I have some change in my pocket, I leave a one or two euro coins on the table as a courtesy. If I don’t have any change and don’t leave anything, it’s perfectly fine, the waitperson usually says merci or bon journee, and doesn’t scowl or call me a cheapskate under his/her breath.
One other thing I have to remember in restaurants in the U.S. is that the sales tax is not included, where as in France the VAT is included in the final bill. So if I get a check for 20€, I plop down a 20€ bill, a coin or two, and I am done.
In NYC sales tax in restaurants in restaurants is just about 9%, so with a 20% tip, which is the norm now, it’s almost a whopping extra 30% of the bill. I was in a restaurant where the main course of pasta that I ordered was $15, which I thought wasn’t too bad, but then realized with tax and tip it was now going to be $19.50, ouch!
The other thing is not that long ago, a 15% tip was the norm, and 20% was if you had great service. Not anymore. In fact on the bottom of the check or on the credit card machines, the suggested gratuity box is either 18 or 20%, so if you want to leave 15%, you have to calculate it yourself.
I also noticed that no matter what food service place I went to whether is was a regular restaurant, take out place, food delivery, or coffee bar, when you ask for your bill, a tip option automatically comes up on the screen, asking for 18or 20%. I’ve always had a thing about not tipping in takeout places. Correct me if I am wrong, but takeout staff people are paid a higher wage than waiters because waiters are primarily dependent on tips. For example, I was at a casual vegetarian restaurant in Brooklyn having lunch. I ordered at the counter, sat down at an available table, and when my name was called, I picked up my food and brought it to my table. After I was done I bussed by own tray, emptied my excess food in the trash, and put my plate and silverware in the proper receptacles. When I was paying with my debit card, again the 18 & 20% tip boxes flashed on the screen. Besides someone putting my order in by pressing three or four buttons on the computer screen, there was no other service. Why should I leave a tip? I am happy to leave a tip if someone waited on me, but this wasn’t the case. This, I declare is tip shaming. An extreme case of tip shaming was when I was at the theater. I was with a relative and she asked for a bottle of water at the snack bar, which by the way was a shocking $5 for the lowest brand of bottled water, and she charged it and added $1 tip. A tip for someone who handed you a bottle?
I have no problem tipping for certain services when it is expected. I tip taxi drivers, wait staff, doormen, etc. but I don’t believe I have to tip order takers, that’s not a service.
In recent years there has been a move in some U.S. restaurants to discontinue tipping by figuring it into the cost of the food. For instance, New York restauranteur Danny Meyer, who owns upscale restaurants such as Union Square Grill, Gramercy Tavern, and Eleven Madison Park, eliminated tipping in his restaurants in 2015. I think this is an excellent idea.
What’s your take on the tipping situation? Would love to have your feedback.
August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
In February I took two Seine dinner cruises as research for an article I was writing for another publication. (Click here to read the article}.
On the sleek Bateaux Parisiens, I was given a prime table at the bow of the boat with floor to ceiling windows. Even though it seemed like an ideal vantage point to take photos, there were disadvantages including the glare from the windows, the boat moving so quickly, and it being night time. On the second cruise on the boat Le Calife , I invited Meredith Mullinsto come with me. Meredith has over 40 years of experience taking photos and even with her special lenses and technical expertise, could not get the quality of shots she liked and eventually put her equipment away to enjoy the views.
However, I did manage to eke out about dozen photos that are presentable. Although, they are blurry, I think they capture a certain mood and romanticism. Luckily, I got some shots of Notre Dame all lit up from different angles.
What do you think of the photos? I would appreciate your feedback.
For more information on the dinner cruises I took, click on links below.
I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loftwith 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Parisvideo about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.
