Joyeux Anniversaire!

 I don't normally celebrate birthdays on the blog , but this one is very special. Today my dear Paris amie, Mary Gilbert, is celebrating her birthday. She and I met via Virtual Tourist after my first trip to Paris in 2007. Since then, we've lost count of how many times we have been lucky enough to be in Paris together. She's taught me so much about Paris, is my experienced and patient navigator, and the very dearest /easiest travel companion anyone could ever ask for.  Joyeux anniversaire, Mar. Here's hoping we have a few more trips in us! xxx V

Sourire

I think Mary and I agree that finding a Métro with an escalator is a fine day in Paris! Our friend Peter Olson, is able to climb Métro stairs all day long. 

Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Mary and I love a fun toilette in Paris and Colette's is of course très hip!

CIty Daily Photo Theme Day - What Would You Miss?

Peter Olson and Mary Gilbert

Asking me what I would miss most of Paris, the city I call my home away from home was daunting. Then I realized that although Paris offers me so many wonderful experiences, it's the friends who I share it with who make it so special.

Today my City Daily Photoblog friends around the world share their special photographs. Please have a look here.

Louvre Traffic Jam

For friends traveling to Paris for the first time, my advice is,  if you are only visiting the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory.......skip it.  This is all you'll see of Mona, a sea of tourists with iPhones taking photos.  Thanks to my travel amie Mary Gilbert for lending this photo to illustrate my point.

UPDATE: Thank you dear reader Vreni for pointing out that on Wednesday and Friday evenings, the Louvre is open till 10 p.m. and is not crowded. I also hear from friends that they offer docent led tours in the evenings that just hit the high spots of the museum which is a good use of time spent there.

I'm Home!

Marly le Roi, France

I am home from a wonderful nine days in Paris. Thank you all who faithfully stopped by and those that left comments while I was away.  I have many, many new photographs to share with you.

Today's photo is my Paris travel amie, Mary Gilbert.  About a year ago she started carrying a little Nikon point and shoot and has captured some very nice shots.  She has a great eye.  I think I created a monster.  Now as you can see, SHE'S the one lagging behind taking photos instead of me!!  

With Any Luck At All....

I will be spending time in Paris with three of my favorite people.

(Mary Gilbert, Carla Coulson, Peter Olson)

Bon souvenirs

Most of you know by now that I often travel to Paris with my dear friend Mary Gilbert.  She and I met via Virtual Tourist after my first trip to Paris in 2007.  Since then, we've met in Paris twice and traveled (via standby) together 3 times.  She is the best travel bud in the world.  She has a built in GPS that gets us anywhere I want to go and she keeps an eye on me when I wander off in search of a photo.  She's learned how to keep  me walking by holding the "carrot"  of a really good place to shoot just a few blocks away, and miraculously,  despite knee issues,  I keep up, although I've accused her of trying to kill me on many occassions !  We laugh a lot, eat and drink a lot, but most of all, we just enjoy discovering the city we both love... together. Thanks Mar. Here's to many more trips and many more fond memories.

Mary à Paris

Ma chère amie Mary and I met in 2007 when we found ourselves corresponding on Virtual Tourist. We have been dear friends and Paris travel buddies ever since. I found this photo from our last, but NOT OUR LAST, trip to Paris.. janvier 2011.  I love you Mar and here's to many more rendezvous à Paris!

Bises,

V

Amies en s'amusant

It's not often that I appear in my Paris photos. This great day last January,  Peter took my camera and was our photographer.  I just love this shot of my travel buddy Mary and me with la Tour Eiffel in the background. Of course it's the most "touristy" of photos, but girls just wanna have fun.......in Paree!

Ma Chère Amie Mary

Most of you already know my dear Paris amie Mary Gilbert ( Mad About Paris). We met almost 4 years ago on Virtual Tourist as  hopeless Francophiles. Our friendship grew from there. After months of emails, we finally met face to face here in Birmingham right before my second trip to Paris in November, 2008.  Since then, we've savored Paris together four times. We are, I think, wonderful travel companions.  She walks my tail off, and I just suck it up and try to carry on.  Merci Mar for dragging me all over Paris and being my very best Paris buddy. This photo I took last January.  I think it's just perfect.  I hope she thinks so !!!

Mad About Paris

Joyeux anniversaire mon amie Mary. She and I have been friends since we met on Virtual Tourist ( she was Mad About Paris and I was Paris Mumsie!) three years ago. We share a love of Paris and all things French and so much more. So far we've been together in Paris twice and we're planning another in the very near future. This photo was taken from the apartment window last summer. Mary was looking for a rainbow over the Val de Grace. Here's to many more rainbows in Paris mon chère amie!
xx

Virg

Merci to my dear blog reader and fellow Francophile, Genie who sent this along for you first timers to Paris. Some greta tips!! 10 Things NOT To Do In Paris