Author Archive for Colleen's Paris

This Web site and and its blog articles are for travelers to Paris who are looking for advice from someone who lives in Paris. These tips are "for Parisians at heart". Many people would like to visit, some can and some cannot - so I will help you enjoy a glimpse of the city and its surroundings. This project has been ongoing since 2002. Prior to living in Paris (since 1992) my European history began in the early 70s with three years in Wiesbaden, Germany. My next foray onto the Continent was in the mid-80s after graduation from the University of Florida (where I met Erik): traveling around Europe and UK with my friend, Margie, hitchhiking around and working in Ireland. After living and working as a journalist in Sweden for four years, traveling on boats, the Trans-Siberian Railway, local trains and planes took Erik and I around the world. I began working as a flight attendant in 1990 for American Airlines, based in Chicago. We moved to Paris, France in 1992 where I commuted between Paris and Chicago for my flight attendant/stewardess job. Finally my inner voice said "Stop!" and I left American Airlines six weeks shy of 20 years January 1, 2010. Now that is over and I am back working as a journalist and photographer full time on Colleensparis.com - My videos are posted on YouTube on the colleensparis youtube channel. and I am active in Toastmasters 75. Enjoy!

Let's Explore, Museums

Charlotte Perriand, Architect/Designer/Artist at FLV

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Two images of Charlotte Perriand facing the valley and on the "Chaise basculante" Tilting Chair

Are you interested or curious about the synthesis of architecture, art and design? Two noted artist/architects who fit that description are Charlotte Perriand and Frank Gehry.  Charlotte Perriand “imagined an ‘art of living’ that broke the codes of the time.” The Charlotte Perriand exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton may be closing February 24, 2020 but you have time to download the audio guide! This exhibition and audio guide have a “use-by date” and will not be available once the next exhibit opens April 1. Listen to the stories of her career in interviews and exhibit descriptions. You will find them fascinating. Charlotte Perriand was a member of the Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret studio. 

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Let's Explore, Museums, Practical Info, Transportation

Shuttle Arc de Triomphe to Fondation Louis Vuitton

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Fondation Louis Vuitton shuttle facing Arc de Triomphe next to metro

Do you prefer light, airy, electric transportation? Would you like a scenic ride along the fashionable Avenue Foch to and from the Arc de Triomphe? When you plan a visit to the Fondation Louis Vuitton (FLV) you have alternatives: Line 1, Buses 63 or 244 or the FLV shuttle. The requirement to use the shuttle is to have an admission ticket to the museum. Oh my! What if you decide to go to the museum on a whim and have not purchased a ticket!?

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Book Reviews, Specific Info

The Food Lover’s Guide to Paris: Tempting!

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Image of book The Food Lover's Guide to Paris for review

When is the last time you read a food guide in one sitting? The Food Lovers’s Guide to Paris is the first food book I ever read cover to cover in one day. I can personally recommend it and say, “delightfully delicious”.  You are introduced to the book with a casual overview of then and now and reassured that French cuisine is here to stay. The guide is simply laid out and begins with a map and arrondissement locations of places mentioned in the guide. In the “How-to-Guide” section Helen Massy-Beresford gives essential courtesy tips. She then moves shows you to your table of dining or specialty shop pleasures with dashes of storied descriptions.

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Practical Info, Transportation

Fixed Taxi Fare Between Paris and Airports – Strike Tips

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Fixed Paris taxi fare from right bank plus supplement for reserving day of reservation

Strikes getting the best of you? Book a taxi on the G7 Book a Taxi page in advance to get to the airports. Usually you can either step outside and into a taxi or book the same day. With the strikes, you want to reserve a taxi, with G7 whether going to the airport or into Paris. Taxi stands are outside the airport and do not usually have to be booked in advance. Rates vary between Rossy-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY). After an expensive experience pre-fixed rates, I had a rude surprise. Being stuck in traffic to the airport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle one day, an anxious feeling came over me. The taxi meter kept counting, the fare kept mounting. I could not solve this mystery because I had no clues! It was now

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Eiffel Tower, Let's Explore

Madame Eiffel Tower Celebrates 130 Years

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Image of Eiffel Tower, Invalides in background, 130 years

In May 2019, the Eiffel Tower turned 130; however, why not celebrate the birthday all year long.
To celebrate this event, an interactive Fall Event is underway at the Eiffel Tower until the end of November on the esplanade, under a dome covering about 300 m2, is free and open to everyone. Visitors walk over screens on the ground that reproduce the image of the girders …. which feels likes walking over nothing, experience the monument’s wind resistance and become painters of the Eiffel Tower

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Let's Explore, Museum exhibitions

A Rare Moment in Paris with Frank Gehry

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Frank Gehry Fondation Louis Vuitton conversation with Jean-Louis Cohen

Frank Gehry had just left the auditorium in a conversation with Jean-Louis Cohen at the Fondation Louis-Vuitton. After listening to his architectural journey as it relates to the “free and independent” architect Charlotte Perriand, I walked up to him. I thanked him for sharing his thoughts and for his unique design of this Fondation Louis Vuitton museum shaped like a boat, which is the symbol of Paris. He touched my arm and asked if I had seen the Charlotte Perriand exhibit, which had opened the day before.

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Let's Explore, Seeing Paris

Notre-Dame Bell, Emmanuel, Rings for Chirac

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Image in front of Hotel de Ville in hommage to Jacques Chirac

Walking along the narrow rue Galand the sound of a muffled bell ringing reverberated against the walls. Sitting at the café, looking at my watch, it was around 11:20 on a Monday morning. My friend guessed it was a church nearby; I guessed Notre-Dame. Couldn’t be…. perhaps the towers were damaged. The constant soft ringing was not signalling the quarter, half or full hour. Earlier I had heard on French television the time for the funeral ceremony that would pass from Hôtel des Invalides to Saint-Sulpice.  We walked toward Notre-Dame from where the mystery sound originated. Emmanuel, the 300 year old was ringing.  The ringing was manually orchestrated. The first time since the end of the Second World War. 

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