Postcards from Paris – here are some of my favourite photos of our time in Paris. I hope you like them too.

For more information about where to stay and eat in Paris, click here. Or for the best Parisien food markets, click here. I reviewed our favourite restaurant in Paris and you can read about it here.

Some French observations

1. Everyone here smokes, everyone (electric cigarettes seem to be on trend)
2. It is not uncommon to see little dogs pushed in a pram or carried in a special tote
3. The French are very organised. Scooters are parked neatly in a rows, cars are park in the designated parking spots (Monte Carlo is an exception). It’s something you rarely see in Italy, order and organisation that is.
4. The South of France is very clean, they regularly clean statues, monuments, buildings and the pavement so they sparkle.
5. The French seem very polite and are not ‘showy’ like Italians can be – for example, when on their mobile phones, the French speak softly. Italians do not
6. The French cannot make a good cappuccino and struggle to make good coffee of any sort.
7. French baguettes are the best
8. You can eat better by buying simple ingredients from the market or supermarket (like superb cheese, salami, sardines, anchovies, parfait, pate, baguettes / bread) than eating out in France, where you have to be very selective where to eat to ensure you get good food
9. Things just work in France – like the internet, ticket machines, cash machines, etc.
10. The train stations are so organised that a digital image of the train is shown at the station that shows precisely where your carriage number will stop on the platform. Impressive
11. Cars in France don’t like to stop for pedestrians who cross the road at non-designated pedestrian crossings. In Italy, cars stop for pedestrians

Postcards: the sights of Paris

The Louvre

Inside the Louvre, Diana the Huntress

Seems the French and the British are making efforts to be friends

Arc de Triomphe

Eiffel Tower

Live site for the French Open tennis

The Princess Diana tunnel

Notre Dame

Andrew and I outside Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame, the famous stain glassed window

Inside the stunning Saint Chappelle

From our river cruise

The French are smoking these electric cigarettes

Make art not war. I like that

Selfie!

From our river cruise

From the river cruise

A beautiful bridge

Eiffel Tower

Love this guy sitting on the banks of the Siene reading

This wooden bridge has fallen down 11 times since it was built in the 12th century.

The Food

Beef bourgignon

Ham and cheese fresh flat bread

Gorgeous tomato and basil tarts

French onion soup from Terrior Parisien

Macrons at The Ladurée

The President Wilson markets

The best Parisien food markets – you can read more about them here.

Flowers at the President Wilson markets are almost the colours of the French flag

Fresh asparagus

Tomatoes at the President Wilson markets

Gorgeous shallots

Escargot

Artichokes from the President Wilson market