Bonjour Madame

Paris Itinerary: Monday, September 26 - Sunday October 2, 2011

Live Like a Parisienne and Experience Paris Like a Collage Artist

(7 days & 6 nights)

complet - no vacancies

We will devote our time to exploring the quaint neighborhoods and smaller museums of Paris, treasure hunt in the brocantes, flea and antiquarian book markets, and develop a Paris journal.

Daily:

Breakfast: 9:00 Each morning, continental breakfast foods will be available in the penthouse apartment dining room.  (included in cost of retreat)

Lunch: We will dine out at cafes and restaurants in the arrondisement we plan to explore that day. (dutch treat)

Dinner:  While we are out and about during the day, we can pick up items for picnic-style dinners to enjoy later in the apartment.  And the picnic will be prepared for us while we work in our journals.  If anyone wants to cook, we can pitch in and split the expense.  Or, we can dine out in the neighborhood.  I have done some research and found countless eateries within a 10-15 minute walk of the apartment.  We can decide that daily according to how we feel and how much we want to accomplish in our journals.  (Dutch treat, except for the dinner on the Bateaux Mouches and the dinner prepared by the private chef).

Monday, September 26:  

Bienvenue!  Meet at our Paris apartment, get settled and get acquainted.  Explore our neighborhood in the 14e.  The apartment will be available for seven full days and six nights, beginning on Monday morning and throughout the day on Sunday.  If possible, plan to arrive in the morning. But, whatever you do, don't miss the Bateaux Mouches dinner cruise in the evening!  

7:30 - 10:45 pm, Bateaux Mouches Dinner Cruise / Menu Excellence, (boarding starts at 7:30 pm / cruise commences at 8:30 / returns to dock at 10:45) Departs at the Pont de l'Alma, 8th arrondissement (Metro Alma-Marceau, Line 9, or RER C Pont de l'Alma).  Dress is formal. Click this link to view a video of a glittering cruise along the Seine with the illuminated monuments of Paris drifting by.

Tuesday, September 27:  Explore the 18e, Montmarte, Abbesses Quarter

The Montmarte was historically the bohemian Paris, known for the Sacre Coeur and authentic street artists.  Apparently, the charm was chased out by hoards of tourists and "paint-by-number artists."  After reading this, I was ready to strike Montmarte off the itinerary until I discovered the brocantes Tombees du Camion (literally translated means fallen off the truck) and L'Objet qui parle (The object speaks of the past), a seven-minute walk apart, in the Abbesses quarter of the Montmarte.  The Abbesses is one of the most charming and authentic neighborhoods in Paris, where a tinny little merry-go-round in the Place des Abbesses remains the neighborhood's nucleus, and surrounding lanes are lined with vegetable stands and open-air cafes. Amelie was filmed here!  The Abbesses metro station is another point of interest, as it is one of only two remaining original Hector Guimard metro entrances in Paris.

 

(Fodor's Description of Place des Abbesses & surrounding neighborhood:  This triangular square is typical of the countrified style that has made Montmartre famous. Now a hub for shopping and people-watching, the place is surrounded by hip boutiques, sidewalk cafés, and shabby-chic restaurants—a prime habitat for the young, neo-bohemian crowd and a sprinkling of expats. Trendy streets like Rue Houdon and Rue des Martyrs have attracted small designers and some shops are open on Sunday afternoons. The entrance to the Abbesses métro station, designed by the great Hector Guimard as a curving, sensuous mass of delicate iron, is one of only two original Art Nouveau métro canopies left in Paris.)

Wednesday, September 28:  Explore the 2e

Ultramod (2e - Opera) - A fait-de-main (made-by-hand) treasure shop, a mercerie (dressmaker and sewing store) that has been selling buttons, ribbons, hats, silks, felt and plush fabrics since 1890.  All the stock is from a bygone era. (Mon - Fri 10-6)

La Droguerie (1e - Les Halles) - The largest craft boutique in Paris, known for yarns, beads, French made ribbons, spools and spools of thread, feathers, twine, and more, displayed in labeled jars on the shop's wood-shelf lined walls.  And there are dozens of little wooden drawers piled with buttons.  It sounds charming, though you would never know it from their web site, but follow the link which will take you to reviews on Qype.  The shop opens at 10:30 on Wednesday (2:30 on Monday).  

If time permits, we may also take a walk on the rue Montorgueil, a market street near La Droguerie.  Up for Escargot?  We could dine at L'escargot. This is considered a bobo (bourjois / bohemian) neighborhood and one of the most authentic in Paris.

Thursday, September 29:  Fashion Exhibition in the apartments of Le Grand Trianon, Chateau de Versailles

Brunch in the apartment, and after several hours of studio time, we will travel to le Chateau de Versailles for the "fashion show," Le XVIIIe au goût du jour, dedicated to the influence of the 18th century on modern fashion.  We will tour the gardens and travel to the Grand Trianon via golf cart. Afterwards we will visit Le Petit Theatre de la Reine, and le domain de Marie-Antoinette as time permits.  

Friday, September 30:  Explore the 7e

Musee D'Orsay.  The Musee D'Orsay is situated in a stunning restored train station on the left bank.  There is a partial renovation currently taking place in certain galleries, scheduled to reopen in 2011.  We will visit our favorite museum exhibits for an hour or so, then have lunch at the Restaurant de Musee D'Orsay.  This historic restaurant is situated in one of the Grand Belle Epoque salons of the former hotel that adjoined the train station. Museum goers can comfortably sit amid crystal chandeliers, marble fireplaces, enormous mirrors, parquet flooring, and an opulently gilded frescoed ceiling.

Deyrolle - A shop, cabinet of curiosities and natural history museum rolled into one.  And, here is a really exciting review that will whet your appetite! (a 10-minute walk from the D'Orsay)

Senellier - On the left bank of the River Seine, directly across from the Louvre Museum, lies a little shop which has provided supplies to artists for more than a hundred years. 

Saturday, October 1:  14e

7:00 Marche aux Puces de Porte de Vanves (one tramway stop from our apartment).  One of the best in Paris in terms of size, variety and price.   There are 380 booths with different vendors each day.  We should plan to arrive early and spend a couple hours here.  The atmosphere is known to be pleasant and relaxed.  Some vendors will speak English.  Bargaining is expected and welcome.  Vanves is considered to embody the essence of the flea market experience.  And, though the surroundings are less than aesthetic, one never knows what wonderful and unexpected treasures will be unearthed!  Here is the Vanves as seen by the Girls Guide.

Marche du Livre Ancien et d'Occasion (antiquarian and used book market - open 9 - 6)

7:30 - 10 pm Farewell dinner in the apartment prepared by a private chef. We will spend a relaxed evening reminiscing and sharing our journals.

Sunday, October 2:  Au Revoir

If you have a late flight and want to visit the Vanves again in the morning (the vendors will vary) or possibly even Clignancourt, or any other venue, the apartment is ours until the end of the day.  

Rue Beaunier, explore the neighborhood!

 Look familiar? This photo of the facade of our apartment building is actually a screen shot that I captured off Google Maps (hold down the shift key and the print screen key to save the screen image to your memory cache and then open it in a graphics editing program).  

I have taken virtual walks up and down the street, and throughout the neighboring community. If you would like to try this, go to Google Maps, type in "Rue Beaunier, 75014 Paris, France" under Search Maps.  It will give you an aerial view of the street.  To get down to street level, type boulangerie (or try flea markets) in the search nearby box at the top of the screen.  A list of boulangerie in the neighborhood will pop up on the left.  Click on one of them, such as Les Jardins.  On the right side of the page, positioned over the map, you will see a little photo of the boulangerie.  Click on the photo (or on the hypertext under it).  This will take you to street level.  At this point, click on one of the arrows (such as the ones you can see in the photo above) and keep doing it, it will take you up or down the street and give you a pedestrian's point of view!  You will find there are also several cafes in the area where we might dine in the evening if we don't feel like staying in. 

 Here's another screen capture of the boulangerie, Les Jardins De Paul Ha, and this next screen capture shows walking directions from our front door.  Close enough to smell the bread baking from the terrace (I hope).  

 

Click on this text for more neighborhood photos!

 

Paris Apartment

Greetings fellow artists and travellers!  Before I begin registration on the September 26 - October 2, 2011, Paris Workshop & Retreat, I wanted everyone to have the opportunity to see the apartment and the room assignments in order to decide if this workshop is in fact right for you.   Please take your time and feel free to e-mail me at PostoDelSol@aol with any questions you may have.

 

 

 Participants in the workshop and retreat will reside in two Paris Apartments, in a single, 20th century walk-up style building in the 14th arrondissement.  The apartment building is not very large. There are only four apartments total, all owned by the same Parisian family.  I have rented the Penthouse, which is a 5-bedroom apartment, and the one-bedroom basement studio apartment.  The owner and her family ordinarily reside in the Penthouse apartment, but several times each year they rent out the Penthouse and move into one of the other two apartments in the building.  

Because I was unable to inspect the apartments personally prior to signing a rental contract,  I hired someone to schedule a visit and to meet with the owner and take a tour of the apartments and neighborhood.  She absolutely loved Claire (the owner) and confirmed that everything was true to the photos and as described to me.  She said that the neighborhood, though not in the city center, is a safe one.  I adore Claire too!

The apartments will serve as our communal living space, as well as our workshop space.  We will gather for breakfast and other meals (most likely evening meals unless we decide to go out) on the second floor of the Penthouse Apartment, as well as use the communal space for the workshop portion of the retreat, which will involve daily visual journaling.  We will reside in our Paris apartments in the 14th arrondissement, commute about the city as Parisians do via the metro and taxis.  And, like typical Parisians, we will be walking a lot as we travel to and from the metro, and to the various locales on our itinerary. 

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS:

We have a total of six bedrooms and four bathrooms, and ten people on board.  Two men, and eight women, seven of which are workshop participants.  So, it is going to be a cozy communal living situation and there will be some doubling up and bathroom sharing.  Ideally, I would like to offer everyone a private bedroom & bath, but if an apartment of this size exists in Paris I was unable to find it (or Lance Armstrong had already rented it)!  So, here is my plan based on those who have written to me about their desire to join this artist retreat.  Note, this tentative and may change over time if the participants change, or if we need to make some adjustments.  

*  The two married couples will share rooms on the first floor of the Penthouse apartment. 

*   Mother & Daughter will reside in the basement studio apartment.  Which is a little split level with a private bathroom / shower and kitchenette.  

*   Two women will share the Penthouse master bedroom.  This room has a queen size bed, luxurious private bath, a sitting room and a large TV.  Note that persons sharing this master suite will need to be flexible as the only access to the terrace jacuzzi is through this bedroom.  While the jacuzzi is available to everyone in the group, they must first clear it with the room's owners in advance.  So, two ladies willing to share a bed and bedroom, will get the biggest and certainly the most luxurious space but will lose a bit of privacy in the process, as anyone wishing to use the jacuzzi will need to pass through your private room.  Who knows, perhaps we won't use the jacuzzi?  But, it  might be nice, particularly after all the walking.  There is also an area of glass floor in this room. The shower is spectacular, walled in glass and though private, is exposed to the outdoors.  The deck area will be off limits while the shower is in use, of course. This room is in a loft-like space above the second floor living area, accessed by the steps shown in the photo below.  Please be sure to take a close look at the steps that lead into the master suite.    

*  Each of the two remaining first floor bedrooms (a single bed and a double bed)  in the Penthouse apartment will be occupied by one person each.  

 

This is a photo of the second floor dining room and kitchen bar (where we will be working on our journals).  Note the steps leading up to the Penthouse Suite on the right.  The staircase in the background leads down to the four bedrooms on the first floor of this apartment. 

 

 That dark object on the right is a grand piano (does anyone play?).  There are bookcases full of books all over the apartment, in both English and French. 

Here are photos of the six bedrooms:

1.  Penthouse Master Bedroom Suite (Queen size bed) - Teresa and Maria's Room 

2.  Red (Rouge) Bedroom (European Queen size bed) - Steve and Lana's Room

 

3.  Yellow (Jaune) Bedroom (Double bed) - Z's Room

 

4.  Orange  Bedroom (European Queen size bed) - Dale and Catherine's Room

 

 

5.  Petite Marie Bedroom (Twin bed):  Chris's Room

   

 

6.  Studio Apartment Bedroom with Queen size bed - Sara and Kimberly's  Room

 

(Note:  If this simply will not work for you, but you would still like to participate in the workshop & retreat, be direct and let me know now while I can still do something about it.  I promise, my feelings will not be hurt.  There are several hotels in the neighborhood within a very short distance.  And your workshop rate will be adjusted accordingly. If you have second thoughts several months down the road or after arriving in Paris, it will be too late.  You must specify your desire to reside off site at the time of registration.) 

Other information which has been provided 

to me concerning the Penthouse apartment:

 

Bathrooms:

·         Ensuite with the master bedroom: a private shower room,  toilets, marble sink bowl and hydotherapic shower;

·         On middle floor: a shower room with toilets and sink bowl;

·         On first level: a bathroom with toilets, double sink bowls, bath and shower;

·         Hair-dryer;

·         Bathrobes for each guest in both apartments;

·         Bathroom scales.

Home-Cinema:

·         A High-End Blu Ray Home-Cinéma 5.1 surround system (DENON), video projector on a panoramic sceen - 3m/10ft basis;

·         A NAIM high-end audiophile Hi-Fi system;

·         iPod plug to the NAIM Hi-Fi system;

·         The two south-facing bedrooms are equipped with their own Hi-Fi CD system;

·         A 32" LCD TV in the living room;

·         I-Pod plug on each audio system;

·         A collection of 1000+ CD (about 12 000 tracks): Classical-Jazz-Pop-Rock...;

·         Collection of 250+ DVD (Multilingual): Art Films, Holliwood, Action, Children...

Informatique-Communications:

·         High-Speed internet connection with Wi-Fi;

·         i-Mac computer connected to internet free use;

·         All-in-One Printer connected to the Wi-Fi network;

·         Fax;

·         Wireless Phone with unlimited communications.

Kitchen:

·         Induction Cooktop;

·         Bbq electric Grill;

·         Deep Fryer;

·         Multifunction/Convection Oven;

·         Steam Oven;

·         Micro-wave oven;

·         Nespresso coffee machine with complimentary capsules;

·         Kitchen-Aid Stand Mixer and Blender;

·         Juicer;

·         Fidge;

·         Freezer;

·         Dish-washer with tabs;

·         Cooking-Books: Chefs, French cooking....

Miscellaneous:

·         Touristic and Pactical informations;

·         Umbrellas;

·         Shopping Trolley;

·         Parking on demand;

·         Plugs adaptators;

·         Washing machine & Dryer;

·         Steam Iron and Ironing Board;

·         Shoe Shine;

·         Sewing box;

·         First Aid box.

Services included with the apartment:  "A welcome basket which includes a bottle of Champagne, fruit juices, fresh fruits, coffee for use in the Nespresso machine (all flavours), teas (selection of Kusmi Teas), milk, 8 different kind of cereals for breakfast, apetizers and also basic grocery items such as toilet paper, washing machine and dish washer products.  The apartment will be cleaned daily, and the beds will be dressed with fine bed sheets changed regularly, soft towels and bathrobes changed regularly."  They will also shop for us if we give them a list, and arrange for taxis.  There is also a boulangerie one minute from our front door, and I plan to bring in fresh bread and rolls each morning.

 Other amenities within the apartment building include access to the  

brand new Spa with a sauna room, double Massage room, and a Fitness room.  " 

 

After a fitness session , a Sauna or simply to relax after a full day visiting Paris, treat yourself with a single or double à la carte massage. On demand, professional masseuse/masseur will provide you with a large choice of massages. You can also hire your own masseuse/masseur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our double massage cabin offers two very comfortable massage tables, Aryuvedic stones and a stone oven, a large choice of massage oils and books on the art of massage. During your massage listen to the relaxing music of your choice. The elegant design is favourable for complete relaxation.

The massage room is available 24/7."

 

 

 

 

 

a sauna room,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a workout room, and 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a massage room with two massage tables.  

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the photos I have posted, there are more on this Paris Attitude web site:

http://www.parisattitude.com/apartment.asp?numProduit=5725#pictures-fiche