A day away from the city

flower market at Chartres

Bonjour à tous! 

This past Saturday I took a delightful day trip to the small town of Chartres southwest of Paris, reachable by train in one hour. For those who are tired of the city's hustle, trust me, Chartres is the perfect place for a day of relaxation.

The picturesque town is known for its fresh flower market,  Notre Dame Cathedral (one of the four best ones in France! The other three in Reims, Amiens, and Rouen, respectively), simple yet refreshing parks, and chic cafes. 

My first stop when I arrived was of course, the cathedral. Yes, I'm that art history nerd, but really, look at it!

facade of the cathedral

interior of the cathedral, view of the rose window and ceiling

If you thought Notre Dame de Paris was tall, then you'll find yourself in the wrongest of wrong. In fact, the one in Paris is only 96 meters high, while the one in Chartres stands at a shocking 113 meters! With its asymmetrical pointy towers, it looks even taller than that.

Immediately upon entry, I felt like I understood why Gothic churches especially made people feel the ferventness to worship God - it was just so incredibly tall! Looking up was some serious neck exercise, and the awe that it inspired from me was just endless. And I live in a modern society where there are sky scrapers - just imagine how the people of the twelfth century who dwelled in humble two-floor huts must have felt when they set foot in this cathedral!

me on top of the cathedral!

In fact, another perk of the cathedral is that at certain times of the day, the towers are open to public for a climb (which felt like an endless workout on the StairMaster at my gym), which offer a perfect spot for a panoramic view of Chartres. Note that the photo above is deceptive - behind my smile I am screaming TIRED. This morning I woke up with sore, protesting calves. 

candles inside the cathedral that made me nostalgic of Peddie...

After the cathedral, I took a stroll in the flowers market and saw the most flawless roses in my life for astonishingly cheap. I have never seen roses this full-blown, this symmetrical, before. And there wasn't even one spot of wilting!

By then, I was succumbing to my craving for ice cream (don't tell me you don't crave ice scream, because somehow I always do), so I bought a cone of white chocolate ice cream and just sat and people-watched. Everyone on that golden Saturday afternoon was so well-dressed - I was impressed.

Last but not least, a picture of the historic streets of Chartres...

a street in Chartres

After a week of running about Paris, I found the rest and quiet that I needed in Chartres. Beautiful town with friendly people and a goooooorgeous cathedral.

xx

Vanessa :]

Being Parisian: 5 not-touristy things to do in the City of Lights

wanna see the Eiffel Tower like this?

Bonjour à tous!

Finally, after almost a month, I feel like I am settled in enough to call myself a Parisian in the making. I'm all moved in, have been cooking on my own, working out regularly, got internet in my room (FINALLY), and most of all been exploring Paris day and night!

So today I came prepared with a list of 5 things that almost no tourist knows to do - read attentively if you want to know the secret to being truly Parisian...

1. Do not shop at Galeries Lafayette or on the Boulevard des Champs-Elysees. Go to Rue de la Paix instead! Obviously the Galeries and Champs-Elysees are still charming for their architecture and view, but the stores there are ridiculously crowded, full of tourists (thus bad service), and never fully stocked. Instead, take an afternoon promenade on Rue de la Paix not too far away. There, you will find a variety of stores from luxury brands to chic boutiques to satisfy your shopping appetite!

2. Go to the Louvre on a Wednesday after 6PM. During the day, the Louvre is notorious for its insane amount of visitors, mostly thanks to foreign tourist groups who hustle through the museum just to see Mona Lisa. Do not, and I repeat here, do NOT be that tourist! Of course, if you're a first time comer in Paris, you gotta see the Mona Lisa, but keep in mind that the Louvre offers so, so, so much more than that. Every Wednesday, the museum has late opening until 9PM, which is a great time to visit because then you can literally lie down on the bench in front of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People (1830) and marvel at it without disruption!

3. Go to a local market. So far I've only been to the Bastille Market, it's open every Sunday morning till noon. The vegetables and fruits are so fresh there, sometimes the lettuce even comes with its roots still in the dirt! Also, there you will see many typically French things such as arrays of cheeses, wines, olive oils, etc. Definitely a gem.

4. Drink a glass of Kir before dinner. This thing doesn't seem to exist outside of France (okay, maybe outside of Europe). So what is it exactly? It's white wine with cassis syrup, and it tastes simply heavenly - a little sour, a little sweet, with an aroma that makes you seriously want to marry it.

5. See the Notre Dame at night. Yes, during the day it is lovely and grand, but at night it has a special charm. Hear the Seine water lap quietly, take a little stroll along its banks, and watch Notre Dame in all its mystic glory. Sometimes there are amazing spectacles by street artists if you are lucky enough! I can guarantee you it is an experience of a lifetime.

xx

Vanessa :]

Just to let you know I'm still here...

So guys, unlike you might have suspected, I have not dropped off the face of the Earth. I've just been traveling, more or less without Internet. I was first in Istanbul, and then in Paris, Giethoorn, Amsterdam, Ghent, and then back in Paris. I have now settled down in my foyer - youth apartment - and will start my fall program in Paris tomorrow. Right now I'm sitting in a nearby McDonald's typing away because I have yet to access Internet connection in my foyer. Once I do, I promise to update you on my life in Paris!

Donc à très bientôt!

xx

Vanessa :]