Who doesn’t love Paris in springtime? (And summer…and fall…and winter?)
The view from atop the Centre Pompidou:
Rue des Barres:
Resin sculpture “Bonbon Drapeau Qatar” in yard of the Embassy of Qatar:
Notre Dame on Easter morning:
The inner workings of the crazy facade of the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute):
Hotel de Ville (city hall):
Without question, my travel weakness is Paris. It’s tough to go to Europe and resist its pull — so after a great Thanksgiving in Bavaria, I hopped the TGV from Munich to Gare de l’Est for a few days of proper R & R.
The only item on my agenda: check out the tea room terrace at the Grande Mosquée de Paris, the Paris Mosque, a great little hidden gem the New York Times wrote about once:
Mosque courtyard:
Inside:
Centre Pompidou:
Beirut artist Nadim Karam’s Trio of Elephants, outside Arab World Institute:
Kids atop the Arab World Institute:
Jardin des Plantes (Paris botanical gardens):
Along rue de Rivoli:
Last year I started a new tradition of going to Europe for Thanksgiving. Last year was Rome and this year was Munich to visit a friend, and to do two of my favorite things: stay at the Louis Hotel, and have lunch at the incomparable Brenner! Munich is a lovely city, especially this time of year. (But 24 hours is usually plenty of time for it.)
Marientplatz:
The bar at Emiko:
My room at the Louis:
The freshest catch of the day (or so they say) at Viktualientmarkt:
It was a spectacular weekend to be in London with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s! A few photos from around town:
“Search for Enlightenment” at One Hyde Park, the fabulously expensive and coveted development in Knightsbridge:
The Mandarin Oriental:
Soho Square:
Comptons on Old Compton Street:
Sloane Street:
Belgravia:
National Portrait Gallery:
My obligatory meal shots from flying with British Airways this week:
JFK-LHR 747:
LHR-JFK 777:
Yesterday I flew Icelandair from Paris-Reykjavik-New York (Why not? Air France was full and transiting via a rock in the North Atlantic makes for a fun story!). It turned out to be a blast!
Here’s their 757 Saga Class cabin:
CDG-KEF routing:
Lunch service CDG-KEF:
Approaching Keflavik Airport:
Keflavik Airport:
Keflavik Airport Saga Lounge:
Local treats in the lounge:
Appetizer from KEF-JFK:
Dinner service, KEF-JFK:
One of my newer travel traditions is Bastille Day in Paris – and once again, it did not disappoint as jets screamed over the city at frighteningly low altitude:
Hotel de Ville (city hall) after the parade:
Jardin des plantes (botanical gardens):
Institut du monde arabe (Arab World Institute):
Centre Pompidou:
Luxembourg Garden:
Left Bank shop:
The super cool big board at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport:
After making it safely and swiftly out of Brussels, I headed to Paris — perhaps the most reliable destination on the planet! And as always, it was perfect.
A bit of ice skating at the Hotel de Ville (Paris City Hall):
My favorite corner of the Marais, outside Open Cafe:
Mourning Whitney:
Place des Vosges (no DSK sightings):
Quite the window display on rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie!
My fav bar in Paris, Cox:
Very cool (and ancient) storefront:
Like all good things, Paris eventually must come to an end. But not before an Air France A380 adventure across the Atlantic:
When you find yourself in Brussels, there’s nothing better to do than get out – fast. Thank god for Thalys! And thank god Paris is only 80 minutes away!
Paris Gare du Nord:
Thalys Comfort 1 service:
Occasionally, one is so desperate to get out of town that we make poor choices. Such was the case last weekend when I hopped on a plane to an incredibly dreary and cold Brussels. Next time I’ll save Belgium for summer.
Palais Royal de Bruxelles (Royal Palace of Brussels):
Mail slot on a tiny side street:
Grand Place:
My friend Donny had the bright idea of escaping New York for Ireland in January…fortunately it turned out there was snow in New York, so this windswept isle was actually warmer…but nevermind.
Although I’ve been to Dublin before, I apparently missed the memo about St. Michan’s Church being a must-see destination (according to Donny). This completely nondescript church features a bizarre crypt where the creepy tour guide insisted we touch a fully exposed dead body for good luck. This, he explained, as he switched effortlessly between Italian and English for no apparent reason (or maybe he was just speaking in tongues).
Dublin is an incredibly fun town. And being only 5 1/2 hours from New York, it’s hard to resist (but only for two nights and then it’s time to go home).
Only in Dublin…
Seen around the city:
Sometimes it’s just so hard to stay home in New York when Paris beckons! This year I took off for France a few days to celebrate the Christmas holiday. It’s a great time to be in the city – the weather is not too shabby and it’s as romantic as ever.
A spectacular day outside the Louvre:
Fabulousness at Les Jardin des Tuileries:
A shop in Le Marais:
A fabulous installation outside the Centre Pompidou:
In Le Marais, at Sly Bar, a fabulous Santa drag queen. On Christmas Eve, they served profiteroles and macarons on a silver tray to all! (Only in Paris.)
Some festive decorations at Raidd Bar in Le Marais:
I’ve never been keen on Thanksgiving cuisine, so this year I bailed on the entire holiday and fled for Italy. A few snaps from around the Eternal City:
I’ve spent more time in Munich than just any other European city, and this weekend there was a great reminder why: when the weather is spectacular, so is the city:
The gayish Gartnerplatz:
Outside Brenner, a truly spectacular restaurant experience from the owners of the uber-cool Cortiina Hotel and Louis Hotel:
The Theatine Church in Odeonsplatz:
I’ve started a new tradition: Gay Day at Oktoberfest! This was my second year attending this fabulous German gay party, held each year on the first weekend of Munich’s massive Oktoberfest. It is a blast, but requires some serious pacing of one’s beer drinking!
Ever since my friend Matt and I played hooky from class one day back in 2001 and went to Paris for the day, I’ve had no objections to day trips to Europe. Sure, they make for a long day, but the stories you can tell make it worth it!
I’d never been to Paris during Bastille Day (that’s le quatorze juillet for the French among us) so this year I made it happen — and it was a blast. I got to see the president, watch the parade (the world’s biggest display of military prowess), have a few drinks in Le Marais, and cross the Atlantic twice. All in a day’s work.
A C135 was among the 50+ aircraft flying low over the Champs-Elysees:
A soldier stands guard near the Arc de Triomphe:
Sometimes you just need to get away to Paris. So Friday at 5pm, I booked my ticket and by 8pm was on the Air France A380 at JFK!
It was a spectacular weekend, with temperatures in the 80s, and 18 hours of daylight.
I like going to Paris, because I’ve been enough that I don’t feel compelled to do anything touristy. I just like to wander and linger when I find something of interest, I like to stop and stare and look up.
I hiked up Montmartre (one tourist spot I’ve managed to avoid all the years) and then walked — yes, WALKED — all the way to the Jardin du Luxembourg on the opposite bank of the Seine. I came upon throngs of people taking in a fabulous Chopin concert under the trees at the kiosque de musique. Steps away, in front of Luxembourg Palace, home of the French Senate, the masses had shed their flip flops and were sunning themselves. Amazing!
Air France A380 after arrival at Charles de Gaulle:
Paris City Hall — one of my favorite buildings anywhere!
Luxembourg Garden:
Outside the Musee D’Orsay:
On a whim I decided to head to Madrid this weekend. I had (gasp) never been there, so I really had no idea what to expect. Descending into Barajas Airport the muted brown landscape appeared less than appealing, but by the time I arrived in the center of Madrid, I was in love.
As I described Madrid to a friend later, “It’s like Paris but with Spanish speakers.” The aesthetic, the joie de vivre, the architecture all reminded me of the French capital, so I was hooked.
I walked everywhere to get my bearings, which I always do on a first trip anywhere: from my hotel near the Prado, to the swank neighborhood of Salamanca, to the bars of Chueca, and south to the neighborhood of Lavapies. Along the way I tried to ace my Spanish skills, which are pretty abysmal (but surprised me in times of need!).
I loved Madrid but the hours killed me. Wandering the still-bustling streets at 3 a.m., trying to decide where to go next, is an only-in-Spain feeling. Fortunately I had little guilt sleeping in until noon every day because I knew the day would not end again until very, very late!
I’m a sucker for a chic but comfortable hotel, and the Louis Hotel in Munich really fit the bill this past week. In fact, I extended my stay an extra night because I felt so at home here! With a perfect location overlooking Viktualienmarkt, and some of the most beautiful, understated furniture I’ve ever seen, this place made me want to move right in. Run, don’t walk…
Sometimes you just need a weekend in Europe to cure what ails you, so the other day I took off for a few days in Munich. The weather was more or less spectacular, which after a trip to Munich many Februarys ago during which I froze and swore to never return, was a nice surprise.
Viktualienmarkt:
Gartnerplatz:
Marienplatz:
Brenner, the king’s-stables-turned-restaurant with food that’s to-die-for:
