s, No doubt, like me, when you think of Paris you envisage long sweeping tree-lined boulevards. Each boulevard straddled by majestic stone buildings.  The buildings, whilst most constructed with the same white stone and of similar height and style, are each individual - no two are the same.  Some doorways may be grand coach gates decorated with wrought iron and glass, others may be large heavy wooden entries adorned with elaborate brass door knocks.  Windows may be square or arched, some full height some small. Then, look up higher and you will see the rooflines with their carved stonework are just as elaborate and varied as the rest of the building.  

It is this constraint in the Haussmannian architecture that gives Paris her rythm, her comfort, her familiarity.  But it is her detailing that gives her her intrigue.  

I love it all.  I never tire of roaming the streets of Paris.  And on days when I might be fatigued or feeling hard done by, all I need do is look up and take in the beauty of the stonework, the intricacy of the  roof line.  Try it, it works wonders. In minutes my spirit is lifted and imagination buzzing.

On a number of occasions, it has been when I have been doing just that and enjoying my reverie that I have chanced upon something quite extraordinary - streets that defy all of the Haussmannan constraints.  Little pockets of wonder that beg exploring.

I would like to share one such street with you in this post.

Most of us have enjoyed meandering around Montmartre, taking in the sights, perhaps stopping for a bite to eat.  In your stroll, if you have adventured along the Avenue Junot you may well have stumbled upon Villa Léandre - a haven of English Normand houses.  Yes, that is right, English style houses, one prettier than the next, all stacked up against one another.  What a delight!

This street was built in 1926 on the site of an old mill.  Why it was built in this style and still stands today is a bit of a mystery.  At least the former is.  The latter may be due to the fact that this little pocket of paradise happens to be one of the most expensive streets in the city.  That reason alone is sure to keep the developers at bay.

Each house is different, most made of brick with a variety of decoration - tiles, wooden carvings, wrought iron.  Owners certainly take their gardening seriously with each little patch in front of the houses well kept and inviting.

As you can see from the photo below, one resident has taken the English theme further with a Number 10 Downing Street sign!

I hope you make it there one day and if you have already visited, do share your experience with us below.  

Many years ago when I first lived in Paris (pre-Jean-Marie), a Parisian friend once said to me, "To really discover Paris, just look up."

She explained to me that the true beauty of Paris and its architecture was the wonderful variety of facades and that to really appreciate them, you could not simply look around you at eye level but had to look up to see them in full splendour.

​Here are some to marvel at.  

This articles was inspired by the book ​'PARIS 100 FAÇADES REMARQUABLES' published by Parigramme.

If 50 is the new 40 and 60 is the new 50, then Yummy Mummies, you had better look out - here come the Grannies Who Rock.

I have selected 15 Grannies Who Rock - French Style - vital, intelligent, beautiful and rocking it.

The recently refurbished, Hôtel du Cap Eden-Roc situated on the Cap d’Antibes retains its place as one of the most sumptuous establishments on the Côte d’Azur.  Indeed, some might say – The Globe.

Few realise that Eden-Roc, as it is affectionately known, started its life in 1870 when Auguste de Villemessant, the founder of Le Figaro newspapers, seduced by the tranquillity and beauty of the location, generously built a magnificent refuge for writers, named the Villa Soleil.

Over the years, the refuge lost its lustre and fell into disrepair.  It took the arrival of a young hotelier, Antoine Sella, to appreciate its potential and realised his vision of creating a luxury palace hotel.  The journey of Eden-Roc had commenced.

Since then, the hotel has seen a number of reincarnations – always luxury and always playing host to many Royals, Statesmen and Women, Stars of stage, film and the sports as well as players in high society.

But celebrities aside, what I love about Hôtel du Cap Eden-Roc is that everyone can enjoy the hotel whether you are staying there or not.

What hits you is the tranquillity of the location - the magnificent gardens and beautiful vistas over the water – you simply revel in the whole sumptuousness of the place.

If you are staying overnight or for a séjour, you can choose between a room or suite the main building – the previous Villa Soleil – or if you prefer, stay in one of the stunning villas.

There are two restaurants to choose from – both highly rated in the region.  There is the formal Restaurant Eden-Roc or the, as elegant but more casual, Grill & Bar Eden-Roc.

Not forgetting the bars – enjoy an ice cream at the Juice and Ice-Cream Bar, Champagne at the newly opened Eden-Roc Champagne Lounge (A MUST) or an early evening aperitif at the Bellini Bar or the Bar de la Rotonde.

So, no matter what your budget – room or villa, restaurant or grill, ice-cream or champagne – there is something for everyone to enjoy.

There is a new hotel in town, the Hotel Montana, marvellously located next to Café de Flore and facing a Louis Vuitton boutique.  With its black facade and red neon light, this newly renovated boutique - full suite - hotel, certainly stands out in this chic and quiet street in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Hotel Montano houses six suites only, each covering an entire floor.  The architecture was entrusted to Elizabeth Bona-Lemercier and the interiors to Vincent Darré who explains “I didn’t want it to look like a hotel, but rather as if you had been given the keys of an apartment that belongs to Pablo Picasso or Serge Gainsbourg.”

If you want to hang out with the fashion and film crowd as well as the intelligencia, be sure to reserve a table at the hotel's restaurant 'La Gauche Caviar' found on the first floor or just hang out at the ground floor bar from 6pm.
​
Le Montana
28 rue Saint-Benoît
+33 1 53 63 79 20 28
Hotel-lemontana.com

Hi,  I am here!

Jean-Marie and I did create Our French Impressions together over 5 years ago, but whilst I have influenced some aspects of the site, I can't claim to have been too active.  

That is all about the change though, so seat belts on -  here we go.

My experience with France started as a young single professional women living in Paris discovering the delights of the 'City of Light' and the country as a whole.  I then moved onto pastures new around the globe only to return to the city as a married woman with my French husband - Jean-Marie - in tow.  In all, I have live well over 15years in France.  

I have truly embraced and love the french lifestyle and culture, I speak French fluently, have travelled extensively throughout the whole country learning something new at every turn and taking full advantage the wonderful delights - whether they be culinary, architectural or design focused - that I have been privileged to encounter.

I have soaked up so much of it the French say I am more Parisienne than a Parisienne!

Professionally I am a communicator and marketer with a large portion of my career having been in tourism.  Over the years, I have organised more itineraries in France for friends and colleagues than I care to remember.  

Now, after much demand from those same people, Jean-Marie and I are using all of that knowledge and fun to organise our own tours.  Have a look at our next one, 
"Your Week in Provence"  taking place in May 2015.  We have put together a rich and varied itinerary full of insights into the real Provence - cooking with Michelin star chefs, enjoying bespoke visits to the vineyards and private cellars and enjoying cocktails with local artisans and artists. Whilst structured, the itinerary is flexible and offers free time if feel inclined to have some time to wanter off on your own.

In Tricia's A-List,  I will focus on things that I know and love about France whether that be culture, fashion, lifestyle, design - whatever takes my fancy really.  I will also have my regular podcast on a variety of topics, Les E -choes with news items, and E-vents curated events that I feel could be of interest to you.

You also be able to follow me on Instagram at @tricias_a_list for more snippets of 'French Intelligence'

And I would love to hear from you - so leave me a comment or a message.

Allons-y!

What exactly is La Rentrée?  Why does it hold such significance that every television channel and radio station in France talks of nothing else over the period of La Rentrée?

La Rentrée is simply the end of the long summer break, when the children return to school to start a new academic year.  Schools across the country start more or less on the same day, so you can image the frenzy of every household with school age children organising themselves for this important new beginning.  Everyone is manically buying new clothes, shoes, equipment – the necessary paraphernalia that school kids need today.  As very few French schools have uniforms, fashion and trends play a large role in the choice of the ‘right’ pair of jeans or sneakers.  This is not only time consuming and costly but also very stressful in the packed shops and streets.  Then, of course, there is the choice of the school bag.  This decision can take on astronomic proportions and this one topic receives perhaps the most TV coverage.  The bag shouldn’t be too large, as it may then get too heavy.  But it can’t be too small as French schools dish out A LOT of homework, so the children have to carry books back and forth from school to home every day.

It is not all about school though as September is the time of the rentrée politique (political return), well-rested and tanned politicians also return to Paris and parliament resumes. The rentrée du cinéma traditionally signals the end of the summer blockbuster season and a return of more serious art-house fare to cinemas. Not to be outdone, the publishing industry puts out huge numbers of new novels during the rentrée littéraire, which lasts into November.

The French use this period of La Rentrée to wipe the slate clean and have a new start to the year.  Resolutions are made, just as they are in January.  La Rentrée gives you a second chance at reaching your goals for the year. 

Over all, it has a very healthy positive effect on the population - not to mention that September has similar gym inscriptions numbers to January.  Now that can’t be bad!

There is one other thing that happens in every household though at this time, but no one really talks about it, it just seems to go on behind the scenes.  What is it?   Well, wardrobes and interiors are changed.  Yes, summer clothes are put away and replaced by the ‘mi-saison’ and winter clothes.  Now, to what extent this occurs depends of course on your means, the size of your home and where exactly you live.  In some instances, it could be as simple as swopping drawers or exchanging boxes under the bed with whatever you have been wearing during the summer.  For others, we are talking of separate wardrobes in the basement being exchanged with those in the home – a big job.   Linen shirts are exchanged for cashmere pullovers, shorts for jeans and sandals for flats.  Some households, go as far as to change their interiors - warming up the atmosphere by draping blankets over the sofa, changing the scents of the candles and in some instances changing cushions, bibelots, coffee table books and more….  

Look out for ‘vide grenier’ (garage sales) at this time of year; you may pick up some great second hand gear.

As the madness of Le Rentrée subsides, the French sit down and reflect on how they would like the remaining months of the year to play out. 

I have prepared a small collage of what that might look like.