Being the ever-dutiful boyfriend that I am, I would naturally never forget the anniversary of meeting my beloved, so last July I decided to turn to the city of romance and well and truly secure my spot in my girlfriend’s good books with a surprise weekend away. This decision was not made ungrudgingly, as my previous visits to ‘Gai Paris’ had done little to win my affections. I am sorry to admit it but I saw Paris as nothing more than a sprawling, rude and smelly honey-pot. Perhaps it was the company on previous visits, but I was yet to be won over by the City of Lights.

We boarded our Eurostar on a sunny Friday after work, and upgrading to First Class with one of Railbooker’s top promotions added a touch of extra magic to the evening. I firmly believe that the best way to start a weekend away is by toasting ‘au revoir’ to London with a glass of chilled Champagne, before tucking into a fine 3 course dinner accompanied by some excellent vin rouge. It’s a good job we were near the front of the train, as we had little time to waste once we arrived into the Gare du Nord. For our first soiree, I had cleverly purchased tickets for an attraction almost as Parisian as the Eiffel Tower itself, The Moulin Rouge.

Being something of a cynic – as I am sure you have noticed by now – I have always held rather strong reservations regarding ‘Cabaret’, but the history and legend of the place has nevertheless exerted a draw, even on me. A house of debauchery with such an impact on popular culture for over a hundred years must be worth the price of the ticket, surely?

My only regret was not having invested in a private car to collect us at the station, as the taxi queue at the Gare du Nord was astonishing – at least a 30 minute wait. We instead made a mad dash to the Metro and made it to the doors of the theatre with just minutes to spare. We dropped our bags in the cloakroom and were led to our seats, where a very welcome bottle of bubbly awaited us. Now I admit, the show is incredibly camp, and yes, the shire ponies and ventriloquist dog are a little unnerving, but the sheer spectacle of the show and the decandent surroundings, (ably assisted by the free-flowing bubbly!) really do make it an experience to behold!

We stayed for two nights in the 4* Superior Scribe Hotel, located next to gorgeous Opera Garnier. The hotel suprised me with its incredible history. It is the location where the moving image was first shown in public,and has a fantastic, traditional tea room with a simply sumptious selection of cakes!

The next day we set off on foot to enjoy the sunshine and sample a little of what Paris has to offer. A stroll through the Left Bank area of the city to Napoleon’s Tomb and the imposing Palais des Invalides was a lovely way to start our day and a refreshing walk, whilst a visit to the Sainte Chapelle is highly recommended. Tucked away in the shadows of Notre Dame, this gem of a church boasts some of the most breathtaking stained-glass windows I have ever seen. That evening we enjoyed a gentle stroll and a picnic in the Jardin des Tuileries, while indulging in a spot of people-watching, before an early night called, as the previous night’s escapades took their toll.

Sunday dawned and the last day of our trip: so far so good. Being the clever boyfriend that I am, I had saved the best til last. Midday saw us at the Sacre Coeur, with its fairytale architecture and panoramic views across the city. A leisurely lunch at a pavement cafe in the artistic Montmartre district and I had the distinct feeling the weekend had been an overwhelming success. And as we toasted our departure from Paris in our reserved first class seats – an unquestionable convert and his smiling lovely lady – I couldn’t help feeling just a little smug. Cheers!

Posted in: Paris | Author: Gareth