House Cleaning

If you are a regular visitor to my blog (thank you, I love you) you will have noticed that I changed things up a bit.  I got bored yesterday and thought I needed a cleaner, neater, more up-dated look.  What I had previously I liked, but it was a bit dusty and didn't want to put any dusty vibes out there.  Quite by accident actually, the blog has ended up looking like this--I changed templates and didn't save the original so there was no going back.  As we wind down the week of getting to know ourselves better, that's just one more thing to add to my list!  I can be a bit impulsive.

Anyway, the little pictures that you see on the right hand side are links to places that I think have incredible value should you be taking a trip to Paris.  Paris Office de Tourisme is a well done, comprehensive site that suggests hotels and restaurants, lists all museums and monuments and exhibitions that are taking place and offers an opportunity to buy tickets for many of them.  They have just redone the site and having spent time on it yesterday, I found it very user friendly--even for someone who has never been to Paris.  

Paris Metro will take you ratp.fr, a fabulous site that is all things related to getting around the city on the Metro.  The site is in French but is totally interactive (think Mapquest) and will get you from point A to point B, offering several different options.  It was a lifesaver when I lived Paris. 

That beautiful canopy bed will lead you to a page on Paris Notes that is all about finding the perfect little Parisian pied-a-terre to rent during your visit.  I can't tell you the last time I stayed in a hotel.  And unless someone else was footing the bill, I don't think I ever will again. Having a small apartment to come home to at the end of the day was not only more comfortable but you find yourself staying in beautiful old buildings that Parisians call home. Quite the immersion into local culture.  Having one's own kitchen to prepare small meals in is an added bonus as well. AND, you can have coffee in your pajamas!  As much as you want. (see yesterday's post).

The happy couple traipsing through grape clusters buvez-ing du vin et vivez-ing joyeux -- drink wine and live happily, will take you to snooth, a fabulous website/networking thing dedicated to all things wine-y.  An international get together for those who love everything about grapey goodness.  It is a very friendly place.  You can sit back and observe or jump right in and participate at the fullest.  The choice is yours....there is much fun, knowledge and friendship to gain either way.  By the way, nothing to do with Paris. 

I will be adding things as I go along.  This was enough for one day for someone whose computer skills are as limited as mine.  Off to have a glass of wine with a few friends from the far corners of the world.  À votre santé everyone.

Photo credit:  APWaters@flickr