i love paris – Where Kate Resides

Where to Get the Best Views of the Eiffel Tower

Now we all know that when someone comes to visit Paris, the main priority is seeing the spectacular Eiffel Tower. Although the Tower was actually only intended to be built just for the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, it has now become a global icon for France and is the most visited paid monument in the World!
After living in Paris for the past year, I have conducted a list of my favourite spots to wondrously gaze at the Eiffel Tower.

TROCADERO // Metro: Trocadero – Line 9 & 6, Take the exit Eiffel Tower

SEINE RIVER CRUISE // Find the boats located along the banks of the Seine – Day and night cruises available

ARC DE TRIOMPHE // Metro: Charles de Gaulle – Etoile – Line 1 & RER A, Take the entrance for the Arc de Triomphe and climb its staircase to the terrace atop the Arc

NOTRE DAME // Metro: St Michel – Line 4 & RER B, Line up on the left side of the Cathedral

TERASSE DU PRINTEMPS // Metro: Auber – RER A or Harve Caumartin – Line 3, Take the escalator of the mall “Printemps” to the top level

TOUR MONTPARNASSE // Metro: Montparnasse Bienvenue – Line 4, 6, 12 & 13, Take the elevator to the top floor for the best view of Paris

CHAMPS DE MARS // Metro: Ecole Militaire – Line 8, Walk around the corner and find yourself at the beautiful gardens located in front of the Eiffel Tower

5 Things to do in Paris for Christmas

Galeries Lafayette
An upscale shopping centre on boulevard Haussmann, in which every year, they put on wonderful Christmas display. The most popular being their Christmas tree. This year they have put up an upside down Christmas tree under the 100 year old dome. They also have themed window displays on the outside of the building, which become very popular with passer by’s.
Parisian Christmas Markets
These are a must do in my opinion. Paris is surrounded with Christmas Markets throughout the months of November and December. The market on the Avenue des Champs Elysees would have to be the largest and the busiest, selling arts and crafts, delicious specialties from different regions of France, and much more. You can grab yourself a glass of mulled wine (hot wine), frois gras, cheese, truffels, fresh waffles/churros and so on.
Click here to find a list of all Christmas markets in Paris
Ice Skating
Having come from New Zealand where we usually spend Christmas during Summer, the idea of ice skating during a winter Christmas in Paris sounds like a blast! There are many ice rinks situated in different locations around Paris, such as the Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, Hotel de Ville, and the Champs Elysees.
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland during Christmas is magical. Both parks are decked with spectacular decorations from the 9th November to the 7th January 2015. Disney has a Christmas parade, a giant Christmas tree, and have themed their famous light’s display to the loved movie Frozen. What a better way to celebrate this festive season!
Avante-Garde Trees
Visit the fun annual exhibition of Christmas trees at the Centre Pompidou. The creations are funny, seductive, political, lovely and weird! Your entrance fee also gets donated to a French charity that helps orphaned children.

La Maison Rose – Montmatre, Paris

Hidden down the quaint cobblestoned streets of Montmatre, lies La Maison Rose.
A perfect spot to sit, have a coffee and people watch before or after visiting the Basilica Sacre Coeur.

Believe it or not, Picasso used to frequent this “pink house”. It was owned by Germaine Gargallo (also known as Germaine Pichot) for around 40 years. Germaine was the woman whom Picasso’s best friend, Carlos Casagemas, killed himself over. Germaine was also a model for a few of Picasso’s paintings.

Metro Line 12: Lamarck – Caulaincourt
2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, 75018 Paris, France
+33 1 42 57 66 75

Beau Septembre à Paris

I feel lucky being able to say it has been a wonderful sunny September in Paris. It is unusual – the amount of sunshine and warmth we have received. I can say I have most definitely made the most of it.

I think anyone would agree with me that being in Paris in the sun will make one content. Happy levels rise and lots of ice cream gets purchased!
Although I have already lived in Paris previously for a year, for some reason I had not tried the famous Berthillon ice cream. I was introduced to this by a dear friend, and I will surely return.