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Archive for April, 2012

Visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

The Louvre Museum in Paris

Visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris is a dream for so many people traveling to Paris, and I’m no different! No matter how many times I’ve visited, I still get a thrill walking up to I.M. Pei’s famous glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre. While very controversial when it was built in 1989, the Pyramide has proved its lasting power, and has become one of Paris’ iconic sites. Take the escalators down from the pyramid entrance to the main lobby of the museum, where you can buy tickets and find central access all the different areas of the museum.

ticket-machines_musee-louvre

If the lines are long, check to see how they are at the distributeurs automatiques – the automated ticket machines. It’s quick and easy, and the instructions are in several different languages. Once you get your ticket and the map of the museum, you’re set! In the main lobby area, you’ll also find information about guided tours and renting audio guides. Not sure where to start? Check out the Louvre’s themed Visitor Trails, which can be viewed online or printed out ahead of time to carry with you while visiting the museum. The interactive floor plans are also a fun way to orient yourself and plan your visit to the Louvre.

If you’re ready explore on your own, there’s only one problem. Were to go first! The museum floor plan can be a little tricky to figure out at first, but it helps to remember that the Louvre has three wings in a U shape around the Pyramid entrance: the Denon, Sully and Richelieu. And if that wasn’t enough, there are 4 floors to almost each wing: lower ground, ground floor, first floor and second floor. If you plan to cover a lot of the museum, be sure to wear comfortable shoes!

statues-musee-louvre-paris-france

I love sculptures from all periods, and on a recent visit spent a lot of time exploring the ground floor galleries dedicated to sculptures, Eqyptian antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities. On the ground floor of the Denon is my favorite sculpture in the Louvre - Pysche and Cupid by Antonio Canova. Below is just one of about 50 shots I took.  My husband was ready to kill me!

psyche-and-cupid-louvre-paris

The Venus de Milo is a very popular gallery in the Louvre. It’s just one of the many spots that you’re likely to find a crowd of people waiting to get a close up glimpse and take photos. It’s worth the wait!

venus-de-milo

Even if you only have a short time to visit the Louvre, another must see is the famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. The gallery is huge, but nevertheless you’ll most likely have to be patient to get a close up shot.

mona-lisa-paris-france

If you love decorative arts, then you won’t want to miss visiting the galleries on the first floor of the Richelieu wing. The collections of tapestries, ceramics, furniture, jewelry and other objects d’art are the best in the world. Don’t miss seeing the exquisite and richly decorated Napoleon III Apartments!

louvre-museum-france

My husband isn’t a very big fan of museums and was keen to just tick off the major attractions – the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, etc. The only challenge was trying to find them all! While there are plenty of signs and we were equipped with the museum map, I think we still walked around in circles dozens of times, and at one stage he thought we’d be trapped in the museum forever. The man on the right had clearly just given up!

lost-tourist-musee-louvre

No matter if you’re in search of a particular work of art or just admiring whatever you happen across while wandering, the Louvre is such a beautiful museum. The painted and gilded ceilings, grand staircases and galleries are full of surprises. I see just a small part of the museum every time I go, and there’s plenty to see for a lifetime of visits!

musee-louvre-paris

If your feet are up to, just outside the Louvre you’ll find the entrance to the underground Carrousel du Louvre shopping center. This is a wonderful shopping area, popular with Parisians and visitors alike, and is home to many elegant shops and a food court with gourmet options. Remember the Glass Pyramid at the entrance to the Louvre? You’ll fnd the bottom—the Pyramide Inversée—continues to form another point inside the Carrousel du Louvre. After the famous scene from the movie The Da Vinci Code, it’s another popular spot for photos!

boutique-shops-louvre-museum

The Louvre Museum is open every day except Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you’re looking for a quieter experience, try visiting during the night openings every Wednesday and Friday until 9:45 p.m. Keep in mind that the museum closes on the following holidays: January 1, May 1, December 25. Visit the Louvre Museum website for more details on planning your visit, tickets, special exhibitions and events.

Photos and story by Natasha.

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Happy Easter from Paris!

Friday, April 6th, 2012
Tulips in the Champ de Mars Gardens in Paris

Colorful signs of spring blooming at the Eiffel Tower in the Champ de Mars gardens

Signs of spring are everywhere you look in Paris these days, from the flowers blooming in happy colors, bursts of green here and there thanks to the warmer weather to the delightful window displays for Easter. Called Pâques in French, the Easter holiday is a festive time to be in Paris. Spending a holiday in another country is a wonderful experience, seeing what is familiar and learning how the same holiday is celebrated in so many different ways around the world. We love holidays in France, and are happy to share some of our favorite things to do and tips for enjoying Easter in Paris.

Sweet Treats for Easter

Chocolate designs for Easter in Paris

A chocolate masterpiece in Paris!

Chocolate is a classic for Easter around the world, but many pâtisseries in Paris have turned Easter treats into an art form! Take a stroll through the neighborhood and stop by to check out the window displays of pâtisseries and chocolate shops. Everywhere you go you’ll spot Easter themed designs. We always have to make a stop by some of our favorite shops to see just what special creations they have made for Easter, each one seeming to try to top the other with a clever design or masterly work. At Lenôtre we spotted adorable teddy bears sculpted out of chocolate for Easter. What a sweet treat for your loved one at Easter! Lenôtre is one of our favorite pâtisseries, and their location near the Ecole Militaire is convenient to so many of our Paris vacation rentals in the 7th arrondissement.

Macarons in Paris for Easter

Macarons are a perfectly colorful spring sweet for Easter in Paris!

So we admit we love macarons all year long, but there’s something about those traditional pastel colors that just seem perfect in the spring. Stop by Ladurée for a wonderful array of colors and flavors as well as some exquisite chocolate Easter eggs to choose from. Another favorite for sweets and macarons is Pierre Hermé, who wrote the cookbook on macarons that we used to try to make the best macarons in the world – an interesting and fun experience! This year Pierre Hermé has some delightful Easter creations, from dark chocolate Easter bunnies to a delicious looking chocolate Easter egg covered with swirls of nuts and candied fruit. Divine!

Beautiful Paris Cakes on display

The hardest part of choosing a cake for Easter is choosing which one!

The best part of being in Paris before and during Easter is the wonderful selection of cakes, pastries and chocolates on display. This is a city perfect for travelers with a sweet tooth, and no time is better than Easter when you’ll find tempting displays in shop windows, department stores and gourmet food shops all over Paris.

 

Celebrate Easter Mass in Paris

Paris Cathedral of Notre Dame

Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame for an unforgettable Easter Sunday Mass

Visiting the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris for services is a moving experience, especially during the holiday masses for Easter. Click here to read more about the events for Holy Week at Notre Dame and the schedule of events for Easter Sunday. Even if you don’t attend mass, you’ll hear those famous bells ringing! Another impressive church in Paris to attend Easter Sunday mass is the beautiful Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre. For Easter Sunday services in English, visit the American Church in Paris conveniently located in the 7th arrondissement on the Quai d’Orsay along the Seine not far from the Eiffel Tower and only walking distance from many of our apartments.

 

A Fun Easter in Paris with Kids

Spring and Easter in Paris with Kids

Celebrate the arrival of spring and Easter with your kids outdoors in Paris

Spring is a wonderful time to explore Paris with children, when the parks are green and beautiful and before the heat and crowds of the summer arrive. We love seeing how many Easter egg hunts there are now each year at different historic sites and gardens in and around Paris. Visit this website for more information on Easter activities for kids in Paris, or organize your own little Easter egg hunt in your Paris Perfect apartment or a park nearby if the weather is favorable. Your kids will never forget a surprise Easter egg hunt in the Champ de Mars gardens around the Eiffel Tower!

 

Paris Open-Air Markets in the Spring

Paris Open Air Markets in the Spring Strawberries

The sweet taste of fresh fruit and vegetables from the open-air markets in Paris

Spring is definitely in the air when you stroll through the open-air markets in Paris with all the colorful displays of fresh fruits and vegetables. While the Paris markets are busy with locals shopping year round, they are especially fun to explore in the spring. Visit the charming rue Cler, our favorite food shopping street, or one of the excellent markets in the 7th arrondissement to find the freshest ingredients for your Easter Sunday dinner!

 

Enjoy an Easter Feast at your Paris Perfect Apartment

Easter Dinner in a Paris Perfect Apartment

Prepare a special Easter dinner at your Paris Perfect apartment rental

If you’re planning on dining out on Easter Sunday in Paris, you’ll find many restaurants closed or already fully booked if you haven’t made reservations in advance. The perfect solution? Prepare a wonderful Easter dinner to enjoy with your family and friends in your Paris Perfect vacation rental! Our apartment kitchens are fully equipped, and you’ll find everything you need to prepare and serve a special meal for Easter. Open a bottle of French wine (Why not the kind your apartment is named after for a fun memory?) and make a toast to a memorable Easter in Paris! And don’t forget the best part … the dessert!

Wishing you a very Happy Easter and Joyeuses Pâques from Paris!

 

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Delicious Recipe for Lasagne with Asparagus

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

Lasagne with asparagus

Last year we took a day of cooking lessons with acclaimed Italian chef Franco Taruschio.  Here is his recipe for delicious asparagus lasagne below.  It’s a hearty dish, a contrast to the traditional meat/tomato lasagna dishes, with a white bechamel sauce flavored with the whites of the asparagus.  I don’t think I’ll ever have the time to make the pasta, but there are excellent dried brands available everywhere. Italians never waste food and he showed us how to use the asparagus peelings for a tasty asparagus soup.

Franco offers Italian cooking weeks in his home region of Italy, Le Marche.  If you’re interested in Franco’s cooking course in Italy, the next series will take place from May 19th to 25th 2012 including  luxury accommodation, food and drink at the four star Gallery Hotel Recanati, not far from Ancona Airport.  Le Marche is a beautiful region of Italy– not far from Tuscany with beautiful countryside, rolling hills and lots to do: golf, discount Italian designer outlets, relaxing on the beach, discovering how olive oil is made and touring vineyards.  It’s a terrific and relaxing vacation idea. To find out more, click on this link: http://www.gustoinfinito.it/ or email: info@gustoinfinito.it

 

Peel asparagus and save peel for soup

 

RECIPE FOR LASAGNE AGLI ASPARAGI (LASAGNE WITH ASPARAGUS)

Serves 6-8

INGREDIENTS

PASTA DOUGH — OR USE READY MADE PASTA!

  • 525g flour ’00′ — look for special pasta flour
  • 5 eggs
  • Salt

FILLING

  • Knob of butter, plus extra for greasing and finishing
  • 500g asparagus cut into 3, cooked until al dente
  • 3 basil leaves torn
  • 220ml single cream
  • 40g Emmenthal cheese, freshly grated

BECHAMEL SAUCE

  • 500ml milk
  • 50g butter
  • 50g flour

STEPS FOR PASTA

  1. Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  2. Make the pasta and roll out into wide sheets. The final setting on the pasta machine should be number 1
  3. Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil. Cook the pasta a few sheets at a time, until al dente-about 2 minutes. Drain, drop into cold water and drain again on clean tea towels.

STEPS FOR BECHAMEL SAUCE:

  1. Heat the milk in a saucepan to just below boiling point, then remove the pan from the heat.
  2. Melt the butter in another saucepan, then add the flour and stir well. Add the milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Cook the sauce for 15 minutes, whisking occasionally with a balloon whisk to ensure a creamy texture.
  3. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and stir in the grated Emmenthal.
  4. Fold in the asparagus, basil leaves, a knob of butter and the cream.

TO ASSEMBLE THE LASAGNE:

  1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/ gas mark 5
  2. Butter a 30cm x 30cm x7.5cm gratin dish.
  3. Cover the base with a layer of pasta, then a layer of asparagus sauce. Continue making layers in this way until all the ingredients are used. Dot the last layer with butter. Hint from Franco if you’re using thin pasta sheets:  always crinkle them up a little instead of laying them flat.  This makes the top crisper.  Most important, it allows the sauce and filling to make its way into little pockets, rather than being squeezed out when you cut it into pieces.
  4. Bake the lasagne for 45-50 minutes
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