Earlier this month I shared an Instagram reel highlighting April’s quick Paris jaunt and I wanted to offer more about the experience for my lovely Substack readers (you!). Below you’ll find insights into the journey along with photos and resources to help you plan and pack (one of the harder parts of traveling) for your next adventure. Thanks for reading!
By now you probably know Audrey Hepburn’s quote, “Paris is always a good idea.” I first discovered the City of Light while backpacking through Europe after college in 1995. Yes, even back in the days when there were francs and four-inch thick “Let’s Go” guides versus the handy euro and smartphones of today, I was smitten. After I returned in 2009, I’ve tried to return at least twice a year for either a whirlwind weekend or a six-week stint cosplaying Parisian.
So you can see, I completely agree with Audrey—Paris IS always a good idea!
However, this doesn’t mean that going to Paris is always easy. In fact, last month while I grabbed my carry-on and overstuffed purse en route to the airport I wasn’t sure that the flight would actually happen. France was on strike, as they’re wont to do. This time it was air traffic control on the date I was scheduled to land! C'est la vie, I decided to take my chances despite the news that 65% of the flights into Charles de Galle would be cancelled. Surely I’m in the 35%, I told myself for two weeks leading up to it.
Thankfully, they called off the strike at the last minute and my flight was a go!
Upon arrival, I took the train to Gare du Nord and found a cafe across the street to sip the first of many pots of thé à la menthe verte and tried to shake the feeling of swaying back and forth left over from my seven-hour plane ride. Once I felt more grounded, I followed Google maps to my Airbnb fifteen minutes away. I walked up one flight of stairs, opened the door to my cozy temporary home, and began to unpack—toiletries in the bathroom, clothing in the bedroom, tea in the kitchen, laptop on the table. This little routine always helps me feel settled in a new space.
My first meetup was in two hours at a famous café located in the 6th arrondissement across the Seine. I could either metro in 30 minutes or walk in 60 minutes. The choice was easy, I decided to walk and stretch out after being confined to a teeny tiny plane seat. The city streets were bustling with Parisians and tourists. And while the air was chilly enough to need a scarf and trench, the sun was shining. I sauntered through the Marais with a stop at my favorite dance store, Repetto, and crossed the Seine with a stop to listen to a busker in a beret playing the accordion. Just in time, I landed at Cafe de Flore on Boulevard Saint-Germain for tea with a ballet friend visiting from Germany.
On Friday I planned to start the day with a ballet class in French at Centre de Danse du Marais . . . if I woke up naturally in time. That was the deciding factor on whether I’d make the 11 am class. Well, I did wake up in time, but the bed was so cozy and I drifted in and out of slumber. I don’t feel great, I told myself. It continued: Ah, it’s 40 minutes away. I deserve to rest. I’ll arrive at the Impressionism exhibit sweaty. Maybe I should just stay here. And on and on for the next hour.
Then the drilling in the apartment above me started. Vrrrr... vrrrr... vrrrr. Maybe they’re just hanging something on the wall and it will stop. Vrrrr... vrrrr... vrrrr. And it didn’t stop. Okay, it’s clearly construction and this is a sign that I should go! After having lounged past my time buffer comfort zone, I rushed to get ready and pulled my ballet bag together to get out the door. I sprinted to the metro, switched lines, and then raced 15 minutes to the studio. Phew, I made it just as they started their pliés. The teacher recognized me from last fall (I’m the random American who doesn’t speak French, struggles to keep up in her beginner class, and emailed her to let her know I’d be coming—how could she forget me?!).
“Ah, Kimberly!” she called out. “Bienvenue!”
I found a spot at the barre among the 30 other women also dressed in black and ballet slippers with a bun or top knot. They ranged from age 25-75. I love this generational mixing and even recognized many from my last visit in October. The morning light streamed through the Palladian window, casting a warm glow across the room and I immediately found my body softening into the movements as the teacher called out the choreography. Despite the hectic start to the day, I felt at home in the international language of dance.
Here’s a little secret, dear readers—for years I’ve wanted to take a ballet class in Paris, but worried I wouldn’t be “good enough” or understand the teacher’s instructions. But something shifted in me when I turned 50 last year. These days I’m feeling a strong desire to just go for it anyway. I mean, what’s there to lose, really? Feeling empowered, I even took another ballet class on Saturday at Studio Harmonic and on Sunday at Repetto—in French! Why do we wait until we’re comfortable? Is it even possible to be truly comfortable? What are we missing out on by holding ourselves back or waiting for the perfect conditions?
After this experience I shared my first note on Substack and wrote:
The response was overwhelming. So many of you seemed to resonate with this idea of taking chances, trying new things, and no longer sitting on the sidelines. I mean, if not now, when?!
My weekend continued with: a jaunt to Musée d’Orsay to sip tea and savor a lemon tarte in their stunning Belle Époque cafe with lavish chandeliers, ceiling frescoes, gilded moulding, and large mirrors (photo below that looks like a taste of Versailles), followed by the Inventing Impressionism exhibit (the main reason for the trip). A pop into a favorite thrift store (Hippy Market shown below) followed by matcha latte sipping and journal writing at the Shakespeare & Co Cafe to reflect on my feelings du jour. Fresh peonies and strawberries from the market to host the Seasonal Soirée complete with an in-person guest from Germany (Hallo Katrin!) and virtual guests from North America and Europe. An afternoon at Musée de Montmartre sitting their garden cafe (shown below) and sipping rosé with friends visiting from DC before viewing the Auguste Herbin exhibit. Live ragtime jazz (the best!) at La Caravane and sauntering along the Seine, slowly taking in all the lessons that Paris has to offer.
So, yes, Audrey gives the best advice—Paris is always a good idea. And so is allowing ourselves to living unapologetically in this second half of life.
What to Pack
Here’s a podcast and packing list sharing more on my travel process.
Here’s a video highlighting what goes into my personal item bag.
My 4 Go-To Tips
Enjoy this video recorded in Paris where I reveal my top tips.
My Favorite Spots
Browse this list for my off the beaten path finds.
A Post about Paris
What’s Next
The third edition of the Midlife Musings newsletter is coming your way next week!
About Me
Hello! I'm a psychotherapist in Washington, DC, author of seven lifestyle books (next one on midlife), and host of the Tranquility Coterie. In love with my 50s, ballet, pigs, pugs, and orangutans (random mix, I know!). My mission is to help women experience more balance, beauty, and tranquility during this second half of life. More on my website and on Instagram.