Le Beurre Bordier and the Joy of Watching Paris Go By

Four Days in London: A Quick, Rainy Delight

Our days in London were well spent. We did a lot and visited several new places during our four-day visit. Although it rained at times, it didn’t affect our itinerary or, more importantly, our mood.

As I’ve said before, London is a city that requires more than just a few days to truly enjoy—especially if you want to explore new neighborhoods and go to the theater. Like New York City, it has an abundance of offerings.

Crossing the Channel: London to Paris by Train

On our last day, after walking around the Marylebone neighborhood, we returned to the hotel, picked up our things, and took a taxi to St. Pancras International. This was our first time traveling from London to Paris by train.

The boarding process was a bit more rushed and hectic than I prefer, but the ride itself was smooth and uneventful. The journey takes just over two hours. We arrived at Gare du Nord in Paris and then took a 25-minute taxi ride to our apartment near the Hôtel des Invalides in the 7th arrondissement.

A Cozy Stay, Without the Distractions

The apartment we rented was cozy and had everything we needed. Interestingly, it didn’t have a TV—which turned out to be a welcome change. Without the temptation of streaming, we filled our evenings sipping wine, enjoying baguettes with cheese or Le Beurre Bordier semi-salted butter (the best butter I’ve ever tasted), and planning our next day based on the weather, our energy, and our mood.

I did watch a show on my laptop during the last two days, but not having a TV to casually turn on made our time feel more intentional and relaxed.

Paris Still Feels Like Paris

Paris has held a special place in my heart since our first visit in 2009. I remember saying it was my favorite city for years—even after visiting many other wonderful places.

Maybe it’s the baguettes, the cheese, or the bars and cafés with chairs facing the street, inviting you to sip something and simply watch the world go by. It’s a peaceful, grounding experience that doesn’t require planning or purpose—just presence.

Not Just the Landmarks

This was only my second visit to Paris, but the city felt and looked just the same as it did fifteen years ago—and I see that as a positive. When I say “Paris,” I’m referring to the city center. Yes, it includes the iconic landmarks, but also the lesser-known neighborhoods that many tourists seem to miss.

We noticed this in cafés and shops with no English signage, smaller crowds, and conversations spoken almost entirely in French. It was refreshing.

Yes, We Did the Iconic Things Too

Of course, we visited the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, and the Jardin des Tuileries. We had lunch on the grass at the Champ-de-Mars and took photos at the Jardins du Trocadéro. We also rode a bus through the winding streets of Montmartre and even made time for Disneyland Paris.

Wandering Odéon and Discovering Dalí

We spent time exploring the Odéon neighborhood, which is full of shops, restaurants, and bookstores. One standout was the Taschen store, where we discovered Dalí: BABY SUMO—an enormous art book showcasing some of Dalí’s key works in impressive detail and scale.

At $1,000, it’s a collector’s piece with a limited print run. We came close to buying it. And honestly, if you’re a Dalí fan, how could you not?

Le Bon Marché, Butter, and a Street Market Surprise

In our own neighborhood in the 7th arrondissement, we explored the area around Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, a historic department store connected to La Grande Épicerie de Paris—a gourmet grocery store where we sampled outstanding food.

It’s also where we found Le Beurre Bordier butter, which our daughter had insisted we try. Turns out, it’s a cult favorite. Many shoppers were buying it in bulk, and we had no idea how famous it was until that moment.

Outside, we discovered an antique street market that stayed open all day—something we’re not used to, but really enjoyed. We didn’t buy anything, but we had fun browsing the stalls filled with vintage jewelry, clothing, furniture, and other curiosities.

A Final Thought: Skip the Mona Lisa Next Time

We spent our days walking, people-watching from café chairs, sipping coffee, and eating incredible food. Our time in Paris was wonderful, and I can’t recommend it enough.

One piece of advice: don’t spend all your time at the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre. They’re impressive, but there’s so much more to see and experience.

I don’t know when we’ll return to Paris, but I do know this: while I’ll always appreciate the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre’s glass pyramid, I won’t be visiting them again next time. I can admire the Eiffel Tower from afar, and I’ve already seen the Mona Lisa.

There are other corners of this magical city still waiting to be explored, and I can't wait to explore more of this wonderful city.