As we all know, the sales season approaches and if you have a really good budget, you can visit Paris and his famous Lafayette Galleries. Being a Romanian, I am very proud that at the last year season’s sales I found here a great award winner, the lingerie Romanian brand: Triumph. I like it when our brands go abroad.

The Lafayette Galleries are the biggest department store in Paris and a noteworthy monument of La Belle Époque. It can be reached by metro: Chaussée d’Antin, Opéra, or Trinité or RER: Auber (Line A) or Haussmann St-Lazare (Line E).

The first store of the firm was opened in 1893 on the corner of rue La Fayette and the interior of the present building with its beautiful cupola and Art Nouveau staircases was created in 1912.

I’ve tried to took some pictures for you, but it was very, very crowdie

Burberry stand

Lafayette Galleries interior

Pierre Herme stand

shoes in Lafayette Galleries

Shopping at Lafayette Galleries

Triumph in Lafayette Galleries

It is well known that this period of the year is the most magical one: naughty kids being worried about not getting their presents on time, good kids expecting everything their hearts could desire, Christmas lights everywhere, but most of all, a splendid and completely enjoyable feeling shared by people all over the world.

If you want to do something special and to feel by yourself what Christmas means for others, you will definitely have to visit the “Marché de Noël” (Christmas Market), an exciting and full of atmosphere event. Even though it is a specific tradition for many countries across the Europe, this time I will tell you a few words about Strasbourg, declared this year “Capitale de Noël”.

“Marché de Noël”, a tradition since 1570, it is held every year from the last Saturday of November to 31th of December. Although there is a Christmas map pointing out all the special locations through the city, where you can take part in various activities related to Christmas: Place Kléber, Place Broglie, Place Gutenberg, Place du Temple Neuf, the most famous location is without doubt: Place de la Cathédrale, right in front of the impressive ancient monument, Cathédrale de Notre-Dame. Every year a different country is invited as a guest honour to add an extra touch of magic, and this year is Switzerland turn to show off its marvelous traditions. So, if you want to find out more about this, Place Gutenberg is the answer to all your questions about Swiss traditions: artistic and cultural activities, a traditional market of local Swiss products (don’t forget to taste the chocolate!), concerts or exhibitions are only a few of the entertaining activities from The Swiss Village.

The Christmas market, or Christkindelmärik in the Alsacian dialect, is a culinary fest also. Here are a few of the delights which you can taste: boules de neige – special marshmallows made of chocolate with various flavours, sweet or salted alsacian bretzels, Christmas chocolate figurines, ginger bread or a hot cup of delicious mulled wine.

Another two points of attraction for the tourists who are invading the town this period of the year are the giant Christmas Tree and all the small streets and alsacian houses embellished with gorgeous Christmas decorations.

Now I am inviting your eyes to travel over some photos of one of the beauty spots in France, in a magical journey!

Strasbourg - Marche de Noel

Marche de Noel -Strasbourg

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 2

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 3

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 4

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 5

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 6

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 7

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 8

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 9

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 10

Marche de Noel - Strasbourg 11

Place de la Cathédrale

Place de la Cathédrale 2

Place de la Cathédrale 3

Place de la Cathédrale 4

Place Gutenberg

Place Kleber

Anca Stefanita – Each time anyone asks me to say something about myself, I find it a very difficult thing to do. Why? Shouldn’t be quite easy to make some PR for yourself, especially if you are in loved with this particular kind of job? The answer should definitely be a positive one, but again…I prefer to let the others or my activities to speak for myself. But there are a few things that I can tell you: I am trying to live my life by what  Ghandi used to say: “You must be the change that you wish to see”, I love everything about public relations, advertising and media, I am passionate about reading and travelling, and let’s face it, about some adventure now and then.

Without doubt, taking a tour of Paris by boat is a very romantic experience not only because you can enjoy a romantic dinner on the Seine, but also because it is a great way to get familiar with some of the city’s most stunning monuments like: Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, Musee du Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Assemblée Nationale (The National Assembly building), Hotel des Invalides, Pont Neuf (Paris’ oldest bridge, dating to the 16th century), Pont Alexandre III (Art Nouveau bridge dating to 1896) or Grand Palais.

There are 37 bridges within Paris and the Banks of the Seine were added to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1991, fact that can be considered an extra point. Long ago this river was the main route of transportation and protection for Paris and it is also related with many legends. For example, Joan of Arc was burned in 1431 and her ashes were thrown into the Seine.  Furthermore, according to his will, Napoleon, who died in 1821, wished to be buried on the banks of the Seine, but his request was not granted.

Below you can see some photos I’ve took of the Seine, the river which inspired many artists of the 19th and the 20th centuries, including: Claude Monet or Camille Pissarro.

Boat on the Seine 1

Boat on the Seine 2

The Seine by day

The Seine by night

I hope you’ll like this photo: Notre Dame de Paris at night.

Notre Dame de Paris at night

So, I’ve wrote last week about The Gardens of Versailles and here I come to speak about Marie Antoinette’s estate.

The Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s former domain, is a masterpiece of neoclassical architecture situated on the grounds of Chateau Versailles. I must underline that while Versailles represents luxury and power, the Petit Trianon represented intimacy and balance. Every element of its memory reminds of Queen Marie-Antoinette, the queen which imposed her personal taste at Versailles.

In her Trianon domain, which Louis XVI gave her in 1774, she found the heaven of privacy that enabled her to escape from the rigors of court etiquette. Nobody could come there without her invitation.

The domain has a theater, a little house for guests and the famous Temple of Love situated on a little island directly behind the house. I can truly say that this is one of the most unforgettable places I’ve seen.

Queen Marie-Antoinette commissioned the architect Mique to design and build the neo-classical structure in 1778. The Temple of Love was built to celebrate the love of the king and the queen for each other and the consummation of their marriage, delayed for many years.

“The consummation took so long because Marie-Antoinette was a mere child when she was married; she was fourteen but looked as if she were much younger, and Louis was not a pervert. He was a gentleman, and waited for her to mature. He also approached his bride in a restrained manner because his aunties had inculcated in him the dangers for France when a king became enthralled by a woman, as had happened to his grandfather Louis XV. Louis could probably see himself becoming quite easily enthralled with Marie-Antoinette, and so he held himself back. Also, as author Simone Bertière speculates in L’Insoumise, there may have been a physical problem with Marie-Antoinette which made marital relations difficult at first. In their early twenties, however, the young couple found their bonheur essentiel, their “essential happiness,” as Marie-Antoinette wrote to her mother.  It became a marriage which all the forces of hell could not sunder.” (Referral from here)

I leave you with this story in your mind and I invite you to see the pictures I took:

Marie-Antoinette’s estate 1 - Palace of Versailles

Marie-Antoinette’s estate 2 - Palace of Versailles

Marie-Antoinette’s estate 4 - Palace of Versailles

Marie-Antoinette’s estate 5 - Palace of Versailles

Marie-Antoinette’s estate 6 - Palace of Versailles

Marie-Antoinette’s estate 7 - Palace of Versailles

Marie-Antoinette’s estate 8 - Palace of Versailles

Marie-Antoinette’s estate 9 - Palace of Versailles

Today I am inviting you to join me to the town of Versailles, about 20 kilometers outside of Paris. I will present you some of the photos I’ve took at the most beautiful gardens I’ve seen: the Gardens of Versailles, part of what once was the Domaine Royal de Versailles. I will continue next week with the ones taken at Petit Trianon and at The domain of Marie-Antoinette.

Situated to the west of the Versailles palace, the gardens cover 800 hectares of land and locate meticulous manicured lawns, flowers, sculptures, and singing fountains dating from the time of Louis XIV. It is probably Europe’s largest palace garden and it was created in the 17th century by landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, the king himself, and a few advisers and it has never been altered. Its main axis runs from east to west to celebrate the Sun King. They express the spirit of seventeenth-century science with their geometrical layout and with their interest in optics, evidenced by the reflecting mirrors of the water parterres and of the Grand Canal.

There are several fountains in the garden: Neptune Fountain, Apollo Fountain, Latona Fountain etc. All of them were installed to entertain all the guests invited to the luxurious parties organized by King Louis XIV. On weekends from late spring to early autumn, the administration of the museum sponsors the Grandes Eaux Musicals – spectacles during which all the fountains in the gardens are in full play.

There are also a couple of smaller palaces in the garden: the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and The domain of Marie-Antoinette that you can reach with a special mini-train. Even if they are in the same Versailles domain, they are some miles away. I will write soon about them, but for now, I let you enjoy the photos .

The first time I heard about foie gras was at one of the French classes at school. I remember thinking it is so strange – foie gras = fat liver.

And that’s exactly what it is: fat duck or goose liver. It is however a specific French product so I’m inviting you today to see how a terine of foie gras is prepared. For more detailed information on foie gras you can check this article on Wikipedia.

When my dear friend Valentina Roman (who presented here the Corvins’ Castle and Aiud), saw the article on Ankeruhr (Anchor Clock) – the public clock with human figures in Vienna, Austria she immediately sent me a picture of a special clock with figures from France.

To be more specific it’s a clock you can admire at “le Petit Palais” in France. The clock is very special and has several interesting figures made in porcelain. Unlike Ankeruhr that presents historical figures, this clock has an orchestra of monkey figures! This is why it is called, in French,  “Pendule a orgues au concert des singes”. Author of the clock mechanism is Jean Moisy (1714-1782).

The clock is believed to be a special command and it’s special for the contrast between the golden bronze and the porcelain figures. You can see the clock in Salle 11. L’art sous Louis XV, Section XVIIIe siècle of the Petit Palais in France – and here’s a photo of this clock and a link to find out more (in French).

PS: yes, I like clocks and I still want to have one similar to the clock here.

Valentine’s Day in Paris. I am wondering: are people falling in love more with each other in Paris than anywhere else in the world? I desperately want to believe so … It’s Valentine’s Day; couples of all ages are queuing for everything: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, cinemas or the Sacre Coeur. I am not sure if Paris is romantic, but it certainly is beautiful; fascinating. Blending several architectural styles, medieval, Gothic, baroque, classical, modern and postmodern, it makes up a box full of jewelry coming from different epoques, each as beautiful as it renders choice of the best extremely difficult: the Bridge of Alexander the Great, Champs Elysees, the Church of Mary Magdalene. The view from Sacre Coeur is breathtaking, Paris lies at my feet like an island inhabited by microscopic houses. It’s so much history, faith and art … all in one, a twisted story of a town that has charmed me and made me promise that I’ll be back. Love in Paris, or just in love with Paris?!

Spring-Summer Collection in Paris: I left at 7:30 in the morning with a TGV running like wind to the much desired destination for a four-day holiday.

The first day is dedicated to heights, thus I start with Mont Martre and Sacre Coeur. The view is amazing: the sober temple is surrounded by a cemetery seeming a collection of art rather than a sad place, commemorating the dead. The Neo-classical cathedral sharply contrasts with the Gothic style of the medieval churches. From here, Paris is reduced to a panorama of the world in a post card, swarming of life. It is a Lego game in which a naughty child has put some odd pieces. Dawn has downed its velvet curtains and I arrive to the Eiffel Tower. Pick-pockets and queuing cannot stop me from climbing. From the top, Paris is bright and lovely. If its name comes from Paris, one of the most handsome mortals, then it definitely fits and gave the young Trojan the right to eternity. The Tower lights up in the cheering of the curious crowd and shines like a torch. It is the Tower of Babel, reaching the sky and all languages on earth meet here. Man has reached heavens but not God…

The second day I dawdle in the Louvre. The controversial Pyramids lie at my feet. I pass from an era to another, through a journey in the times of human kind: from the ancient Egyptians, to the Greeks and the Romans (Venus from Milo is staring with linger eyes, and just around the corner, Amor and Psyche live their eternal love story), the Middle Ages (boasting with their tapestries), the Renaissance (Mona Lisa mysteriously smiles from no matter which angle I admire her). Statues of Michelangelo, Leonardo’s paintings (such as “Saint John” or the “Virgin of the Rocks”, heavily spoken about recently), or Rubens, all spread just in front of me. Then, I reach Baroque, Classicism, Impressionism … Renaissance and medieval themes are reinterpreted and brought back to life. French statues with gods and kings are discovered in a sanctuary-like courtyard. I get out through the inverted pyramid, not without thinking if indeed the tomb of Mary Magdalene is hidden under … while peacefully enjoying the Tuilleries, surrounded by art and nature. In the evening I arrive in the very heart of Paris: Place de la Concorde, the Bridge of Alexander III, The Seine, The Obelisk then I walk along several brand shops close to the Palace of Fine Arts and the Champs Elysees.

The third day is dedicated to churches, gardens and museums, and starts in front of the statue that marks the former site of the horrifying Bastille. Then, I get to Notre Dame, arguably the most beautiful monument dedicated to God by the human kind. Her enormous statues, the strained glass-windows, the jewelry and reliquary, all carry me in a holy place while eager to see the Hunched sneaking to admire his mesmerizing gypsy-girl. Later on I visit La Chapelle. Here I find out where the tapestries of the Unicorn are. I descend in the Conciergerie: from the gorgeous chapel I sink into the emptiness and sadness of the famous prison from the French Revolution, bringing tales of terror, death and guillotines – the least beautiful side of history.

After having escaped, I go straight to Cluny, the Museum of Medieval Art, to see the lady and the unicorn. In front of me the six tapestries lay: “A mon seul Desire”, “The Sight,” “The Hearing”, “The Taste”, “The Smell”, “The Touch”; in each tapestry there is at least a lady and a unicorn. They have been given plenty of meanings; a lot of books have been written in the quest of other lost tapestries. The first interpretation is that the set of tapestries ends with the lady’s renouncing: after having enjoyed pleasures, she give up the passion and reason wins, symbolically depicted though the gesture of taking off the jewelry, showing her the way of free will. If “A mon seul Desire” is the first and not last tapestry in the set, then passion is the one winning over reason, as she is actually putting on the jewelry and not taking them off. Both versions are perfectly possible. In the second case, some writers say that there should be a seventh tapestry to show us the destiny the character has had in the context of an austere Middle Ages where reason was gloriously winning over emotions.
After plunging in the heart of the Middle Ages I get back in the middle of town in the Luxembourg Gardens. History and art intertwine here: the center is of the ancient statues, all eyes staring on Goddess Diana, then writers and queens, all dressed in flowers and scents of summer. The evening is all over in the Champs Elysees, Place de l’Etoile, l’Arc de Triomphe marking the triumph of my dream of coming back to Paris.

Autumn in Paris: The return to Paris does not make me feel either the autumnal sadness, or the endless rain, but fine perfumes of past roses and of an aromatic tea from La Durée, along with some tasty macarons unique in the world. I find its elegant streets, Dior and Channel, the Galleries Lafayette and a stylish restaurant serving berries with whipped cream. Night has come up with a stroll through the books in Shakespeare’s store followed by the Moulin Rouge and Mont Martre where I enjoy the famous moules.

For the ending, I make an imagination exercise proposed in my former advertising classes: to bring to life a product, in this case being the city. Paris must be the most handsome man in Europe: a guy with a Gavroche hat, stylish, a bohemian writer, spending his time in the most chic cafes. It has slightly longer bangs, he does not speak too much or too little, and he’s extremely attractive. We meet at night when I least expect it, in an elegant bistro, while he’s smoking and sipping mysteriously from a glass of good wine. He invites me to get closer, but neither an evening nor even a lifetime will be enough to discover him. But he is too hard to get forever just for me. However before leaving I make sure that part of him remains in my heart forever. Old and young, handsome Paris always seeks another Elena… Are you ready to meet him?

Here’s an interesting statues in Cannes, France: a contortionist lady .