Toujours, Paris

If you were to give me an open ticket to anywhere in the world, no expense spared, my answer would come with no hesitation: Paris. No exotic island, no deserted white sandy beaches, no far flung ‘once in a lifetime’ destination. No, Paris.

Of course, the French capital comes with a legacy of titles and dreamy associations so its allure for me may not come as a surprise. The first time I went to Paris was in 2012 and since I moved to Brussels two years ago I made it a point to visit as often as possible. This year may possibly be a personal record having clocked two weekends back in spring and summer and two more visits planned for the coming months … one of which is actually for my birthday *yikes*

So what makes me be so obsessed with this oft-filmed tourist magnet? I guess I could say the Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame and the Sacre-Coeur Basilica but it’s beyond those picturesque locations. Walking along the Tuileries Garden as the city is waking, traipsing up to Montmartre, hunting down exquisitely scented candles from the original Diptyque store on St Germain, just to stroll – or flâner as the French would say - all around the city and sleep in boutique hotels with windows overlooking the Parisian rooftops. That is what keeps me going back … and there’s so much more that I still want to experience.