Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts

Friday, June 24, 2011

Impulse Shopper

When I went to see Midnight in Paris with Travis a few weeks ago, I had no idea that a few hours later I would be voraciously searching for flights to Paris and asking..."how would you feel about not eating for two of the seven days we are there"? How could I have guessed that one silly little movie would make me want to quickly spend a cool 8 grand?  No, folks, I am not made of money...but I do like to travel.  And this movie completely and totally attacked my weaknesses.

Let me set the scene.

This is a movie by Woody Allen.  I have never seen a Woody Allen movie.  I'm not even sure if I spelled his name correctly.  But, I was intrigued because I like Owen Wilson and like all straight men, Travis has a crush on Rachel McAdams.  And I knew it was set in Paris.  And then we watched this:



Hooked.  Totally and completely hooked.  I didn't even have to know the plot.  That music and those still shots of the city were enough for me.  Se we bought two tickets (in advance...who buys tickets AT the theater anymore?  Anyone?)  And we the youngest people in the theater by at least fifty years.  Okay, maybe not fifty, but at least twenty.  We were a bit skeptical.

And then, the movie started.  The first three minutes are shots of Paris.  Travel Porn is another name for that.  Owen Wilson is ridiculously charming and Rachel McAdams is....Rachel McAdams.  Equally charming.

And then the movie got a little silly.  Actually a lot silly.  If you don't like spoilers, stop reading right....NOW.

So Owen Wilson's character loves the ex-pat Parisian society from the 20's.  You know, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Picasso, Gertrude Stein.  And he fantasizes about meeting them in Paris.  And then there is time travel and he really does meet them.  Yep, that is what I said.  Time travel.  At first I was a little skeptical.  Actually a lot skeptical.  But then I just decided to go with it and it was awesome.  Hemingway's character was spot on.  He sounded like he was reading A Moveable Feast every time he spoke.   Let me just say that this English teacher was in heaven. 

Travis and I left the theater actually discussing flights to Paris.  And if we had enough money in our bank account for a two week European vacation.  That is how good this movie is.  See it.  It is charming and seductive and silly.  Yes, all of those adjectives rolled into one movie.  Also, it gives you the opportunity to vicariously travel to Paris when the weather is fantastic and you have a ton of money.  Not like watching a Bourne movie that is always set in winter and makes you never want to visit Europe because you might get shot by a highly skilled sniper. 


See this movie for nothing else but the scenery of Paris at all times of the day.  It is glorious. 







Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Fantasy Vacation: Paris, France during Christmas

For a new idea, I thought that I would share places that I dream about visiting.  Places that I love and would love to visit but DO NOT have the means to visit at this time.  For my first post, I have been thinking about Paris, France.  During Christmas.

Travel and Leisure names it one of the 10 Great Places to Spend Christmas and I couldn't agree more.  The romance, the lights, the shopping, the champagne.  Can we all take a collective sigh?  I mean, come on!

Here are a few options for what to do during the holiday season, including attend a Midnight Mass at Notre Dame, take a stroll down the light filled Champs-Elysee, and admire the beautiful chocolate displays by Patrick Roger.
I'm not sure if this could get any better.  Softly lit avenues, champagne, cobblestone streets, Christmas Carols in French.  (I'm not sure if this last one exists, but imagine it happening in my dreams).  Ahhhh, one day. C'est ci bon.

Enjoy!