A few nights at the Pavillon de la Reine, lunch break at the Brasserie Hector, olive fig tapenade from the Comptoir De Papa, and its Greek-Persian delicacies. A little bit of shopping at the boutique SAAJ and Art everywhere.

The Pavillon de la Reine is a boutique hotel in the heart of the 16th arrondissement with a jacuzzi, sports room and hammam. Very convenient.

The walls of the Pavillon de la Reine are decorated with Art and there is a BIG library.

If you prefer to have breakfast elsewhere, head to the artisanal bakery where Christophe Louie did his apprenticeship in the 14th arrondissement. The pain au raisin or the croissant are to die for. The t-shirt of the baker says…

… all men are born equal but the best become bakers.

To play the tourist, you may visit Swan Island, the House of Balzac, the museum of Mankind, and the Statue of Liberty.

In the 16th, for a lunch break with Picasso’s sketches at the Brasserie Hector. All dishes are homemade and prepared with fresh products. Count between 10 and 14 euros for a starter; 18 to 25 euros for the main dish.
Big crush for the orange blossom watermelon granita, under the parasol of a quiet terrace.

If you are SAAJ, the workshop of the designer Maëlys in rue Thorel (2nd arrondissement), whose acronym represents the first letters of the people who are dearest to her heart, is worth the detour. 80% of SAAJ creations are made in France, in 2 workshops in the Paris region and a factory in Aube. Knitwear, jeans, and shoes are Portuguese. The SAAJ e-shop delivers everywhere in Europe and in Switzerland.

Happy hour can be spent at the Cheval Blanc; if you don’t have a room, the bar is waiting for you. The virtual elevator is really cool and it will take you to the panoramic restaurant. The view is quite stunning.

Parisian evenings are by invitation only with the caterer Comptoir de Papa and its Greek-Persian cuisine.  The olive fig tapenade is a killer and is enjoyed with the Artist Formerly Known As @phdgkn in Neuilly-sur-Seine because he categorically refuses to exhibit his works of art or even show them on his Instagram account.

Time to meet the philosopher Moncef Semichi who just started a real estate business after a BIG international career, which began in Geneva. The discussion is deep and the words are flowing.

It’s 5 am, Paris awakens under the Passy viaduct, on the France Renaissance pontoon where couples take turns to immortalize their Love with their smartphone, and a view of the Eiffel Tower. I turn around to look at my Mother and think to myself: she is one hell of a strong woman.

That is because she was and will always be loved by her Man, unconditionally.