Paris is such a gorgeous city.

No matter how many times I see the Eiffel Tower and the Place de la Concorde I am still duly impressed and overwhelmed with joy!

One of our first stops was to check up on Notre Dame.

The site is walled in, but there are explicit details posted describing the arduous, intricate renovation.

Notre Dame took quite a hit, but the restoration is progressing with painstaking oversight.

We browsed the newly renovated La Samaritaine’s department  store which is exquisite, the building restored to its original beauty. In fact, the surrounding area has been entirely redeveloped.

La Samaritaine is currently owned by LVMH. The store, which had been operating at a loss since the 1970s, was closed in 2005 purportedly because the building did not meet safety codes. Plans for redeveloping the building involved lengthy complications.

After seven years of renovation, it reopened to the public in June, 2021.

Shopping on Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore and Rue Montaigne is always thrilling and we were able to collect a few fabulous baubles.

The French are very strict about admitting shoppers into the stores, especially designer stores and in most cases it is necessary to book an appointment in advance online.

We visited The Fondation Giacometti which is in an amazing townhouse that was recently purchased to house Giacometti’s works.

We had delicious Moroccan mint tea poured and presented in the traditional elaborate style at the Le Grande Mosquée de Paris, a hidden gem.

You cannot be admitted anywhere without your French Health certificate which we applied for months ahead online and, fortunately, came through the day we departed. Now you must pay $36 and can only obtain the French Health Card at a pharmacy once in France.
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We wisely purchased tickets in advance for the very popular Hockney exhibit at the Musee de L’Orangerie…more to follow on this outstanding exhibit.

Enjoy these ionic Parisienne sights: