Hotel Taylor

As I sat on the train I thought about the French art of wandering, the art of the stroll; l’art de flâner, la flânerie. And there’s no place like Paris to practice such an art, wandering about its streets that hold a timeless and unfading beauty. And I realised that this was the aim of my little break, I would become an expert of strolling, and exploring Paris spontaneously.

I trundled my little suitcase behind me as I stopped in a boulangerie for a fresh pain au chocolat and coffee to wake me up from the train ride and arrived at the hotel feeling rather more energised, though still with tell-tale pastry crumbs around my lips. Alas, French pastry is a temptation I cannot resist! I clip-clopped my way into the reception, greeted by smiling faces, briefly waited my turn and before I knew it, I was on my way to my simple superior room.

The room was small and cosy, like most rooms in Paris, however this suited my purpose perfectly as I would not be spending much time in my room apart from getting a good night’s sleep! It was dressed in pretty pastel pinks, light-coloured furniture and floral curtains which cried out playfully “this is Paris!” The furnishings were beautifully antique in a kind of way that only Paris can pull off and the bathroom was glossy and sleek. My favourite, however, was the bed covered with a thick mattress that was coaxing me to just have one, little, lie, down. Ok, I relented. And despite the soft light coming through the typically long French windows through the unclosed curtains, I closed my eyes and rested.

When I woke up it was time for dinner and I knew just the place to go, it was off to the Bouillon Chartier, my favourite restaurant haunt that once used to be a working man’s cafeteria, with a splendid menu du jour. I arrived early to avoid the queues, and with it only being a 20 minute walk away to the Broadway of Paris, Grandes Boulevards, it was an easy task to accomplish. In the evening, the plush bed of my room at Hotel Taylor was there to cushion my fall as I fell deeply and soundly asleep.

Oh how a good night’s sleep changes everything! And, might I add, a good breakfast transforms the day! In the bric-a-brac dining area pastel colours again painted a pretty picture with pastel sweets that lined the cabinets and posters that decorated the walls. Then, my favourite breakfast was there to be picked up by me, croissants and pain au chocolats galore teamed with other local products to create a hearty breakfast.

With a satisfied stomach it was time to venture out into the delights of the 10th arrondissement where Place de la République awaited me in this multicultural, vibrant and trendy neighbourhood. Just around the corner were several metro stops that would transport me all over Paris, and with that realisation it felt like the world was at my fingertips! Each day was a new adventure and a new decision to make, would I take a cruise down Canal St. Martin today or flâner around the cobbled streets of Le Marais?