The Paris I Know – by Linda Donahue


In anticipation of her forthcoming trip to Paris, I asked Linda Donahue of Parisien Salon to talk about how she prepares for her visit and what, if anything, she wanted to do differently this time around. Perhaps you will relate?

As I prepare for yet another trip to Paris—my other “hometown”—I find myself once again fielding questions from friends and acquaintances. “What will you do there?” “What are you planning to see?” “Got anything good planned?” Given how many times a year I fly to Paris, I often wonder why anyone thinks I’ll suddenly change my stock answer: I have no idea.

I’ve lost count how many times I’ve flown to Paris; how many days I’ve spent strolling along its winding streets. I remember, back in the first few visits, I would spend weeks planning my time in the city. I’d pour through guidebooks (back before the Internet became so accessible) and plot my time around themes or neighborhoods. If, for instance, I was going to the Musée Picasso, then I would have to start at the Place des Vosges, follow a specific route, eat in a pre-determined restaurant and continue to navigate in a way that allowed me to visit pre-selected…

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