The cool think about the UK - leaving it.

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A week ago today, I was in Paris with the husband. The neat thing about living fairly close to the Channel Tunnel is being able to be in France from about 2 hours from leaving our door.

So we went to Paris for lunch. On a Tuesday.

Last year we went in June for the French Open tennis and it was very much his trip. We went to his favourite spots, watched the tennis and drank many beers in cafes and brasseries all over town.

This was *my* trip. Collette, Rue Saint-Honoré, Place Vendôme, Hotel Costes and up the Eiffel Tower. For all the times I've been to Paris, I've never been up. Pics and videos here.

One thing to keep in mind if you want to shop properly at Colette: you have to be minted. There were very few clothing items under 500 euros. Dresses and coats? Forgetaboutit. But the upside is that there's a very cool CD and book section. (I discovered the Two Door Cinema Club whose CD I can't get enough of.) Also, the small perfumes and beuty section feels exclusive and very well chosen. I got a small set of Juliette Has A Gun perfume that I'd been coveting in Selfriges for a while. But I'd never seen it in bullet form before. Score!

One thing to keep in mind at Hotel Costes: you have to be minted. Costes in Paris is supposed to be lengendary. So we go for a drink. Sit down at the bar and get completely ignored. The cheapest glass of wine is 16 euros and the cocktails run about 20 euros. So we left. (Maybe we didn't look like we were made of money?) I may have nicked this from the loo on the way out. Bonus that it's completely full. Apparently worth about $45. Score!