PARIS!

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There is nothing quite as

très magnifique

as Paris in April. The weather is fabulous and there are blooms everywhere.

Being the good little tourist that I am, visits to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, the Latin Quarter, Versailles, Notre Dame, Galeries Lafayette, Champs-Élysées, Le Arc de Triomphe and a Seine River ride were all a part of my trip.

I was fabulously exhausted!

Slept little and walked much, but so worth it. Riding the "Metro" was interesting and even challenging at times yet nowhere as insane as London's "Tube."

If you make an attempt to speak French, everyone is much nicer and friendlier. So, in addition to

"bonjour"

and

"au revior"

by the end of the trip I could also request a red wine and assorted cheeses platter. (kinda)

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The Galeries Lafayette is a 10 story department store with a stunning architecture. I got lost in its beauty and in the building itself. Its just that big!

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Keeping it French, in Lanvin, at the roof top of the Galeries Lafayette with a breath-taking view of the Parisian skyline. Moments earlier, my mother enjoyed a chocolate torte and I a glass of Bordeaux in their restaurant.

The staind glass dome ceiling at the Galeries Lafayette, mesmerizing.

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The Eiffel Tower at dusk.

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An American was photographing his beautiful classic car using the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop.

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No matter what time of day or night or viewpoint, I do not ever get tired of the Eiffel Tower.

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The Arc de Triomphe, one of the most famous monuments in France. [On one of the busiest streets!]

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Notre Dame.

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This is just a detail of the extraordinary and ornate sculptural relief works that surround the cathedral.

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I stumbled upon this little street up from Notre Dame... so French.

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DIOR Couture Fall 2010

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John Galliano, once again, goes over the top with his tremendous talent for Christian Dior as the Fall 2010 Haute Couture collection blossomed on its Parisian runway. Galliano is, undoubtedly, a creative and theatrical genius. Season after season, the Dior show is one of the most anticipated.

Living, breathing, human bouquets wrapped in silk organza that seduced your eyes with the richest, most vibrant of hues is what he gave us this time.

Galliano studied and researched flowers, specifically parrot tulips. Their color and texture were inspiration.

Though the garments are blatantly referential, they really work. Galliano, seamlessly combined the form of a flower with the female silhouette. The result: a stunning collection of human flowers made of luxurious textiles complete with plastic floral wrapping.

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