[trip style = sightseeing]
Standing atop the Eiffel Tower at sundown you witness a transformation. Trying to find landmarks in the urban sea of sandy grey buildings, you wait for the sun to fall and moon to illuminate the Parisian landscape. But in Paris, the moon---normally the grandest of nightlights---fades into the horizon in the twinkling City of Lights.
I had such high hopes for Paris. Having been there before--once solo, once with girlfriends---I couldn't wait to go with my husband/trusty travel partner. We could kiss under every bridge (and there are a lot) on a Seine River Cruise, toast the city with champagne on the top tier of the Eiffel Tower, wander the streets for hours to work off the chocolate macarons and people-watch from marble-topped tables at bistros. Unfortunately, our time in The City of Lights was anything but bright. Given our fall visit, it was dark, downpouring and dull.
Describing Paris like this makes me sick. The city, the people and the spoken language of love stir an excitement in me that makes me want to scream baguette and cheese please! Looking back, I think my expectations were too high. It was dark because it was October, it was raining chats et chiens because it was fall, and it was dull because I was probably sad about the rain and never found my groove. All this said, there were pockets of fabulosity. And really, being disappointed in Paris is akin to drinking drip coffee in Italy---it's lame. Looking ahead, I'm not sure when I'll have the opportunity to return, but I will, and my next trip will be croissant-filled, fashion-fabulous and chic.
Paris in the Fall
This scene is what I love about Paris, the gazillions of petits cafes elegantly serving coffee and croissants on every street corner.
Tour Eiffel at night
On the second deck, looking up
Arc de Triomphe at night. Tip: Get some great pics of yourself by standing above one of the massive lights shining up from the street toward the Arc.
After a little shopping, we head to the Georges Pompidou National Museum of Modern Art. Tip: Check out their gift store, the unique artifacts they've culled are half the fun.
One of my favorite art installations at the gallery---a series of flying carpets.
Also at the gallery, wishing the mid-century modern furniture was mine.
Leaving the gallery; it's lunchtime, apparently I'm in need of a pick-me-up.
Day 2: walking along the grey pebble pathway--common in Paris parks--towards the Louvre. Even though the weather isn't at its best, the landscape redeems it.
The Louvre, randomly closed this day for a private function...not meant to be.
{La Samaritaine: one of my favorite Paris destinations, sadly closed since '05 because the building was apparently unsafe. Shame, as the art deco interior was chic and charming. Rumor has it the store will re-open in 2011. If it does, put this historical building on your Paris to-do list. Tip: Assuming the store re-opens, hopefully it will retain its amazing open-air observation deck pointing out city landmarks near and far.
Things are looking up with blue skies above Notre Dame.
You don't normally see multi-story stained glass windows with an open pane. Cool effect inside Notre Dame.
One of the many Seine River Cruises offering a casual tour or dinner service.
Au revoir Paris! My husband on the top bunk of a two-person sleeper room in the overnight train en route to Venice (more on that next Friday).
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[trip style = active + urban]
Regardless of my fair-weather riding, I've always had a fascination with bikes as a means of getting from A to B, and have recently warmed up to the idea of adding biking to my transport repertoire. Seeing a gazillion people storm the streets on their two-wheels in China was really inspiring, and hey, if London can have a bike program with Quebec-made bikes, why can't Vancouver--a city known worldwide for its lifestyle-driven culture?
After taking part in 
[trip style = urban + sightseeing] {more pics below}
{Started the day at a restaurant we'd read about in multiple publications and 
{Rhubarb cordial at Jane's. Such a simple drink--just crushed rhubard with soda--but so fabulous with brunch.}
{Taking a stroll through the Halifax Public Gardens est. in 1867, the year of confederation. Love the gates.}
{The tradition of putting a bandstand in gardens is a lost art. Apparently, a band plays here every Sunday afternoon in the summer.}
{A lesson in Canadian history at the Citadel, originally a strategic British outpost prior to Canada's Confederation. Everyone at Fort George is dressed in period costume and takes onlookers through a day-in-the-life at the Citadel whose star-like configuration took 28 years to build completing in 1856.}
{We couldn't very well leave Halifax without tasting and touring Alexander Keith's brewery. Given Keith is the father of Canadian beer, we felt we had to take the tour, proper thing. Between the history lesson, beer manifesto and two steins poured at the end of the tour, surprisingly, it ended up being well worth it .}
{Finishing the tour with a swig of the ol' India Pale Ale.}
{Passing this restaurant earlier in the day, we thought we'd return for dinner.}
{Known for its pizzas and cocktails, Morris East was close to our hotel and felt like our kind of restaurant. It did not disappoint. Our thin crust pizza had a goat cheese base topped with thinly sliced peaches and prosciutto. I was so taken by it, I recreated it this weekend.}
[trip style = sightseeing] {more pics below}
{Montreal's bagel scene is famous, so I biked to Fairmount Bagels---the city's original bagelry---to eat a $0.70 breakfast. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to enjoy our bagels since the store is literally as small as it looks.}
{Holt Renfrew Cafe. Apres bixi'ing around the city, I retreated to the air conditioned bliss of the Holts Cafe. Unfortunately, I was a tad bit sweaty and everyone else eating designer lunches just-so-happened to be decked-out in Prada, Halston and LV. Either way, I had the best open-faced sandwich I've ever eaten in my life: poilane bread, topped with thinly-sliced tandoori chicken, cauliflower, broccoli and drizzled with tzatziki-like sauce.}
{It was love at first sight when I sauntered past 
{This pic was taken at about 10pm. When we checked the temperature at that time, it noted 26 degrees, ‘feels like 32.’}
{A quick stop at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to view the free mid-century modern furniture exhibition.}
{Cool design inside of the Cathedral}
{Inside the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth lobby. See my review of the hotel