On Vacation: Paris!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Well, at least in my dreams. Anyway, today, while I was browsing around the bookstore, I found myself picking up a few travel books. I spent about a good twenty minutes or so, just reading and flipping through their pages. This inspired me to day dream again -- thinking about my top dream destinations! I actually have a lot, but for this post, it will be definitely be inspired by the city of lights.
Here, I will showcase beautiful photos of the city, and would also include some French literature, film, and some quotes. Sooo... without further adieu.. go pack your suitcase(s) and travel with me to Paris, France!

Paris is known as the City of Lights... A city of culture... It is a city for lovers: lovers of art, lovers of history, lovers of food, lovers of love.


French Literature
I am only putting the novels I have read. They can be either written by a French author, or be about Paris. Basically, these are books that are about anything Paris-related. There are so many other wonderful ones out there though that I have yet to try. If you have any recommendations, let me know! :)

1. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
2. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
3. The Stranger by Albert Camus
4. The Fall by Albert Camus
5. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
7. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
8. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
9. My Life in France by Julia Child
10. Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda


French Films
The same here; I will only post ones I watched and liked -- and ones with English subtitles of course. Recommendations are so welcome!

1. Ponette (1996)
2. Love Me If You Dare -- Jeux de Enfants (2003)
3. Amelie -- Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain (2001)
4. Paris Jet' aime (2006)
5. La Vie En Rose (2007)
6. Inglourious Basterds (2008) <---- ?!?!?!?! I know, I know.. this isn't a French film. But Melanie Laurent is here, and she's a beautiful and talented French actress so I'll just put it here anyway! haha.


Some Quotes from the French
(from artists of all kinds)

Judge a man by his questions rather by his answers. - Voltaire

Fashion fades, only style remains the same. - Coco Chanel

Life has taught us that love does not exist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. - Coco Chanel

Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it. - Jules Renard


But that's it for this week's vacation! Wonder where I'll be going to next.. Hmm.. ;)
Ohh by the way, have you been to Paris? Or maybe anywhere else in France? Let me know, I looove hearing travel stories!

12 comments:

  1. Jillian, I spent every Summer of my (many) college years living with a family in Amiens. I am sooo lucky to have done that. Just Friday night the friend of a friend and I were chatting in French, and it was so nice to hear again. Such a beautiful country.

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  2. Fantastic picutres Jillian, I havent been to Paris but would love to visit one day. The French countryside is supposed to be stunning.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  3. French Kiss was a cute film, its not French, but it's set there :)
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  4. Cute post! I went to Paris last year, and fell in love with the city. So beautiful. If you ever go there, a trip to the palace at Versailles is a must. It was my favourite part of the trip.

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  5. Add I Have Loved You So Long to your French movie list. It's very good.

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  6. Ive been to Paris a few times and all over Normandy, its a BIG city, everytime I go there I end up walking miles and miles.

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  7. I've only been to Paris once but your entry has totally reignited my love for the city and for traveling in general. If only school and money weren't in the way, I don't think I'd ever stop traveling.

    Also I'm loving the Paris book list.

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  8. I absolutley love The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas!!!! Love it. And Amelie is fabulous, I enjoyed every minute of it. Anyway never been to Paris, even though I live in Europe I never been there. I would love to visit the country one day.

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  9. I love this post! It's my dream to go to France. I took 3 years of French because of it. The Count of Monte Cristo is a great book. I still really want to read Les Miserables. As for the movies I've only seen Amelie which I loved and Paris Je t'aime from your list oh and of course Inglorious Basterds.

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  10. @DeLynne: You are indeed very lucky to have visited the country and its different cities -- and not just once too!
    I wanted to take a French class before when I was in high school, but took Spanish instead. It's another versatile language, so I'm guessing I did the right choice.

    @naida: Thank you so much -- glad you liked them! And for the movie recommendation. I will try to get to that. I love foreign films!
    I have actually not traveled that much YET -- have only been to a few states in the US -- but will soon, when I graduate college and start working.
    I also want to go to the French country side. I love cottages and gardens and all of those wonderful places.

    @Leanna: Thanks, glad you liked it! :)
    You are very lucky to have gone to such a beautiful place. I always dream of going to the Louvre and Versailles as well. I can understand clearly why it's a favorite of yours!

    @Kim: I will add that. Thanks for the recommendation! I love french films. :)

    @Chris and Jess: Very lucky! What is your favorite thing about Paris? And I'd love to go to Normandy as well.

    @Letter4no1: Thanks and glad you liked the list! I completely agree with you too! If school&money&work were not in the way I'd travel everywhere over the world now. haha. I haven't gone to places outside of the US and the Philippines yet, but I will as soon as I graduate college ;)
    What was your favorite thing about Paris?

    @Nina: Yes I loved the book as well -- the book and Amelie.
    I have never gone to Paris either. Maybe someday we both will get to! :)

    @Adriana: Thanks glad you liked the post! :D It also is my dream to go to France -- and many other great destinations.
    Monte Cristo is indeed a great book. Les Miserables is good -- very long in length, but worth it.
    Did you like Inglourious Basterds too? haha.

    @

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  11. Jillain if you are ever in a mood for quirky french comedy try these movies: 8 femmes (a musical murder mystery); The Dinner Game (a comedy of errors).
    I enjoyed both but Dinner Game is my favorite.

    Lesa

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  12. I was lucky enough to go to Paris in high school and again in ’06 while were stationed in Germany. Paris, well Europe in general is so much fun. I’m hoping the Air Force sends us again before the hubby retires.

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