Paris! Le Marais! Paola! This the the secret formula to happiness.
Paola, from the beginning, was an extraordinarily kind and gracious host. She was patient as our dates shifted and accommodated our requests with sweetness and grace. Check in was easy. Her lovely daughter greeted us with baguettes and even helped us lug our luggage up the stairs.
The apartment was perfect for our family and very well equipped to make many meals at home. The AC was a God-send. We could not have survived the couple of heat waves Paris experienced. And it is a powerful AC, too, that kept us very comfortable. As did the high quality beds and lovely linens. We loved being out in the hustle bustle of Paris and then coming home to a quiet street and a peaceful apartment overlooking the courtyard. We slept with the windows open and in the morning we woke up to birds singing and the distant call of church bells. What a way to stay off your day!
Having a washer and dryer in house was so helpful and handy. Especially for those of you who pack light.
During our five week stay in Paris we visited many neighborhoods but nothing felt like home like the Marais. It's close enough to walk to a lot of attractions, but still has a neighborhood feel. There are at least five amazing boulangeries by the house as well as a neighborhood market on Thursday and Sundays. Really good and family friendly restaurants are plenty. And there is a big Monoprix a block away for stuff you might have forgotten to bring. You also have many options for the Metro, so zipping around this grand city is easy.
Paola has some really good people in her circle and they were so helpful and deeply kind to us. Thank you, Michel and Ida.
It was our first trip to Paris and Paola's love of life and beautiful spirit helped make it one that has a special place in our hearts. This apartment was our home.