Ah, Summertime in Paris

What a lovely, lovely idea.  The warm air, the outdoor cafes, strolling along the Seine at sunset.  I was so excited to be in Paris in August.  I had been before and had been to some wonderful places, but this time I was really prepared.  I spent several months researching and googling - finding all those special places that I wanted to see.  Sure, I wanted to do the usual touristy things like visiting the Eiffel Tower and touring the Louvre, but I really wanted to find shops that specialized in the things I love to collect.  Specifically, all things pretty and vintage. 

So, I compiled my list and proceeded to drag my family all over Paris on the hunt for vintage treasures.  First stop was a sweet little shop called Entree des Fournisseurs.  I had read about this place many times and it was supposed to be filled with gorgeous ribbons and trims.  We got a bit lost en route, but we finally found it in a quaint little courtyard.

 

 But, wait!  What was that on the door?

 

Neither my husband nor I are fluent in French, but we quickly surmised that this was not good.  Not good at all.  The shop was indeed closed.  I was so disappointed.  Here, I had traveled thousands of miles and it was closed.  I was completely shocked because I had checked the website and the store hours before we left home and, according to my sources, it should have been open.  I managed to get a few pictures through the iron gated windows.

 

While very disappointed, I decided to press on.  Next stop:  UltraMod.  This was a place that I had been dying to go to - a shop filled with vintage European haberdashery and trimmings.  Again, we had a little trouble with the directions, but we eventually found it.

 

 And guess what?

 

I was incredulous!  What was going on?  How was this possible?  I had done my research!   I had my Google print out!   It wasn't a holiday.  It wasn't a Sunday.  It made no sense at all!  I was really getting depressed at that point.  We decided to try to find the third and final shop on my list.  La Droguerie - another trimmings shop.

 

Well, of course.

The moral of the story is this:  Do not go to Paris to shop during the last few weeks of August.  EVERYTHING (well, almost everything) will be CLOSED!  And even though I read about 50 travel guide books, not one of them bothered to mention this teeny, tiny fact.  

But, you should definitely, definitely go. Because even from the little bits and pieces that I could see from pressing my face up against those dark windows, those shops looked incredible.  And I know that I will go back again someday soon.  Yes, springtime in Paris sounds just about right.

 

Comments

[BEY]

Do not go to Paris to shop during ALL weeks of August :) I'm parisian :) and only tourist are staying in Paris! Sorry!