Yesterday afternoon, Vincent Bourdon, a friend and professional photographer who also took some shots for Delicious Days, joined me at Le Pavillon de la Reine to create a blog post. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the hotel is hidden down a cobbled lane right on the breathtaking Place des Vosges: I shall bring you the full story at a later date.

Jane Paech, Hotel Pavillon de la Reine. Photo: Vincent Bourdon.

While Vincent photographed the bathroom of Suite de la Reine I was madly scribbling notes in the bedroom. There were also notes scribbled above the bed, from the 17th century. The originals are stored safe and sound in the Bibliotheque Nationale, the National Library of France.

While Vincent took shots of the bedroom, I waited out of sight in the deep, claw-footed bath.

Jane Paech, Hotel Pavillon de la Reine. Photo: Vincent Bourdon

We scouted the courtyard and gardens, the library and common rooms, even the corridors to get a feel for the place.

Jane Paech, Hotel Pavillon de la Reine. Photo: Vincent Bourdon

Notes and photos taken, we took a leisurely afternoon tea at Carette, a lovely tea salon just a few doors down under the cloisters of Place des Vosges.

Jane Paech, Afternoon tea at Carette. Photo: Vincent Bourdon

What better way to end an afternoon than to share a plate of confetti-coloured mini macarons in flavours of pistachio, rose, cassis, raspberry and orange flower.

A plate of mini macarons, Carette, Place des Vosges. Photo: Vincent Bourdon

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Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Louvre, one of my favourite city parks is the Palais Royal and today I find a riot of pink blossom and magnolia trees bursting ceremoniously into bud. It’s a wonderful place to sit and dream. 

I crunch my way along the gravel paths and out through the back of the gardens, stopping for a drink at Le Pain Quotidien before peeking into the gorgeous Galerie Vivienne. Then, turning east, skirt around Place des Victoires with its imposing statue of the Sun King on his horse.

Without a care in the world, I zigzag through the Les Halles quarter, lose track of time in E. Dehillerin kitchen and bakeware store (Julia Child’s favourite), and pause in front of St Eustache to gasp at L’Ecoute (Listen), the giant statue by Henri Miller of a head resting on a hand. Shame about the crane!

It’s liberating to be sans map and agenda and I soon stumble upon the whimsical Place Igor Stravinsky with 16 vibrant sculptures inspired by The Rite of Spring, and other major works by the composer. Today the fountains are off but you can still feel the music.

And then, head in the clouds, I meander back through the Marais, stopping at every shoe shop along the way and feeling a pang of nostalgia as I pass the classic little French café, Au Petit Fer à Cheval, on rue Vieille du Temple.

More signs of springtime pop up in the streets that wend their way toward the Upper Marais, but it’s time to turn back.

Tired but content, I head for the cool cloisters of Place des Vosges, where I sit back with a coffee at Carette.

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