Virtual Vacay: An American Girl In Paris

I can hardly contain my excitement for the new Sex And The City 2 movie, (which opens Thurs!) that I've been taking a trip down memory lane, and re-watching some of my favorite SATC episodes. At the top of the list has to be the two-part series finale. Oh, how I would love to have my own "American Girl In Paris" moment someday! Remember when Carrie first arrived in Paris? She was full of wonder, and awe to finally be in the "The City of Light" and the fashion capitol of the world! 

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Carrie arrived at the Hotel Plaza Athénée , with a New Yorker turned Parisian wardrobe, carefully packed into her pink and white, Vivian Westwood luggage. What girl doesn't dream of an arrival like that? At the center of Paris fashion, the Hotel Plaza Athénée is surrounded by Paris's most exclusive designer shops on avenue Montaigne that include Christian Dior, Chanel, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Céline, Valentino, Calvin Klein and Hermès.  Can you just imagine? My first view of Paris and this gorgeous hotel would match Carrie's... sheer joy! Flowers would be everywhere, as well as the predominant accent color of red (including window awnings and table umbrellas). Looking up from the street is the wrought iron balcony where Carrie jumped up and down in glee at her first site of the Eiffel Tower.

I would jump in glee too! Seriously, how could you not?!

Check out the interior of the Hotel Plaza Athénée :

 

the lobby

The Penthouse Suite

I love the dusty amethyst and rose tones of this classic French decor. Tres chic!

 

Who could forget this scene, when Carrie gets stuck having lunch with Alexandr Patrovsky's ex-wife?! The real restaurant, Kong,  is situated on the top floor of the Kenzo boutique overlooking the Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine. Kong is intensely decorated by star designer Philippe Starck who always pushes the envelope. With a modern geisha theme, and a key feature in the SATC finale, there is no doubt that this place becomes one of the hottest tourist attractions during the day, that only gets more fabulous as the city lights dance across the Seine.

 

 

After wandering the streets of Paris, site-seeing and shopping..

I would not be waiting for the Russian! Because I never liked him anyway. (Mikhail the dancer, yes! Aleksandr with the weird artist, NO!)

Instead, I would be admiring my new souvenir!

The classic Chanel 2.55 Flap Bag. Perfect way to remember Paris, no? :)

One of my favorite lines from the entire series was in the last episode, where Carrie tells Aleks exactly the kind of love she's after. I feel her words as if I'd said them myself...

"I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love. And I don't think that love is here in this expensive suite in this lovely hotel in Paris."

Ok, maybe not the hotel/Paris part. :) 

We all know how the story unfolds for our girl Carrie...

Me, on the other hand,  I'm still waiting for my dream trip to Paris, and that "Big" love.

*Sorry for the long post, but I just HAD to! :)

Virtual Vacation: Moorland View - Devon, England

One of my favorite movies is The Holiday.  In the movie, two women (Iris played by Kate Winslett & Amanda played by Cameron Diaz) become intertwined when they swap houses as part of a holiday Home Exchange. The house, that Amanda rents is called "Rosehill Cottage," and is as quaint as a cottage could be. Exactly the kind of romantic place I dream of staying! Only I can't stay there, because it’s not a real house.  It’s a fiberglass set.

Here’s a what the cottage looks like in the film:

And here is Moorland View. A real rental in Devon, England:

Doesn't this look just like Rosehill Cottage?
When I came across this sweet little house, I immediately put it in my "Dream Destination" file!

 
Moorland View is a boutique cottage in an idyllic 13th century village in the hills of Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK. (about 3 hours outside of London)  It has everything you could want…charming decor, a cozy wood burning fireplace, a copper tub for two, complimentary use of the nearby Bovey Castle country club and spa, and there’s even a local village pub. All set within one of the UK's prettiest historic villages.
 

Ok, seriously this would be like vacationing in the movie! Now if only I could get Jude Law to come knocking at my door…