The words ‘sacred’ and ‘coffee’ are not mutually exclusive. Coffee is a religion; cafes are places to worship at and we should give thanks everyday for how good we’ve got it here in Melbourne. Trust me – the coffee in Paris sucks.

Which is why I was so disappointed to miss the launch of the new premium fairtrade certifiedTM ‘Sacred Blend’ coffee at San Churro QV last Wednesday night due to jetlag. Ironic, no?

Amber Renae and Kelly Thompson at the launch

Made from 100 per cent Arabica beans sourced from premium Fairtrade CertifiedTM and organic coffee farms in Papua New Guinea and Nicaragua, the Sacred Blend delivers a seriously good coffee.

And the best part is that from today (Wednesday 4 May), SAN CHURRO will offer free coffee every Wednesday for the month of May between opening time and 5pm.

Yes, I repeat – FREE COFFEE.

San Churro CEO Mark Attard & Fairtrade’s Carley Swan at the launch

Head to San Churro at QV Melbourne to try the new blend, enjoy a good coffee and give thanks at the temple of worship.

Plane time (and the corresponding ‘awake’ time due to jetlag that follows) is a wonderful time to catch up on ones reading. That right, I finished two whole books in single sittings. A wonderful way to read and one that not many people get the chance to do very often.

First up was Mia Freedman’s ‘Mia Culpa’, a collection of Mia’s thoughts on life, love and the laughs in between. If you are a fan of Mia’s weekly column for The Age, or her regular blog posts at Mamamia, you will find the style consistent and conversational but at times repetitive of the content you may have already read. This aside, the book is still funny and relevant to its target audience of women of all ages.

Whilst being wide awake at 3am is not fun for anyone, Tina Fey’s ‘Bossypants’ makes the wee hours significantly more amusing and bearable. I haven’t seen much of Tina’s television work but this autobiographical novel gives you enough insight into Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock to not have to worry. Beginning with childhood and quickly skipping to the past ten years, the novel follows the path of Tina’s career in a ‘chat over a coffee’ style. The story moves quickly and leaves out the boring bits that have you looking at your watch.

Two novels, both by strong and influential women, tell stories of the modern working girl juggling life and having it all. I’ve never thought you could – and still don’t believe anyone does – but at least Mia and Tina are having a rip roaring go at it.

Mia Freedman ‘Mia Culpa – Confessions from the Watercooler of Life’ Penguin $29.95
Tina Fey ‘Bossypants’ Sphere $32.99

Macaroons are produced by the mountain in Paris, so because I couldn’t indulge in croissant, éclair, crepe or baguette, the little almond biscuits became my Parisian best friend.

Whilst Miss J enjoyed all manner of sweet treats, I became the macaroon maestro, the queen of all things bright and beautifully coloured.

They make them everywhere in Paris, from the quaint corner café to the bustling bakery – even the Chinese food stores – and they are good. Really good.

In store windows the colours are hypnotising; asking what the flavours are sends saliva glands into a frenzy and that first bite takes your breath away. Two is never enough.

Fave flavours included passionfruit with chocolate filling, mixed berry with chocolate filling, anything with jam and an interesting yoghurt one. You can pick up good ones in Melbourne at Le Petite Gateau, Lindt, Luxbite and Cacao. 

Images 1, 2 and 3 thanks to Jennifer Estrada

A little under two weeks ago, I was gearing up for my last day of work before the big Paris trip. How quickly the past two weeks have gone! But on that last day in Melbourne, there were certain things a traveller should do to properly to prepare for the country they are visiting.

For me, this meant leaving the country in style.

In the manner of Gossip Girls the world over, taking a cab to the airport is simply not acceptable. Sure, your dad could drop you off in his trackies off but the allure of being picked up by a driver, wearing a suit, in a black town car with leather seats and tinted windows screams sophistication doesn’t it?

If your destination is Paris, you don’t want to leave like you are heading to Perth now do you? Blair Waldorf wouldn’t have it.

And so it was that at 7pm on Friday 15 April, a town car pulled up outside my house, a gentleman greeted me and helped carry my (five) bags to the car (without complaint). I was offered a drink and a selection of magazines. I sat comfortably, in a pleasant smelling vehicle with effective climate control and relaxed all the way to the airport.

A perfect start to the Paris dream.

After wishing us well, our chauffeur headed off with our flight details for our return (we couldn’t possibly get a cab on the way home, with all the additional baggage we were planning!) and we checked our bags, stamped our passports and went off in search of fabulous food to whet our appetite for France.

I hear you scoffing. The thought of fabulous food at the airport? Mon dieu! But I assure you, it does exist.

Café Vue recently opened in terminal two at Melbourne Airport International and the famous French establishment would be the perfect entrée to our Parisian food experience. I was looking forward to dinner almost as much as Paris itself.

The simple décor is enough to make you forget you are at the airport and get through the waiting game in style. And if the décor is to your liking, the food will impress you no end. Incredible. I started with champagne – perhaps to celebrate Paris, perhaps to calm the nerves for the long flight – and it was magic.

My steak was perhaps the best I’ve ever had and the fries couldn’t even compete with France. Amazing. We ordered a second bowl. Even the ketchup was sublime.

If all the fabulous food you enjoy at Café Vue is enough to make you cancel your flight for fear of ‘plane food’, the team have that sorted too. Purchase a breakfast, lunch or dinner box to take away with you and enjoy the delights of home (or France) in the air.

We were spoilt for choice with a selection of macaroons, a lifesaver on a longhaul flight and enjoyed the delicate delights all the way to the mecca of the macaroon – France itself.

A massive thanks to the team at Melbourne Airport and Café Vue in particular for their hospitality on our last night in Melbourne.

Images thanks to Gossip Girl, Cafe Vue and Jennifer Estrada

Look at your city. Now look at Paris. Now back at your city. Now back at Paris.

Sadly, your city isn’t Paris, but it could be if it had things like magic in the air, romance and amazing food.

I’m back on home soil but my memories of Paris will last forever. And provide plenty of stories, experiences and photos for you to enjoy as well.

Everything about Paris is a reason to write – I can see why so many of the greats made it their home base and why penning your memoirs in a Parisian cafe holds such appeal. I can’t say I have memoirs just yet but one day I hope I have had a life worth writing about, and one that I can remember in a Parisian cafe.

At 4.30am in the morning, while under the influence of jet lag, it is easy to remember the amazing moments of my trip. Shopping aside, there were laughs, our attempts at terrible French and the time people asked us for directions – how Parisian we must have looked!

But my favourite moments also include those on my own – reading fashion glossies in the park and people watching, eating at a fabulous cafe without the prop of a phone or a magazine and simply being able to enjoy a meal and a glass of champagne and watch the world go by.

The Eiffel Tower at night; the magnificence of the architecture of every single Parisian building; the smell of spring and cigarette smoke and coffee; the sight of a well dressed girl waiting for the bus.

These and more are my Paris memories.

All images thanks to Jennifer Estrada.

Not a view I have seen but pretty amazing all the same. I love Paris
.

 Image thanks to Vogue and Coffee.

City of Love

Image 3 thanks to Jennifer Estrada

While we have been in Paris, Miss J and I have made an effort to visit vintage stores all across the city. Here are a few snaps of vintage finds!

Vintage Dress 10 Euro
Shoes at a discount store 5 Euro

Top by Nicholas (thanks to Miss J)
Vintage skirt 10 Euro
Shoes by Stradivarius 39.95 Euro 

Vintage Cashmere Coat 50 Euro
Shoes by Wittner

Paris, France.
Wednesday 20 April 2011.
A man writes while smoking a cigar.
C’est la vie.