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Category: travel

The Vintage Inn Travels to Paris, France – Part 1

The vintage inn blog travels to Paris France

With Valentines day around the corner, I think it’s finally time to share my birthday trip this past May (2017) to Paris, France for my 40th. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little girl (after watching ‘An American in Paris’) to visit the city of Lights & Love and my wonderful husband made that dream a reality.

I of course documented every second of our “Paris on a Budget” trip, so that I would never forget a single moment. Don’t worry friends, I won’t bore you with ALL the photos, but here is Part 1 of the most fantastic trip ever!

Vintage Inn Blog visits Paris France
We arrived!

Our hotel location (Novotel Paris Centre Eiffel Tower):

My husband knows me well, very well so it was a wonderful surprise that I found out we were staying a short 20 minute walk to my favourite monument ever…The Eiffel Tower AND we had a view from our hotel room. (Note: Before you look at photo below please note that I said a “view” of the Eiffel Tower)

The Vintage Inn Blog Visits Paris France

Our room was an L Shape which meant that we also had a fantastic view of the River Seine (we would sit here at the end of our nights with a bottle of Champagne and cheese and enjoy the beauty of Paris). It was so great that I literally ran around my room trying to figure out what to stare at first (no joke lol).

paris france river seine
River Seine & Champagne

While I was staring out my window in awe that I was actually IN Paris I noticed there was a mini Statue of Liberty on the bridge you see in the image above. Turns out it was a gift from America to Paris in 1889 (as you know France gave the US the original Lady Liberty). COOL!

Extra Read: Extended history of why this mini statue exists can be found HERE.

Statue of Liberty Paris, France
Up close with Mini Liberty

We arrived on May Day (May 1st), so many things were closed but that did not stop us from heading out and exploring. We were starving so we did dinner first at a pub called, O’Neil (sorry no french food this night) that was hopping with Parisians and tourists and had good reviews. It was wonderful! The burgers were outstanding super inexpensive and they also brewed their own beer (which my husband and I loved as we are craft beer fans). Plus the staff and the manager treated us like we were old friends, we loved it and ended up going back on my birthday later on in the week.

O'Neils Microbrewery in Paris France

After dinner we hit the pavement and just started to wander the streets taking in the beauty & history that was around us.

Paris France Vintage Inn Trip

We eventually ended up at the Louvre and took in all that was there (we had tickets to see the inside of the Louvre later in the week).

Louvre, Paris France at Night
Louvre, Paris France at Night

Our evening ended with a visit to the Eiffel Tower. OMG the tower is even more beautiful up close and personal, I shed a tear it was so wonderful to see.

Eiffel Tower Paris France at Night
The Vintage Inn Blog at Eiffel Tower Paris

Day 2: Notre-Dame and wherever else we could visit on a budget before our feet fell off.

As stated above, my husband and I were on a budget and from our research Paris is known to be pricey. To save money, we went to the large grocery store that was next to our hotel each day and stocked up on food to eat as we walked around. This really helped us on costs. Also in our neighbourhood was a great bakery that sold delicious baquettes (and sandwiches) that we purchased to add to our food stash. Great cost saving tip!

Eating French Bread in front of the Notre Dame Paris France-Vitnage Inn Blog
Enjoying a Baquette in from Notre Dame

Notre-Dame was a must see on our list and it was totally free to visit as long as you did not head up to the Bell Towers and the crypt (which had a fee). I have been itching to see this church in person ever since my Art History classes in University, especially the Rose Windows AND the Flying Buttresses (an incredible archtiectural detail). I was not disappointed.

Notre Dame Paris France 2017

My Flying Butresses-So PRETTY!

Notre Dame Flying Buttresses

After Notre-Dame the sun was out and the weather was beautiful and we had nothing planned EXPECT to find me a French Macaron. ‘Un Dimanche A Paris‘ was where we stopped and boy was it good.

Paris France Vintage Inn Blog

The last half of our first full day in Paris, included picking up a bottle of wine and some cheese and heading to the most beautiful park I have ever seen (we don’t have parks like this in Toronto), called ‘Jardin du Luxembourg‘. The park is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, was created beginning in 1612 by Marie de’ Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France, for a new residence she constructed, the Luxembourg Palace (seen below). The garden today is owned by the French Senate, which meets in the Palace. It covers 23 hectares and is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, flowerbeds, model sailboats on its circular basin, and picturesque Medici Fountain, built-in1620 (Source).

Jardin du Luxembourg Paris France

Medici Fountain

Medici Fountain Paris France

Palm Trees, kids playing with boats in a pond and even an Orangerie (bottom left image), this park has it all.

Jardin du Luxembourg Paris France

BUT I think my favourite part of this whole visit was having a bottle of wine with my husband and watching the world go by. In fact my husband was so relaxed that he ended up falling asleep and I was left alone with a half finished bottle of wine………Hiccup!

The vintage inn blog in Paris France drinking wine

After a long day and some dinner at a delish Vietnamese restaurant, we headed back to our hotel to have a bottle of Champagne and watch the boats go down the Seine, but not before checking out the Eiffel Tower light show from our local bridge. A great way to end our 2nd day in Paris.

(Video Link)

Stay tuned for part 2 friends!

Question time: Have you ever been to Paris? If yes, what did you love? If no, what would you be most excited about seeing if you did visit? Share in the comments below!

Liz

Vintage Travel Advertising for Ontario-Canada’s Vacation Province!

1950s Vintage Travel Poster / Travel Ad for Ontario- Canada's Vacation Province.
Source: I Desire vintage Posters

Today’s post is going to showcase Vintage Travel Posters of Ontario in the 1920’s-1960’s. Ontario is where my home of Toronto is located (and TO is the capital of Ontario) and it also is home to my childhood home of Sarnia. So Ontario is very special to me and since it’s Canada’s 150th birthday I want to show-off the vintage side of my beloved province.

Lets Begin!

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 


In 1924 a Tourist and Publicity Bureau was set up to promote Ontario’s attractions, especially those associated with nature and the outdoors.

To encourage tourism, the Bureau published an annual guide to “point out some of the advantages of the Province of Ontario as a tourist centre in summer and winter”(Source).

1926 Ontario Travel Guide- “The Lake-Land Playground“.

1926 Ontario Travel Guide Booklet
Source: Archives of Ontario Library Collection

Ontario Canada Resorts, 1920s vintage poster.

Ontario Canada Resorts 1920s vintage poster

Archives of Ontario State:

By the 1930s, three out of every four Americans visiting Canada chose Ontario for their vacation. The government’s tourism marketing strategy through the forties and fifties was to target Americans who wanted an outdoor vacation. This advertising was directed at families who desired to holiday on one of the many lakes, as well as at individuals who wanted to hunt and fish in Ontario’s forests and streams.

Publications and photographs promoting Ontario as “the Lakeland Playground of America” were forwarded to travel editors and inserted in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States (Source).

1930's Ontario travel pamphlet vintage
1930’s. Source: Archives of Ontario Library Collection

1940s traval poster: “Ontario-Canada’s Vacation Province! For Your Victory Vacation”

1940s vintage travel poster for Ontario Canada featuring two women in 1940s swimsuits and 1940s hairstyles playing on a dock.
Source: Made Man

Ontario has lots of lovely lakes and you can see many of them by traveling by train (I have).

Ontario vintage travel poster illustration for Ontario's Lakelands
Source: Pinterest

1950s Travel Poster: Ontario is this way! Bring the family!

Ontario 1950s travel poster vintage
Source: Pinterest

Ontario Travel & Publicity Bureau wants you to know all about “Ski-ing in Ontario. It’s so convenient for you”.

As a person who used to downhill ski a lot, i will say that this statement is true.

vintage skiing in Ontario Canada Travel Brochure -1940s
Source; Pinterest

1950s Travel Ad: “Make your vacation a family frolic in…Ontario”. The ad is targeted to Americans.

1950s Vintage Travel Ad for Ontario Canada featuring a family visiting all the sites.
Source: Etsy

“Last one in’s a loser….” “Don’t wait – don’t be late planning to spend your holiday in Ontario”. 1953 vintage travel ad.

1953 Ontario Canada vintage travel ad featuring an illustration and photos of people enjoying visiting Ontario.
Source: Etsy

Fishing is one of the actvities you could do when visiting Ontario in the 1950s and today.

1950s vintage travel poster illustration for Ontario Canada.

“Plenty to do and see in Ontario. 33 vacation areas”. Cute 1950s travel brochure.

1950s Vintage Ontario Travel Brochure featuring 3 women in 1950s swimsuits sitting on a dock at a lake.
Source: PicClick

Inside of above travel brochure.

1950s Vintage Ontario Travel Brochure
Source: PicClick

Here is another 1950s travel brochure featuring all that fishing you could do on the cover.

vintage Ontario Travel Brochure from the 1950s.
Source: Flickr

And that friends was your virtual visit to Ontario. Hope you enjoyed your trip!

FURTHER READING: You can also check out my archived blog posts on all things Vintage Travel HERE.

On an end note, there will be no blog post next week as I will be in London, UK and Paris, France celebrating my husband and I’s 5th wedding anniversary and my Big 4-0 birthday. March 30th, 2022 Update: Here is the link to part of my Paris Trip.

Liz