Me and Paris
We spend A LOT of time working in Paris. I love Paris because the moment we step off the airplane, all of us breathe a bit deeper. I guess it is our second home. From culinary delights to cultural sights, the city of light, love and romance always seems to welcome us back to its streets. In the car ride to our apartments in the 16e, we are already fantasizing about breakfasts full of fresh croissants, shopping, strolling through charming parks and gardens, and soaking up Parisian city life.
I hate Paris because when we are there, I work…A LOT. My hours are long and we stay for long periods of time. I get no sympathy from my husband or friends. They make fun of me…”Where are you going?…Oh yeah, Paris, France. That must be really hard.” Their sarcasm-laced remarks always sober me up. It is true…I get to hang out with a wonderful 5-year-old boy in one of the most spectacular cities in the world. We have a driver that takes us anywhere we want to go, we choose our daily adventures, we indulge our taste buds in Parisian delicacies, and I spend a total of $0. Sounds horrible, right? Okay…so I have it pretty good.
The truth is despite my long work hours…Paris is a wonderful place to visit with a tot in tow. Charles and I are proof that you can never run out of things to do or places to go in this child-friendly city. If you are planning a trip to Paris for the first time, my best advice is to leave your frenzied tourist checklist at home, as Paris is truly meant to be savored. It seems that Paris has more spectacular monuments and museums per square mile than anywhere else, but don’t drive yourself crazy trying to tackle them all with your inevitably exhausted and cranky kids in tow. Pick a select few of Paris’ tourist attractions and indulge yourself, but be sure to set time aside to leisurely play in the city’s lovely parks with your kids. Do not leave the city without taking advantage of French children pastimes, such as pony rides, carousels and marionette theatre.
The Louvre at Sunset
If you have been to Paris before or often travel to Paris for business, exploring Paris with your kids can be exciting and new, as you uncover unexpected delights. Wherever you choose to go, allow Paris to stimulate your senses, as it beckons to be seen, heard, touched, smelt and tasted. Be sure to soak up city life from a sidewalk café, stroll along the breezy boulevards, picnic in the serene parks, view the impressive monuments, admire the fashionable Parisians going about their daily life and, my favorite, sample the sweetness of Paris. You and your little ones will soon fall in love with Paris as well.
On a recent trip to the Mayan Riviera, Esencia, an elegant, discreet resort, became Charles, Jeff and my private little Mexican paradise. We played hard, ate well and learned the art of doing nothing in the sun. Due to consecutive fashion shoots, we ended up staying for almost 3 weeks, so there was ample time to try out all of the resort’s kid-friendly activities. Although most of Esencia’s amenities are designed for adults, the resort and surrounding area had lots to offer its littlest guests, like yoga sessions, cooking classes, horseback riding, boat fishing, snorkeling – even a chocolate massage!
enough guacamole, ceviche, and chocolate cake, which is probably why a gym on the premises might have been beneficial. The hotel’s restaurant, Sal y Fuego, specializes in seafood and organically grown foods, with a focus on Meso-American cooking, a method that cooks meat in banana leaves below the earth. Each day was a new culinary adventure and after finishing one meal, we were planning our next or reminiscing about the meal before. The chef was so good to us, making sure Charles was happy with each of his specially prepared meals. Charles ate no-sauce pizza, buttered pasta, grilled fish, breaded chicken, french fries, and many varieties of fresh vegetables. He was always anxious to get his hands on a fruit smoothie, ice cream and the freshly baked cookies at teatime.
On one of our excursions away from the resort, we swam with a dolphin named Connie at Puerto Aventuras, which is about 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen. You can choose from 3 different dolphin activities at this marina; get a dolphin kiss, ride on a pair of dolphins, or race across the surface with them. Charles was unsure at first, but eventually got into the water and touched the bottlenose dolphin as she swam by. He was amazed that she was so soft and couldn’t stop talking about his experience afterwards. 
The Beach:
*Note: Jumby Bay is undergoing a massive face-lift. The 14-month renovation project started June 6th. This Rosewood Resort location is adding a full-service spa, an infinity pool (with shallow end) and redoing many of the rooms.
El Valle De los Dinosaurious: (www.elvalledelosdinosaurios.es) This place is truly magical and mind-blowing, so go — especially if you have kids who love dinosaurs or the idea of a safari adventure. The park truly transport you back to the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Tip: Bring your imagination, walking shoes, camera and food! The snack bar toward the end has snacks and sweets, but nothing substantial or healthy.
