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So. I’ve returned from my trip and I’m really tired. Thus, this will be fairly discombobulated. Just FYI. Oh, and the trip is going to feed posts in different ways for around the next month.

First, it was a great trip mostly. The weather was … difficult. The first week was ludicrously hot; the second, literally over 10 degrees (Celsius) cooler with intermittent rain. I did not pack for this swing (though thankfully I had brought an umbrella) and ended up at H&M in Mannheim, Germany, coming out with a sweater, a turtle neck and two pairs of leggings to go under dresses. It looked better than it sounds.

I have hotel recommendations for Berlin and Paris — if anyone is interested. These are 4 star and not cheap but really nice, central and great places to return to in the middle of and after long days.

I have one lovely, amusing perfume story which will take up next week and the week after.

Things that didn’t happen: 1) the night before I left, just as I was falling asleep, my brain went ‘I don’t want to go to Knize’. So, I didn’t. It was 33 (91F) degrees in Vienna anyway and way too touristy. Vienna was a three hour stopover where I had a great lunch but it was really really way too hot. 2) the Lutens boutique was closed when I visited the Palais Royale in Paris. That was fine. See the nice pic of belle jars in a wagon wheel formation.

The PR is a wonderful place, particularly as Mother Nature decided it should be sunny and reasonably warm. It’s great for a wander, a rest and a good cup of coffee or tea (pic).

So, clearly, the perfume story relates to another house. No, I’m not going to reveal till next week.

Otherwise, a few vague thoughts.

I stayed with friends in Prague. It has to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is also way over-touristed. Way. Somewhere to go out of season. Winter is said to be magical. This is the clock in the historic centre which attracts way too many people.

And, I had dinner with friends in Paris. In a city of gorgeous food we ended up with mediocre Indian. Still, it was good to catch up. I hadn’t been in Paris for over 10 years – more like close to 20. Last visit, we stayed in the Marais and it was still a neighbourhood, where normal people lived. It is now tourist central. That was a shock.

Yes, I know, I was a tourist everywhere I visited. But the number of visitors in various places was shocking. I now fully understand why locals in some places are saying visitor numbers should be limited.

Anyway, this was the first real travel I’ve done since 2019 and it made me appreciate the concept of a ‘change is as good as a rest’ even more. I will not wait as long for next outing.

Finally, a thought about ‘souvenirs’. I came home with some really nice things (most of which I’ll discuss here in future posts). But, it is clear that most things to be bought ‘elsewhere’ can now be found at home. This made me slightly sad. Truly small, interesting, independent producers are out there but you really really have look for them.

Pics: Mine