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Moment of Luxury can be seen on your local PBS station. |
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By: Sarah Greer Osborne |
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While the title of the television show may be Moment of Luxury, I like to disabuse my jealous friends by letting them know that making the show is anything but luxurious. It's hard work, long hours and weeks away from my home and family..
The crew and I don't often experience Bill's "moments of luxury", because we are far to busy getting these moments on camera. But, regardless, producing this show has given me a unique look at some of the most fascinating and beautiful cities in the world. I now know where I want to go, stay, eat, and shop if I ever re-visit any of the fabulous locations were featuring.
Let's start with Paris. I love "the city of light", but not for the typical reasons most tourists do. Maybe
because I was there to work, for me, the highlight was the transit system. It is
the second busiest metro system in the Europe after Moscow's, carrying approximately
4.5 million passengers a day. The Metro was clean, easy to use and always on time. It gets you to every major landmark without stress or confusion. The Trocadero stop
also provides an incredible view of the Eiffel tower. Each stop, also has a unique
Art Nouveau décor. Some have very modern benches and contemporary art on display while others are decorated in a more classical style with columns and ironwork.
I must admit, I am not a huge fan of French food. I find the sauces too heavy and rich. But the country's cuisine did have an unexpected effect on me. I actually lost weight the week I was there! Eating fresh meats and cheeses along with lots of salad Nicoise actually
trimmed my waistline, and even allowed me to stop at the "patisserie" each morning for a fresh croissant. Back home, I typically skip breakfast and chug a grande cappuccino. Oh, that's another thing, be prepared to sit, relax and enjoy your coffee. There are no "to go" cups in Paris, let alone a Starbucks. Also be aware of the French dinner schedule. Most Parisians don't get off work and head out until 7 or 8 p.m. In fact, many restaurants don't serve food in the early evening hours.
I most loved the flea market,
Le marche aux puces de Saint-Ouen, that Bill visits in the show. http://www.parispuces.com/en/Default.asp
With 2000 shops, the flea market has something for everyone. In between, I bought two antique bird prints for my mother and stepfather that were torn from French textbooks printed in the early 1900s. I also found several wooden decorative boxes for my mother-in-law. All the items were under $40. My production assistant bought a fabulous tapestry for $400, at the same shop where Bill picked up his fabric remnant.
The one downside of Paris was the size of my hotel room. While Bill luxuriated in his comfortable and roomy suite at the Saint James Hotel, the crew and I endured shoebox sized rooms in a chain hotel. The bathroom door could not open completely without hitting the twin bed, and I could barely wash without hitting my head on the showerhead. (I'm
only 5 foot 4.) So my advice: don't rely on internet pictures of the rooms. Call the hotel clerk and ask for the actual room dimensions before booking.
For one evening, I was able to escape from both room and work commitments for a few moments of luxury at the hillside neighborhood of Montmartre. Today it is full of terrific restaurants, theaters, art galleries and music halls, including the infamous "Moulin Rouge".
But the area is most famous for it's Sacré Coeur Basilica and its fantastic panoramic view of the city. Montmartre was also the site of many artists studios.
Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet all once called Montmartre home. Any one of these artists would still feel at home here. This village on the hill is, to me, what Paris must have been like one hundred years ago, with its winding cobblestone streets filled with painters creating their works and selling them before the paint is dry. Tourists and Parisians sip wine at the outdoor cafes while humming along with a jazz piano player in the background; that's a true moment of luxury that I will never forget. Although, I must admit I would have rather experienced it with my husband instead of a tired crew.
I can't wait to go back to Paris. But before I return, please let me know of some of your favorite haunts
in France. Who knows, Bill and I may be heading there next. |
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