One Night in Paris: Ballet, Vegan Eats, & Exploring the City’s Charm

Come join me on a 24-hour trip to Paris. What a crazy adventure. It is foggy this morning and we're going to Paris just to watch a show. How decadent isn't it? If you don't know me, I'm Amadeus, I'm 37 years old and I live in rural France and sometimes you just gotta go back to the big city for the nice things. For some of the nice things because we have a lot of nice things here and we're bringing a lot of nice things here. But all in all we're going to see a show at Palais Garnier. It's a show of Paris Opera Ballet and it's called Mayerling and it's my favorite ballet. It's by Kenneth Macmillan. It's so beautiful and we're gonna see two of my favorite Etoiles. An Etoile is a principal dancer. So that means Etoile means star. So these are the stars of the ballet company and we're gonna see Hugo Marchand. Fantastic. And we're going to see Dorothée Gilbert who's equally fantastic. So I can't wait to see them two on stage. I've never seen them live so I'm really really excited. It's a really big thing for me. So now it's 8 o'clock in the morning, taking Anita on a walk. Anita will stay with Justine and Torres as well and we'll be leaving at 11. So this means now we have to pack, have to prepare, and then we'll be taking Alexi's car to the station in Angoulême. We'll park it there and then we'll take the train to Paris. And I'll take you along and we'll have lots of stuff. I have lots of restaurants I want to try, lots of things. Yeah, lots of things. Okay, just finished a tiny work call that I still had to do. Catch up with Katja for the new pieces that we're making. And now I'll just take care of the kitchen a bit and then we'll pack. So the biggest question is what will I be wearing? It's supposed to not be so warm in Paris. I just want to take a really small bag, a really small backpack because I don't want to bring a lot because we'll be walking a lot. So I want to reduce my luggage to as much as I can. Almost forgot the most important bit, the tickets. And I also printed out the train tickets to go there. So I'll also just like get them in before I forget. We're ready to go, I think. Here we go. I'm off to Alexi's to get on the car and drive to the station in Angoulême. What a crazy adventure. We just parked the car and we almost didn't find a neat spot. It's 12.44, our train leaves in 20 minutes and we had to really go up into Angoulême. So I wish us luck that we get the train. In the end that plan didn't really work out. We were on time for the train but the train wasn't on time for us. First it had a 45-minute delay, then a 90-minute delay and in the end a two-hour delay. Welcome to Paris. It's been crazy. Just arrived with two hours of tardiness, crazy. We arrived at Gare de Montparnasse and began our walk through the streets of Paris, taking in the incredible architecture that surrounds you everywhere here. There's just something so timeless and beautiful about the city, especially as you move from one neighborhood to the next. We were headed all the way to rue Saint-André-des-Arts, passing through some of Paris's most charming areas. Our first stop was Boca Mexa, a cozy spot for quick Mexican bites with vegan options. With only 40 minutes to eat, we were in a bit of a rush but couldn't resist soaking in the atmosphere as we made our way through the city. And on we went walking over the Pont Neuf with the sand flowing quietly beneath us. The views were stunning and it's always surreal to be surrounded by such iconic landmarks. As we crossed, we continued alongside the grand façade of the Louvre. So we just had dinner in a Mexican place that had vegan options. And I was like halfway through from the Gare de Montparnasse when we arrived to the hotel where we're staying close to the Palais Garnier. And now we're on the way to the hotel because the train was so late. Really got to pick up the temple. But we have some time tomorrow before our train leaves. That train leaves in the afternoon tomorrow. So got a bit of more time to stroll around. Nonetheless, it's very pretty. And we're still on time pretty well. So it's all good. Mexican food was really, really good food. And yeah. We have arrived in the hotel. And it's really cute actually. It's tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny. Remember it's Paris. But we have a balcony. Not too bad. Not too bad actually. After settling in at the hotel, we set off towards the Paris Opera House, the Palais Garnier. The Palais Garnier, also known as the Paris Opera House, is one of the most iconic buildings in Paris. Exuding an unmatched grandeur. It's one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world. It's just so stunning. Constructed between 1861 and 1875 under the direction of architect Charles Garnier, this masterpiece of Beaux-Arts architecture was originally commissioned by Napoleon III. The opulent interiors like the Golden Foyer are richly adorned with marble, gold leaf, and intricate frescoes showcasing the lavish style of the Second Empire. This building was designed to be a place not only for opera but for Parisian society to gather and be seen. Over the years, the Palais Garnier has hosted countless operas, ballets, and cultural events. Walking through its Grand Foyer and up the sweeping staircases, it's easy to feel the weight of its history and the elegance that's drawn audiences for generations. From the ornate chandeliers to the stunning murals, every detail of this space was crafted to impress and inspire. The ballet Myerling is Kenneth MacMillan's masterpiece. I just absolutely adore this ballet. It's my favorite ballet in the whole world. The Paris Opera Ballet bought it, bought the license in 22. And here we are watching it with Hugo Marchand and Dorothée Gilbert, who are absolutely brilliant dancers. It's just so amazing. What? It was just magical. Beautiful, magical, amazing. Our first stop will be the whole vegan boulangerie. After checking out of the hotel near the opera house, we set off on foot towards London Monkeys, a fully vegan boulangerie and pâtisserie in the Beaumarché area. Paris is perfect for walking. Distances in the city are so manageable and it's a great way to take in the lively atmosphere. On this first day morning, the streets were buzzing as we passed through the Place de la République, filled with Parisians starting their day. We continued on walking past the historic Cirque d'Hiver, which has been a part of Paris since the 19th century. Finally, we reached London Monkeys, where you can find an amazing selection of vegan treats. Everything you could want for breakfast and beyond. There's something so satisfying about starting the day with a fresh plant-based breakfast in a beautiful city. Now I got a so-called gym cookie. After breakfast, we continued our walk from Beaumarché into Le Marais, one of Paris's oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods. Le Marais has a rich history and has been a center for the Jewish community in Paris for centuries. Walking through, you'll find Jewish bakeries, synagogues and libraries, all part of the cultural fabric that gives this area its unique charm. We strolled around the Rue des Rosiers, a street filled with life and tradition, but also one that holds memories of tragedy. In 1982, this very street was the site of a devastating attack on the Jewish community, where lives were lost. Today, Le Marais is a place of resilience, carrying forward its heritage and history amidst the lively atmosphere of Paris. So many beautiful, beautiful facades here in Le Marais, where the Jewish quarter is. Palm trees on a bridge in Paris. It's a bit of like Nice, Monaco feeling, whatever. So strange. Continuing our walk along the Seine, we passed the Grand Palais de la Cité, one of Paris's oldest palaces, which once housed French royalty. From there, we made our way towards the Louvre, an absolutely iconic landmark and one of the most famous museums in the world. Standing in front of the Louvre's glass pyramid, surrounded by the sprawling historic architecture, you can feel the weight of history here. Originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century, the Louvre became a royal palace before transforming into a public museum during the French Revolution. The Louvre's grandeur is truly unmatched. Just walking around the courtyard gives a sense of the sheer size and scale of this historic site. After taking the views of the Louvre, we continued our walk into the Tuileries Garden, where Parisians and tourists alike enjoy the open space, fountains, and sculptures. Eventually, we reached the elegant Place de la Vendôme, known for its luxury boutiques and the striking Vendôme column at its center. From there, we started looping back towards the area near the Opera House, exploring some of the charming streets in the Korean Quarter. Finally, feeling ready for a good meal, we made our way to a vegan restaurant we'd enjoyed before called Briefe. Located in the second arrondissement, serving Japanese-inspired vegan dishes, it was the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a delicious plant-based end to our day in Paris. We just had really good lunch at Briefe, which we already had tried before. It's really, really nice. Now we're heading back to the station because we've got about one hour until our train leaves and we want to walk to Montparnasse, which is about an hour. So yeah. After crossing the Seine and seeing Notre-Dame in the distance, we continued our walk through the bustling streets of Paris, soaking in the lively atmosphere of the city. The streets were full of people, shops, and that unmistakable energy that makes Paris feel so alive. As we entered the Jardin de Luxembourg, the scene was quieter, more subdued. The trees had already shed their leaves, leaving a delicate carpet of autumn colors across the pathways. The bare branches added a unique beauty to the garden, creating a peaceful, most introspective atmosphere. The Luxembourg Palace stood grand and stoic against the gray sky, a stunning backdrop to the serene corner of Paris. Even on a chilly day, the garden had a charm that invited you to pause and take in its timeless elegance. From there, we made our way toward Gare de Montparnasse. Inside the busy station, we found our TGV, ready to take us back to Angoulême. The TGV is incredibly punctual and comfortable. Most of the time, making the journey between Paris and Angoulême both easy and efficient. As the train sped through the countryside, we passed quiet fields and villages under the same gray sky, until we finally saw a bit of sun right before Angoulême. A peaceful end to our time in the city. In about two hours, we arrived back in Angoulême. We picked up Alexi's car and drove through the countryside towards home. The calm and simplicity of the rural landscape felt grounding, a perfect return after the bustling city. Look! She was so happy to see me. So I just went up to get her and I'm on my way down to the château. And then our adventure has ended. And I'll take a shower and then I'll head back up for dinner. There she is, my beauty. Finally at home. Thank you guys so much for watching. I hope you had fun joining me on this 24 hours in Paris. And I will see you in the next video, because now I'm just really going to prepare to take a shower and go back up for dinner. It is almost six o'clock here. And I'm really, really tired actually, also after walking like almost 20 kilometers today. So yeah, it's been quite the way. And I need to feed the little one and all these things. So all that stuff to say, à bientôt et au revoir. Bisous from the southwest of France. And if you liked the video, give it a like and subscribe. And I shall see you in the next one. Bye!