For many visitors, certainly for me, there’s a vibe in the city that transcends the history, the architecture, the people, the pure and unalloyed significance of this special place. I can’t describe it, but if you were in Paris with me, I think you’d know exactly what I mean. You would. I took a cab from Charles de Gaulle airport directly to Hôtel de Buci, located, appropriately, on rue de Buci in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. What a lovely little hotel. I’ve stayed there before and have never had call to try anywhere else. The location is perfect. The staff is wonderful. The rooms are charming. And the price is at least reasonable and, I think, worth every euro. You see, I’ve been to Paris several times over the years. It took a few exploratory visits before I knew that Saint-Germain was my favourite part of the city and where I would always choose to stay. It’s also where Hemingway spent much of his time, living, loving, writing, fighting, and drinking, in the Paris of the 1920s.
