The new guard: Paris in Four Months

Last year, while reading my friend Erica’s ever-popular blog,HipParis.com, I noticed some reoccurring names—les filles who were contributing photos and/or stories to the blog. Call me slow on the uptake, but after a couple months I realized, wow, there’s a whole new generation of expat bloggers over there in Paris! Since I’ve been back in New York, life has gone on in Paris and a whole new wave of free-spirited, fun-loving, starry-eyed women are eating it up as I once did. It’s been a bittersweet delight to follow them since: To see their gleeful smiles, to read about their challenges and triumphs, and to see Paris through their-same-but-different eyes. For they’ve all found each other through blogging and overlapping circles, and I can’t help but think of my nearly two years in Paris and the friends I made from blogging. So I wanted to share a little about each of them in the coming weeks. Here’s to the “new guard” of Paris bloggers!

Carin Olsson of Paris in Four Months is a Swedish photographer who has a way with words. She’s also a kindred spirit, with a bona fide weakness for sweets. She’s thoughtful, elegant, and, man does she have a great eye. My favorite thing about Carin’s photos is that they capture exactly how I used to feel, walking around Paris: charmed, awed, seduced, joyful.

Now it’s your turn—meet Carin!

Hometown:

Stockholm, Sweden

Current quatier:

4th arrondissement

How long have you been in Paris?

In total it’s now around 8 ½ months.

What brought you there?

The desire to see something new and different, experience a totally different city than what I was used to, challenge myself and to learn the language. I moved to Paris the first time during four months and after those months were up I decided to come back again. This time because I’d fallen in love with the city.

Your favorite thing about living in Paris:

Could it be “thing(s)”? In that case it would have to be: the pastries, the architecture, the "joie de vivre", the small streets, the many cafés, the outdoor markets, the food, the parks and the wonderful scent the city has during very early spring mornings and evenings.

The coolest thing about being an expat:

I’ve met so many amazing people. The people I've meet here in Paris so far will be dear friends for life.

Your “secret” about Paris:

Forget the idea of all Parisians being rude! If you try your best (meaning: always greet someone with a "bonjour", say "merci" and don’t forget "au revoir" before leaving) you'll most likely get politeness in return.

Your favorite thing to blog about:

Since my blog is mostly based on photographs I’ll read this question as “your favorite thing to photograph” if that’s okay ;) And that has to be the lovely Parisian streets. It seems like I never get tired of running around with my camera, capturing the white, grey and beige buildings and streets in this city. I also love the city a little bit extra during the springtime when everything is starting to bloom! That makes some gorgeous photographs.

Right Bank or Left Bank:

Oh, this is a hard one. I think it has to be the Left Bank in general for me, but I'm absolutely in love with the lively and cozy Marais neighbourhood, all the new restaurants in the 11^th and the luxurious shopping in the 1^st. So preferably, a mixture of both.  

Café Flore or Deux Magots:

Le Deux Magots. Just because of the service, actually. They've always been very nice to me and unfortunately I’ve had some bad encounters at Café de Flore (although I have to admit that I still love the actual café).

Tuileries or Luxembourg:

The Luxembourg Gardens for sure. It's one of my favourite parks in Paris.

Ladurée or Pierre Hermé:

Ladurée for the pretty boxes but Pierre Hermé for anything eatable.

WH Smith or Gaglinani:

WH Smith

Steak Frites or Salade Chevre Chaud:

Steak Frites

Costes or Crillon:

They're both so gorgeous, but I must say that adore Crillon because of the classic beauty (I can't believe they're remodelling the whole hotel now!), but there's no better place to be than at Costes for Paris fashion week…

Colette or Merci:

Merci. I love Colette but it's almost impossible to get through the doors nowadays, it’s always so packed. At Merci I prefer the downstairs area or the used book café.

Croissant or tartine:

Croissant

Rykel or Roitfeld:

Roitfeld

Café terrace or canal-side picnic:

I know it's not an option but I would say Seine-side picnic if possible?

Camembert or Comté:

Comté