Hotel Les Deux Gares

First trip to Paris with this boy. So much to do in such little time, so our location at Les Deux Gares was quite strategic

Between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est, the area has definitely an up-and-coming feeling and it is getting better by the day

Hotel Les Deux Gares is the first hotel to be worked on by the rising star interior designer Luke Edward Hall who custom made even the iron gate

Left vacant for many years, the five-storey building inspired Luke Edward Hall to choose an "anti-modern" style that is fun and reminds of a Paris of the past

Waiting for Luke Edward Hall to arrive, assumin he could be my new best friend

“The building housed a number of tiny rooms with adjoining walls and flowery wallpaper marked by the passage of previous travelers,” recounts Adrien Gloaguen, founder of the Touriste group who own Hotel Les Deux Gares and a few other colorful gems in Paris

In every corner, a quirky mash-up of eras and a wellspring of artistic and intellectual references

True Parisian style, the rooms are snug — but so, so nicely designed

Each room has geometric carpeting and a candy-striped headboard that we like very much

If your gym were on mushrooms

Across the street, Café Les Deux Gares and its kitchen by chef Jonathan Schweizer, who previsouly worked at Sauvage, the Institut Paul Bocuse, L’Agapé and Substance

Could not have found a more stylish and delicious place to have lunch with this fine jet set duo — Lily and Steve Tam, two of my favorite adventurers

A mandatory visit of the recently opened Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection, incredibly designed by maestro Tadao Ando

And... Oh my heart... The Wrapped Arc The Triomph by the late Christo and Jeanne Claude . I felt so lucky to have witnessed this ephemeral wonder

So much Paris in one little frame

Impromptu visit by our amigo José Luiz who was on his way to catch the train to London — another good reason to be so close to the station