Carolien does Paris like a Parisienne

And these are her secret tips

Sometimes an invite comes in where I immediately know: I have to be there. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne, I was one of the lucky three who got to go to Paris to celebrate this grandly. But first, let me delight you with a few fun facts: the champagne house Veuve Clicquot was founded by a lady (who run the world?) in 1772. And this Madame Clicquot was the first in the world to launch Rosé Champagne in 1818 as we know it today. Before that time, there was only Rosé Champagne, which was literally pink and quite sweet due to the addition of elderberry extract, so three cheers for this powerhouse woman who has ensured that we can enjoy Rosé Champagne for two centuries without that pounding headache the next day (depending on how much you drink, of course). The party started on the Thalys, and the first bottle (but certainly not the last) of the day was opened. Once we arrived in Paris, we were taken to Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers: a beautiful boutique hotel with lovely rooms, a courtyard where I could hang out all day, a rooftop terrace where you want to try all the cocktails on the menu with a stunning view over the city, plus a delightful Italian restaurant where you can lunch and dine among all the trendy Parisians. In short: an absolute must for your next Paris trip.

We could just wander around for an hour before the big party would start, and during that time we discovered a few delightful spots. I had never been to the department store Merci, which is definitely worth a visit. Only fun clothing brands I had never heard of (and that says something), plus a home department that makes you want to move or renovate immediately. And on the way back, we accidentally took the life-threatening street Rue du Pont aux Choux, where you can find a few gems of design vintage stores. Be sure to check out Studio W, where I completely fell in love with a vintage Dior Duffle Bag and a dress from Ferragamo.

To protect myself, I walked to the hotel without looking back to get into my prettiest garden party outfit. Then we headed to Jardin d’Acclimatation, where the entire park had been transformed into a real Veuve amusement park. We went from one surprise to another: live music bands, roller coasters, swings, mini boats, and all of that drizzled with a pink Veuve sauce. Not to mention the many champagne bars and food stalls (well, hello pink burgers and pink éclairs). I have never experienced such an event. How did I feel the next morning? Let's just say I was glad Otis didn't wake me up at six in the morning. But thanks to Madame Clicquot's effort two centuries ago, zero point zero mal à la tête!