Parisian pleasure tour
By Katia Chapoutier

Sure, there are the big-ticket attractions (the Louvre, that famous tower), but it’s the little things that truly make Paris the pleasure capital of the world.

Let them – and you – eat cake. The Pierre Hermé patisserie, hidden steps away from Saint-Germain-des-Prés, is regarded as the city’s best place for sinful caloric indulgence. Happiness loves company, so when you’ve sated your pastry cravings, check out the nearby Marie Mercié haberdashery, a can’t-miss stop on any shopping tour of the City of Lights. A hat lover’s paradise, the store holds a most varied and astonishing array of Mercié’s creations. Whether you wear it every day or just for that special occasion, a Marie Mercié hat is a slice of Paris you can hold onto forever.

Pierre Hermé, 72, rue Bonaparte, 33-1-43-54-47-77
Marie Mercié, 23, rue Saint-Sulpice, 33-1-43-26-45-83

Or maybe you’re looking for a different kind of fashionable head covering. John Nollet, hairdresser to the stars, created Audrey Tautou’s famous look in Amélie. Nollet is talented, intelligent, funny… and for $500, he just might change your life (or at least your ’do). Top it off with a little essence of Paris – literally. Stop by the famed Guerlain perfumery for a whiff of the good life. If anyone can bottle happiness, it’s Guerlain.

John Nollet, 32, rue Montorgueil, 33-1-55-80-71-40
Guerlain, 68, av. des Champs-Élysées, 33-1-45-62-52-57

Getting There
Ready to indulge in the City of Lights? The trip just got easier. As of January 4, 2005, all Air Canada flights to and from Paris will operate out of terminal 2A at Charles de Gaulle airport, meaning superior check-in facilities, easier domestic connections and more comfortable lounges. Book now.