Emer O'Callaghan: With love... from the City of Love!

This week, I’m writing to you from beautiful Paris.

I have an unexpected two hour window free while in the City of Love and, if you know me, you’ll know I like to use my time efficiently, regardless of what country I am in.

I make no secret of the fact I am a very proud Cork lady, but for the first time ever, in all honesty, I genuinely needed the break from it (it’s OK, Cork, I still love you).

I needed a change of scenery, the rest, but above all I longed for the space to just have some privacy and time off from my busy life and beauty clinic.

Cork is a pond and everywhere we go we meet people we know - even I need a break from it all.

With just a short flight out of Cork, and here we are. I’m looking out from our fabulous hotel over a tranquil, calm canal with boat trips gliding up and down, joggers running, many out walking dogs, and just the busy life of any major capital city of a Saturday morning.

We were away the weekend the famous Louvre got robbed, so you can imagine the banter we had with friends back home on WhatsApp, with them asking would I be showing off my new jewels on The Echo!

I was in the Louvre that morning and was flabbergasted it was robbed when you see how strict they are on security.

Paris is the capital of fashion and beauty, not just in Europe but in the world, and that is still very evident to see. While this is not my first trip to France, it is my first to Paris.

We got off to a bad start when we were pickpocketed on the metro, a very disappointing beginning to any trip to any country for anyone. That certainly altered my perspective of an Emily In Paris style trip, but we dusted ourselves down.

I don’t think I was ever so protective of my handbag, hidden inside my buttoned up coat for the remainder of our trip.

We saw all the major landmarks, the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Notre-Dame, and even went to Mass on the Sunday morning in the Sacré-Cœur - what an amazing church. I counted 12 priests on the altar, four junior priests, and ten of the smallest singing nuns you ever saw.

Mind you, Mass was two hours long so I prefer my local Douglas one - sorry, sisters.

We had an amazing boat trip up the Seine, the sun was shining and there was such a vibrant atmosphere. Everyone waves at the boats from the bridges above and a big roar goes out as you pass under each one.

Overall, I enjoyed Paris, I did see big differences in that people there seem to speak more English now.

My French teacher, Mrs Murphy (mother of our Oscar winner Cillian Murphy) would have been disappointed in me not using all that she taught me back in Bishopstown, sorry, Mrs Murphy.

I found 95% of Parisians very friendly, pleasant and welcoming, but 5% were extremely rude.

We had the most amazing meals, including lunch in an exquisite restaurant looking over at the Eiffel Tower, I passed on the old snails now, not for me, we saw a few locals have them, but I see too many of them in my garden at home to ever want to eat one - French or not, a snail’s a snail, lads.

I did find Paris in general very dirty and there were a lot of homeless people sadly.

I certainly didn’t feel as safe in Paris as in Cork, to be honest, but travel is great for us all - it broadens our minds, gives us a break from our own four walls, as the man says.

But it also makes me grateful for what I do have. I feel very privileged to live in Cork and in a safe village like Douglas where I have never once had to hide my handbag under my coat.

Then again, I found Cork far more expensive than Paris - did you ever think you’d read that on The Echo?!

You can watch my beauty videos in Paris on the Emerald Beauty Clinic Facebook, Instagram and TikTok Pages now.

FASHION

I worked in Christian Dior when I was in Beauty College. I did Saturday make-up, so it was so nice to visit the home of Christian Dior in Paris, the main flagship shop - the store was jaw-dropping.

Each staff member greeted us, and I felt like royalty, though nothing had a price tag, and you knew damn well not to ask the price of anything either - certainly no special offers or two for one deals there anyway!

Deffo going back there when I win the lotto.

BEAUTY

I saw very few grey-haired older men in Paris. Hair dye must be a best seller there, and to be fair to them, they do it well.

I was glad to see all the beauty salons closed on the Monday, which was customary in beauty for decades.

I notice they still do a lot of outdated but effective body treatments that we no longer do in Cork.

Beauty is huge in France and it was a welcome relief for me to see no one with big botox lips and cosmetic faces. No big false lashes either.

Nails are big, but the French have always been about enhancing natural beauty and put huge emphasis on skin. This is why I’m over 20 years working with French companies for my own clinic with our Guinot Paris skincare range and treatments.

Every second shop seemed to sell skincare in Paris. Bus stops and billboard promoted it, and shoppers had bags of skincare.

SAFETY AND COURTESY

It was astonishing to see how many young people under 30 in Paris were vaping, everywhere we went there were puffs of white smoke heading straight for you, a stark contrast to the smoking Parisians loved for decades.

I also noticed that, unlike home, no one walked around with coffee cups.

As a beauty doctor and skin specialist, it is disappointing that we in Ireland do not follow more of our European neighbours’ trends of enhancing natural beauty.

Instead, we tend to follow America and England and plastic surgery and botoxed lips are everywhere in Cork now.

It would be a welcome change to see more of the Parisians’ natural beauty trends take off more here, that’s for sure, but the vaping and the pickpocketing, no thank-you, ye can keep them.

Lots of Parisians did speak to us when we were having lunch or dinner out, and did say to enjoy our visit.

And the majority were very appreciative of the tourism and that was clear to see. I respected that, as a women in business myself, I know the value of every euro and how the local economy is key to all our wealth.

It was clear to see our economy is doing much better, and we should be very proud of that, but most of all, that we are warm, friendly people and we are safe and have a Céad Míle Fáilte that no-one will ever match.

I am very blessed and grateful to have fantastic people who support and help me, to allow me take these amazing opportunities like travel when they arise.

For those people, you know who you are, who support and help me always. I love you and I am extremely grateful always for all you do for me.

As I head back to my manic festive season at Emerald Beauty Clinic, you can pick up a copy of the Holly Bough to read all my festive beauty, style and skin tips to help you look amazing this Christmas.

• Emer O’Callaghan is a Beauty Doctor and Skin Specialist and winner of Irish Beauty Therapist of the Year, who works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A Multi Award Winning Beauty Clinic 2008-2025 www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie
• SPECIAL OFFER: All next week, our award-winning dry skin facial, 90 minutes, is reduced from €120 to €95, includes full skin analysis, eyebrow tidy and heated hand treatment. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic om 021 4365949.Free parking.