Louis VI defiantly the Versace of his time. His palace is full of over the top gold decorations, lavish furniture, and elaborate fountains. Regardless, Versailles palace is worth the trip. It is a fascinating place. The gardens are lovely and the fountain shows make for a beautiful walk. I could write so much more but the having your own experience would do it more justice. Just be prepared as it is a long day. I suggest getting started as early as possible.
Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Paris Fabulous Finds: A few things not to miss.
5. A few other places to check out.
Having more than a week in Paris allowed us to explore the city a bit more. So with recommendations of friends, getting lost on my own, and allot of reading, I have put together this short list of walks and sites for you to check out.
- Take the train to the Catacombes de Paris then walk towards Jardin Luxemburg. From there continue to Le Halles for some shopping for some sipping at one of the many cafes
- Head to the Mosque De Paris for some mint tea and then head over to Jardin des Plantes
A few more suggestions that I want to pass along from a dear friend:
- enjoy a sunny day to walk on the Canal St Martin
- take a coffee or tea at the Swedish Institute café
Paris Fabulous Finds: Food.
Food. Food and more food.
There are so many places to eat in Paris, it is impossible to go hungry. A few that I think are worth checking out (in no particular order).
TRAVEL TIP: You will want to make sure you eat before 2 or 3 pm for lunch and before 10 pm for dinner in most places in Paris (minus cafes). After these times many kitchens close.
TRAVEL TIP: You will want to make sure you eat before 2 or 3 pm for lunch and before 10 pm for dinner in most places in Paris (minus cafes). After these times many kitchens close.
Little Italy. 2nd best pasta place we ate at. Certainly worth stopping.
O’scia. Excellent brick fire pizza. Cheap and quick. Run by an Italian family, who if you catch towards the latter end of lunch out sit together and enjoy a family meal every afternoon right alongside of you.
L’escargot. Serving up some excellent French dishes and of course escargot to remember. Just note, this place can be a bit on the pricey side but an excellent choice if you in the mood for French.
Le Bamboo. This def one of the top cheap eats picks in Paris. This place
serves up family style Vietnamese and it located in 13th arrondissement. You will get to explore an area most tourists don’t go to and eat some awesome food. It is packed so be prepared to wait.
Au Pied De Cochon. Open 24 hours and the service is one of the best in Paris (good service can be hard to come by in Paris). The menu is packed with pork but don’t worry if pork isn’t something you eat they serve up other excellent dishes. My memorable moment was when our waiter himself made me warm wine with honey to help ease my aching throat.
Silk and Spice or Blue Elephant. These two restaurants are both serving up gourmet Thai food. They are a bit on the pricey side but they provide for a lovely ambience and great food for a romantic meal. Silk and Spice also offers Thai cooking classes should you get the inkling that you want to take Thai cooking classes in France.
Paris Fabulous Finds: Going Out!
Going out.
While most of our time was spent at café’s and wine bars, which I encourage anyone to do as much as possible. We hit up a few funky spots that you may want to check out as well.
Favela Chic - this Brazilian bar/restaurant kicks into high gear around 11 pm or so. It is a perfect place to let loose and get your booty shaking. Playing samba, salsa, and more it is impossible not to shake your booty just a little bit.
La Pachange or Le Balajo for some excellent salsa dancing. Just watch out, the Parisians LOVE, I mean LOVE to spin. The only problem is they aren’t very controlled when they are doing it so be prepared to catch an elbow or two in your face while on the dance floor. I think my little toes got smashed as well.
L’IVRESS MY PICK! This little wine bar was just up the street from us in 2nd arrondismant. Throughout our six weeks in Paris this became one of our favorite spots. The wine choices are awesome and if you don’t know what you want the staff will be sure to help you out. If you don’t have time to sit and enjoy the wine, no worries, they sell bottles plus some awesome food products. Don’t miss out on this fabulous find.
Le Pin Up. This place specializes in champagne cocktails – a Parisian fav (something that I still find questionable – mixing champagne and hard liquor). The crowd can be a bit snooty it is worth a visit. If you come after 11 pm the downstairs den opens up for dancing. Just make sure you love house music.
l’Experimental Cocktail Club. We went here for cocktails late one evening before dinner.
Observation: this place might be trying a little too hard and the crowd can be a bit pretentious on the weekend (or maybe I am a jaded New Yorker who is tired with this concept). Nonetheless, the bartenders, or excuse me the mixologists are mixing up some excellent concoctions, just be prepared to pay a little more than some other bars.
TRAVEL TIP: Go during the week. During the weekend they have a goon standing at the front door to select who can come in. It’s yet another stretch to try to make this place seem hipper than it is.
Observation: this place might be trying a little too hard and the crowd can be a bit pretentious on the weekend (or maybe I am a jaded New Yorker who is tired with this concept). Nonetheless, the bartenders, or excuse me the mixologists are mixing up some excellent concoctions, just be prepared to pay a little more than some other bars.
TRAVEL TIP: Go during the week. During the weekend they have a goon standing at the front door to select who can come in. It’s yet another stretch to try to make this place seem hipper than it is.
Queen or Cab whether clubbing or people watching is your thing; these two places will not disappoint you... Queen is an interesting place full of expiates and locals. Check the night you want to go as different nights have different themes from drag queen, gay night, to star spotting and more. Cab is full on club and can get pumping on Sunday evenings.
Comedy – Check out How to Become Parisian in One Hour. It is one Parisians guy perspective on how Parisians live. He offers tips and advice to foreigners on how they too can become Parisian. It’s about an hour long. (If you plan to go just make sure to check that the show isn’t on tour).
Paris Fabulous Finds: City Views
For Fabulous city views of Paris (beyond the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Cœur)
Galerie Lafayette. There is certainly more to be seen than all the fancy clothes at this shopping center. Head up to the very top to catch beautiful views of the city. Oh, and remember to pick up a bag of macaroons on the 4th floor to accompany you while you enjoy the view.
Centre Pompidou– Not only does this modern art museum provide you with a perfect way to pass the afternoon as you take in some fabulous art but you can head up to the top to enjoy a glass of wine with the added bonus of a stunning view of the Parisian skyline. (Or plan ahead to have lunch at their yummy restaurant)
Paris Fabulous Finds: Seaching for the Perfect Macaroon
The perfect macaroon.
Being a sweet eater and supposedly in the land of pastries it only seemed fitting that I should embark on a conquest to find the perfect macaroon. After trying over 20 bakeries my three suggestions to you are:
- La Duree - everyone flocks here and with good reason. Their macaroons are fab. But they aren’t the only game in town so don’t be fooled. My pick: their salted caramel is unbeatable.
- Eric Kayser –Initially this place became famous for their baguettes so if you go I encourage you to pick one up. My pick: their pistachio can’t be beat.
TRAVEL TIP: ask for the baguette traditional (if you just say baguette you will get standard). They also make one of the most scrumptious chocolate chip cookies I have ever had.
TRAVEL TIP: ask for the baguette traditional (if you just say baguette you will get standard). They also make one of the most scrumptious chocolate chip cookies I have ever had.
- Carette Macaroons – located in the ritzy Place de Vosges these macaroons rival La Duree without a doubt. My pick: Blackcurrant and Violet.
TRAVEL TIP: FOR NON TRADITIONAL FLAVORS head to Gallarie Lafayette on the 4th floor. There is a small macaroon stand that selling unique creations such as: white chocolate and truffle, chocolate froi gras, and rum liquor lemon.
Making Memories in Paris
On to yet another wine adventure in another wonderful city - Paris for 6 whole weeks! While it was not my intention to spend this long in one city it was an opportunity for us enjoy the company of friends and meet my new family. An added bonus was that my new hubby’s hospital exchange gave him a firsthand look at Paris health system (plus a special visit with the U.S ambassador in Paris) and me an opportunity to understand more about the city that he loves so much.
If I were to make note of every little thing we did in Paris for six weeks this blog post would never end. Instead I thought it would be good to take a different approach to highlight our experiences as well as include some fabulous finds in Paris.
Our highlights:
Our highlights:
- Exploring Rue Montorgueil – restaurants, cafes, cheese shops, markets and more!
- Getting lost in Châtelet-Les Halles
- Weekend trips to Champagne, Lille, Berlin, and Versailles
- For me laughing at myself repeatedly as I attempted to speak French while taking lessons at Lutece Langue
- Enjoying home-cooked meals with my new family and friends
- Traveling to Bourg La Reine (a banlieue’s of Paris) to and being treated to a delicious French meal with my dear friend from Lille and her family. Something to remember.
- Mastering the art of cooking on a hot plate. We successfully made mussels, ceviche, and spaghetti carbanara, and I even managed to wip up some killer beef carpaccio salads.
- Sitting at cafes for hours drinking wine with some very special friends and lovely family members.
- Getting the chance to see Maceo Parker perform live in Lille, a big thank you to my otra hermana and her lovely novio for this wedding gift.
- Coming to the conclusion (self drawn conclusion of course) that over half of Paris doesn’t work or rather they refuse to work any more than 40 hours (which apparently after many conversation they already think is too much) because they are always in the café’s
- Our little jail cell studio apartment – a fire hazard for sure! But apparently they have lax standards in Paris as metal bars on our 1 window apt surely would prevent any type of escape. While discussing with a local Parisian we were told “not to worry, Paris doesn’t have fires”. (right)
- A PARIS PACKAGE SURPRISE – Climbing the stairs to our flat late at night having to step over one tenant who must have been sneaking phone calls. He was a bit “overexposed” on a few occasion as his “you know what” seemed to be hanging out of his pajama pants that were a bit too big
- Picnics, wine, and lovely conversations while enjoying the evenings along canal St. Martin (as MUST DO for anyone going to Paris when it is warm. Buy some wine; grab some cheese, bread, olives and more. It is one of the best experiences you can have)
- Hunting for the perfect macaroon (sampling what more than 20 stores have to offer)
- Dancing on the tables @ Favala Chic
- Getting lost in the Paris’s network of alleyways for hours on end (if you see an opening on a street just go down it. It leads to so many beautiful parts of the city)
- Walking, walking, and walking (I always believe this is the best way to see any city, assuming it is safe to walk of course)
Paris Trip Planning: Here are a few suggestion on where to stay.
There are a billion and one places to stay in Paris and they aren’t cheap (especially for Americans when the dollar is weak. One of my most painful memories while staying there).
TRAVEL TIP: If you’re going to be there for over two weeks I would look into subletting an apt. You can check our VRBO, Air B’n’B, or other sites like Paris Stay. The difference in price may just be worth it and you will get to live like a Parisian – how romantic (J).
Areas you may want to check out:
Opera
Montorgueil
Le Marias
Bastille
Other areas: 15th and 19th arrondissement nice as well just a little further out
Making Memories in Europe
On to yet another wine adventure in another wonderful city - Paris for 6 whole weeks! While it was not my intention to spend this long in one city it was an opportunity for us enjoy the company of friends and meet my new family. An added bonus was that my new hubby’s hospital exchange gave him a firsthand look at Paris health system (plus a special visit with the U.S ambassador in Paris) and me an opportunity to understand more about the city that he loves so much.
If I were to make note of every little thing we did in Paris for six weeks this blog post would never end. Instead I thought it would be good to take a different approach to highlight our experiences as well as include some fabulous finds in Paris.
If I were to make note of every little thing we did in Paris for six weeks this blog post would never end. Instead I thought it would be good to take a different approach to highlight our experiences as well as include some fabulous finds in Paris.
Our highlights:
- Exploring Rue Montorgueil – restaurants, cafes, cheese shops, markets and more!
- Getting lost in Châtelet-Les Halles
- Weekend trips to Champagne, Lille, Berlin, and Versailles
- For me laughing at myself repeatedly as I attempted to speak French while taking lessons at Lutece Langue
- Enjoying home-cooked meals with my new family and friends
- Traveling to Bourg La Reine (a banlieue’s of Paris) to and being treated to a delicious French meal with my dear friend from Lille and her family. Something to remember.
- Mastering the art of cooking on a hot plate. We successfully made mussels, ceviche, and spaghetti carbanara, and I even managed to wip up some killer beef carpaccio salads.
- Sitting at cafes for hours drinking wine with some very special friends and lovely family members.
- Getting the chance to see Maceo Parker perform live in Lille, a big thank you to my otra hermana and her lovely novio for this wedding gift.
- Coming to the conclusion (self drawn conclusion of course) that over half of Paris doesn’t work or rather they refuse to work any more than 40 hours (which apparently after many conversation they already think is too much) because they are always in the café’s
- Our little jail cell studio apartment – a fire hazard for sure! But apparently they have lax standards in Paris as metal bars on our 1 window apt surely would prevent any type of escape. While discussing with a local Parisian we were told “not to worry, Paris doesn’t have fires”. (right)
- A PARIS PACKAGE SURPRISE – Climbing the stairs to our flat late at night having to step over one tenant who must have been sneaking phone calls. He was a bit “overexposed” on a few occasion as his “you know what” seemed to be hanging out of his pajama pants that were a bit too big
- Picnics, wine, and lovely conversations while enjoying the evenings along canal St. Martin (as MUST DO for anyone going to Paris when it is warm. Buy some wine; grab some cheese, bread, olives and more. It is one of the best experiences you can have)
- Hunting for the perfect macaroon (sampling what more than 20 stores have to offer)
- Dancing on the tables @ Favala Chic
- Getting lost in the Paris’s network of alleyways for hours on end (if you see an opening on a street just go down it. It leads to so many beautiful parts of the city)
- Walking, walking, and walking (I always believe this is the best way to see any city, assuming it is safe to walk of course)
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