Probably the most common question we are asked, when telling others about our adventure, is, “What is your favorite place?” Our answer is always the same…PARIS. Even before we started traveling full-time, we found excuses to begin or end a trip (to other destinations) with a stop in Paris. We continue to return here because it just draws us.
As we come to the end of another ‘chapter’ in the adventure, we are back in Paris. In fact, we are staying in the same Airbnb apartment in Le Marias (4th arr) where we began ‘Chapter 1’ in September 2016!
It is ‘cozy’ (code for small), but quite functional, and you can’t beat the location, right in the center of Le Marias, one block from a stop on the Metro Line 1. The boucherie (butcher), boulangerie (bakery), fromagerie (cheese), verger (green grocer), poissonier (fish), and grocery store are all an easy walk away. We adapt easily to the French custom of shopping every day, and we have wonderful choices!
We will stay this time for a total of 5 weeks! When we’re in a place that is this comfortable for this long, we tend to settle in and live more like we would at home…planning dinners out and tours, but not everyday. Sometimes my favorite way to spend a day is to wander…window shopping, people watching, stopping at a cafe for a coffee or ice cream, sitting in a park with a good book.
A highlight of our first week in Paris was getting together with Good friends from Baltimore who were finishing up a Wine & Food Society trip. Ernie & Donna Kovacs, Rick & Elaine Born and Livio & Diane Broccolino joined us for a lovely dinner at Bistroy les Papilles.
Atelier des Lumières is a new gallery space in a former foundry that calls itself a ‘digital art center.’ The inaugural exhibition features three artists, including Gustav Klimt. It is a unique experience – like surround sound for your eyes…just magical! None of my videos came out well but, if you follow the link above, you can get a sense of what this experience was like.
On one of my wanders, I found myself outside the Forum des Halles, where these children were having a ball playing in a spray fountain.
Inside, I found a Lego store that seemed as busy as your average Apple store! Lots of interactive stations, including this one where you could create your own figures from thousands of different pieces.
On another day, in Luxembourg Gardens, I found children taking advantage of the breeze by sailing boats on the Grand Bassin duck pond, a tradition that is almost a century old.
One of our traditions is taking a picnic to the Champs de Mars, the large public green space at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Our typical fare is cheese, charcuterie, foie gras, bread and. of course, wine…this time, rosé.
We try to go just before dusk because, as the sun goes down, the tower lights up. And at the top of every hour, it sparkles! Talk about magical, this defines the word for me…
One day, while I was window shopping, I came across a stretch of sidewalk on which someone had scattered hundreds of hearts!
Can you see why we love this place??
Can picture you in your Paris home. Had a wonderful time with you the year we met up in Paris. I know you 2 are enjoying every moment.
This post reminds me of a quote from Hemingway in ‘A moveable feast’ — “There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it.”
Cheers!
Thank you for this quote. I couldn’t have said it better!
Ah, The City of Lights. Probably our favorite city too. Great blog with (as usual) some marvelous photos The new lights on the Eiffel Tower are spectacular and the photo you took depicting it was great. The various day scenes in and around Paris brought back some great memories and I am going to do my best too duplicate (tomorrow) the delicious picture perfect lunch you and Rick shared at a new French restaurant in Baltimore. The photo with dinner in Paris with some of our mutual friends from the W&F Society was a delight.
All the best. Enjoy. Have a wonderful visit to Paris. Bonjour.