Well there isn’t much we can say about Paris that has not already been said but some of it is just worth saying over and over again. From glamour to grittiness, haute couture to bargain basements Paris has got it all and we love it.
As the city with more famous landmarks than any other, we had absolutely no problem filling up a week of our time. Some new, some old and still plenty left for our next visit!
We opted for an apartment in the 13th arrondissement, an area which is certainly on the up helped largely by the construction of the 2 billion Euro Bibliotheque National de France, its equally impressive futuristic footbridge which crosses the Seine and an amazing high speed metro line which had us standing in front of the Louvre in 10 minutes.
The area had everything with wanted within a 2 minute walk of the apartment. Delicious bakeries, a particularly friendly butcher (who even told me how to cook the meat and what would be the bet accompaniment) a pungent cheese shop, green grocers galore, wine cellars and an array of bars and restaurants.
A five minute stroll had us in what felt like an entirely different country; the heart of chinatown (although it is probably more apt to say vietnam town). The colourful succession of Asian restaurants and shops was something to behold and provided us with a very reasonably priced dinner option.
Talking of cheap eats we spent our sunday morning at the open air Marche Bastille, a stretch of canvass covered stalls heading north of the monument selling a huge range of fresh produce. The clown with a fish bowl on his head kept Mike entertained as I sampled everything that was on offer.
A short stroll from the Bastille area are the winding medieval alleyways of Marais district, some of the very few remaining in Paris. Everything can be found in this enclave of meandering cobblestones from up and coming french designers to well known high street labels. Getting lost and falling upon quirky one off shops was part of the fun.
The whole area is packed full of every cuisine imaginable leaving us with the difficult task of knowing which one to choose! A big favourite for a quick bite appeared to be the jewish restaurants serving up a host of specialties from central Europe, North Africa and Israel.
Paris wasn’t all about shopping and eating though (admittedly a large proportion of it was) we did manage some cultural attractions. We spent a morning being marched through the Louvre at lightening speed like a pair of American tourists so that Mike could tick the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo off his list then get back out in to the fresh air! He also couldn’t see what all the fuss was about, after all it was just a painting of a miserable woman and a statute with no arms!
We managed to take the Chateau of Versaille at a slightly more sedate pace, although I think that was more to do with the fact that it was cold outside. The truly splendid palace was built in the 17th century on the order of Louis XIV at the height of his glory. The furnishings are truly decadent and he was certainly a chap who enjoyed self glorification. There are self portraits in almost every room. The gardens are equally magnificent extending as far as the eye can see and best explored via golf buggy.
It was nice to see all of the usual suspects without actually trying or having to fight the crowds to join a queue or buy a ticket. It is pretty hard to miss the 286 meter high Eiffel Tower and as such an iconic Parisien symbol, despite having seen it time and time again, it remains breathtaking on every occasion. A stroll underneath it was enough to bring Mike out in cold sweats!
Enjoying the peacefulness of the gardens behind Notre Dame whilst marveling at the intricacies of its architecture and (half watching a ridiculous street performer who somehow had a huge crowd captivated whilst in reality he did nothing) was a new take. As was taking the back route to the Sacre Cour following a self guided walking tour around Monmatre (stopping off along the way for the best french onion soup we have had on the trip so far!!)
Paris by night is another experience entirely. From our pub crawl in the Bastille area (which actually resulted in us making friends with the barman and not leaving his bar until we fell of our stools at the end of the night having made some American friends and sampled an array of shots) ...
...to a sumptuous meal in the Monmatre. The highlight has to be a night of cabaret at the world famous Moulin Rouge.
Admittedly this is a show for tourists not locals but nevertheless it was truly entertaining. It was exactly what we expected with its lavishly furnished velvet red interior and small pink table lamps giving of a dim glow. We managed to bag an excellent spot to witness the campest show on earth. If anyone reading has been to the Birdcage this is it, tenfold. If I was to be slightly critical the dancing was not some of the best I have seen in my life but the truly extravagant costumes (most of which appeared to have the chest pieces missing for the ladies) lavish scenery and show stopping moments (examples include a girl swimming in a tank full of snakes, flying over the audience in an invisible harness and dancing ponies) really make this worth seeing.
All in all a fabulous week in Paris and we will certainly be back for more.
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