PARIS!!!
We really are the luckiest people in the world! The sabbaticals take us to so many wonderful places and even though we were in Paris a mere 3 years ago, we are loving it all over again.
Our apt. is conveniently located in the north Marais near Place de la Republique where all the Paris demonstrations are held. Our building is quite old, but the small and cozy one-bedroom apartment, is newly renovated. The neighborhood is in the process of gentrifying with many new galleries and restaurants.
Our apt. is conveniently located in the north Marais near Place de la Republique where all the Paris demonstrations are held. Our building is quite old, but the small and cozy one-bedroom apartment, is newly renovated. The neighborhood is in the process of gentrifying with many new galleries and restaurants.
Place de la Republique
Miles is teaching the same course he gave at ETH. He'll go to the Ecole des Mines (engineering school established in 1793) near Luxembourg Gardens on Thursdays. Otherwise, he'll work at the apartment and take breaks in the afternoons to wander around Paris with me!
Miles at Ecole des Mines entrance
The Medici fountain and reflecting pool with Poseidon standing guard in the Luxembourg Gardens
(I have taken a picture of this pool every time I have come to Paris since 1977!)
While walking through the Tuileries Gardens to the Place de la Concorde we found...voila...the Amorino Gelato stand which served ice cream in the shape of a flower. You can choose as many flavors as you want and we had four (raspberry, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and tiramisu). The server takes a small flat paddle and puts on one petal at a time. Lovey and delicious!
Our last adventure of our first day was to wander over to the Canal St. Martin (near our apartment and where Miles will do his daily exercise walk) and saw a boat going through the locks.
Canal boat
We love having the monthly metro pass and can go anywhere in and around Paris (up to 5 zones). We especially like to look at the Paris map and find a green space (a park) and just go. We have discovered so many charming areas that are really off the tourist track.
One such place was Parc Frederic Pic in the south-west section of the city quite far from the city center. There are so many places like this that are so tranquil.
The neighborhood nearby of Issy-les-Moulineaux is very low-keyed and charming with interesting houses.
We passed a small outdoor market near the Mairie d'Issy metro stop.
Another day, off to the Bois de Bologne in the western side of Paris! This is the largest green area and reminds us of Golden Gate Park. We especially wanted to see the Louis Vuitton Foundation, opened in 2014, which is a Frank Gehry-designed art and cultural center, located at the northern end of the park. We hope to go to the exhibit " Being Modern: MoMA in Paris". The line was SO long--we better get advance tickets.
The neighborhood nearby of Issy-les-Moulineaux is very low-keyed and charming with interesting houses.
We passed a small outdoor market near the Mairie d'Issy metro stop.
Look at all this fresh sea food!
Another day, off to the Bois de Bologne in the western side of Paris! This is the largest green area and reminds us of Golden Gate Park. We especially wanted to see the Louis Vuitton Foundation, opened in 2014, which is a Frank Gehry-designed art and cultural center, located at the northern end of the park. We hope to go to the exhibit "
Like many new French buildings, this is very controversial:
Sails? Jumble of twisted glass and metal?
Boats at Lac Superieur, Bois de Bolougne
Restaurant in the Bois
Dusk in the Bois, bird aflight
We left the park and walked to our metro stop, passing some BEAUTIFUL homes/embassies in the 16th arrondisement.
















One recommendation: we always stay La Marais and in the same hotel on Rue de Turbigo when in Paris and when we feel we are splurge-worthy we eat in a nearby restaurant across the Place de la Republique called "Astier" - Rue Jean Pierre Timbaud - It's special. Put it on your list.
ReplyDeleteAh...Paree. you capture it so beautifully. The Louis Vuitton Museum is well worth seeing. Love your photos!
ReplyDelete