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Post by GitteK on Jun 8, 2007 2:31:01 GMT -5
So, now I'll do it.......... ask the question that has been troubling me for my last 5 Paris vacations: What is it exactly that is so great about Le Marais, that so many of you swoon over all the time ? I remember from the TA forum that whenever someone asked a question about where to go/stay/eat/pee/commit adultery/dance cha-cha-cha/rob a postoffice.... the standard answer was always LE MARAIS. And I never understood why.  Yes, Place des Vosges IS the most beautiful square in the world, agree 100%. Yes, Place du Marché Ste.Catherine IS (one of) the most picturesque and charming squares in the world, agree 100%. But besides that ?  |
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 8, 2007 3:12:22 GMT -5
Hmmmmmmm.........As I recall, everyone says that the best place to pee is at McDonald's, not the Marais. ;D
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Post by GitteK on Jun 8, 2007 3:49:29 GMT -5
So apart from Mrs S's veeerrrrryyyyy intelligent input  (or should I say output ?) noone else wants to take the defense case for Le Marais ? |
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Post by trechic on Jun 8, 2007 7:33:30 GMT -5
This may sound like an unusual answer, Gitte, but one of the reasons I chose it was that I understood it had a large gay community. That stands for a few things for me. I do not mean to stereotype gay males, in particular, but from other areas I tend to frequent that do have a large contingent of gay males , ie. San Miguel de Allende and Provincetown, MA - I love the amazing creativity they have - a sense of style and taste - a flair - and because I am not a lesbian I always am very welcomed and embraced. It for me, adds a certain something to an area to have a smattering of a gay male population, it's eclectic and somehow more alive!!
Last time I was vacationing in the Riviera Maya with my daughter I chose this "gem" of a hotel, not knowing until we arrived that it was owned by two gay men and had a predominantly gay male following in it's client (guest) base. My daughter and I had the absolutely best vacation ever there!! Two fabulous older gay gentlemen from Canada took my daughter completely under their wing and to this day she still converses by email with them and will say...Mom, Henry and Francois are going to be in ______ in March!!! Can we please go???!!! HA HA
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Post by luckyluc on Jun 8, 2007 7:45:06 GMT -5
Trechic I will take your post as a compliment. We are a great group are we !!!!!
More seriously I think that a lot of the ex-regulars wanted the first-time tourist to explore more than the 5-6-7 arrondissements!
Also the Marais does not look like the rest of Paris and it is one place where one can see the pre-Haussman city. I find it very intimate, that is the first reason, I will let you guess the second one...
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 8, 2007 8:26:46 GMT -5
I agree with the above comments about why the Marais is interesting and different from, e.g., bd St Germain area. I enjoy going there because it's easy to get a bit lost, and the reason it's easy to get a bit lost is that it wasn't homogenized and improved into uniformity like many other areas were -- it gives you some sense of how the whole city would have been several hundred years ago. It's also great for many offbeat shops, small cafes, etc.
A couple of years ago someone gave me a book called "A Corner in the Marais" which I enjoyed very much and since then have passed on to others. It was written by a guy who bought an apartment in an old building, became fascinated with it, and started researching its history. He dug through various public sources and found references to it going back hundreds of years, and tell about that, but also tells about other buildings and events nearby. With his book in hand, we found his building easily (also a nearby part of the old city wall going back to around the 14th century).
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Post by catherine on Jun 8, 2007 9:07:07 GMT -5
And while I don't believe in the notion of there being 'one best' area in which to stay (there's lots of different areas that are great for different reasons), the things I appreciated when staying in the Marais were:
1) NO postcard/souvenir shops - at all - unlike parts of 5th.
2) medieval appearance and history
3) many good museums within spitting distance (Carnavalet, Jewish, Picasso, Pompidou, need I continue?)
4) there's as many Parisians as tourists enjoying the relaxed feel of the Sunday afternoon shopping in the unique little boutiques, and
5) the lads heading out for the evening were in good moods and focussed on having a good night out and paid no attention whatsoever to we three blonde women - which I found very comfortable when walking home late at night in a foreign city!
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Post by Truffaut on Jun 8, 2007 9:22:11 GMT -5
1. Pre-Haussmannian architecture and street plans.
2. Pretty boys.
3. Lots of museums.
4. Pretty boys.
5. Convenient location for travel throughout the city.
6. Pretty boys.
7. A couple of nice boutique hotels.
8. Pretty boys.
9. Good shopping that's a little off the beaten path.
...and I can't remember what number 10 was....
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 8, 2007 9:25:14 GMT -5
Truffaut - Maybe #10 was L'As du Falafel! ;D
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Post by Truffaut on Jun 8, 2007 9:38:53 GMT -5
Yes, Shoesy, I think that was it!
By the way, everybody, I should explain that "boys" is just a gay slang term for any guy under 80 years old, and that I'm not promoting pedophilia!!!
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Post by sistereurope on Jun 8, 2007 10:09:43 GMT -5
I'll have to agree with the general concensus, Gitte...I've never stayed there, but I've enjoyed walking around, shopping and hanging out at cafes. The streets are more winding and narrow and it does have more of a old village feel, which I like. And yes Truffaut, the general scenery can be quite pleasant to look at... for people of all tastes and persuasions. ;D
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Post by GitteK on Jun 8, 2007 10:45:37 GMT -5
Well, I had better put it in my to-do list, then. I already HAD made a note of that renowned falafel-house also last year, but the lines were unending, so I gave up. Shoesy, truffy's number 10 would more likely be "L'ass du Falafel" if I read his list correctly, hehehehehe....  I am bad, I know - please smite me.....  |
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 8, 2007 11:32:24 GMT -5
Gitte - My heart simply won't let my hand touch that "smite" button.  |
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Post by andi on Jun 9, 2007 11:29:58 GMT -5
Having not yet visited the Marais yet on past occassions I can not comment, but what you all write does make it sound appealing so it will be on my "to do" list for next time!  |
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Post by warmac on Jun 20, 2007 20:24:36 GMT -5
We are going to Paris for the very first time this August and are staying in the Marais district.
I am delighted to see that we have chosen such a unique and interesting area.
Can hardly wait to get there.
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Post by warmac on Jun 20, 2007 20:29:01 GMT -5
We are going to Paris for the very first time this August and are staying in the Marais district.
I am delighted to see that we have chosen such a unique and interesting area.
Can hardly wait to get there.
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Post by warmac on Jun 20, 2007 20:30:24 GMT -5
Whoops!
I will get the hang of this eventually.
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 20, 2007 20:36:59 GMT -5
warmac - You'll love Paris, just like the rest of us, and I'm sure you'll enjoy staying in the Marais. No matter where you stay, though, you can spend time in any section of Paris that you choose. You'll be able to walk to many places, and you'll have the Metro at your disposal to get to other places. I bet that as soon as you come home, you're going to want to start planning your second trip, so start saving your money. |
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Post by susanb on Jun 26, 2007 18:43:58 GMT -5
Warmac; Anybody that reads this site knows that I do that at least 2-3 times a week!!
s
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Post by GitteK on Jan 18, 2008 8:06:49 GMT -5
www.parismarais.com/le-marais-museum-guide.htmI stumbled across this extensive list (IN english, WITH photos) of museums in Le Marais, e.g. Chasse & Nature, dealt with in another thread. But also: Victor Hugo's house in Place des Vosges Arts et Metiers (with the ancient church) Museum for photography - and not least: Dolls' Museum (I am definitely going there !) 
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(or should I say output ?) noone else wants to take the defense case for Le Marais ?
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha