Secret neighbourhood guides

[GitteK]

Looking for interesting walks in quartiers and villages that are not too overrun by the buscrowds ? The "real" Paris with "real" people ?

Here are a few really good links (and some examples)

www.secretsofparis.com/neighborhoods/
(La Nouvelle Athènes)

www.road75.com/mcq.htm
(Butte aux Cailles, Cité Florale, Saint Blaise)

www.parisinconnu.com/indexus.htm
(Passages Couverts - do NOT miss the embroidery/cross stitch shop "Le Bonheur des Dames" in Passage Verdeau)
www.linternaute.com/paris/magazine/dossier/06/paris-au-calme/10.shtml
(Butte Bergeyre)

[luvparee]

Merci, Gitte! Love those "secret spots" in Paris!

[holger]

Thanks Gitte.

Will hope to get to some of the neighborhoods and passages but we actually only have 7 full days in Paris since this trip we will be exploring other parts of France. With a matinee performance at the Opera we will just have to force ourselves to plan a return trip.



Sixteen days till we leave.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Thanks so much for these!

[Penny]

Only seven days? you poor thing

[Shoesy]

Holger - 7 full days in Paris will give you an opportunity to see and do a lot, and you'll even have time for some shopping, right?

[Jody]

Here's anothr ..but not so secret!

www.paristoolkit.com/whattodo/paris_walks.htm

and a guide to cinema walks throughout the city.


movies.pidf.com/page/p-1392/art_id-2956/

[holger]

Actually with the dollar so weak, I am not so sure about shopping. But one can always look. We are planning on picking an area for each day and then exploring it. May start with Montmartre since we were there in 1957 but did not get there last year. Then the Marais and more of the left bank.

Will go to the Carnavalet, Gustav Moreau, Picasso definitely. Maybe Decorative Arts. Certainly some of the Passages.. But the charm of Paris is that we may throw out all of our plans,( well not our Opera tickets) and still have a wonderful time.

[Shoesy]

Holger - For me window shopping is often more delightful than actually buying because that way I can "shop" for all the extravagant things that I can't afford. Sometimes I even select two or three items that I really like (it's usually jewelry) and make myself choose one as if I were actually deciding on a purchase. ;D

[Jody]

Holger,

If you are Montmarte do go to the Musee de MOntmarte..it's on a street right behind Sacre Coeur.. The builing itself is interesting.

ANd if you are going to the Moreau, the Musee la Vie Romantique is close by and small and worth a short visit.

[annettecinca]

These websites were fun to check out, guys! Thanks

[GitteK]

holger: When you go to Gustave Moreau, you must take a little time in the neighbourhood. It is very beautiful, though some of it needs restoration - a MUST DO is Square d'Orleans, which you access from Rue Taitbout 80 (there is one of these "Histoire de Paris" signs). Chopin and George Sand used to live here. The courtyard is wonderful with a fountain splashing in the middle. It is easy to imagine how this quartier must have looked like in the Golden Days, with horse carriages, elegant ladies (some of rather "easy virtue", I have been told !) in silk gowns and hats with flowers and feathers.
And my all time favorite relax spot is Place Gustave Toudouze, with 3 small cafés under the trees, complete with Wallace fountain and all the Paris trimmins.....

www.secretsofparis.com/nouvelle-athenes-grands-blvds/

[holger]

Thanks Demarais and Gitte,

These are all going into my book. We are planning on spending the day so will try to do alot in the area. If we can't we can always go back the next day. Doing this on our own gives us the flexibility.

Two weeks from today, I will be packing, dealing with unhappy cats and my own incredible dislike of flying but also with the thrill of the trip once we are in France.

If we lived in Europe, I could take trains--which I adore.

[geordy]

Gitte,
Here we go again..I seem to be following you around!

We are staying near there, in the little corner of the 9th just bordering the 2nd and the 10th!

I've got the 2 squares on my list from the last time...didn't do them then since it was Feb....though actually could have..I recall the weekend we were there it was warm(sit outside in sun with no coat warm!) and sunny! The weather is indeed unpredictable these days!

We've been to the Museums mentioned but any other suggestions are welcome...I am checking the websites!

[holger]

;D


Geordy,

Our times in paris appear to overlap. Perhaps we could get together for coffee or a drink. Let me know and I will get you the telephone number of our hotel, etc.

[GitteK]

geordy : MUST DO - MUST DO - MUST DO !!! This is just around the corner from your place !

Cité de Trévise - pure bliss !! If I win the big lotto prize this is where I buy my apt.



(between Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière and Rue de Trévise)

And while we are at it:
DO take a walk up Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis and its passages ! Every nationality on this planet must representated in this street - equally as or more colourful than Rue du Faubourg du Temple ! (from République to Belleville - another "coup de coeur")

Also you might consider a dinner/lunch at the classic brasseries "Julien" or "Brasserie Flo" or "Terminus Nord" ?
www.flobrasseries.com/

(no, I have not been to any of these brasseries yet, but will do, of course)

[geordy]

Circled those on my map! in red!

Flo got some rather bad notices here.

I have been to Julien, still have their flyer even though it was some time ago. Gorgeous place on a busy working class business district street. Had a solo lunch. Wonderful service and food. I wrote in my journal "friendliest place on earth!" I was bon jour madamed and au revoired mandamed by practically everyone in the place.! Got the "you didn't like it comment" with the raised eyebrow when I dared to leave a few lettuce remnents on my plate! Nicely done though, a delightful meal from start to finish! It might get a return visit!

A friend of mine stayed at the Hotel Ternimus Nord once and had nightly champagnes with the bartender there. I'm considering the Brasserie because I haven't been.

[geordy]

Rereading this from the link in the other post! As mentioned in my trip reports we did go to the 2 squares mentioned, plus Gitte's Lotto retirement place. Didn't make it to either restaurant , back to Julien or Teminus Nord...(drat eating disorder!)

Interesting reading the post now...a little fun, a little sad......

[parisbaby2]

So many secret and enchanting areas of Paris to see. I just returned from 2 weeks in Paris, with more on my list and now there is more to add. I need to plan some more trips to Paris.

[geordy]

As do we all PB2, as do we all........................