Map of Paris
Franca Bollo said...
You'll definitely have to post links in your booklet to alternative accommodations because it looks like snagging a room at Chez Coco Puff Paree is going to be très difficile.
I do sense a Cabras stay ...
Reply 02 October 2012 at 10:21 PM
Sue said...
I was just in Paris this summer, my second vist, with hopefully more to follow! I would definitely recommend a first-time visitor take the BATOBUS down the Seine. It has like 8 stops at major tourist attractions {Eiffel, Louvre, Notre Dame, etc.}. You are free to get on and off as much or little as you wish. Along that same theme/concept is the L'Open Tour Bus which has four different routes. One ticket allows you to explore all routes. For 3 Euro more you can buy a two day pass from this outfit. This type of "overview" of the city exposes you to a lot of the major attractions and allows you to use the rest of your vacation time to zero in on the areas/attractions you liked the best! The metro is also very easy to use and expedient when you want to get from point A to point B FAST! But always buy a packet of the metro tickets {i think there are ten to a pack} as you save a lot when buying in bulk. Metro users need to know that there are no elevators and there are often a lot of stairs involved. Taxis, while plentiful are expensive as you are charged by time as well as distance to your destination. In Paris' heavy traffic the time factor can be more costly than the distance factor. But I would definitely take a taxi to and from the airport when you're schlepping luggage. Worth the spend. Also, to avoid a huge headache at de Gualle Airport, know what terminal you are flying out of before you head to airport. With terminal 2 there is 2A-2G and that little letter makes a huge difference. And above all else, bring good walking shoes and explore, explore, explore!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 09:22 PM
Rebecca from the pacific northwest said...
My advice:
walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk
pause and sip coffee
walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk
take time to peer at everything
walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk
shop markets and cook for yourself some, eat at cafes some
walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk walk
enjoy.
(I've been excessively busy and haven't gotten to stop in here for a while. have missed you all!)
Reply 02 October 2012 at 09:03 PM
Tongue in Cheek said in reply to Rebecca from the pacific northwest...
lol! My mother said, "... I left my feet in Paris."
Reply 03 October 2012 at 12:11 AM
Franca Bollo said in reply to Rebecca from the pacific northwest...
Yep. That's usually my itinerary ... except cooking for oneself part.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 10:14 PM
Rebecca from the pacific northwest said in reply to Franca Bollo...
Haha, Franca and Corey. (Especially the "except for cooking for oneself part.") We just balance eating out with cooking, for a nod toward money-savings, and also for the enjoyment of shopping at open air veggie markets and interacting with the sellers there while being relatively clueless...
Reply 03 October 2012 at 11:25 PM
Cheri Hansen said...
Dear Corey, Love Paris. have not any long stays but; do manage to hit some cute places that look out upon some magnificent views. One example - visiting Shakespeare and Co. (darling bookstore ). One can stroll down the ave. along the Seine -visit the bookstore and upon coming out view Notre Dame, then catch a cafe au lait practically next door, look through one's new book and see all the people go by. May your redecorating go swiftly and with some fun!!! My best, Cheri
Reply 02 October 2012 at 08:58 PM
Dawn said...
My advice on visiting Paris is to simply enjoy the different neighborhoods by taking the Metro to different stops, walking the streets and taking it all in! Some of my favorite memories of time spent in this beautiful city are the little everyday moments of life in Paris. One that sticks in my mind, is of a little girl in a school uniform, standing on the balcony of her apartment singing softly in French. Don't be in a rush. Take time to sit at the cafes and watch Paris pass by.
Paris is home to some of the most beautiful hotels in the world. Just because you may not afford to stay in them, you can still visit. We visited many of these hotels simply for a glass of wine and a bite to eat. The service is unbelievable and the floral arrangements are jaw dropping. At the Four Seasons George V, we sat at our table and before we knew it a server was placing our handbags on darling little needlepoint stools.
Take time to wander into small shops in quiet neighborhoods. One of our favorite shops was a tiny antiquities dealer located a short distance from Sacre Couer. The prices were fabulous and we found so many little treasures.
We too loved the time spent at the brocante market: Porte de Vanves.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 08:53 PM
Debbie Z. said...
I have never been to Paris, but dream of making it there one day. I recently read a book I got from the library titled Paris Was Ours, a collection of essays by writers who lived in Paris for a time. Loved it! What seemed most romantic was the food- bread gets talked about so much it almost becomes a cliche, but I know that it has to be fantastic there. Could you include the places to buy the very, very best breads and sweets? Also, I loved reading about the parks and parents sitting while their children had fun, the happy sound of children speaking French and laughing while they played. Could you include the most beautiful parks in Paris? And the very best antique shops to find old silver, transferware, best-priced antique jewelry (my obsessions)? Will love reading your guidebook.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 08:36 PM
Claire said...
I lived in Paris for 17 years and return to this intensely visual city of the soul every few years. I have always loved most the places where time seems to have stopped, pockets of the past, a brocante of spaces, if you like.
A collection of such spaces can be found in the pedestrian passages of Paris, les pages couverts: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passages_couverts_de_Paris and under the archways in the interior court of the Palais Royal.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 08:31 PM
Zosia said...
How exciting! Can't wait to see your stories and decorating progress.
Could you please include Shakespeare and Co Bookstore in Paris in your guide?
Reply 02 October 2012 at 07:52 PM
Tongue in Cheek said in reply to Zosia...
Oh yes!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 08:13 PM
Chris M said...
Corey, I'm so excited to see your grand project unfold here on your blog. What fun! I'd love to know more about the neighborhood it's in, and the history of the building. One of my favorites is to walk Rue Cler and look at all the wonderful shops on the market street. I love smelling the cheeses and seeing the colorful flower shops. The Rodin museum is my favorite. The long stairway up to Montmartre is magical. Strolling the streets in Montmartre is another favorite, as well as walking in the famous cemetery. The old monuments are truly something to behold. Will mostly likely think of more.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 07:21 PM
DeeDee Clark said...
I've only been through Paris on the way to the south of France. 3 weeks "living" there is on my bucket list, but I sure LOVE your mug!!!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 06:52 PM
Laurie SF said...
"The area from Boulevard Montparnasse down past the Luxembourg Gardens to Boulevard Saint-Germain is like a museum of expatriate literature. Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas lived on Rue de Fleurus, Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda on Rue Madame. Man Ray had his studio just around the corner from the Odéon, Further up the hill, you can hardly sit down at a café or restaurant that someone hasn't immortalized. Salvador Dali hawked paintings at La Coupole to other Surrealists like Robert Desnos, and met Louis Aragon and Man Ray in the bar, while at another table, Catalan exiles plotted revolution. At the Closerie des Lilas, a brass plate marks the table which the hard-drinking Ernest Hemingway could be found" -John Baxter, We'll Always Have Paris
For me, this is the seductive lure of Paris. It keeps me coming back for more...
Reply 02 October 2012 at 06:06 PM
Anjanette said in reply to Laurie SF...
I can't wait for you to show me Paris & France through your lovely and inspiring eyes and personality Laurie SF!! It WILL happen!! Reading, dreaming and imagining through Corey's blog makes the anticipation even more fervent!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 09:47 PM
Melissa Cooney said...
I love Paris and am going again in a few weeks. It is so hard to choose perfect places as each time I have been there I find new favorites to add to my list. A few: the rooftop of the Galleries Lafayette for the view of the city; the Musee d'Orsay with its paintings and fabulous view through the clock to the Louvre across the river; the magnificent parks and cafes at every turn. But my favorite trip was Paris in November on a Sunday morning...the sun was bright and warm, streets were quiet until the church service ended and people spilled out into the street, and the children had their noses pressed against the Galleries Lafayette windows to see the Christmas display. It was an absolutely perfect day!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:52 PM
ChicagoSheila said...
It was a splurge, but I bought an Eric Bompard cashmere scarf while shopping Champs Elysees. I love it!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:51 PM
Chris Wittmann said...
I've never been to Paris except in my dreams :) If ever I could go I would, of course, love to know all about the best brocantes and quaint little cafes. I'd also love to walk old cobbled streets (if they have them) and see those beautiful homes with brightly painted shutters and fancy old ironwork gates. A good antiquarian bookstore would also be a plus :)
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:38 PM
Tongue in Cheek said in reply to Chris Wittmann...
Hi Chris
The first thing I noticed when I lived in Paris was that homes in Paris were few, or I should say "homes" are mostly apartments in seven floor buildings. Brightly colored shutters are also few, as Paris' color palette differs greatly from the south of France and the countryside. With that said, ironwork is plentiful, my neck actually hurts at the end of the day from looking up most of the time. Ironwork balconies are plentiful.
When you come to France I hope we meet, I will gladly show you Paris and the south!
C
Reply 02 October 2012 at 08:19 PM
Jennie said...
Hi Corey, Have been to Paris many times and only the last two times did I realize how much more wonderful it is to take the bus than the Metro. A map of bus lines and a list of which bus to take from your apartment to get to the important sites in Paris and the restaurants and cafes and well how to get wherever by bus. Also instructions on how and where to buy a Navigo Decouverte.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:32 PM
Tongue in Cheek said in reply to Jennie...
Good advice!!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 08:20 PM
LisaV said...
Can't wait to see all the pictures of the apartment!
We just got back from Paris, and there are way too many great places to eat, but one of our favorites has to be the 'block of food' at the Maubert-Mutualite Metro station. We had several great meals from there, just strolling and buying what looked good from each shop, then taking back and devouring it all. Plus yogurt in glass jars - yummo. And the bread. With cheese. Excuse me a minute while I savor the memories...
As for travelers tips - don't be afraid of the Metro, RER and TGV stations. Americans seem to expect them to be confusing and dirty, but we've always found them to be the complete opposite. If we've even stopped for a moment, people are always asking if they can assist us. Love that each Metro station is themed/decorated differently!
And walk. Start walking before you leave home and build up your stamina. While the trains are useful, the city is WAY too pretty to miss. The buildings, the parks, the streets, and especially the store windows. You'll want to collect it all in your arms and take it home.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:30 PM
Sharon Penney-Morrison said...
Will it be ready by next May is my 1st question?
Where are bathrooms
Where are the brocante's of course
Candy shops
Museums
Fun place to watch people???
We will be going to Paris first, and then coming down your way. Hoping to see you and shop at some point. we will be renting a car...and I will be driving.
So excited to some back to France. xo
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:30 PM
Geraldine Ventura said...
Dear Corey, How exciting to have your own place in Paris! We are going later this month and for the third time are renting an apartment. We find this so superior to hotel stays. I am always interested in knowing the sites to find lists of events going on when we are in Paris. Of course, the names of the local restaurants (other than the usual well known ones) are appreciated, and I agree that the local Monoprix is good to know as well. Would love to win your little cup as a Paris memory. Merci!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:22 PM
jody said...
Corey, i am thrilled about this apartment and am ready to be in line to rent!
These are the places i would either need or like to visit while traveling
I am a vegan and would love to have places to go for dinner and lunch. another important place are health food stores that sell organic produce and bulk items like nuts and seeds, they can be eaten on the run, or also for breakfast.Bakeries that have whole grain breads , cookies etc would be nice. and here in the states there is a great gluten free movement and those folks might like a list of establishments to serve them.
You are ready with your brocante list( which is my favorite also) but shopping experiences for great french clothing that is not budget breaking would be nice. a great stationary store for postcards and where to find postage is helpful.and we need city and surrounding area maps! and i love bookstores!
We have an abundance of drugstores and pharmacies and that Americans rely on for first aid and over the counter remedies, and women also may need feminine products. and some of us prefer the health store to find herbal teas and tinctures. How about a list of emergency physicians or walk in clinics like we have here? (a friend of mine broke her arm in Greece ).
a travel guide would also include the best of museums,(the obvious and not so obvious), also nice parks for walking, street art shows, etc. Maybe they can be listed by season or monthly also. How about sports events? (walks, runs, bicycling). My husband is an car lover, perhaps something in that line for a museum or show.Speaking of cars, a car rental business would be good to have, and also great countryside ideas for a good ride out of town or to go brocante.
By all means, list your favorite spots to eat, have coffee, tea, wine, desserts, etc. I have been to Paris once, 10 years ago. My husband and i walked every day all day. a list of the best of great little spots among all the many choices we saw would have been nice to stop and rest.
This has my mind rolling and i am ready to come. we were there in November,2002. i could still make reservations for this year! oui, oui!! oh, another great idea! i come over and help you write this little booklet!!
For yourself,enjoy the process of this second little home, vacation spot and perhaps rental.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:20 PM
Sheri said...
When I arrive in a new city, I like to know the basics first. Where's the local monoprix, marche and ATM! That makes me feel comfortable that I can get whatever I need and also gives me a feeling of familiarity of the area. A page on available transportation would be helpful. Then I'm ready for the cafes, restaurants and sites! If there's anything (places, areas) that I should avoid, that information would be appreciated, too. I have a couple of rentals, also, and I always include these things.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:05 PM
Jillayne said...
Oh what fun Corey! You will have such a grand timing doing it and we will have a grand time reading about it.
I haven't read what the others wrote so hopefully this isn't duplicated.... I would love tidbits on sites that have to do with art. I watched a program on the Impressionist painters and the store where Degas bought his pastels is still in business, in the same place and owned by the same family! I would love to know where places like that are.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:02 PM
christina hammans said...
I have wanted to visit Paris since I was a very little girl and will be getting the chance next June. The experience is going that much more special because my eighteen year old daughter, her boyfriend Sam, and my husband Mark will get to experience this dream with me. I would love to experience France like a local does. We are still on the hunt for somewhere to stay so please keep us in mind once establish fee's and such. Your blog has allowed me to get a taste of Parisian life so thank you. I love random coffee cups añd the one you have posted is adorable.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 05:02 PM
martina said...
It is now a Chinese restaurant. when I was a kid we took a trip to Paris. "The Hole in the Wall" Le trou dans le mur? It was in a building where there was an Bar Americain near the Paris Opera. Max and his wife owned the place. My parents and I liked the place so much we had dinner there every night. A cannonball had gone through a wall in the 1800s which was the reason for the name. First time I tried escargot and true French food. We were leaving for home on Easter Sunday. The night before, Max and his wife gave us slices of their special Easter cake with little yellow wax chicks. I still have my chick and many fond memories.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 04:54 PM
jeannine said...
OMG!! I do not know who will be more excited about this apartment makeover--you or I :-) Will certainly be exciting to hear of all the plans and watching them come to life! I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting Paris in person, but I have spent years reading anything I can get my hands on, enjoying any photos shared with me...what would I want included in the booklet? Well, without a doubt, I would want someone in "the know" to plot out ALL public restrooms :-) I remember you have written about the lack of them and my tiny active bladder would appreciate any and all info regarding the facilities :-) I would also be the person interested in the tiny out of the way markets to purchase local ingredients to create my own tasty meals. I love to immerse myself in local culture and what better way than through food!
Best of luck in compiling your booklet and renovating the apartment! Please share BEFORE photos, as well~
Reply 02 October 2012 at 04:24 PM
Carrie Gaines said...
I've never been to France, but would love to go...one of the things I would find very helpful in your booklet is the little "french life style" tips (like those you share on your blog) that would keep me from embarrassing myself while in the French or even Parisienne culture.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 04:13 PM
judyo said...
How exciting for you and us. My dream, a pied a terre in Paris!!! My favorites are the evening cruise on the bateau mouche on the Seine with the Eiffel tower twinkling in the dark and using the Metro to find the Stohrer Patisserie on Rue Montorgueil. Of course going to the top of the tower and looking out over Paris and people watching at sidewalk cafes and EVERYTHING else mentioned. Maybe you can publish your booklet for anyone visiting Paris. I LOVE PARIS!!!!!!!
Reply 02 October 2012 at 04:11 PM
Laura @ 52 FLEA said...
Oh Corey! Please sign me up to rent for a few weeks or maybe even a month! I will gladly offer my services to you to test out your new place...and follow all of your tips! How exciting! I can't wait to see your apartment come together !! :)
Reply 02 October 2012 at 04:11 PM
www.monicawatercolors.com said...
La Mouffe, 5ieme arrondisement....to the marche or just to stroll...
Reply 02 October 2012 at 04:01 PM
Joan Tanketsley said...
The roof of the Pompidou on a stormy day makes
a beautiful photo. Captures the history of La Marais and the
insistent moderne mindset in one exhilarating accent. My favorite
view, well on the top 10 anyway.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:54 PM
Star said...
I'm really excited to read about your makeover project, Corey. I don't take the time to leave comments like I used to, but I love the glimpses you give us. Thank you so much for sharing here.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:53 PM
Tongue in Cheek said in reply to Star...
Hi Star!!!
I think of you often!
xxx C
Reply 02 October 2012 at 08:45 PM
Star said...
I'm really excited to read about your makeover project, Corey. I don't take the time to leave comments like I used to, but I love the glimpses you give us. Thank you so much for sharing here.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:53 PM
Evelyn in NYC said...
Can't wait to see your progress. I have never been to Paris, but I always like to know where the "locals" go - the places that are great but never make it into the mainstream tourist information that anybody can find. The hidden gems of the city that a tourist wouldn't think to look for.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:49 PM
Susan said...
Mass at Notre Dame was the definitive event in my trip to Paris. Visiting there at night was breathtaking and magical.
Plus the Louvre, plus the sidewalk cafes, plus Sacre Coeur, plus... well you get the idea.
I've only been to Paris once, and yet I find myself feeling homesick for the city. I was there two years ago this month and I would go back in a heartbeat if I could.
Can't wait until your apartment is ready to be rented! :)
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:45 PM
Dianne said...
I love Paris and I have had the pleasure of visiting there four times. I never get tired of seeing the same things over and over. The best advice I could offer is to get the museum pass and a metro ticket. The museum pass lets you bypass the long lines at the entrance and you can enter with the tour groups. This especially comes in handy when visiting the Louvre. Love the Metro - it takes you anywhere you want to go and it puts our MBTA to shame.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:26 PM
Laura McHugh said...
Please include some of the history of the apartment, the surrounding area, and the people who run nearby patisseries, cafes, etc. The stories are what I love so much about Paris.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:26 PM
Jen said...
Hi Cory!
I have never been to Paris (though I hope to visit someday)but I do alot of reading about it--David Lebovitz's blog is a favorite. I always like when he talks about places to go/eat/shop that the locals frequent--sort of the "real Paris." When I travel I like to ask cab drivers where they eat or hang out. I have never been disappointed to see a city from a local's point of view.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:22 PM
Anna Doughty said...
Corey, how lovely this all sounds. To go to Paris....one of my dreams! Everything you right about it makes me think that it is truly as magical a place as I (and every other starry eyed culinary student) has dreamed. Someday, I will come to Paris, I will probably rent our apartment, an I will squeeze every drop of life out of that guidebook, loving the advice of a Paris professional.
Reply 02 October 2012 at 03:22 PM
