fAsHiOn & tRaVeLs

To start of with, 24hrs are never enough for Paris, especially NOT for a first visit. But let’s say you have been blessed with the opportunity to spend even 24hrs in this lovely city. What would you do? Go shopping? Stroll along Champs Élysées? For me the best thing is to “re-visit” the most notable places of this city starting from L’Etoile Arc de Triomphe. Then walk along Champs Élysées and enjoy the city vibe!

Because my “plan” consists of a LOT of walking, you might want to grab something from my favorite bakery in the whole wide world: PAUL. There you can find everything from various types (and flavours) of bread to delicious desserts.

If you are a cars’ fan then you will be delighted by walking along Champs Elysees. The Citroen building is a very fancy one I admit. For me the new (actually renovated) Louis Vuitton shop is the most interesting building in Champs Élysées.

As you come closer to the river Seine, you have 2 choices: either go right, where Avenue Montaigne (a.k.a serious shopping street), Petit and Grand Palais and (ultimately) the Eiffel Tower is or go left, heading towards Rue de Rivoli, Louvre, Notre Dame. Let’s go right first…we’ll come back later

Avenue Montaigne is a cute little (well relevantly little) street where all the major fashion houses have a store: Christian Dior, Chanel, Nina Ricci, Gucci etc. Our window shopping brings us to the bank of the river Seine from where we can have a clear view of the Eiffel Tower. What I like most though is the view of the Tower from the Palais de Chaillot (metro station Trocadero) at the opposite site of the river. I have been up on Eiffel Tower once (though I’ve visited Paris plenty of times). If you have time (and if you’re not afraid of heights) then it is worthy to go up and enjoy the view. Provided that it’s a sunny day to, huh?!

From there (Trocadero station) you can take the metro (I’m not planning to exhaust you) in order to get back to Champs Élysées and continue our journey (you take line 9 direction Mairie de Montreuil and get of at Franklin D. Roosvelt station). From there on walk towards the Louvre, passing by Place Concorde, Rue de Rivoli and the Tuilleries gardens. You might prefer the gardens rather than Rue de Rivoli…whatever suits you. Personally I do a combination of both because at 208, Rue De Rivoli there is a souvenirs shop which also sells miniatures of Paris’ buildings (http://www.gault-france.com/), which I collect for the last 10 years, so for me it’s a must-stop before crossing through the Tuilleries directing towards the Louvre.

After adorning the former palace (Louvre that is) and the modern glass pyramid, head towards Cartier Latin and Notre Dame. Quartier Latin is the perfect place to have a break for a lunch, because you’ve probably starved and are exhausted by now!! The small streets are full of places to eat whether you want something meat-y or something more traditional like crêpes (I prefer the later). During my latest visit in Paris I had lunch at the Crêperie de Cluny in Rue de La Harpe, which offers a variety of savoury and sweet crêpes (but I suggest you keep that “sweet” thing for later )

After this much needed break I suggest you pass from Ile de la Cite (where Notre Dame is) and Ile St Louis and head towards the Parisian Hotel De Ville. A few blocks northern is the Centre Georges Pompidou a.k.a Beaubourg. This peculiar, industrial style building which have been criticized about its looks is a contemporary art museum. In the square in front of the Beaubourg you can find a very modern and lovely café with the same name (Café Beaubourg). You can click here to see how the café looks on the outside. It’s hard to miss! There I had the yummiest desert ever (probably). My brother suggested that I taste the Enorme Profiterol, which was tryly huge, filled with ice cream!! It’s a must for a much needed sugar fix!

Well my tour of Paris is pretty much ended. You can rest now Unfortunately I have no suggestions for nightlife (I’m usually to exhausted to go out when in Paris). Still you will have dinner, won’t you? The Champs Elysees are always an option and Quartier Latin is the second one. I suggest Café Mabillon in Boulevard Saint Germain. The atmosphere is very lovely, with red furniture, dim lighting and lovely cocktail. If you are hungry there are some “light” dishes. I strongly recommend the club sandwich!!

Paris has also many other places to visit if you have time. Must visit places are also Montmartre (with the lovely church of Sacre Coeur and Place du Tertre), the new National Bibliotheque near the river Seine as well as the Arc de la Defence in northern Paris.

Enjoy your visit!

Shop at Avenue Montaigne

Grande Arche De La Defence

Essential Addresses:

PAUL, 84 Avenue des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris

Crêperie de Cluny, 20 Rue De La Harpe, 75005 Paris
Café Beaubourg, 43 Rue St-Merri 4th Arroindesment

Café Mabillon, 164 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006, Paris