The Paris Traveler

This guest post is by Mary Jo Manzanares, Travel & Culture Channel Editor and travel blogger at Flyaway Cafe.
If the thought of a fine bag, a decadent pair of heels, or the feel of the fabric of a finely crafted suit makes you swoon, then an afternoon on the Champs-Élysées in Paris may be your definition of heaven.
Avenue des Champs-Élysées is not only one of the most recognized street names in Paris, but in the entire world, and is lined with luxury and specialty shops, theaters, cafes and restaurants.  Its name translates to "Elysian Fields" a reference to the …read more

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Usually I prefer to write about restaurants in Paris that are good, or unique, but not that well-known.  This time I thought I would write about some famous restaurants I’ve tried and as the title of this post says, won’t break the bank!  Some are cheaper, others are more expensive, but none are like L’ Arpège, Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée , La Tour d’Argent, or other fine dining restaurants that you need to mortgage your house in order to enjoy a dinner for two! 
Au Chien Qui Fume – This restaurant has been around since 1740 and has a great friendly …read more

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Who wouldn’t want to have a four star French chef in their kitchen everyday of the week cooking for them? Well, if you’re not as lucky as I am, you can always go to the Carrousel du Louvre for the Salon Cuisinez!
There you’ll find everything you’ll ever want to know about cooking from top chefs taking part in this three day expo. So, from cooking classes for kids, to learning how to make a number of decadent chocolate soufflés, there is truly something here for everyone! Or perhaps you’re more into learning about all the latest gadgets that make cooking …read more

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Are you looking for that perfect gift for someone’s birthday or anniversary? Or maybe the “kitschy” gifts I spoke about finding on the Rue Mouffetard just isn’t what you’re looking for. Well then, whether you live in Paris, or happen to have family or friends visiting, wine & cheese tasting makes a great gift!
If you know nothing about wines, no need to worry! At the Ô Chateau the sommelier, Olivier Magny uses humour and charm in a relaxed atmosphere, more like a gathering of friends at his Parisian loft, than a learning experience to dispense of his knowledge.  The great thing is not only do …read more

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The Rue Mouffetard, which Parisians call “La Mouffe” has been written about and immortalized in poems and songs. It is afterall one of the oldest streets in Paris, with homes dating back to the Middle Ages, but for me it’s a great little street to hang out in for a good part of a day or evening.
Not only does it have a terrific street market, there are plenty of little shops to browse around in. Some are filled with items so kitsch that you just have to buy something for the fun of it, or for that person who has …read more

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September with a hint of autumn in the air. I love strolling along the Seine stopping every now and again to see if I can find a rare gem among the used books being sold by those ever present booksellers in Paris called les bouquinistes.
After hundreds of years of controversy, they finally became a permanent fixture as we know them today in 1891 on the Quai Voltaire and have grown to nearly 250 on both the Right Bank and Left Bank, selling old and used books, posters, post-cards, stamps, music albums, art prints, and more. What’s even nicer is having lively …read more

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The problem with a lot of restaurants is that you may go one time and have a great experience and then you go again some time later and you’re disappointed. The reasons may vary in so many ways; from the restaurant being sold and you have new owners, to the chef leaving and taking all his great recipes with him. That happened to me just before the summer holidays. We took a bunch of friends to a restaurant that we loved, and you guessed it, not only were there new owners, the chef was also new and he didn’t have the same …read more

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You might not know his work by name, but you’ve surely seen some of his most famous paintings. Arcimboldo was well ahead of his time to be the first modern painter hundreds of years before Picasso and the father of surrealism centuries before Salvador Dali.
Well there’s great news for everyone who loves this XVI century Italian painter! From September 15, 2007 until January 13, 2008 there will be an exhibit of over forty of his paintings, drawings, and illustrations at the Musée du Luxembourg. Although he was one of the most famous painters of his time, Arcimboldo’s popularity as a …read more

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Wondering what to do with the kids while it seems all of Paris is asleep? Okay, not asleep, but gone off for the summer holidays….then the Fête des Tuileries is just the place to go!
This carnival atmosphere that has taken place every summer for more than twenty years at the Jardin des Tuileries will continue until the 26th of August.  There are rides and other attractions in a family friendly enviroment to entertain one and all, including the Grande Roue de Paris.
A pass for 28 € gives you access to all eighteen rides and attractions, which might seem a little steep, but when …read more

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….and now you do again! It’s like a magical ferris wheel doing a disappearing and reappearing act these past few years! The big wheel as many call it was built for the millennium celebrations in 1999 and was suppose to stay at the Place de la Concorde for only a year. That one year turned into two and was cause for much controversy when the owner Marcel Campion refused a judge’s order to have the wheel taken down.
When the wheel was finally dismantled, many celebrated and many were disappointed. No surprise, Parisians have done this with almost all its famous …read more

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