The Paris Traveler

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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If you can keep a secret, I’ll tell you about a great place to have a drink, listen to music (sometimes), have dinner, see a film, or just chat with other movie lovers, filmmakers, and sometimes celebrities. All this and at a price you can afford!
Le Bar à Vins du Cinéma des Cinéastes is located just off the Place de Clichy; not really a hot spot on the tourists’ “must see” lists, but a place that is always hopping both day and night. Tour buses pass by constantly on their way to and from Montmartre or the Moulin Rouge, but …read more

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Paris has always been a city made up of little villages called quartiers. When you live in an area for some time, you begin to know your local merchants and they begin to know you as well, but more often than not, people just don’t seem to know their neighbors very well.
Well all that started to change when a website called Peuplade started bringing people in each village a lot closer together. The way it works is sort of like a virtual bullentin board. You answer a questionaire about yourself, (there are no questions …read more

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So you’ve been in Paris for awhile and you still haven’t met any Parisians to tell your friends about when you get home, well fear not. There’s a restaurant in the 13th arrondissement where you can rub elbows with the locals; and when I say “rub elbows” I’m not exaggerating!

Le Temp des Cerises is a worker’s co-operative restaurant run by a number of people all taking turns doing different jobs. The atmosphere is congenial, where you’re treated more like an old friend rather than a customer. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine invited me to have dinner …read more

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Who isn’t looking for a terrific little restaurant in Paris that not only serves good traditional French cuisine, but is also very friendly, and not very expensive!? Just about everyone, right! Well I know just the place. “Parnasse 138″ is that kind of restaurant.
They have several menus to choose from, plus a large variety of daily specials written on a blackboard which changes daily. I was a little skeptical at first with such a wide selection, but everything we tried was excellent. The service is very friendly, but somewhat chaotic and the whole ambiance feels almost like you’re having dinner …read more

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Okay, so I have a sweet tooth, I’ll admit it, and Ladurée has been satisfying the sweet tooth of Parisians since 1862 and has some of the best pastries around.  They’re not only known for their tartes aux citrons, which happens to be my favorite, they’re also known for their macaroons, religieuses, millefeuilles, and other decadent desserts.
Anyone who knows me knows I love a good lemon tart; and I have spent years sampling them all over Paris!  No surprise then that I can just look at a tart and can tell you if it’ll be good, or not.  It was a process of …read more

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If you want to be seen or to people watch while you’re in Paris, then you can skip the Dans Le Noir experience.  If you want a new kind of dining experience, then try this restaurant in the 4th Arrond.   You will literally be in the dark!  The idea is interesting to say the least. 
As for the decor, hmm, I really can’t say.  Is the chef at all concerned about presentation when he sends out your food?  I don’t know, but don’t worry, you won’t see a thing! Your other senses, however, will be heightened as you begin to eavesdrop on the …read more

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If you’re a tea lover like me, then chez Angelina located on the Rue de Rivoli facing the Tuileries Gardens is the place to go.  Angelina’s is much more than a tea salon, it is an institution where the rich and famous rub elbows with tourists and locals alike. 
It’s like stepping back into the 19th century.  The decor of gilt and mirrors, the service, the ambiance all adds to the feeling of Vieux Paris.  The selection of teas to choose from is quite vast, so go ahead and try something that you’ve never had before. 

During the colder months chocolate lovers must …read more

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The law inciting “no smoking in public places” took effect in France in February, or did it?  As far as I could tell, there was absolutely nothing different from before or after.  People still light up in bars, restaurants and cafés.   
In reality this law has been around for awhile, but up until now it has not been implicated.  Restaurants have been required to have a smoking section and a non-smoking section where the latter was suppose to be twice as large.  When restaurateurs saw that no one was actually enforcing this law and that smokers made up the larger part of their clientele, …read more

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Hello and thank you for stopping in at the Paris Traveler.  My name is Lynn and I’ll be your eyes, ears, and guide to this incredible city.  Just the word – Paris – evokes romance, dreams, emotions, love, beauty, fashion, etc,  It is all that, and so much more! 
It is the place where I have lived the longest and know the best.  I have carried on a love affair with Paris for over thirty-five years and have watched the changes that have taken place, some good, and yes, some bad.  This is a city with so much to do and …read more

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