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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When people think of Paris, sidewalk cafés is one of the first thoughts that come to mind. And why not?! Paris has the most famous cafés in the world! Hmm, now that I’m on the subject, I wonder why no one has thought about giving guided tours to many of the most famous cafés in Paris?!  (Or are there guided tours and I’m just not aware of them?!)
The more I think about it, the more I think it’s a great idea! They could do a Snobbish Café Tour which would include Le Fouquet’s, Café de la Paix, Le Lutétia, and Le Café Marly to name a few. …read more

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Does this sound like you? You’re in Paris for only a short visit and you want to meet some locals, but you don’t know how to go about doing it. Or perhaps you want to do some networking, or maybe be discovered while you’re in the City of Lights! What about if you’re a poet….? Or a bit short on cash….? Did you know there are a number of cafés that will give you a drink for a poem, or dinner when you buy a drink?!
Well, head over to the Paris Info website where they have a whole list of different cafés that …read more

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The Travel Channel at b5media has another theme day. Our mission:  write your best article on, or about, the best of something.  Well when you’re talking about Paris, trying to pick the best of anything is like asking a parent, “Which child do you love best?”
Impossible to answer, right?! As any well-adjusted parent will tell you, they “love all their children equally.” If push comes to shove, they might say one is better at sports, while another is better at music, but all in all, their children (in their eyes) are the greatest!  Who’s to argue?!
Well this assignment is very similar. Can you …read more

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People who are constantly traveling know that having a wi-fi connection is such a blessing! Especially if you need that internet connection all the time, and who in this day and age doesn’t?! As I happen to be traveling at the moment, it would be nice if wi-fi was available everywhere, but that’s not the case, and so I have to find that connection somewhere or somehow and at times that’s easier said than done.
Paris is becoming the first wireless city in the world. PARVI (Paris Ville Numerique) envisions offering wifi connections to everyone. Whether you happen to be in …read more

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Are you looking for a place where you can have a drink, listen to music, or perhaps just strike up a conversation with an interesting person? No, I’m not suggesting a trendy bar this time around, but you can drop into the Virgin Megastore on the Champs-Elysées where you’ll be able to do all three.
It’s one of those places where you can just hang out; put on headphones, listen to some great cds, all the while looking out the window, and watching the people strolling down the avenue. (Hundreds of thousands of people walk up and down the Champs-Elysées everyday!) …read more

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I found some great bargains at the shops in Bercy Village. This is a walking area full of boutiques, restaurants, pubs and a multi-plex movie theater not far from the Palais Omnisport and across from the Parc de Bercy. At one time this was the largest wine market in the world and the destination for wine coming in from the south of France.
The warehouses that were converted into specialty stores has something for just about everyone. It was fun going from shop to shop, tasting the Mediterranean olive oils and other goodies at Oliviers …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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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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