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

1 Comment

I’m not sure why, but these last few days I have been drawn to vintage photographs of Paris;  Sunday I posted an old photo from the World’s Fair of 1900, capturing the exhibition halls built along the Seine.  Yesterday, I found a series of more photos, including the one above that I had to share.  This is Rue de Seine in the 6th arrondissement, smack in the middle or thereabouts of the Saint Germain area.  Bustling, artsy-fartsy in the best way, it is lined with art galleries, small cafés and shops.  Certainly not an end to itself as it is …read more

1 Comment

 
No, this isn’t some gruesome tale about an  ancient axe murder having taken  place in the streets of Paris.  Actually, it is a bit of history and I know it’s summer vacation and brains have been turned off but I think you are going to like this.  When you are in Paris, you can amaze those in your traveling party with this bit of information.  
The Axe Historique is a line of monuments that slices through the center of Paris, east to west.  It had its beginnings with the Champs Elysée, created in the 17th century.  It extended the the …read more

Comments Off

 For those of you who are foodies and find yourself in the Latin Quarter area, a visit to Rue Mouffetard would and should be the call of the day.  Located in the 5th, this street is a remnant of a Roman road that lead south to Italy and the origin of its outdoor market can be traced back to 1350.  Typical of the middle ages, people still venture here for their daily food shopping which, ahem, I do believe surpasses the other famous foodie street, Rue Cler.  I’m sure that will get a rise out of some people.
 
 
The fruits and …read more

3 Comments

Today we are back to Madame Guiliano’s  Top 20 To Dos in the City of Lights.  So far we are 2 for 2 she and I.  Today makes it 3 for 3 as we journey along the banks of the Seine from the Pont Neuf and spend time browsing through the vintage books and magazines sold by the bouqinistes, who also stock an array of art prints and knick-knacks that are a bit touristy but fun.  These vendors have been a fixture along the river since the 1500’s, initially pushing wheelbarrows filled with their goods and setting up shop on a …read more

Comments Off

 
Yes, yes, yes, by all means, this should be on your list of things to do in Paris.  As much as I talk about other gardens that are my favorites, Jardin du Luxembourg is equally as grand as the Tuilieres and can be as intimate as Palais Royal.  It is deceiving in size as it is surrounded by trees that creates a “cozy” feeling, however, it is the largest public park in Paris.  All the elements for awesomeness can be found here; fountains, flowers and beautiful sculpture.  
 
 As you can see, pulling up a chair and getting lost in a …read more

2 Comments

 Walking through the Tuileries gardens is a part of each day that I spend in Paris.  I plan my route so that I can enjoy all it has to offer either on my way to where I am going, on my return or both.  That’s how much I enjoy being here.  It is always crowded,  but especially so on weekends when residents and tourists literally “promenade” the gravelly through fare.  I love trying to picture what it must have been like at the turn of the century, much like the movie “Gigi” with carriages, and picnics and flirtations.  All those …read more

1 Comment

My commitment to quizzing you on your knowledge of Paris has been lacking so I thought we need to test ourselves once again.  I think this one might be a bit too easy, but let’s see.
True or False?
The Golden Triangle is the oldest casino in Paris? 

 The Triangle d’Or is a neighborhood in the 8e arrondissement famous for its fashion boutiques.  It gets its name from the three landmarks that define it, Avenue des Champs Elysées, Avenue Montaigne and Avenue Georges V.  The densest concentration of high-end fashion boutiques, as well as headquarters for Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior are in this area, …read more

1 Comment

I let things slide last week and didn’t challenge your knowledge (or  mine for that matter) about Paris but now’s the time to fire up your brain cells. 
Question:
How many bridges span the Seine river?

 16
 26
 36
 46

A number of beautiful and not-so-beautiful bridges carry pedestrians and traffic back and forth between the right and left bank and onto the city’s two islands. Each has its own unique tale to tell and place in Paris’ history.  These are three of my favorites.
 The Pont Alexandre is surely the  most over-the-top beautiful bridge.  It was built for the Paris Exposition of 1900 taking visitors from the …read more

Comments Off

Hey, it’s not always glitz and glamour in Paris! Sometimes when you walk around, you just don’t know what you’re going to come across, and to be honest with you, depending on the circumstances you’re not really sure if what you’re seeing is really what you’re seeing! I mean, if you’ve had a little too much to drink you could be thinking that maybe you’re hallucinating, but when you live here long enough, you just take it all in stride.
Like last year when all the cows started showing up all over the city! Afterall, what’s not natural about seeing a …read more

Comments Off