Bonjour Paris - charming hotel and discovering Paris on foot

landmarks of Paris

Tour de Eiffel

Life can be full of surprises and I was so blessed to accompany my husband on a trip to Paris where we would stay for a whole week! I've been to Paris a couple of times, mostly for weekend breaks.
But to soak in Paris for a week was a dream come true. My last visit to Paris was  two years ago, to visit my Japanese diplomat friend who lived in a villa on Rue Faubourg - St Honore. From her living room, you can gaze at Eiffel Tower. It is prettiest at night with the glimmering lights.

At the parc..

We stayed at Hotel Tilsitt Champs Elysee on Rue Brey, a four star cosy hotel, right across from the Arc de Triompe.  Not complaining as this is Paris, where a night at the Sofitel or Four Season Hotel hovered around a few hundred Euros.

I usually judge a hotel by its breakfast.  And at the modest Tilsitt, their breakfast spread was rather good. Fresh fruit salad, a variety of yoghurt,  cafe au lait, brioche aux raisin and butter brioche, croissants au beurre or pain au chocolat and a healthy corner with muesli, an array of pine nuts and pumpkin seeds. There were several kinds of confiture or fruit jams of pear, fig, strawberry, quince and honey... Yummy!

Museum d'Orsay

The wisest way to see Paris is on a Hop-on & Hop-off bus. As distances in Paris are huge with grand boulevards and parks, the bus offers easy access to most of the tourist spots.

In my case, walking os the only way to go, as I had to work off all those calories at breakfast.  Armed with a map and good walking shoes, I set off early after breakfast and only returned back in the evening. In the six days, I covered 84 kilometres and did not put on any extra kilos.

Parc de Tuileries

have map will travel..

St Etienne du Mont church

I will never explore a city unless I've poured over a map in the safety of my hotel room. I make mental notes or jot on scripts of paper for a quick reference instead of unfolding a huge map in public places. Besides, staring down on my phone to navigate means that I may miss significant moments or hit a lamp post.

My mission is to try as much as possible to blend with the local residents and not look like a hapless tourist. 

Bustling Rue Moufettard

Crossing the river Seine, I stumbled onto interesting streets like Rue Saint Dominique, with many individual boutiques and Vietnamese Bo Bun hue eateries. I was tempted. Only once did I stopped for a bowl of steaming Pho, and it was good for the soul. My friend who used to live in the Sorbonne district, told me about this fabulous market on Rue Mouffetard, which she used to frequent. Located just behind the Pantheon, starting on Rue Descartes, I walked downhill towards Rue Moufettard. There were endless rows of cafes, bistro, bakeries, little shops, flower shops etc.. Upon reaching the small square at the end of the street,  I discovered Carl Marletti. It was love at first sight as the aroma from the patisserie shop and the sight of delicate, artistic creations was just too much to bear.

Secret gallery..

Example of a gallery entrance

Bookshops and little antique shops line Boulevard Saint Germaine. Definitely worth a visit if you are on the hunt for old maps and some English literature. Cross over the river Seine and go towards the Cathedral of Notre Dame to at least say you've been there. There is a perpetual long queue to get inside this monument, so you'll need to get there early.

Close by are the markets of Les Halles and the Centre Pompidou. This is the funkier, arty district of Paris and some people say a bit rough. So do watch out for your belongings.

Sacred Coeur Basilica

The climb to Sacred Coeur ( Holy Heart ) Basilica is also a must-see. Admission to the basilica is free, you just have to follow the queue which slowly snakes in and out the basilica. At the summit, you'll get the best panoramic view of the city and as in any tourist spots, there will be the inevitable street musicians serenading in the background.

I enjoyed very much walking along Boulevard Haussman, weaving in and out of the side streets. Wiling time away, admiring the window displays of high end boutiques as well as high street fashion.  Finally for the BCBG ( Bon Chic Bon Genre) there are Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, two venerable French fashion department stores.  Never mind being mistaken as one of the Chinese tourists who arrived en masse every day. To the French, we all look alike ! 

Happy Shopping..

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