“a carcass waiting to be fleshed out with freestone or brick, a funnel-shaped grill, a hole-riddled suppository”

— author Joris-Karl Huysmans (excerpted from “Protest Against the Tower of Monsieur Eiffel” published in Le Temps, February 14, 1887)

Mon étudiant John C. revient d'un voyage en France avec sa femme Carole. Il va partager sa visite du quartier des Halles avec nous. Son histoire s'étendra sur 4 posts avec audio.

Dinner with a view, anyone? Here’s my newest discovery in Paris:

On a warm summer evening, I gazed at the glittering Eiffel Tower from the terrace of Les Ombres Restaurant, sipping an aperitif of Pommery Blanc de Blanc champagne with a friend. What a special combination: a spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower - only a few hundred yards away and twinkling every hour on the hour - with French cuisine and wine!

“ . . . more and more frequently, people began visiting to see the Matisse paintings, and the Cézannes. Matisse brought people, everybody brought somebody, and they came at any time and it began to be a nuisance, and it was in this way that Saturday evenings began.”

— Gertrude Stein (describing the birth of her artist-filled salons, a weekly gathering held at number 27 rue de Fleurus, a small side street in the 6th arrondissement)

The 5th arrondissement is abuzz with tourists and students and shoppers. But there are a few pockets of calm where you can relax and recharge and one where the famous now simply rest in peace.

Paris has got to be one of the most documented cities on the planet.  So many blogs, e-newsletters and Paris specialist publications like Bonjour Paris the weekly e-magazine. Bonjour Paris has a subscriber section and also a free section and the non-subscriber part has a very good listing of events and happenings.

You probably learned in school that the negative in French is formed with two words surrounding the verb: “ne” (or n’) and “pas.” Then, you diligently learned "Je NE comprends pas.”

In the 4th arrondissement our e-bus passes some of the most visited sites of the city and takes a peek at its inhabitants—from the ancient  Parisii (the tribe who gave the city its name) to the “bobos” (bohemian bourgeois) who thrive there today.

There are constructions that will repeat themselves over and over when you travel: "Je voudrais" ("I would like"), "S'il vous plaît" ("Please"), "Combien ça coûte?" ("How much does this cost"),

Foodie things to enjoy with children in Paris:

Picnic in a park with great views, especially one near a good market or market street (Rue Cler-Champ de Mars, Richard Lenoir Market-Place des Vosges). Even if it is an Orangina and a baguette sandwich it will taste good!