Introduction

I'm a real parisian, born and raised. Both my parents' families have been living there for generations. I love my city even more now that I live far away. From Los Angeles, I remember all what I miss about it.


This blog is an opportunity for me to share my favorite places, shops and restaurants to those of my friends who would spend some tourist time there. And also a few tips to have good experiences with those moody French waiters and taxi drivers ;-)


Enjoy!

La Petite Maroquinerie

I love to shop superb leather bags for cheap. Don't you? 

La Petite Maroquinerie

16 rue Houdon, 75018, Paris, phone # 01.42.62.10.42, Metro Pigalle.

All bags ≃ 60€, card holders 10€, wallets ≃15€, gloves (sorry, I don't remember their price range) are unique pieces. They buy recycled leather in Italy, make the design in Paris with whatever length and color of fabric they bought and assemble in Morocco.

The quality is splendid. I could spend hours in this little shop choosing what item I should not buy...

I've bought an orange bag more than 2 years ago for 60 euros. It didn't move since then. The color, the leather quality and the zippers are like new. I can't tell you how many women asked me where this bag was coming from. Well, now you know!
Last Christmas, I restrain myself to buy a MA-GNI-FIQUE blue bag... I'm sure there's a reason for frustration in life.

With a budget for it, it's also a good place to get very nice practical little gifts that are not heavy in a suitcase (wallets and card holders).

Share pictures of your purchases to make us all jealous!

L'Entracte

Traveling is to live the reality of a dream one had for a long time. 

L'Entracte 

1 rue Auber, 75009 

Phone # 01.47.42.26.25, Metro Opera.

L'Entracte is one of the numerous Brasserie you will find in Paris. The location of this restaurant is just splendid. At the second floor, you have a huge window with a direct view to the Opera Garnier right in front of you. The decorum is all wood and cosy. Come early. It gets busy because of day workers at lunch and the crowd for the Opera's shows at night. 

You will be allowed upstairs only if you're eating a full meal, especially when its crowded. The price that might seem expensive is really fair for the location and the quality of the food. The wine menu is tremendous but not cheap. 

As you're right in front of the Opera, you HAVE TO DO the guided visit tour. I did it several years ago and loved it. Not only the building is gorgeous inside and out, but knowing the details of its construction, what Garnier, the architect, had to go through, the richness of the materials used... you're not traveling back in time, you're right in the story. If there's no rehearsal while you're visiting, you might get inside the house.

Don't hesitate to look up for available seats for shows. Now, Garnier is dedicated to ballet performances. L'Opera Bastille, build in the 80's, is mainly dedicated to Operas. 

Here is the link to the official Opera website in English where you can reserve your seats for performances as well as guided tours.

http://www.operadeparis.fr/en/

Now you're starting to understand that Paris will nourish very well your soul as well as your stomach!

Where to find what to do

The "to do" list gets longer...

"L'Officiel des Spectacles" and "Pariscope"

 

Those two little weekly magazines are available in any press stands.
They gather all the shows, movies, events, museums, concerts with schedules, prices and directions,  for the current week in Paris and its nearby suburbs. It goes from Wednesday to Tuesday because the new movies open on Wednesdays in France. Both are very cheap. One of them has a section in English.


That should be your first purchase of your journey there. No need to walk all day long with your heavy tourist guides bought at Barnes and Noble. All you need is one of those two little parisian "bibles", a subway map you got for free in a subway station and a good pair of sneakers.