Monday, December 9, 2013

Doing Nothing in Paris


http://www.travelchannel.com/video/hipsters-pay-the-way

Anthony Bourdain got it right. The best way to experience Paris is by doing nothing. Or almost. (I'm not a big TV watcher, but I can't resist a good travel show about Paris. So this weekend, I tuned in to "40 Hours in Paris," with Bourdain.)

I'll explain… The idea is, if you have a limited amount of time in the city, don't waste it waiting in lines to climb monuments and visit museums. Forget about the typical travel guide Paris. Instead, take a stroll along the Seine, have coffee at a café, sit in a park to people watch or write down your thoughts, go to an open-air market, and of course, EAT!

That's how to capture the essence of Paris and make it your own.

As someone who lives here, I still enjoy…

Getting a dose of Paris monuments by walking along the Seine (east to west) from the Ile Saint-Louis. I can see Notre Dame, the Paris city hall, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower… and many of the lovely bridges that cross the river!

Browsing through American books at Shakespeare and Company or French books at the bouquinistes by the Seine.

Enjoying a drink or meal at my neighborhood café, far from the busy streets of central Paris.

Going to open-air markets, buying bread and cheese, and digging in!


What's not-to-be missed for a visitor to your city?

9 comments:

  1. Walking along the Seine is always perfect I agree. I'd settle for 40 hours in Paris right now, although from Australia it takes about 40 hours to get there….

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    1. Ha, ha! I'll swap with you and spend 40 hours in Australia :). But it's true that with such a long trip, you really have to stay a while...

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  3. I agree. The thing I love about Paris isn't the monuments, it's the lifestyle. I'm going to have to find this show. Thanks for playing along today. I can't wait to explore your blog. Here's Mine

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    1. Thanks for reading! I'm enjoying the Monday French event on your blog. It's a great idea! As for the Bourdain show, you can see streaming video of it online. As someone who loves France, I think you will like it...

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  4. You're quite right. It's wonderful to get the feel for a city by mooching round the backstreets, finding secret courtyards, people-watching from some bar that takes your fancy, jostling in the markets, having a meal where you notice the locals are tucking in. However much museums and churches inspire and uplift, they don't help us get to know the city in which they're located. Hooray for loafing about!

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    1. We did the same when we visited Ariege... going to markets, tasting local products. I think it really makes for an extraordinary experience no matter what the city or town. :)

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  5. That sounds absolutely perfect! Glasgow is a very pedestrian friendly city as well and you could come across a lot during a wander around including fantastic cafes, restaurants and art galleries, as well as amazing shops, hidden treasures and finding the perfect place to watch the world go past. :-)

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    1. Sounds beautiful! It's on my list of places to visit... and it's probably a notch higher after your description! When I do make it there, I will stroll around and discover :)

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