France
Marais

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    • Day 9

      Paris — The Patti Smith Tour

      May 19 in France ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

      Sunday was always going to be Patti Smith Day. We decided that early on. Ronnie’s gothic crow and punk rock goddess lived for some time in Paris when she was young. The city inspired her. Today we put together a tribute to Patti and walked 13 miles in the process. It was a one-day pilgrimage. Please follow the link below to see our Patti Smith Tour of Paris:

      https://docs.google.com/file/d/1g68mWfoEi7dhuAv…
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    • Day 7

      Mont St Michel and others

      September 10, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

      An early early rise for Beth and I today to go on our tour to Mont St Michel. Left our apartment at 6.00am and Uber over to the Eiffel Tower again…. can you believe it came back for me to see….
      Got on the bus at 7.00am and off we went. Our Tour Guide Fabio was lovely. Very informative about the region and all the surrounds. Unfortunately we thought we were going to drive through all the little towns on the way but we didn’t, straight down the motorway. Came across a 3 car smash and it looked bad!
      Onwards we drove, 90 mins later stopped at a servo for wee wee stop and food. (Driver has to have a break apparently. No toilet paper, I was the t-paper courier for beth but luckily found one sans full roll. Off we go and yes a further 3 hours, was at Mont St Michel. 10 min walk from the carpark to another bus to take us almost to the castle….did I mention it was pissing with rain at this point? and beth and i are drenched…
      Anyway troopers that we are, we walked through it, and then came the stairs…. I think about 2 million, I lost count, and my knees and back weren’t happy….But we reached the peak! Wow what a view… absolutely amazing place, the sun decided to come out after we got to the top… and you can see right over to Normandy.
      There was a movie made at the the Mont, with Sean Connery “In the name of the Rose’ they used one of the rooms for a scene… try and find it if ya like.
      Tour ended and down we had to traverse all of the stairs again…god sake! where are the escalators…
      Anyhoo, had a bite to eat then back down to catch the bus back to the tour bus.
      A further 5 hour trip back, traffic was bad, Sunday travellers returning to Paris, so they went through a small village off the motorway or it would of been another hours travel…. We alighted the Bus at 9.30pm. Decided a cocktail was required to get us from Eiffel tower location back to our apartment.
      Kelly and Louise went Amiens to see Kels sons Dans partners parents (they are french) so good opportunity to meet up with them. By all accounts it was a hilarious trip. First of all they went to the wrong train station, and arrived later than expected. Parlez vous Francais courtesy of Louise got them through all the pleasantries and although the hosts had hangovers from a wedding the previous day, they were thrilled to see them.
      Onward journey home, Kel got on the train, the doors slammed shut and uh oh Louise was on the other side…station side…. despite furious attempts to open the doors, aurevoir louise said Kel. Her train was chocka block and no seat. Lou got on the next train, she think it was business class and had a lovely time coming back…. worried someone might check her ticket.
      Susie had a day to herself, we were hopeful she would be the charm….but alas her ninja shopping skills are rusty…and not a damn thing was found.
      C’est la vie! We all climbed into bed damn exhausted and looking forward to Reims tomorrow.
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    • Day 4

      Le Marais & Dior - Food & Fashion Day!

      June 14, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

      Wednesday, June 14th. We only ate a small amount of breakfast even though the Intercontinental offers an amazing brunch buffet. We were scheduled for a food tour of Marais today and wanted to fully enjoy it. We walked all through the Marais area - The Marsh - a historic district in Paris. It has a very artsy culture and is home to a large gay community. It is also the center of the Jewish community and is one of the oldest areas of Paris.

      The food tour was better than we could have imagined. We had a croissant to start. We learned the history of food, architecture, and Paris. Anya bought a necklace outside the March Des Enfants Rouges. It was an orphanage where the children wore red capes like Superman. It became a city supermarket and is protected so it won't become commercial. We had macaroons and Grand Cru Chocolate with chocolate from Peru. Jean-Paul Hevin is the name of the Chocolatier. It was the best we had ever tasted. We had mint tea and North African msammen with bell pepper and spices. Msammen is a delicious square-shaped Moroccan bread that is traditionally enjoyed for breakfast with a cup of green mint tea. It is buttery, flakey and so light!

      We saw a plaque regarding the processing places for Jews to go to Auschwitz and next to it was a yellow cheese shop. Polish Jews who survived Auschwitz opened it after WWII and painted it bright yellow like the Star of David. Sacha Finkelztajn La Boutique Jaune is the name of the bakery and we had beef piroshki - a puff pastry there.

      Rue Des Rosiers was our favorite street. We had escargot on mushrooms and then finished off with cheese and wine.

      The tour guide showed us a very ordinary plant but when you rubbed it and smelled your fingers it smelled like lemon. We bought one of these plants for the Bungalow when we got home.

      He also showed us an early Paris bank and told us about people being paid in salt which is the origin of the word salary.

      We were so hot and tired and sweaty as we walked a VERY long way from the Marais area to the Dior Museum to make our tour time. It was magical and beautiful. Every new door we went through took our breath away. We walked to Champs des Elysée and then took a cab home. It was so crowded and has changed so much over the years. It was not as built up and had small quaint stores when I first went to Paris!

      We went to the grocery store near our hotel and had a St Germaine Spritz in the outdoor cafe of our hotel. We enjoyed another bed picnic. We walked 12 miles today!
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    • Day 16

      One last croissant

      December 26, 2019 in France ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

      With check out at noon Ty and I decided to walk around our super cute neighbourhood for a coffee and a croissant. Croissants here are amazing. All bread products are amazing here. The French have mastered bread like no body else.Read more

    • Day 13

      Musee Carnavalet

      July 31 in France ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

      After meeting Jeff and Barb at the former site of the Bastille, we went to Le Marai where I showed them the Atlas Obscura sights I looked up a few days ago.

      Back in May, Jeff visited the Musee Carnavalet, and he really liked it, so we made our way there. We enjoyed learning about the history of Paris at this free museum, but our favorite was a display of old signage. In the past, literacy wasn't widespread, so signage was very visual in nature.
      https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-carn…

      When I returned to the hotel after my aborted morning explorations, I purchased some treats for us to celebrate our anniversary; we met on July 31st, 2000 and this marks 24 years together. We celebrated this milestone that evening after returning from our day out.
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    • Day 7

      Atlas Obscura Explorations in Le Marais

      July 25 in France ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

      I began my Atlas Obscura-inspired explorations in the Le Marais area. Emerging from the Saint Paul metro station, I saw my first stop: a church called the Eglise St Paul-St Louis. Within the church is an inscription translating to "French Republic of Death", likely inscribed by a communard during the 1871 insurrection. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/saint-paul-…

      My next target was a building around the corner. Now housing a museum of magic, the building was once home to the Marquis de Sade, who reportedly developed his sexual appetites there. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/musee-de-la…

      My third Atlas Obscura site was around yet another corner. This was the Hotel de Sens, which features a cannonball embedded in one of its wall. The cannonball was likely from the 1871 insurrection. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cannonball-…
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    • Day 35

      Zwei Parks und kein Picasso

      March 6 in France ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

      Den Jardin du Luxemburg erkannte ich doch wieder! Hier hatten wir uns bei meinem letzten Besuch bei 42 Grad unter Wasserdampfdüsen abgekühlt. Die gestapelten Stühle gaben schöne Strukturfotos und zum ersten Mal seit Ankunft: Der Eiffelturm in der Ferne!
      Ich hätte sooo gerne die gesamte Picassoaustellung gesehen. Es war keine gute Idee, die Karte dafür online zu kaufen - mit dem Bonus, die Schlange zu umgehen. Ich hätte stutzig werden müssen, als es GAR KEINE Schlange gab... Alle Räume der Daueraustellung waren wegen neuer Hängung geschlossen 😭 Es gab also nur ein paar Bildchen in der Sonderausstellung.
      Immerhin waren die Zimtknoten im Fika diesmal nicht aus 😋.
      Ich hielt mich stattdessen an die Straßenkunst und fuhr ein wenig Bus. Da kann man so schön aus dem Fenster gucken und Paris fußschonend erleben. Ziel war der schönen Parque des Buttes-Chaumont mit seinen tollen Aussichten - Eiffelturm UND Sacre Coeur!
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    • Day 6

      Gut gespeist

      September 8, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

      „La Petit Commines“

      Kleines Restaurant mit angenehm entspannter Atmosphäre, kleiner ambitionierter Karte, gutem Wein … alles mit ausgewählten saisonalen Zutaten aus kontrollierter Herkunft.

      Ich habe hier am ersten und letzten Abend gegessen und bis zum Kaffee alles genossen. Kann es nur weiterempfehlen!

      Rote-Bete-Carpaccio mit Räucheraal-Mousse
      Letztes Mal: Kalte Artischockensuppe

      Steinbutt-Filet mit Sauce Parounet
      Letztes Mal: Entrecôte mit Rote-Betesauce

      dazu: Pommes Frites mit Auberginen-Kaviar und eingelegten Paprika

      Käseteller mit Roqueford, ausgezeichnetem reifem Camembert und 2 x Ziegenkäse
      Letztes Mal - Dessert: Schokobiscuit mit gesalzenem Caramel
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    • Day 2

      SpaceInvader Jagd 👾 Tag 2 👾

      June 10, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

      102 SpaceInvader waren es heute! 😎 Bild 2 wurde erst frisch reaktiviert 🤩 ich wurde darauf hingewiesen und natürlich haben wir uns bedankt. Dann auf einmal konnte Tobi nicht mehr flashen. DRAMA - Zellid konnte helfen, einfach Handy neustarten. 😅🤷🏻‍♀️ Es war aber echt nen Schock!!Read more

    • Day 8

      Bilkey 6 arrive in Paris

      April 6, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

      Our time in Berlin came to an end, we jumped on the train from Berlin Hauptbahnhoff, destined for Paris. The train meandered south from Berlin, through German countryside, before we changed at Karlsruhe. We then crossed the border into France at Strasbourg and headed west to Paris.

      We were met at Paris Gare de l'est by Richard and Charlie, great to see them after a long time. They led us onto the metro and then through the streets of Paris back to their apartment in the 3rd Arrondissement.

      When we arrived, we had a lovely lamb stew, followed by a happy birthday song, present and cake for Sammy's birthday. The boys were very excited to share a bedroom with their cousins, and fell asleep looking forward to adventures with the Paris Bilkeys.

      Our Paris leg had started.
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Marais Quarter, Marais

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