We made the decision to spend a full week in Paris believing we would be able to see everything that there is to see and finding out if you want to discovery the beauty and charm of this great city you will need to spend at least a year living in Paris. It is a delightful, very sophisticated and historically beautiful city. Many of the "known" buildings and museums in Paris are actually built during the late 19th and 20th centuries with the same beautiful architecture as those built since the 15th century. The old is surrounded by the newer but the theme of Paris is thread throughout the city.
View from Apartment
Glass Art in Lobby
Apartment Cat
We rented a one bedroom apartment in the Shopping District of Paris a block from the Paris Opera at 8 Madeline Street. It was near a Metro Station and surrounded by cafes and bakeries. I can't say it was centrally located because there are a lot of sections of Paris and where you stay is really up to what you want to be surrounded by. Our neighborhood was a wonderfully active shopping district, filled with a lot of small cafes and restaurants and late night bars. Very upscale and yet sophisticated young professionals. We loved the location and enjoyed the apartment, it's art work and the apartment cat that had full run of the 7 stories of apartment/condos.
Street Crepe Vendor
Singing in the Rain
Grand Palace
Best Things in Paris: Cafes. They are everywhere and are elegant though not expensive. Bakeries. They are everywhere and filled with customers before the sun rises and through the day. Baugettes. Long skinny loaves of bread. If they have pointed ends they are hand thrown. They must be eaten within the day or they become hard. Cigarettes. Smoking is more prevelant in Paris and usually they hand roll their cigarettes. Cobblestones. Many of the cobblestone roads are still visible. Late Nights. We ate dinner late every night with the Cafes staying open to midnight. Time. You need at least a year to just enjoy Paris. Best Food. Goat Cheese, pastry, French Onion Soup, Chocolate, Coffee. Meals. They are long and social.
