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Hello! Welcome to Pichets in Paris Publishing. Here you will find travel stories and photos, the occasional Book Review and fictional piece based in Paris or France. ALL IMAGES ARE BY L'AUSSIE IMAGES (owned by Denise Covey). Contact me for permission to copy my images.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Walking in Paris - a feast for the senses

Where else would you see a metro station with a crown on top? And created by university students too. At Palais Royale. Only in Paris.


Impossible to do if you're on a 3-day junket, but if you're fortunate enough to have a week or more in Paris, take to the streets, using a combination of feet, metro and buses. This is what I like to do.


During my last visit to Paris, I allowed myself a total of 5 weeks to explore as much as I could. I'd always read that Paris was best experienced on foot, and this is so true. Just to wander from neighbourhood to neighbourhood is a feast. Watching Parisians go about their life can be a spectacle in itself. 


I'd heard so much about the Marais, been through it, but never actually wandered there, but it is perfect for the walking tour. With its vintage shops, fellafel stores, cute cafes and bars, this old Jewish quarter attracts people from all walks of life. If you go on Saturday there is a wonderful food market where a lot of locals seem to go for lunch - and why wouldn't they? The produce is amazing. After a look through the market, I found myself a lovely cafe in the square and people watched.


Chocolate anyone?

Parisians certainly have a great passion for food. It's obvious in nearly every window you pass on your walks. The artfully-displayed chocolates, pastries, flowers, frogs legs - it's all there, a feast for the eyes. Even if you never have anything but the Plat du Jour, you will eat heartily and well.


Plat du Jour never looked so good!


One of the delights of Paris to me was that after a long day walking, being overwhelmed by the beautiful sites, sounds and aromas, is to return to my apartment. You don't have to eat our every night, even in Paris! 


On the way back 'home' I might grab a sidewalk crepe of bananas and chocolate to snack on while I shop for ingredients for my own version of a Paris feast. A few bunches of grapes, a slab of duck pate, some rilettes, maybe rabbit and prune, and a fresh hunk of fabulous runny cheese to go with the bottle of Sancerre chilling in the mini bar. Some slices of charcouterie (cold meats) to go on the freshly-baked baguette where I'm met with 'Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!' and I'm set for my French diner in the little apartment, sadly not overlooking the Seine, but pretty cute all the same!


Just as well my preferred mode of transport is walking!


All photos by Geo Covey

11 comments:

  1. Mm those banana and chocolate crepes are amazing.

    I agree that walking is best.

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  2. Hmm, gotta have some! Luckily for me, Brisbane has lots of authentic French chefs who come to markets in the city. Yum. I keep up my supply of croissants, pates, rillettes and cheeses.

    Just as well I walk and run a lot..:)

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  3. Hi Denise, I was in Paris last month, and finally for the first time, I visited no monuments and only one museum. Instead, my sister and I just wandered. And let ourselves get lost. I have to say, it was my best visit ever. Can't wait to do it again. Have you ever gone to the bird market?

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  4. Hi Delana, isn't it a wonderful way to meander around Paris. No, which bird market would this be? You have me intrigued. Must put it on my list..:)

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  5. this is such a wonderful post. I have never been in that area od Raris. Maybe some day..
    yvonne.

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  6. Oh, this conjures up such wonderful memories, thank you for sharing! I completely agree--the food is amazing, and if I didn't walk everywhere, I'd be in very serious trouble.

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  7. I was so happy when that crazy metro entrance/exit went up. It's very hard to photograph in its entirity because the light is tricky but the details can be amazing. Nice friendly blog, by the way!

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  8. La Petite Gallery: Oh, thanks so much for stopping by. Yes, a wonderful area of paris to wander..:)

    Amie: Thanks for visiting. Oh, that food!

    Paris Set Me Free: I LOVE it, and that area of Paris..:)

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  9. Love Paris, love the Marais and oh yes definitely the best way to see Paris .. walk and walk and walk ... and always look up, you might miss something :-)

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