Pierre Corneille - Rouen Weekend Excursion

Although he spent his last years and days in Paris, as a respected playwright, Pierre Corneille's birth place In Rouen and studio (where he composed Le Cid among others!) is a fascinating place to visit when and if out of Paris.

Restaurant Le Risale

Just returned from a great dinner, that went down very well thanks to fantastic company :-) - and a great venue. Turkish Restaurant, Le Risale. The lamb dishes are to die for, as is the rest of the menu. The ambience is as deliciously warm and welcoming as the menu - this is a restaurant to return to again and again.

Click here for restaurant menu, directions and more about this great restaurant!

Musée de la Vie romantique

The Museum gives a glimpse into the 19th Century, in the workspace of Dutch born artist, Ary Scheffer. It also acts as a befitting tribute to the artistry of the time, and the introduction of stunning painting techniques during the Romantic period. Several pieces of memorabilia are also housed here - in the form of intricate, exquisitely made jewellery and all manner of trinkets and artifacts from the period. The house was also a meeting place for several historical figures of the time whose indelible influence on the aura and form of this house are unmistakable.

Address: 16 rue Chaptal - 75009 Paris

Paris-Sorbonne

Capoeira in Paris!

Visit www.capoeira-paris.net

Versailles

Versailles from George on Vimeo.

Opulent, magnificent, over-the-top, Versailles lives up to, and surpasses, all of its associated stereotypes. Definitely not a place to explore in one day - it makes for a great place to visit again and again. Here, the visit took place on a slightly moody day - temperature wise (and in other ways too) but one gets the sense that this is a fantastic place to visit during the spring too. In warmer times, fountains get turned on to music and the beautiful, sprawling gardens become more alive and open to days spent at this really magnificent tribute to a bygone French era ... Versailles is a must see while around Paris.

Out of Paris: Rouen

Rouen from George on Vimeo.

Valuable as a weekend getaway packed with several historical landmarks and great works of artistry - Rouen is very much well worth a visit.

Brooke Fraser - Live in Paris, 2nd April 2010

Brooke Fraser, the New Zealand artist, is Coming to Paris on the 2nd April. I just bought myself tickets, and am absolutely beside myself about this..
BUY TICKETS HERE!

Derrière : Home-restaurant and Paris' best kept secret?

I just received a great review of a restaurant that opened in Paris two years ago, seats a limited number of diners per night and is meant to feel like a "home away from home". Apparently, upon arrival, you have to be buzzed in,much like someone arriving at a private home. This beautiful place, I hear, is also beautifully tucked at the back of Andy Wahloo, a 'hip' bar/meeting place, giving it a sense of intimacy without being too removed from the life of the city.

The number to call to make reservations is + 33 1 44 61 91 95 and the homey eatery itself is located at 69, rue Gravilliers 750053. Prices for a good meal could range between 30 and 50 Euros, I hear. But, will need to find out in person soon!

Out of Paris expedition (3): Harfleur, North Western France

Harfleur, North Western France from George on Vimeo.

For the greater part of six centuries, this old town - that now has a population of under 10000 people - was a key trading port in North Western France. It also was a pivotal town in France's running tensions with England, given its geographical position. Several buildings from the 16th century stlll (pretty much) stand along the several small cobbled streets, some of which date back to medieval times when the port was a place for sailors to enjoy some sort of home life. There is also a remarkable 14th century church, St-Martin, that still stands although it has lost most of its stained glass windows.

History buffs would also associate the town with the legendary battle of Agincourt, to which Harfleur was central...

Out of Paris Expeditions (2): Etratat, Normandie

It's a lovely little town on the Atlantic coast, North East of France, absolutely loved the time spent here!...

Old Art Book heaven in the heart of Paris

I happened to stumble across a treasure trove of a store that sells old, out of print art books - and look forward to going back to page through hundreds of books on Paris. It's an exciting 'find' and a rich source of fantastic work that you will not find anywhere else in the most part...

The website is http://www.courantdartmontparnasse.com and this sweet, small store can be found at 79 rue Vaugirard 75006.

An evening at Chatelet Theatre

Just enjoyed a great evening out at the "theatre' at Chatelet where a series of concerts (free) runs on weekends, with the last of the series being on the 19th. The only way to enjoy the music produced at this place is by going there, recordings only do a little bit of justice. It truly is a great venue and even greater quality when experienced up front. This was certainly tIme well spent! Loved it!
Check the website out: www.chatelet-theatre.com

Favourite cobbled passage way: Place Henri Mondor

It's possible to miss this little passage way just off Saint Germain Boulevard, on Place Henri Mondor - but it's a mini treasure trove: a fantastic pub, chocolatier and other small things to discover.

It's tucked on an entrance between a cafe - Indiana and a "Tati" jewellery store. I ' kind of like it"

Delicious French Dinner, Fantastic Service: L'Encriere

Just returned from a great dinner with friends at a great restaurant that serves traditional food in a cosy setting - with round tables for larger groups. This is a perfect place to go out for a French dinner - the food is great, and the service is excellent. Definitely worth a visit!

Address:
55 Rue Traversiere,
75012
Paris
Tel 01 44 68 08 16
Metro: Ledru Rollin/Gare De Lyon
Link on Cityvox: http://www.cityvox.fr/restaurants_paris/l-encrier_14172/Profil-Lieu

French expeditions out of Paris (1): Normandy

It was lovely to have a bit of a weekend getaway to Normandy: an absolutely gorgeous part of the country! Below are just a few of the images of lovely Normandy - the Atlantic ocean's breathtaking coastline at Etretat; A Norman style building from 1736 in the old village of Harfleur, close to LeHavre and a much older cobbled-street from Rouen.

More images from this out-of-Paris expedition to follow!...

Sunshine on the Seine

Today was extraordinarily sunny. A welcome break to the winter, given that spring is only expected about 6 to 8 weeks from now. Some Parisians gratefully acknowledged the gift that today's sun was and took time to soak in the sun by the Seine....

St. Nicolas du Chardonnet

Stumbled across an old church that I found impressive. Subsequently, I've found out that it is a controversial place - and that the signpost warning you to dress respectfully is not a mere suggestion. St Nicolas du Chardonnet is a bastion of a "traditionalist' right wing movement that occupied this church building in the 70s.

That said, the church is an impressive work of love and art and a clearly still very much in-use within a society that has always been sceptical of religion and clings jealously to the separation of church and state, and France's self-realisation as a secular state.

Here are some images that I took from my mobile phone (one can sense it that this is not a very welcoming place for such 'unholy' activity as picture taking):

Images from a morning walk over the Seine

So, today's weather is nowhere near tropical but mild and warm enough to take a walk. So I did just that this morning. Over beautiful, beautiful 'la Seine' at the "Pont des Arts" bridge that is perhaps most notable for the several love padlocks attached to its fences that also act as sidebars for the bridge. That combined with sweet benches and the river make it a romantic place to take a morning walk...

Paris: A Rooftop View

...Finally made it to the Arab World Institute - "L'institut Monde Arabe" (IMA) that boasts the work of architect Jean Nouvel - along with Gilbert Lezenes and Pierre Soria). The institute hosts an impressive library, two restaurants and a bookshop among other things to "develop knowledge of the Arab world, and to promote its culture and civilisation in `france and the rest of Europe."

But, apart from that it also offers a great rooftop view of parts of Paris that you won't find elsewhere. The images below try to capture the Seine and Paris as viewed from the 9th floor rooftop terrace of IMA. Gorgeous!...



1, rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard
Place Mohamed V
75236 Paris cedex 05
Open from Tuesday to sunday
www.imarabe.org

metro: Jussieu, Cardinal Lemoine or Sully Morland

Sunshine in Paris

Today, the sun - for a few moments shyly kissed Paris. The weather's still mild but it was a relief to have a bit of sunshine. It wasn't quite 'blazing", and maybe difficult to notice from this image, but this litlle bit of sunshine was nonetheless delicately sweet...

La Sorbonne:-)

Images of the main building of the university of my closest confidant and friend in Paris, "La Sorbonne'..

Video Club

Located in the 5th arr. from a world before iTunes, Netflix, YouTube and pirate websites....

An accidental favourite: Of "Kong" and "Sex and the City"

Trendy, sophisticated but warm, welcoming and cosy (well, apart from the slightly unfriendly menu price list), Kong is a beautiful place to wind down. Went out to this place with a dear friend, and loved it at first sight! :-) Click here





SUbsequently, it has emerged that Kong is actually quite famous. It features in the very last double episode of "Sex and The City" , the TV Series. More specifically, it is where Carrie meets her boyfriend's ex! Well, if anything, that's a good piece of trivia to retain . (see the clip below for a glimpse of Sex and the City scene featuring Kong!)

But, Sex and the City aside, Kong is a great venue in its own right. APart from it's spectacular view of Pont Neuf bridge (also a favourite of this blogger), the welcoming atmosphere that is nonetheless distinctly chic and stylish makes this a great 'find"!




Address: 1 Rue du Pont Neuf
75001 Paris, France
01 40 39 09 00
Subway: Châtelet

Winter Sundays in Paris

A short collection of images from Sunday afternoon and evening, and all that made it sweet:: A successfully prepared roast served with delicious sides of a paella-like dish and scrumptious roast potatoes ; Heavenly cupcakes and tea from Berko Cupcakes; Beautiful city views of Paris as day turns to night, from the rooftop of Centre Georges Pompidou: and a final goodbye to the weekend washed down with glasses of wine with good friends while overlooking the beautiful bridge of Pont Neuf viewed from the trendy eatery Kong (1 Rue du Pont Neuf). And for moments of solace and quiet, well, there are literally chapels and small churches all over the city.

Sunday afternoons in Paris during winter are definitely lovely opportunities to live more deliciously at home, and to explore the several beautiful spots that the city has to offer. J'adore Paris! :-)!