Sightseeing in Paris

No trip to Paris is complete without seeing these attractions:

THE tower!

The Ste Chapelle - like being inside a kaleidescope of beauty.  The stained glass here is way more impressive than the Notre Dame's rose window.

Gargoyles!  This one looked a little like Voldemort to us.

The art deco metro stops:

The original statue of liberty who presides over the Seine.

You must take the time to spot some stained glass shadows on centuries old stone floors.

The skinniest house in Paris - but gosh, what a view!  Overlooking the Seine.

The Notre Dame and its flying buttresses:

Notre Dame must be seen from both the left bank and the right and, at day and at night:

A trip on the Seine on the Bateaux Mouche so that you can see the sights along both banks of the Seine.

Climbing this huge head is a must.  I'm not going to tell you where it is - go on a scavenger hunt and find out!  Hint: it's outside one of Paris' most beautiful cathedrals.

The Pompidou Center is always unexpected.  And always fun - can you spot what's wrong with these artist names?

 The Pantheon:  check out the perpetual motion ball that hangs from this dome.

More attractions to follow shortly.

Happy Sightseeing!
Shafi

Paris Food - Bon apetit!

Two weeks in Paris.  The sightseeing was amazing.  So was the eating.  My sons and I happily grazed our way through the city.  Happy to share a bite or two:

Saurin loved the cheeses:

And the baguettes:

Sachin could never resist biting off the tops of the baguettes - much to his brother's chagrin.

Little tins of decadent deliciousness - pates and foie gras

Les fruits de la mer:  fresh seafood at the farmer's market:

After being vin deprived in Delhi, I had fun imbibing in Paris.  A votre sante!

We had two favorite ice cream parlors - this was one.

We sometimes stopped by twice a day - all the walking on all those cobblestones made us hungry for gelato.

MOULES!  Mussels and more mussels with garlicky broth to dunk crusty bread in.

Chocolat chaud at Angelina's - best cup of hot chocolate in the city.  Dark chocolate, melted into a cup that you thin to taste with whipped cream.  Oooh.  Aaaah.  So rich that not even the boys could finish their pots.  I finished mine though - to the last decadent drop.

Sugar high!  At Angelina's where the pastries are as good as the chocolat chaud.

Saurin refuses to let his brother have a bite of his berry compote at the garden cafe of the Musee Rodin.  The quiches were good too.

Nothing fights off the chill of a windy evening on the river like a hot off the griddle crepe.  Citron sucree (fresh lemon and sugar) was Saurin's favorite.  Sachin liked nutella banana.

At Amorino's - our other favorite gelateria that served up the most beautiful ice cream cones we have ever seen.

See?!

Galettes - a specialty in the Marais.  Like crepes, but thicker and savory.  Stuffed with salmon, cheese, pate, asparagus, duck  ... anything your heart desires.  You could order their combos or create your own. The boys got creative and were very pleased with the results.

Cheese counters like this make me weak at the knees

BEST hotel room picnic - EVAH!

Escargots!  Snails?! "I won't eat snails!" declared Saurin.  But Sachin enjoyed his so much that Saurin tried one of mine and then proceeded to polish off all the rest.

Eating out in Paris beats eating out in New Delhi.  And, New York.

Profiteroles.  Warm puff pastry, cold vanilla ice cream and a dark chocolate sauce.  Be still my beating heart!

Happy Sightseeing!  And eating!  Bon apetit.
Shafi

Quirky Parisians

Some characters I'd like to write a story about some day - seen in different parts of the city of light: 

A bareback angel in the park:

Superhomme!  Check out his cape made from a kitchen apron and his gallic posture.

We watched this sidewalk DaVinci for hours.  He was creating the Mona Lisa outside the Centre Pompidou.

Every time someone tipped him, he got up and bowed.  All he had to work with was a box of chalk.

Gentle tough guy at the Bird Market.  He looked so forbidding but the way he crooned at the birds was sweet as pie.

The most formal sidewalk musician in all of Paris.  He was too courtly to give coins to - had to leave notes for his notes (OK, so sometimes I can't resist a bad pun).

These guys were fun!  Instead of money, we used to get them gianduja ice cream cones.  We became  their favorite pedestrians.

Saucisson man: was generous with both smiles and samples

We walked by her apartment every day.  And, every day, we'd see her watering her geraniums with mineral water.

Happy Sightseeing!
Shafi

Paris Bird Market

What's not to love about Paris?  From its "Joie de vivre" to its "Je ne sais quoi" it is one of my favorite cities in the world.  I have been a frequent visitor for both work and play, but last summer I got to spend 2 weeks there with my sons.

We loved its cobblestones and its Berthillon & Amorino ice cream cones.  We loved its cheeses, its pates and its baguettes crisp and warm from the baker's oven.  We loved its river, its tower, its cathedrals and its rooftops.  We loved its museums and its sidewalk musicians.  I'll post the pics of some of those favorites in another post.

 First, I'd like to share the Sunday Bird market we stumbled upon behind the Notre Dame.   Check it out:

Birdie pic'n'mix in all sorts of funky shapes and vibrant colors:

My younger son Saurin's favorite bird:

Sachin, my older one, tried to convince me to buy these birds so we could free them.

The Bird Market is next to the flower market - a beautiful setting.

Birdman:

Ooh, they had puppies too.  This little fellow was so hard to resist.

Cages big and small

Hanging treats:

And then, Saurin found les lapins!  It was hard work convincing him that rabbits do not travel well.

Cages hung like artworks from the ceilings

Hydrangeas in every shade and shape

A cup of Paris' most decadent hot chocolate (Angelina's) is the perfect way to end a visit to the Bird Market.  Melted chocolate that you "thin" out with whipped cream!

Saurin approved!

Happy Sightseeing!
Shafi