Restless Transgressions: Paris Rediscovered

One week ago trouble landed in Paris in the form of AJ (My very Bengali non-Bengali frand)!!!! Not only was it great to hang out with someone from back home after ages but it was an experience extraordinaire to see Paris once again through the eyes of a tourist. This week I realized (once again) how much I love this city!

So, how does one enjoy Paris in the summer if all they have is 2 days and 3 nights? (PS that is if you want to do something other than going to the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre).

Absinthe Fountain

Friday Evening: Start the evening at 19:00 at La Fee Verte famous for their Absinthe! When you come to the city which set the pace of the Belle Époque you cannot leave without having your share of Absinthe and La Fee Verte near Bastille has one of the largest collections all with a fountain and everything. From there take a walk from Place de la Bastille down Rue de Rivoli to Hotel de Ville where in July they have the jardins éphémères and onwards to the Notre Dame and Île Saint-Louis. Grab an Ice cream from Berthillon (if it is open) or from Amorino and walk along the Seine in any direction!!

AJ, Me & Alex

The Seine by night

The Catacombs

Saturday: Start early and hit Place Denfert-Rochereau at 8:30 am to get in line for the catacombs. I have to say that after the Notre Dame de Paris the Catacombs de Paris is my favorite part of Parisian history – beautiful, morbid and very fascinating. It’s 2 Kms of underground tunnels lined with bones and epitaphs. Tip: read up on the catacombs before hand and you don’t need to pay for the guided tour nor the audio guide. The entry is 8 Euros. After the catacombs walk down to Saint-Germain-des-Prés and take a stroll down Rue de Rennes – shopping paradise with all the major high street brands (all of which are on sale if you happen to come in July or January). Next grab a quick lunch at one of the cafes at Saint-Germain-des-Prés and later walk down Boulevard Saint Germain to the Notre Dame. On the way make a pit stop at the Shakespeare & Co. – an independent bookstore with a reading room (they host events quite often as well). Post the Notre Dame take the metro and make your way over to butte Montmartre…take in the once famous art district of Paris by just walking around and peeking into little boutiques and cafes. You can also find some very interesting bars and restaurants here. Or you can make like us….buy some cold beers, fresh baguettes and an assortment of cheeses and make your way to the Sacré-Cœur. Have yourself a little picnic till the last metro with your friends on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur, taking in the breath taking view and sharing your summer night with thousands of others and make your way home a little tipsy…a little nostalgic for the pre-war Paris.

Notre-Dame

Sacré-Cœur

View from the Sacré-Cœur

Tuileries

Centre Pompidou

Sunday: Well rise and shine beautiful people and hit Place de la Concorde by 8:30 am. Take a stroll down the Tuileries and walk all the way across Chatelet up to Centre Pompidou. Settle down in a small bistrot or Starbucks (which ever suits your fancy) and get yourself a Petit Déjeuner (breakfast) cos you will need it. Walk into Centre Pompidou once you are done and enjoy some beautiful works by Andy Warhol, Gauguin and others along with a spectacular view of Paris. After that take the Metro down to Place Gambetta and take respite from a warm afternoon with a beer and some lunch. Post lunch walk down to the Cimetière du Père Lachaise and pay homage to some of the greatest men and women that ever lived – Jim Morrison, Balzac, Eugene Delacroix, Oscar Wilde, Chopin and Marcel Proust to name a few. It doesn’t hurt that the cemetery is so very beautiful either (though I am sad to report that the authorities have cleaned up all the graves and fenced them in, so all the years of dedications by ‘fans’ are a thing of the past). After this you can either settle down in one of the many parks of Paris or make your way to Belleville (the modern Parisian HQ of Art and cheap bars) and settle down at O’Paris – a hipster bar near Parc de Belleville with one of the best terrasses in Paris. Post drinking walk down Rue de Belleville on your way to the metro and stop to admire the graffiti all along the streets (free art!!!!).