Destination: Paris, France (2018 Spring Break Edition– Part 1)

Bonjour!

I had a week off for the April vacances just this past week, and I decided to get away to the city of Paris. Thing was, I’d originally didn’t consider going, as I’d thought that I would stay close to and make trips to nearby towns in the Lyon region. Also, I had just gone to Paris in January, so I didn’t think about returning so soon. But my parents happened to be visiting that same week I was off, and with that, I booked my *semi-spontaneous* bus ride over to the French capital.

I left early on Monday, making the 7-hour bus journey over, arriving at Bercy around 14:00. I took the metro over to the Airbnb that my parents were staying in (and where I would also stay for the week). My parents had scored a fantastic flat right in the heart of the city, close to the Châtelet metro– the location made for getting around super easy, which I wasn’t complaining about!

Reuniting with my parents (as I’d last saw them in December), I dropped off my belongings and, after a short break, we headed out to explore the Châtelet/Palais Royal area for the afternoon. It was a light day, as I’d just came after a long bus ride, so we kept the visit within the limits of our Airbnb.

First stop was the église Saint-Eustache, which I’d seen the last time I was in Paris. I’d liked it during my first visit, but I ended up absolutely loving it when I saw it second time around. Besides its towering nave, the equally-towering chapels were decorated with beautifully-painted Biblical depictions, which I hadn’t caught before. Of course, there was the cheeky charcuterie stained-glass window, to commemorate the once-slaughterhouse, and in any case, the église Saint-Eustache is probably one of my favorite churches in Paris– definitely worth a visit!

Not too far away was the palais Royal, where we headed to afterwards. What really surprised me was how gorgeous its garden was, since it was absolutely dead when I went in the winter. From the lush, perfectly-pruned trees to the flourishing pink flowers, the area burst with colors that I knew that spring had officially arrived. Not to forget that it was unbelievably sunny and hot…really, I visited on a really-good week when blue skies were ever-present, and temperatures got up to 30°C (86°F). Goes to show that spring time is the best time to come and experience the city’s beauty.

My parents and I passed through les Deux Plateaux on our way to the Galerie Vivienne, a covered passageway dating back to the 19th century. It used to be an important passage for commerce, as it’s located near la Bourse, but today, it’s a lovely (and touristy) site for photo opportunities and shopping. The boutiques inside look absolutely charming, albeit outrageously pricey, but it’s always nice to window shop without paying a centime.

From the Galerie Vivienne, we took the metro to the Marais district, where we had an early dinner at L’As du Fallafel. It was my third time having it, although it was my first while sitting inside (usually, I take it to-go). I ordered my usual falafel pita, which was fresh and delicious as always, while my parents opted for the heavier, meat-based pitas.

Stomachs full, we took a stroll along rue de Rivoli, making a brief stop inside the St. Paul Cathedral before continuing all the way to Place de la Bastille, where the iconic column is placed to commemorate that fateful Revolution in 1789. We took the metro there back to the Airbnb, where we rested for the night.

I was on my own the next day, since my parents were out on a full-day excursion to the châteaux de la Loire. After breakfast, I took the metro east of the city to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. I’d gone the previous year, but somehow didn’t notice the great views of the Sacré Coeur from the Temple de la Sibylle. I saw it this time, and again, the perfect weather all week made for crystal-clear photos in the distance.

Making a quick tour around the park (not yet quite packed with people that morning), I walked over to the Canal Saint-Martin, which I’d visited last August after landing back in France, but back then I’d gotten caught in a rainstorm, thus less-than-ideal photos. This time around, weather conditions were perfect, so the views of the lush, sloping trees along the tranquil canal were gorgeous. I can imagine it being packed in the summer when everyone’s off from work or school to enjoy a bottle under the peaceful shade!

It was nearing 11:00, so I took the metro all the way back to the 1st arrondissement, where I met up with a Parisian friend (whom I’d Couchsurfed with last time I was in town) for a café break at Angelina. I’d also been meaning to try this well-known tea room, which is famous for its hot chocolate, and I didn’t mind paying an arm and a leg for the occasion. Seriously, my cup of hot chocolate and Mont Blanc came out close to 20€! But the hot chocolate was rich and divine, very similar to Spanish hot chocolate, and the Mont Blanc was creamy and thick with chestnut flavor. It was also a pleasant time catching up with my friend, as we spent about an hour and a half in the café before parting ways in the early afternoon. I’ll be seeing her next month when I return to Paris!

The hot chocolate and Mont Blanc had filled me up, so I chose not to have lunch and instead head directly to the musée Picasso in the Marais district. Along the way, I stopped by 59 Rivoli, a large, ex-abandoned building that’s now an open space for up-and-coming artists to rent and practice their craft. Wasn’t allowed to take photos of the artwork inside, but at least the wildly-colorful staircase to each studio was a given. Also passed through the Tour Saint Jacques, which inside a small square bursting with pink flowers and green trees. People were lounging about on the benches and grass, soaking up the sweltering spring heat after being starved of it during winter.

At the musée Picasso, it was free admission with my visa, as I was an EU resident. Besides enjoying Impressionist works, Picasso’s notable Cubist ones also interest me– it wasn’t such a huge museum and with only a selected-few artworks from the Spanish artist’s life, including Guernica, as inspired by the bloody Spanish Civil War. I saw everything within an hour, and soon headed out to my next destination.

Despite the heat, I walked all the way to the Promenade plantée, which is an elevated, 5-kilometer (3 mile) garden that stretches along the top of an old viaduct. It wasn’t opened when I visited last time, so I enjoyed my time strolling along the verdant walkway, also filled with people lounging on the benches and soaking up the spring sun. I didn’t quite make it to the “split building,” as I’d seen photos of it online, but I would return the day after to see it.

I hopped off the viaduct near Gare de Lyon, and I made a quick revisit to the rue Crémieux, where of course there were plenty of tourists getting their Instagram photos in of the colorful houses. From there, I headed all the way back to the Airbnb, stopping by the hôtel de Sully for its courtyard and an Intermarché to get groceries for dinner that night. I stayed in for dinner, preparing the meal for myself and my parents when they returned from the châteaux de la Loire in the evening.

Surprisingly, I saw a lot during the first one-and-a-half days I was in Paris. Of course, there’s more after that, which I’ll recap soon. À bientôt!

 

— Rebecca