A Weekend in Paris
Top Stops for a Weekend in Paris
There are certainly harder things in life to face than a weekend in Paris. But with limited time and a city that spans over 105 square kilometres and an endless number of cultural, historical and leisure activities to do, where do you start? Here’s a mix of things to do that don’t leave you wasting away your weekend in long lines, trailing behind guided tours or freezing up your bank accounts.
First port of call, where to stay? The trendy, central, vibrant and also slightly hip area called Marais, is certainly a great place to set up your short-term shop. It’s a very accessible neighbourhood surrounded by a mix of fine dining and street style restaurants, endless alleyways that lead to a new and exciting adventure as well as small parks where locals and tourists intermix, catching those midday sunrays. The most unique part of the Marais is the hidden antique, vintage and thrift stores that line the cobbled streets - high-end fashion, collectable jewellery as well as second-hand clothes are all on offer.
If you are in need of supplies and a stroll through the Parisian streets, head over to the Grand Epicerie at Bon Marche. This is the be-all and end-all of French quality produce and local culinary supplies. Stock up on all essentials like bread, butter, cheese and meats. Fresh fruits, salad and vegetables are also available - it was hard to leave without all the different types of tomatoes and cheeses (in some cases, wheels of cheese) because everything looked and smelt amazing! Nibble on the testers, giving you a chance to try a few French staples (like their Brioche bun with dried raisins).
Mosey on to the surrounding parklands for a drink, alfresco style, or even to snack on those newly bought goodies like a baguette and ham lunch, Parisian style. The park directly out the front of the Picasso museum is great for kids with a large playground as well as sun/shaded area for the adults.
A main attraction in the Marais is the Picasso museum housing a beautiful collection of Picasso’s works in a minimalist style mansion home. The exhibition does change every few months, providing a different focus on his work, but it is also worth seeing the inside of the space for a truly mesmerising experience. The best time to see this exhibition is between 4.30pm and close as there are no waiting lines and the rush of people have dispersed so there is less congestion inside to freely see each work.
For a truly enjoyable, entertaining and memorable dinner (or special lunch), book into L’ami Jean. The food is absolutely amazing but really what stood out to me was the unique form of service. Down to earth, friendly but also relatable - the staff (who were the owners) became a part of the dining experience and really made each and every guest feel at home whilst sensually exploring their Basque/French menu. special requests were never an issue, larger bookings were easily accommodated and the cheap jokes were dished out as much as the food itself.
My two favourite must-try dishes were the razor clams with chilli and garlic and the Grandma Soup (cheese soup) with homemade croutons - I didn’t want to count bread and butter as a dish but you must try this as well! For dessert, well there is one and one thing only… rice pudding. Before you say you don’t like rice pudding (which is exactly what I said), you should give this a try. Start off with a small portion, but I promise you, you will end with licking the bowl. They serve the creamy vanilla rice mix with homemade dulce de leche sauce, salted slightly, and homemade caramelised mixed nuts. Mix and match as you wish, but adding both on top, you could say gives me the shivers and a slight form of salivation just thinking about it.
For the second day, wake up early and head to this antique flea market called Port de Vanves around 7.30am. About a 20-minute uber ride out of the Marais district, you could spend hours rummaging through streets lined with stalls. It may seem a little daunting to begin with but there are some hidden gems for all. I picked up a great jewellery box, an antique ring and necklace. There were old collectable plates as well as vintage handbags, paintings and kids toys - really a market for all.
Stop off at the only food stall in the market for a ham, cheese and egg toastie as a breakfast meal or snack. Warning they do not false advertise on the ingredients used - each bite was that much more scrumptious than the last.
Once you tire from the flea markets, head to the Pompidou (Le Centre Pomidou). If you time things well you should arrive at the opening (11am) to avoid the waiting lines. Again, they change the works and shows on offer but there is an amazing photo exhibition during the month of July (2019) of Dora Maar and a link to Picasso.
No matter what exhibitions are on, there are two things to absorb when visiting the Pompidou. When the building was completed in the 1970s, designers Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano and Gianfranco Franchini attracted much attention. Designed opposite to that of a normal building - the exterior holding the normally hidden inner workings of a building such a gas, plumbing and water tubes as well as an endless zig-zag of ladders, a statement was made and this is an understatement. It is challenging both aesthetically, to look at, and mentally, to understand, for the everyday person.
Secondly, take a moment to look out from the top level and admire the expanse of the city and the perfectly clear site of the Eiffel Tower. Spend as long or as little as you like in this monumental structure, regardless, a drink is in order afterwards.
A perfect Parisian style bar calls your name - Au Petit Fer à Cheval. The street this is located on (Rue Vieille du Temple) is great for an eclectic, cosy but also very French-style cafe/bars. One thing to know, the service is slow, the drinks are expensive but this is the last stop on the weekend away… so live it up!
