Seeing the real Paris that I knew living there by schnezana
The Louvre! It is the single most important museum in the world. It contains a spectacular collection of art to rival that on any continent. More important than the Prado (Madrid), and certainly more important than any in America.Maison Européenne de la Photographie, whos mission is to collect and preserve a permanent collection of more than 12,000 international prints. Emphasis is on works from the 1950s to the present. And it hosts temporary exhibitis from the likes of Cartier- Bresson, Paul Strand, and Pierre & Gilles. Situated in the Marais, in the beautifully restored Hôtel Hénault de Cantobre at 82 rue François-Miron, 4th (01 44 78 75 00)CHOCOLAT! ( In a word, If you like two words), PAIN CHOCOLAT!
I know it can be intimidating to walk into an upscale chocolatier in Paris. Not so at Denise Acabo/A l'Étoile d'Or. She will be the lady dressed in the pleated skirt and wearing her hair in long blond braids! The chocolates are gathered from artisans throughout France, and believe me she knows every one of them and how they are made and probably where they get the ingredients. 30 rue Fontaine, 9th (01 48 74 59 55)
A secret vew I found on the way to the loo (WC) in the department store La Samaritaine (on the right bank across from the Point Neuf. Take one of the center elevators to the 9th floor besides a souvenir stand and the toilets is a staircase leading to an outdoor dining terrace, where if you look carefully, you'll see a tiny corkscrew stairway taht looks like something from Captain Nemo's submarine. It leads to a circular viewing platform bordered by a railing inlaid with a map (to scale!) labeling every one of the monuments you see before you. Take along your Michelin! You will want to stay forever. PLEASE BE POLITE AND DO BUY SOMETHING AND CARY THE SAMARITAINE BAG ALONG WITH YOU.
