Paris Travel Tips - Paris Travel Guide

Recently, I was thinking of the places Carol and I had been and was wondering...in which of these places had I felt the most connected to a community (?). Of all the possible little villages and charming towns we had made an effort to "slow travel" in, it occurred to me that, of all places, Paris began to feel the most like home. Specifically, the neighborhood of le Marais.

I know it seems odd that an area within a huge international city could be the most welcoming but I think I understand why.

Certainly there are tourist in le Marais but you never feel that they are central to this neighborhood's being. Real people live here. Not just the jet set but regular people who pick up a baguette on the way to the Metro as they hurry off to work and fill the cafes and falafel bars in the evening with their dogs under their tables. And, they live behind those big wooden doors that lead to private courtyards and four story walk-up apartments.

In a small country village you try to blend in but everyone knows you're just visiting. In a city and especially in a neighborhood like le Marais, it might seem like you actually belong. A few visits to the same patisserie or that Jewish deli and who knows, someone might think..."they might have just moved in down the street!"

Of course, it's all just an illusion but still...walking around in le Marais starts to feel like home.

Le Marais is located on the Right Bank just above Ile St. Louis, west of the Bastille and east of Les Halles...more or less.

Intro Photo: Taken at Rue de Turenne and Rue des Francs Bourgeois...site of our first café au lait. It seems to be a plaza but is merely a pleasant intersection.

Photo 2: Taken from the main street of le Marais, Rue Saint-Antoine, looking down Rue Jacques Coeur...obviously one of the more up-scale areas about a block from Place de la Bastille.

Photo 3: We wished we had discovered this place sooner. A charming cafe with some of the best pastries we found. Located at the corner of Rue Tiron and Rue Francois Miron.

Photo 4: Southwest America meets New York City meets Paris' Jewish Quarter...Micky's Deli is all that and delicious! Located at 23 Bis Rue des Rosiers.

Photo 5: On our first evening stroll we happened upon Rue des Barres with the Church Saint-Gervais just peaking out on the left.

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