Walking Around, Paris

Lots of concrete, hardly any greenery, but a charm and pull there non-the-less. Parisian streets are perfect for rambling around in, you are sure to find interesting little sights and finds around every corner.

Not a city girl at heart, both London and Paris have pulled down my pre-dispositions towards city life. There is alot of negative, but so much positive too :)

The famous little street near the Seine in the Latin Quarter -- "The cat that fishes"
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If you want to order your own, you may at this site:
http://www.frencheuropean.com/

Paris rebuilt for many and many times. The great rebuilding was the result of the French revolution. The government’s aim was to destroy small streets and build direct boulevards. This style of city planning had to help the government to control people walkouts or armed conflicts. Narrow streets of old Paris is a rarity in modern city.

when in Paris, walk as much as you possibly can. You will miss out on so much if you take the easy way out - the Metro. you will be delighted by what you see, be it murals and other artwork, flowers, flowers and flowers, great architecture, a random cat sunning himself here and there, or youngsters out for a roller-skate.

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Also known as 'Salle Favart' (it's first name) the Opera Comique, (re)built in 1887 (on the location of the previous Comte de Choiseul's private theater) is now just a secondary implementation from the Opera Garnier.

Initially dedicated to opera comique (a now vanished form of opera) and operette, it has lost importance since the decline of those genres and the creation of the Opera Bastille.

It now hosts the "Centre National d'Art Lyrique" (part of the opera school) and the only performances presented are french opera works sung in french (along with the new opera singers auditions).
But, in 2006, the Opera Comique may find a new youth, after undergoing a renovation (2005), it will gain the status of 'Theatre National' (and that means more budget...)

Address : Rue Favart/Place Boieldieu
Metro Richelieu Drouot or Quatre Septembre

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If you happen to stroll rue de Paradis (the "crokery and china" street of Paris), you may notice, among the surronding non descript buildings, a very special looking house : the Galerie Paradis
Built in 1900 by Jacottin, it was initially the Ceramic fabricant Boulenger's main store (the factory was located in Choisy le Roi).
The facade looks like an italian theatre and the walls are decorated with pictures made out of ceramics.
The designs are from Arnoux and Guidetti who were also the Maison Boulenger's main designers.
From 1978 to 1991, the house used to host the Musee de l'Affiche et de la Publicite now situated in the Louvre (in the Pavillon de Marsan).
If you are lucky enough, you can enter the courtyard and have a closer look (or else, just catch a glimpse though the railings).

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The "Jewish capital" of Paris is Rosiers street, located in Marais. The roses that justified the name are gone, and now the street houses many restaurants and commercial houses.

I was sorrow for having no opportunity to visit one of the buildings that surround the "Arch du Triomphe". Atop of it is clearly visible a dense garden replacing the roof.

What is it?

As made famous in the 1963 Cary Grant / Audrey Hepburn movie "Charade", the Open Air Stamp Market is located just North of the Champs Elysées on Avenue Gabriel (Métro Champs Elysées-Clemenceau).

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"Walking around" is one of the best "things to do" in Paris. There is always an interesting shop window, or interesting person, or perhaps pairs of shoes hanging from a telephone wire!?