Tag Archives: paris travel

Flashback to one month ago

20 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by in Paris Fashion Week, Paris guide, Paris photos, Paris travel, Paris Walks

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Zipping around Paris taking in all the events, art exhibits, new restaurants, new attractions never gets tiring. It’s all the work when I arrive back home and have to update my Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Tumbler and blog accounts. Complaining, I’m not, it’s a gig many have told me they’re envious of. I understand. After many years as a graphic designer, secretary, stone mason, aerobic dance teacher, chocolate chip cookie baker, and photographer, life has just worked out that way.

While in Paris I had one minute of fame. Crawling the internet at night post Balmain show I came across the Vogue Magazine online site. Lo and behold there I was on point shooting one of the cognoscenti. Thank you staff photographer Phil Oh who included it in his “Best Street Photos from Paris Fashion Week.” It made my day, my year, though I guess that’s my ego speaking.

janinePhilOcostco

Okay, enough about that. Time to get onboard and sell some books.  No Worries Paris is on the shelf at Powell’s Books.    Amazon.com too, of course or at www.trailblazertravelbooks.com. Thanks for giving it some consideration, it’s a pretty helpful walking guide to have along.

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What’s going on Paris September 2016

30 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by in Paris guide, Paris travel

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A rundown of events that are worth seeing:

 

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Charles Gleyre (1806-1874). The Reformed Romantic Member
from 10 May 2016 to 11 September 2016
1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur – 75007 Paris
Musée d’Orsay – Saint-Germain-des-Prés – 7e Arrondissement

PARISpipe

René Magritte. La Trahison des Images (The Treachery of Images)
Exhibition
from 21 September 2016 to 23 January 2017
Centre Pompidou – Place Georges Pompidou, Paris

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Barbie
Exhibition
from 10 March 2016 to 18 September 2016
Les Arts Décoratifs – Musée des Arts Décoratifs – 107 rue de Rivoli, Paris

gastonomy

Fête de la gastronomie
Celebration
from 23 September 2016 to 25 September 2016
Paris et Ile-de-France – ., Paris

The Fête de la Gastronomie is all about food and cooking

JardinsOrient

Jardins d’Orient (Gardens of the Orient)
from 19 April 2016 to 25 September 2016
1 rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard – 75005 Paris
Quartier Latin – 5e Arrondissement

boucheron

Edme Bouchardon, De sanguine et de marbre
Exhibition
from 16 September 2016 to 05 December 2016
Musée du Louvre – Musée du Louvre, Paris

 

heritage

European Heritage Days
Exhibition
from 17 September 2016 to 18 September 2016
Tout Paris

Discover or rediscover Parisian museums and monuments over one weekend. Lines can be long, so choose your favorite and arrive early!  Free.

 

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Oscar Wilde, l’impertinent absolu
Exhibition
from 28 September 2016 to 25 January 2017
Petit Palais – Musée des Beaux Arts de la ville de Paris – Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris

Homage to one of the most famous Francophile writers in English

 

 

 

The time to go to Paris is NOW

25 Thursday Aug 2016

Posted by in Paris News, Paris tips, Paris travel

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If you detest standing in line or just being in crowded places your timing to go to Paris has never been better.  Visibly noticeable are the shortened queues at the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay,  Eiffel Tower, bateaux mouches, and special events.

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The regional tourist board head has called it an “industrial disaster” since so much of Paris relies on visitor spending. The Ile-de-France figures for 2016 reflect big drops:

A 46.2% decline in Japanese visitors compared with the same period in 2015
A 35% decline in Russian visitors
A 19.6% decline in Chinese visitors
A 5.7% decline in visitors from the US

After recent major terror attacks in France, Paris is now seen as “less safe”.  So it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons. I myself will take a chance on Paris. Some vacation rental landlords are willing to “talk turkey” and reduce the rent especially if you’re booking within a month’s time frame. Hotels too probably will soon be forced to offer more affordable rates.  A little direct negotiation with the front desk could mean extra savings for you.

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I’m hoping tourists regain their confidence and Paris returns to its superstar status of being one of Europe’s most visited cities.  After all, 14.97 million international visitors adds up to a lot of croissants.

concordeNoWorriesParis

As well as a lot of sold guidebooks:  No Worries Paris, a photographic walking guide.

No_Worries_Paris_ChicTrib

What’s happening Paris: March

02 Wednesday Mar 2016

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A few cherry-picked selections to fit into your walking/eating/shopping/faire les betises schedule.

rousseauExhibit
Musée d’Orsay
Address
1 rue de la Légion-d’Honneur
75007 Paris   From 22 March to 17 July 2016

This exhibition, initially presented at the Palazzo Ducale de Venise in 2015, has now made its way to the galleries of the Orsay Museum. A major representative of naïve art, Henri Rousseau was, in particular, known by the nickname Douanier Rousseau. Although he travelled very little, he was renowned for his paintings which represent jungle scenes. From an album called “Savage Beasts” and following visits to the jardin des Plantes as well as the Natural History museum – these are the things behind his most well-known paintings.

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Some of his masterpieces, which belong to the collections of the Orsay and Orangerie Museums, can be found here, alongside others of his paintings on loan from the greatest international establishments. Also on exhibition are works by Kandinsky, Picasso, Seurat and Delaunay but also lesser-known artists, in order to highlight the inspirations and influence of the French painter.

How to get there
Bus 24 Bus 63 Bus 68 Bus 69 Bus 73 Bus 83
Metro 12 Solférino
RER C Musée d’Orsay

http://www.musee-orsay.fr
Prices:Normal rate : 11.00 €   Reduced rate : 8.50 €

 

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Omnivore Festival: From 06 March to 08 March 2016

Maison de la Mutualité
24 rue Saint-Victor, 75005 Paris

Dedicated to the discovery of all types of food, the Omnivore Festival has already groomed many talents through the five act demonstration. This year, the event is bringing to the spotlight, close to 150 guests for different events of more than 110 master classes.
The food club will welcome renowned chefs like the French Jean-François Piège and Anne-Sophie Pic ; the Spaniard, Andoni Luis Aduriz; the Shanghai chef, Paul Pairet; and Normand Laprise and Charles-Antoine Crête from Quebec. By the way, Montreal is the guest of honor at the festival with about ten different Canadian dishes. The pastry club, on its part, will assemble close to 25 professionals in pastry and chocolate making. French and international producers, grape producers brewers are expected at the Craftsman and liquid clubs. The Avant-Garde club is the platform for showcasing new talents.

How to get there
Metro 10 Cardinal Lemoine, http://www.omnivore.com

 

orchestr

The Orchestra of Found Items, From 11 March to 20 March 2016

Olympia, 28 boulevard des Capucines, 75009 Paris

Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, the creators of the spectacle Stomp, present a new show which is most detached and fascinating. On stage are uniquely talented drummers who recreate each section of a symphony orchestra using a host of everyday objects turned into musical instruments: pots, bottles, dustbins, barrels, oil cans, lids, sinks and even traffic cones. Far from the kind of chaos that is imagined, these crazy artists offer us an amazing concert. A total of sixty musicians, singers, comedians and dancers will participate in this spectacle which is as explosive as it is inventive.

How to get there: Metro 3 Opéra,  Metro 8 Madeleine
http://www.olympiahall.com
Prices : from 29.00 to 95.00 €

NoWorriesParisCover copy

For even more entertainment, consult your No Worries Paris guidebook

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00822LOKI&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_uPY1wb1XXG8YX

Paris by the BOOK

20 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Paris guide, Paris photos, Paris travel, Paris Walks

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The No Worries Paris guide, that is. The stock market is plummeting, the political candidate news is disturbing, cheap oil is affecting world markets, there’s trouble in the Middle East, and there are epic storms predicted for the East Coast, but there is still Paris.

A few random pages from the book (or ebook) to inspire your walks are below. There’s no shortage of maps, photos or street by street directions. Have a look:

page6_NoWorriesParis

 

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In a nutshell, No Worries Paris takes readers on a visually luscious journey to the city’s striking monuments, as well as into the cobblestone crannies of its villages and along the glamorous fashion boulevards.

Virtually all of Paris is covered in 10 Walking Tours, each with its own map. Walks take from a half-day to a day to complete, starting at one Metro stop and ending at another. The tours are complemented by 10 Promenades, which are shorter in length, taking in the sights around a single attraction, mainly on the fringes of city’s arrondissiments. No Worries Paris is sure to meet expectations the famous sights s of Paris but it is also full of surprises at out-of-the way places.

The time is now. Gather up all the acorns you’ve saved over the  years, raid the stash under your matrress or max out your credit card. Air fares have never been better.

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“Getting around the City of Light should be a cinch. And it is on paper. Then reality gets in the way. There is so much to see, so much to eat. What to do? Jerry and Janine Sprout have made it trouble-free for visitors to Paris by dividing the city into walking tours that take a half to a full day, depending on your pace, and cover anywhere from a few miles to a maximum of six. The promenades in the book are shorter, taking about half a day. Each tour starts and ends at a Metro stop, and there is plenty of time set aside for detours, stops and just wandering. All the famous spots (Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame, Latin Quarter, Montmartre) and neighborhoods are here.” —-Chicago Tribune

Paris on the fringe

19 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by in Paris Wanderings

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and if you want to walk the hot spots as well as the city’s fringes be sure to bring along a copy of

No Worries Paris Cover

click here for where to get your copy. Available in print and as an ebook. Look for them also at your local Barnes and Noble store.

Paris: walking the walk

22 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by in Paris Wanderings

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Look inside our book, No Worries Paris:

noworries paris walk

No Worries Paris photo page

A little self promotion:

Illustrated by more than 300 color photographs, No Worries Paris takes readers on a visually luscious journey to the city s striking monuments, as well as into the cobblestone crannies of its villages and along the glamorous fashion boulevards.

Virtually all of Paris is covered in 10 Walking Tours, each with its own map. Walks take from a half-day to a day to complete, starting at one Metro stop and ending at another. The tours are complemented by 10 Promenades, which are shorter in length, taking in the sights around a single attraction, mainly on the fringes of the city’s neighborhoods. No Worries Paris is sure to meet expectations the famous sights of Paris but it is also full of surprises at out-of-the way places.

“Paris is as vast as it is old, and wandering aimlessly won’t let one see all of it. ‘No Worries Paris’ is a beautiful travel guide from Jerry & Janine Sprout, presenting advice for those who want to experience Paris in all of its potential. Featuring many walking tours, each accompanied by full color photography, ‘No Worries Paris’ is a must for those who want to get the absolute most out of France.” Small Press Bookwatch

Available on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com or go to http://www.trailblazertravelbooks.com and order a signed copy direct from the authors.

No Worries Paris Cover

Hunting down Paris’s Best Baguette

04 Friday Jul 2014

Posted by in Paris guide, Paris photos, Paris tips

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Best Baguette Paris

They vary from “superb” to “mediocre” to “duds” so to help you find la creme de la creme of baguettes here are some addresses. Check your arrondissement and follow your nose to these award-winning boulangeries. Ask or point to the “tradition”, “l’ancienne”, or “baguette de campagne” which are all very close in price and most likely never costing more than a euro fifty. Such a deal.
bestbaguetteParisNoWorries

This year’s Best Paris Baguette winner:
Délices du Palais
60 boulevard Brune, 75014
Porte de Vanves (13), Porte d’Orléans (4)
Closed Wednesdays. Baker Antonio Teixeira, a native of Portugal, will supply the Elysées Palace for the coming year, and anywhere else that President Holland chooses to wave his baguette.

Former winners:
Pascal Barillon (Au Levain d’Antan), 6 rue des Abbesses, 75018
Gaétan Romp 14 rue de la Michodière, 75002
Pascal Jamin (Les Saveurs du 20ème), 120 rue de Bagnolet, 75020
Gontran Cherrier (Gontran Cherrier), 22 rue Caulaincourt, 75018
M. Risser (Le Fournil du Village), 12 place J.B. Clément, 75018
Gilles Levaslot (Les Gourmandises d’Eiffel), 187 rue de Grenelle, 75007
Jean-Noël Julien (Julien), 75 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001
Philippe Marache, 92 av de la République Paris, 75011
Philippe Bogner, 204 rue des Pyrénées, 75020
Le Grenier à Pain Saint-Amand, 33 bis rue Saint-Amand, 75015
Au Paradis du Gourmand, 156 Rue Raymond Losserand, 75014
Boulangerie Raphaëlle, 1 rue Feutrier, 75018
Boulangerie Damiani, 125 avenue du Clichy, 75017
Christian Vabret, 27 rue Francois Miron, 75004
Maison Cailleaud, 104 Cours de Vincennes, 75012
Yosuké Fijié from Maison Landemeine, 56 rue du Clichy, 75009
Dominique Saibron, 77 avenue du Géneral Leclerc, 75014
Le Grenier à Pain Lafayette, 91 rue Faubourg Poissonière, 75009
La Parisienne, 12 rue Coustou, 75018
Claude Besnier, 40 rue du Bourgogne, 75007

The Paris boutique hotel list: hip vs charm

12 Saturday Apr 2014

Posted by in Paris Wanderings

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noworriesparisSlippers

Wrap up in a soft white monogrammed robe, pop the champagne and unwind in your cozy boutique hotel room after the long flight to Paris. The following are all well located with chez this chez that dining just around the corner. They range from ultra-mod Phillip Stark to chintzy French provincal plush. Scroll through our suggestions, click through to their home pages, then move on down to Trip Advisor for their reviews. You can book directly (most staffers speak some English and you’ll bypass the middleman fee) or price at Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak, booking.com or hotels.com. Do your homework, you’ll be rewarded $$$.

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Location is everything and all of these get our stamp of approval. Of course you know to book well ahead of your departure for the best deals. Price usually equates to the size of the room. Don’t be shocked at how tiny some are, especially the bathrooms. Most are ideal for short getaways when you can afford to spend a little more. Twenty to fifty dollars more per night can buy you a lot more room, amenities, charm and sometimes a free petit dejuner. Why you’re visiting Paris, non?

Dauphine Saint Germain Hotel
36 Rue Dauphine, 6th, 1-866-599-6674
http://www.dauphine-st-germain.com
Romantic and picturesque without being overly cute.

Hotel Le Six
14, rue Stanislas, 6th
http://www.hotel-le-six.com/en/
Known for its accommodating staff.

Hôtel Sublim Eiffel
94 boulevard Garibaldi, 15th
+33 1 4065 9595, Métro: Sèvres Lecourbe.
Doubles from €189
Steam room, fireplace bar, metro map carpeting, Paris kitsch
sublimeiffel.com

Hotel Design de la Sorbonne
6 rue Victor Cousin, 5th, +33 1 4354 5808, Métro: Cluny-La Sorbonne
Doubles from €165
Pizzaz, designer colors, in room computers.
http://www.hotelsorbonne.com/en/

Hotel Bonaparte
61 rue Bonaparte, 6th, +33 1 4326 9737, Métro: Mabillon. Doubles from €130
Rooms feature 19th-century architectural elements such as stone fireplace mantels and moulded ceilings.
http://www.hotelbonaparte.fr

Petit Belloy St Germain
Notre Dame and the Louvre are less than 15 minutes away.
1 rue Racine, 6th, +33 1 4326 8713, Métro: Cluny-La Sorbonne. On special now from €129
http://www.hotel-petit-belloy-saint-germain.com/en

Hotel du Cadran
10 rue du Champs de Mars, 7th, +33 1 4062 6700, Métro: Ecole Militaire. Doubles from €119. Modern, can be noisy. Opening soon, their very own chocolate bar.
http://www.cadranhotel.com

Hotel 7 Eiffel
17bis Rue Amélie, 7th
Phone:+33 1 45 55 10 01
Marble bathrooms and Fragonard toiletries. In summer the rooftop terrace is open to guests.
www.hotel-7eiffel-paris.com

Hôtel Du Prince Eugène
247 Bd Voltaire, 11th. For a change of pace, take a walk on the hip East Side.
http://www.paris-hotel-princeeugene.com

Hotel d’Angleterre Saint Germain des Prés
44 Rue Jacob, 6th. A solid choice, popular with Americans
http://www.hotel-angleterre-paris.net

Le Fabe Hotel
A Left Bank find (Montparnasse), somewhat out of the way but clean, well priced.
113 bis rue de l’Ouest, 14th, +33 1 4044 0963, Métro: Pernety.
http://www.lefabehotel.fr/en/

Villa Saint Germain des Prés
29 Rue Jacob 6th, +33 (0)1 43 26 60 00. Popular, great reviews.
http://www.villa-saintgermain.com

Hotel Sezz
6 Ave. Frémiet, 16th, +33 1 56 75 26 26
Designer WOW. Right Bank. Murano-glass fixtures in the lobby. No front desk, instead a team of personal assistants to guide you. Champagne bar, campy, chic.
http://www.hotelsezz.com

Recommended Paris hotels for 2015

02 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Paris guide, Paris tips

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parishotels

Priced right, set in the best locations, these hotels don’t come with state-of-the-art bells and whistles, but have kept their charm and offer top notch service.

Melia Royal Alma Boutique Hotel
35 Rue Jean Goujon
Paris 75008
http://www.melia.com/fr/hotels/france/paris/melia-royal-alma-boutique-hotel/index.html
33 800 91 91 30

La Maison Favart
5, Rue de Marivaux | 2nd Arr, 75002
http://www.lamaisonfavart.com

Hotel Residence Foch
10 rue Marbeau, 75116
http://www.foch-paris-hotel.com

Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne
19 Rue du Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris, France
Phone:+33 1 42 33 95 64
http://www.bestwestern-bourgogne.com

Hotel Le Sainte-Beuve
9 Rue Sainte-Beuve
Paris, 75006

Hotel Nicolo
3 rue Nicolo | 16th Arr., 75016
https://www.hotel-nicolo.fr/en/

Paris France Hotel
72 Rue de Turbigo, 75003 Paris, France
Phone:+33 1 42 78 00 04
http://www.paris-france-hotel.com

Hotel Taylor
6 Rue Taylor, 75010 Paris
Phone:+33 1 42 40 11 01
http://www.paris-hotel-taylor.com

Hotel Le Six
14, rue Stanislas, 75006
http://www.hotel-le-six.com/fr/

Relais Saint Jacques
3 Rue Abbé De L’ Epée
Paris, 75005
http://relais-saint-jacques.com/fr/accueil/

Belloy Saint-Germain
2, Rue Racine
Paris, 75006
http://www.hotel-paris-belloy.com

Best Western Trianon Rive Gauche
1 Bis Rue De Vaugirard
Paris, 75006
http://www.hoteltrianonrivegauche.com

Hotel Fontaines Du Luxembourg
4 Rue De Vaugirard
Paris 75006
33 1 43 25 35 90
http://www.luxembourghotel.com

For multimillionaires I have one added suggestion if you’re willing to wait until August: Peninsula Paris, 19 Avenue Kieber. Set in a century-old Beaux-Arts building, it will offer five restaurants and bars include an upscale Chinese restaurant and cigar lounge, 1,700-square-meter subterranean spa with an indoor pool with LED mood lighting, herbal steam rooms and ice fountains. Price: astronomical.

Staying at any one of these establishments gives you out-the-door entrée for walks with your No Worries Paris guidebook. Make 2014 the year you finally make that trip to this romantic city.