HIDDEN BEAUTY

La Mosquée de Paris, East-Paris hides is a very oasis. A beautiful garden is surrounded by a big white building with mozaïque walls, capturing some tranquility from the very lively 5th arondissement.

In their café the you can drink sweet tea or coffee tubruk and have a delicious sweet pastry or a chicha with it. Very cheap: 2 euros for any drink!

La Mosquée de Paris, 39 rue Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire

I WANT TO RIDE MY BICYCLE

This weekend my dad, stepmom, sister came to Paris. And they brought gifts! Dutch cheese, an applepie, all my warm vests, pyjamas and.. a BIKE! It is the most beautiful bike in the whole wide world; and it's mine. 

We went for a very late lunch in Neuilly and not too long after that a very late diner in Paris. Obviously we had to go by bike because I couldn't wait any longer to try it out.

Sunday morning I woke up 6pm for I was too excited to sleep. So I drove with my bicycle through the empty streets while I saw sun rising above the city. Paris is big, the main streets are always crowded and there is always someone around. However, this morning it was extremely quiet.
Anyone who has visited Paris by car knows that the Charles de Gaulle - Étoile  -   the enormous roundabout that encircles the Arc de Triomphe - knows that it is the most dangerous place to drive any kind of vehicle. This morning there only were a few random cars and that was all. You could have danced on the street if you would have wanted to. I didn't do it because I have a big roundabout-trauma - yes, I'm serious.
It was an enchanting moment to be (almost) alone with the Arc de Triomphe.

 In the afternoon we went to Monmartre. The highest quarter in Paris. I don't recommend going there by bike. We did have a very good lunch at le Bouillon Chartier, a very cheap but classy bistro that used to be a warehouse.
My dad used to go there when he was a student, and the place hasn't changed in 40 years time. The waiters are sharp and quick; your bill is written on the table (paper placemat) and carottes rapées au vinaigrette still has the spectacular price of 1 euro and 90 cents. When you come alone, you will be seated at the same table with another lonely stranger. The waiters are not afraid to ignore you or be rude, but if you talk to them they are funny and generous (I got a free postcard).

The authentic interiour of le Chartier

le Bouillon Chartier; 7 rue du Faubourg Monmartre

I have enjoyed the time we have spent together as a family; I'll probably return to Holland during the Autumn Holidays here in France. Three weeks spent, only three more to go!

NIGHTLIFE

A lot to do in Paris at night.

A photoshoot.

A wedding.

A free concert at the Seine, Pont-des-Arts

BIRTHDAY

Hello, I'm an adult. And I have celebrated it from the very first second.

With parties ...

... Picknicks ...

... And pie!

INVENTIONS

This was another good Parisian-style weekend with a lot of discoveries.

Friday, we found a very awesome restaurant/bar with good art, music, food, prices (Mojitos only 6 euro's!) placed along Canal St. Martin. It used to be an old warehouse and now there are expositions, music concerts and dancing events.

Point Ephémère, 200 Quai de Valmy (10e arr)

 Live decoration!

Saturday, I went to quartier Monmartre for a third day in a row, only to find all kinds of places I hadn't been yet. With friends from Holland, we randomly chose a place to eat and it happened to be Café Les 2 Moulins, the café where my favourite film "Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain" takes place.

Me - very happy obviously

Café Les 2 Moulins, 15 rue Lepic (19th arr)

 

Sunday, I visited an Urbansketchers happening in the 5th arrondissement - a very cosy, authentic quarter. It was a bunch of nice people sitting on a pretty square and sketching the things around them. Most of them were just as good as any professional painter! We didn't sketch that much, but spoke a lot.

The weather was fine and people were dancing on the street to the music of an old accordeon and lady.

PIE

AUTUMN

Today I went to the Monmartre area (9th / 18th arr). There are a lot of tourists there and also a lot of pigeons. A little bit down the hill you can find cheap second hand music stores, galeries and "cabaret", which is a eufemism for strip club. Just like the Moulin Rouge, that is in the same neighbourhood, but way less fancy.

 A pigeon in Monmartre.

I coincidentally entered a artist/model party at the Halle Saint Pierre but I couldn't lie that well, so it didn't exactly work out. Nevertheless, their exposition was quite nice...

The Sacre-Coeur

The Sacre-Coeur was the only major monument in Paris that fully survived WW II, even though it is built on the highest point in the city which made it an easy bombing target.

Bois de Boulogne

This is what I see every day walk to the metrostation. Bois de Boulogne is slowly turning from green to red and orange and yellow; it is so beautiful.

Also, I got a little gift from the housekeeper, a lovely old lady. She put these chocolates in an old washing powder pack to hide it from the children and give it to me when they were out of the room. How sweet!

PHOTOS

PALAIS DE TOKYO

Palais de Tokyo is beautiful; their restaurant & terrace as well. The minimal design used to be the consequence of a short of money but is now just very trendy. They also own a garden and a boutique. Their "library" contains a lot of books about design / architecture / fashion. Oh how I wish I was rich!

Palais de Tokyo

12 av du Président Wilson

75116 Paris

Living art in Palais de Tokyo

Hello! I am a little bit tired today. Yesterday I went out to celebrate my first week here in Paris. We went to a cosy bar named "Chez Jeanette" and afterwards someone took us to a dance club called "La Machine" , next to the famous Moulin Rouge. A lot of people were dancing, there was a good vibe. The people here are so friendly! I got home at 6 in the morning, but it was worth it.

- The 16th Arrondissement -

I randomly took the metro to the 16th arrondissement, which is in the West of Paris, close to my home. It is described as the most expensive and chic neighbourhood, but also as the dullest one. I went to see another side of the district: the pre-war buildings. They look like the simple but inventive Bauhaus buildings that were built in the same era.

Architecture from the 20s - 30s

There is a combination of classic and modern (pre-war) in the 16th arr.

 This is the classic Parisian streetview in the 16th arr.: big, pretty houses and a lot of green.

Musée Marmottan (16th) has a beautiful collection of Monet paintings and a big garden.

CLOUDY DAY

Wednesday is Country Club day! Which is totally awesome; it is a beautiful castle with swimming pool, tennis courts, gym, bar, spa, cinema, horseriding fields, golf court etc etc... Just the usual? The kids - and me! And me! -  get to go there every wednesday from now on. Wow.

Also, I had a everything-seems-to-fail-feeling, where it took me about an hour to find a photomachine. Then it took me half an hour to find someone with change for a 20E billet. Then the photo sucked. Then I found out my school was closed today. Which means I have to go again tomorrow.

I took some pictures in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, the little suburb I live in (which is practically next to Paris).

- I was very moody so they turned out a bit fickle. -

 Villa de Madrid, an old, empty villa that is next to my usual route to the metrostation. Gorgeous but also very frightening in the dark.

 An alley along the old cemetery of Neuilly. Including a list of "famous" people that are buried here.

The beautiful hallway in our house (oldskool elevator on the right).

ART AND APPLEPIE

Tour d'Eiffel et Les Tuilleries

Yesterday, the kids and I baked an applepie to "celebrate" the start of the new school year. I also went to see a movie with Jacomine at Ciné Cité Les Halles: Un Jour (starring a very handsome actor!).

4 SEPTEMBER

Today was a very active day for me! I lifted all boxes from my room, went to the other side of Paris by bike, walked back to my side while looking for a bike, lifted things again. Jacomine, who lives here too, and me have had a nice lunch together and we've strolled through the city afterwards.

 Another glimpse of my room.

With the Pont de Neuilly

We had lunch at Bar du Marche (6th arr): touristic but not too expensive.

Jacomine; walking down the street.

 Very romantic: every lock represents the love between the couple that has written their names on it.

Comfy chairs at Jardin des Tuilleries.