Carnavalet is in trouble which is why many rooms are closed during the year. They can't afford to renovate and dont have enough money to pay enough staff to watch all the rooms. We know somebody who works here. We never used to pay to go here but now we feel guilty and fork over the 5 euro. Small price to pay for history.

I saw that the free municipal Bourdelle museum also has an option contribution box at the exit. This is probably going to become common.

Pariswat...I'll try to remember to sign differently.

ssander

manouche...

We also paid the 5€. The Carnavalet is an amazing museum, and I wouldn't want it to close. (I did notice that there were some closed rooms last month...not sure which ones.)

Another cool museum that is free is the Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris on Ave Wilson. Small, but excellent collection.

http://www.mam.paris.fr

(At least it was free when we were in Paris in 2014...not sure if they will be instituting a suggested donation of not...didn't get a chance to visit last month.)

ssander

I am just going to insert that I LOVE a good bargain and such, but IMO and as has been sort of hinted at, her budget really isn't very low or at least not that low. It is more than what DH and I use as ours. We don't eat at Taillevant--or even want to--but we have splurged at the Eiffel Tower.
And the Carnavalet is one of our favorites every time we go to Paris.

Sander. Thank you very much.

<i>her budget really isn't very low or at least not that low. It is more than what DH and I use as ours.</i>

Is there no joy in having a holiday come in under budget? It has always made me happy.

Hi all! Still in Munich but planning to be in Paris in a couple of days. Thank you so much for the web links to hotels and museums. WillTravel I learned new links from you. The Sainte Pierre hotel books up fast indeed! Unfortunately my dates didn't work but I'm storing that hotel in my arsenal, great suggestion also the Cosmo. So a little turn of events. My VRBO host offered me 50% discount, I declined. I think they are anticipating more work than 4 days so that's a double No. Privacy issues, noise, everything manouche said basically. However she has another apartment in the 5th near Rue de Bievre on Blvd St Germain, 1 bedroom for $140 which is normally $270. I think she felt bad but I also think because it's so last minute she just let it go for a discount. I'll try to remember to take pics to show you guys before I check out. Love that Paris Passage link and it's definitely going on my fun list. suze, scared for no specific reason just in general. I don't usually travel alone so this is new to me but I'm enjoying myself. I've learned to embrace fear so even when I'm scared I try to plow through and so far that's been working out. Thanks again for everything, so grateful for this forum and your very generous input. I will try to make it to Verjus!

Kerouac, I SAID that. I am glad she can sort of do even more than she thought.

Oh, yeah---it's you, right.

Hi Mathieu,
I'm curious about that class you took at Ferrandi. Would you kindly elaborate more on it? I was browsing the website and it looks top notch! Wondering was it a one day class where anyone can sign up and attend or was it a lengthy course? I love to cook so really interested, maybe not for this time but for next. And about the chouquettes can I buy that from pretty much any bakery or you have a suggested place where I can purchase the best ones, sounds yum. Thanks!

The apt situation just got sketchier by the hour so I dropped the whole thing and booked this hotel. It's right next to the Luxembourg gardens :)
http://www.les-jardins-du-luxembourg.com/fr/

Glad you found a place that worked for you in a nice neighborhood.

Not sure if you are still looking for a nice place to eat, but my husband and I particularly enjoyed Au Bon Accueil. We dined outside with a lovely view of the Eiffel Tower. Not sure if that's important to you or not. The food was really good, but the view is what made it special for us. I'm sure there are plenty of other wonderful dining options in Paris. Too many to choose from!

Hi geminican

I'm not sure, but don't think that Ferrandi offers one day courses open to the public. There are other places that do.

In my case, It was part of a larger study program that involved other gastronomic institutions over a year. On that particular day, we'd studied medieval food and dining practices (very detailed) in the afternoon, and in the evening Ferrandi recreated as authentically as possible a 5 course 15th century 'diner pedagogic' which we had to scrutinize, taste and evaluate from top to bottom.. from method of preparation, choice of ingredients, combination of elements (based on what might have been used and available in the 15th century to that particular social group), table etiquette (no utensils, linen or cutlery), type of libations (wine, heated fruit juice with spices,) etc.
It was as much an exercise for us, as it was for their chefs and wait staff in training and was hard work for everyone - even us. At the end of the evening we were exhausted (and stuffed) and then had a 'round table' to discuss everything minutely with all involved in the proceedings.

Chouquettes are pretty common and usually available at all bakeries. Some of the high end ones might not make them (too common, lol) but you'll surely find them. Just ask. Usually made once a day in the early morning until sold out so your chances of getting them are better during the morning, but I know they're also an afternoon snack for school children. (Bread by comparison is usually made twice a day - once for the morning and once for the evening rush hour, in varying stick sizes to allow for complete consumption at a meal).

You'll usually see chouquettes in a basket next to the other <I>viennoiserie</I> and they are often sold by weight rather than by number.

I was just looking back at a review I did for TripAdvisor and found my review for this place. The best--or just about the best--inexpensive meal we have eaten in Paris…other TA reviews seem to agree….

Vins et Terroirs, 66, Rue Saint Andre des Arts, 75006.

Mathieu,
How wonderful! Thank you for the detailed explanation, what an intense and ultra fine culinary experience. You had me at "medieval food"!! Really enjoyed reading that thanks again. I hope to take a pastry class next time I'm here.

I appreciate the additional food recs guys and of course I'm totally into an Eiffel view twinkling or not! Have not had the chouquettes yet but overdosing on macarons. So I decided to stay a few days longer than scheduled and can't be happier bc now I can do 1 day trip to Fontainebleau without feeling guilty leaving Paris. Any advice getting there via the RER, seems easy enough 45 minutes? How far is it from train drop off, any advice how to best explore thank you!

Not the RER, just the normal commuter train. You take a bus from the station to the château.

YOu take the train from Gare de Lyon and get off at stop Fontainebleau-Avon. From there, you take bus line 1 with destination Les Lilas and get off at the chateau stop. It isn't that far.

Actually, it is considered an RER train, it's in zone 5. There are also some TER trains that go there, but I think you have to transfer in Sens or somewhere, so they take longer, and they cost more (more than twice as much). The RER trains run about every 30-60 minutes. For tickets, you should just buy a one-day MObilis zone 5 ticket for that date and you won't have to fool with buying an aller-retour and it will cover all your other trips that day on metro/bus. that mobilis is 16.6 euro for 5 zones, and the one-way train ticket alone is 8.85 euro. Plus you can use that on the bus when you get there.

Geminican - if you still in Paris on the eve of October 21, please consider joining us (other Fodorites) at Bouillon Racine at 17:00 hrs for drinks and dinner. There is a thread with further information on the Europe board.

tC