nwtraveler

Denisea

Based on your posts you seem to have a fondness for chocolate. I hate to add to your list of things to do or eat during your trip, but definitely try out these chocolate shops in the 7th near your apartment: Mere a Famille, Jean Paul Hevin and Michel Chaudun. If you can only do one pick Chaudun. The shop smells like cocoa butter as you walk in and my favorites are the melt in you mouth truffles and the vanilla caramel

KTtravel

Thank you, Denisea, for taking on this daunting task on behalf of Fodorites everywhere. Bon voyage!

spaarne

As for Printemps and Galleries Lafayette the interior Christmas decorations are amazing, as are the exteriors viewed from across the boulevard. Rush hour traffic there is stalled bumper to bumper even in the crosswalks.

There is a well overpriced chocolate gallery on the Champs-Élysées.

framboise_et_rose

Apersuader65 - Thanks for reminding me of Lemoine. I have bought from them before and I will do so again as we will be on rue Malar. One can't have too many macarons. I always have a box from Pierre Herme and Laduree to take home. Last year, we stayed in the 17th and frequented Delmontel on rue de Levis. We'll be buying our morning bread and croissants from Stephane Secco on rue Jean Nicot this time.

The one I was mentioning to Denise is in the 100 block closer to the Champs de Mars. My old brain just can't remember the name. It is next door or almost next door to the Wine Shop. It is in the same block but across the street from the Cafes Richard Store.

My next stop: Victor & Hugo; Cafe Pouchkine, Un Dimanche a Paris (never tried these three) and some old favorites - Sadaharu Aoki, Carette, G. Mulot, fauchon (for the tarte citron), PH, Laduree, La Maison du Chocolat.... I might post a picture of before but maybe not after.....

Denise - I don't know if you still have time for chocolates but worth even looking at their windows: Michel Cluizel on rue Saint Honore with their chocolate fountain(about 2 blocks from Jean Paul Hevin's Saint Honore shop); Patrick Roger on Saint Germain (100 block); Jean Charles Rouchoux on rue d'Assas/rue de Rennes; Pierre Marcolini on rue de Seine (across but not directly from Mulot); Cacao et Chocolat (I like their tentation du mois which changes every month.)

You know you can always save some for the next trip if you can't hit them all. One always discover more pastry and chocolate shops as one walks around Paris. Are we really expected to try all of them?

Well, have a very very wonderful time and looking forward to your wonderful report!!!

Lilia

cornelius01

Try the Pave at Michel Chadun....decadent. on the corner of Rue Malar and Rue Universite in 7th.

Fodorite018

Have a great trip! Wish I was going too. As for the knee, head to a pharmacy and get a big patch for it. Two years ago, DD and I were at Versaille when I missed a step and went down many. I could barely walk and was in excruciating pain. Tried to suck it up for DD, so went to the pharmacy and they gave me some gel patch, about 5x8, with that voltarene in it, and that worked wonders! Ended up with knee surgery from the fall, but was able to continue all over Paris although at a much slower pace than I would have otherwise.

denisea

I will get to as much as I can! I do love Cacao et Chocolat...they had these chocolat discs with pistachios, oarnge peel and something else in them that were addictive!

Don't think you can get Voltaren gel here without a script...maybe over there if I need it. I have used it before for my shoulder and it does work. Has improved but still not quite right.

spaarne, not looking for overpriced anything, but am looking for quality, worthwhile chocolat and pastry.

As always, thanks for all the suggestions and I will happily sample and photograph as much as possible. Less than 48 hours.

taconictraveler

Hope it's a great trip, and that your knee stays quiet!

tomarkot

Hi denisea, we've been following with interest your upcoming trip to Paris. Coincidental that you mention your recent knee issue, as we're dealing with that also. UGH! Regarding Voltaren gel. . .just wanted to let you know that today I got a script from our Dr. Pharmacy here said they sell a lot of it. It is "tres cher" but apparently worth it. We're also checking into buses in Paris, and finding that quite a few travelers experience them to be a good way to get around.

Happy, painfree travels. BON VOYAGE!!!

raincitygirl

No Voltaren without a script? That's a shame, I just get it off the shelf here. Maybe in Paris you can get it with no script.
In Italy I got some of those patches too and they work well.

Fodorite018

You don't need a script to get it in Paris. We always stock up there.

TPAYT

My new favorite pastry is filled with a pistacio paste with flecks of chocolate in it. I don't what it is called, but if you see it, go for it!

Judy

We stock up on Voltaren in Paris as well. In addition to not needing a script, it is around 5 Euros/tube (or was last ime I bought it)

denisea

Hey, another thing I love about Europe....less restrictive access to good medications. There are so many things that the FDA "protects" us from here in the US (but then I live in a nation of people who don't pay attention, use things incorrectly and then sue for millions, but I digress).

I will stock up on Voltaren as I start training for a half marathon when I return from Paris. The knee is feeling better but I don't think I will do any running until I return.

john183

I'm pretty sure the macaron boutique store on Rue Saint Dominique that framboise et rose mentions is Gregory Renard - Cacao et Macarons. It's two doors away from the wine shop and their macarons are wonderful - we brought several packages home from there when we visited Paris this summer.

Fodorite018

denisea--I also stock up on cold medicine. When I went this summer, that was the only thing that DH requested I bring back, lol. Humex Rhume is what it is called. Beats the heck out of anything here. When we were there, one of my DD's friends had a bad tooth ache and so found a thing like orajel that she said was amazing too. Cite Pharmacy had much better prices on all these than the other pharmacies we found.

tuscanlifeedit

Denise

I don't know if you're gone yet, but I found one last tip while I was packing.

On the last Friday of every month, which will be the day after Thanksgiving for this month, there is a flea market in front of the Bourse.

I once got a very beautiful figurine there. I collect Blessed Mother and female saint images and the one I got at the Bourse flea market is very different from any I've seen.

I will post this in a separate thread, for those not following this one.

denisea

Thanks, tuscanfeedlit...we leave tomorrow around 6pm.

Will have to put chocolat and pastry before medicines, mms, but I am sure we will pick up a few things from pharmacies to bring back!

Fodorite018

denisea--I agree, those definitely take priority! Enjoy it all

Brazilnut

Hope you have a great time in Paris! I will be there with my son and grandson for New Year's and then some. I am really looking forward this trip, it will be my 5th to Paris, but the very first one for my son and grandson!