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Paris - Out of the norm suggestions please

Paris - Out of the norm suggestions please

Old Feb 17th, 2018, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Envierges
Given the number of tourists in Paris there's hardly any part of Paris that isn't mentioned in one guidebook or another so I will give you a suggestion for a way way way out of the norm visit that I'm sure you haven't tried. You will see an entirely different non touristy part of Paris.
Take the #2 metro
1. Stop at the Barbes market
https://en.parisinfo.com/shopping-pa.../Marche-Barbes
https://www.davidlebovitz.com/the-ba...french-market/
2. Go to a matinee at the restored Louxor cinema
https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museu...lais-du-cinema
3. Have an apero at the Brasserie Barbes
https://amuse-i-d.vice.com/brasserie-barbes/
It is interesting that the fourth link describes the area around Barbès – Rochechouart as "the grittiest neighborhood in Paris." That can't really be true, can it? Several years ago that was the metro stop I used and area I wandered around in, had a coffee, etc. I'm not a market person, so didn't shop there. But it just didn't seem like a gritty neighborhood to me, unless gritty is a code word.
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Old Feb 17th, 2018, 12:02 PM
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Leely2
Yes, it's often described that way mostly by people who don't like to leave their comfort zones. Yes, gritty is a code word. Those of us, like you, who are familiar with the area don't find it gritty at all. Great ethnic restaurants, lots of bustle, and when Tati was in its prime, a super area for shopping on the cheap.
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Old Feb 17th, 2018, 12:19 PM
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Envierges, thanks for your reply. About 5 years ago I was in Paris with my young cousin. It was her first trip anywhere in Europe, and after we were in the city a few days, running around and visiting all the major museums/monuments/sights, she asked me, "Are there any regular neighborhoods with working people, not so fancy and rich?" I hadn't considered that her impression of Paris might be that it was entirely "fancy and rich."
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Old Feb 17th, 2018, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Envierges
And here's the perfect out of the norm hotel

Ice Kube Bar - The only Ice Bar in Paris - Kube Hotel Paris
I was there just last week, since it is on my street.

Paris - Out of the norm suggestions please-kube_020.jpg
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Old Feb 17th, 2018, 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by indyhiker
What would you do and see instead, Kerouac?
There is no way for me to run out of suggestions. In my northeast corner of Paris alone, I would recommend visiting the CentQuatre, the new Jewish district of Paris along rue Petit as a change from the historic mostly abandoned one in the Marais, riding the 3b tramway line, walking through the Mouzaïa or La Campagne à Paris areas , strolling into the Chinese garment district of Aubervilliers, following the Petite Ceinture train line, doing a graffiti walk in Belleville, visiting Ménilmontant... do you want suggestions for 2.5 days or 250 days?
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Old Feb 17th, 2018, 12:47 PM
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Unfortunately, we have not yet received any feedback from the OP, so we are all just spinning our wheels for the moment.
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Old Feb 18th, 2018, 05:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Leely2
It was her first trip anywhere in Europe, and after we were in the city a few days, running around and visiting all the major museums/monuments/sights, she asked me, "Are there any regular neighborhoods with working people, not so fancy and rich?" I hadn't considered that her impression of Paris might be that it was entirely "fancy and rich."
Trudging round the famous sights and grandiose public buildings in the western part of Paris and along seemingly endless Haussman boulevards as a teenager, in the heat of August, nearly killed any interest in Paris for me - fifty years ago! Not until I stayed in the workaday areas east of Bastille did I get a more balanced view (and being grown up probably helped a bit).
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Old Feb 18th, 2018, 07:09 AM
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Thank you all for the suggestions. It's a bit hard to say what our interests are and limit potential ideas we hadn't thought of. Pretty open...we are late 20s, and enjoy photography as a hobby, like good bistros with atmosphere, etc. We intend to spend more time wandering this trip, rather than hitting the "must see" spots. Sorry for not being more specific but that is why I have come to this forum - for ideas and places I hadn't thought of...
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Old Feb 18th, 2018, 07:56 AM
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If you go to Parc de la Villette consider visiting Le Musée de la musique with all it instruments.
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Old Feb 18th, 2018, 08:20 AM
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How about a stroll through the Batignolles section of Paris in the 17th arrondissement and then a meander through the nearby Cite des Fleurs, a hidden private but public street with lovely houses and gardens?
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Old Feb 18th, 2018, 08:27 AM
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.For "out of the norm", my bid is the sewer museum. I wonder if it has been scrubbed by the recent floods? The old sewers relied on what, at the time, was clever engineering. No, not stinky, or not much, and you are permitted to hum music from Les Miserables if you must. Have your friends been there? Right. Odd opening hours, with Friday as the day off during the summer. https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museu...gouts-de-Paris

Off the beaten path in several ways, including location, the pet cemetery is small, suitably tacky, and can boast the tomb of the original Rin Tin Tin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimeti...ux_Domestiques

Last edited by Southam; Feb 18th, 2018 at 08:33 AM. Reason: Punctuation mistake
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Old Feb 18th, 2018, 10:29 AM
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Walking and photography and good food? The botanic garden (Jardin des Plantes) makes for a nice stroll, has plantings including demonstration plantings of new varieties from seed companies, and a wonderful glass house with recreated environments ranging from the tropics to deserts.

Then, around the corner, is les Trois Carafes, a small modern bistro type restaurant with great food or Au Moulin a Vent Chez Henri which does very traditional French food.

Another place for photos and food is the Monge market on Sunday.

Also consider a ride on the tethered balloon at Parc Andre Citroën (le Ballon de Paris) if the weather is nice and not too windy.
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Old Mar 9th, 2018, 10:20 PM
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So I got up early one morning and went to see the Miraculous Medal chapel and the far less known Chappelle St. Vincent de Paul.

Both chapels are right by Le Bon Marche, which has the food hall there. It is called La Grande Epicerie de Paris and is on Rue de Sevres. It's apparently famous among foodies, but not something in the average tourbook. I went early morning--the food hall opens earlier than the department store. This had to be some of the most beautiful food I've ever seen. The piles of lobsters, the fruit.
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Old Mar 10th, 2018, 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Macross
My husband did a Resistance walking tour yesterday in the Marais district. He enjoyed it immensely. I want him to take me today.
Hate to hijack threads, but which tour did he take?
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Old Mar 10th, 2018, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by 5alive
So I got up early one morning and went to see the Miraculous Medal chapel and the far less known Chappelle St. Vincent de Paul.
I made a report about both of those a number of years ago. No need to get up early, by the way.

Visiting two saints in Paris | Any Port in a Storm
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Old Mar 10th, 2018, 03:13 PM
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Oh, I only got up early because my kids wanted to be lazy and sleep in. I often wake up early on vacation and this seemed the perfect thing to do before they got up. I had already taken them to Our Lady of Victory as part of the previous day. However, after I went to the Food Hall, I regretted not making them come.

I also found St. Vincent nearly empty, there was a street person sleeping on a pew.
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Old Mar 10th, 2018, 07:00 PM
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Sit by the pool in the Palais Royal or meander the Luxembourg Gardens. Eat couscous down the street from the Cluny or go to a street market like the one near Place Maubert. Take a bus ride. Do the after hours tour of the Opera or take in a performance. Dress up and attend an evening concert at Ste Chapelle while the setting sun streams through the stained glass. Take in some jazz in a cave. Sit at a cafe and do nothing but enjoy the moment of being in Paris !
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Old Mar 10th, 2018, 07:43 PM
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Have you been to Pere Lachaise? I am fond of visiting there, but I like historic and unusual cemeteries.
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Old Mar 11th, 2018, 12:49 AM
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If you are here on a Sunday afternoon, check out Gypsy Jazz in Saint Ouen. La Chope has live jazz and goo food from 12:30 to 7 pm.

Almost any night of the week, check out Sunside Sunset for live local jazz. Great fun. Many performances are free. Others have a minimal entrance fee.
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Old Mar 11th, 2018, 01:44 AM
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I have an out of the norm suggestion. After about 11PM, go out and head to the La Chapelle or Jaures/Stalingrad area and watch how dozens of volunteers endeavour to keep refugees warm and fed. There are also collectives who teach French, on the street, the teachers of the BAAM collective for instance. Or during the day, especially in the early morning, go to the "reception center" at La Chapelle and watch the line of hopefuls trying to get a bed there for a few nights.

That is Paris "outside the norm".

BAAM

And have dinner at La Nouvelle Rôtisserie, to support these efforts. Many ordinary people come out to support refugees. Or open their house, twice daily, so people can shower

LA NOUVELLE RÔTISSERIE

https://www.youcaring.com/refugees-757392

Last edited by menachem; Mar 11th, 2018 at 01:51 AM.
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