PARIS: where to shop?
Jan 30th, 2009, 11:35 AM
#101
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Buy something you will use. Even if it's a cheap and unusual purse (I bought a store-brand Au Printemps purple hand bag that I ADORE and, though made in China, it is still special). That way, when you use whatever you get you'll remember where you bought it. Or, if it get's lots of compliments, you can then go around saying "Oh, this? Why, I bought it in Paris!"
Do be weary of the fantastic wallets – can’t use mine at all, but it’s great to have when I travel to Europe. Perfume is also a great one (clearly, I’m the DD of rosetravels who makes me smell so many my nose goes numb).
Do be weary of the fantastic wallets – can’t use mine at all, but it’s great to have when I travel to Europe. Perfume is also a great one (clearly, I’m the DD of rosetravels who makes me smell so many my nose goes numb).
Jan 30th, 2009, 11:49 AM
#102
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I am learning so much about paris, it's making me so excited and learning that everyone has so many different experiences to savour! So far, it looks like we will be staying in the 6th arind. At this point, I'd still love to go to Versailles (possibly by doing this Fat Tire Bike Co. tour), Notre Dame, Opera, La Chappelle (hopefully get tickets for a concert there), walking, doing a lot of sight seeing and eating at a lot of different cafes and I'm a sucker for bread so I think I'll go to a lot of bakeries and test all their cream puffs! I would like to go to a couple of museums and other than that, leave it free to wander! We'll be staying 12 days in South France as well so I'm looking forward to that as well. Thanks once again! Guenmai, could I email you about the 6th? It sounds like you might know a lot about it.
Jan 30th, 2009, 01:58 PM
#104
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Micah-I don't give out my e-mail address. But, feel free to ask me whatever on the forum. You can also read my thread, "Guenmai's Paris Apartment Rental Experience". I've written quite a bit about the 6th there. And you can also read the thread that another poster started with the title of something like, "Which Apartment Would You Choose?" That one should be in the first 50 threads. I recently wrote a LOT about the 6th to that poster and set up some possible tours for her from the 6th. Happy Travels!
Feb 19th, 2009, 12:03 PM
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Cigalechanta- I can't think of anything. I've probably written it all in various threads. But if I think of anything I'll let you know.
Oh, just thought of something...the hat shop on rue St.Suplice just west of rue de Seine and on the south side of the street...some gorgeous Easter bonnet, as one used to say back in the day. If one is there in the spring, there are really some gorgeous hats. I'm a hat wearer. I have had a hat maker here in L.A. since the 80s. I even designed one that my hat maker made for me and Barneys, B.H. ordered it. So, it's a serious passion for me.
There are all kinds of beautiful hats and the owner/designer has been there for as long as I can remember. I hope she's still there. When I get to Paris, in the spring, I'll have to walk by there. Happy Travels!
Also the Anna MAria Baretta clothing store is/was in the same block, but opposite side of the street. I started buying her clothes in the 80s. Happy Travels!
Oh, just thought of something...the hat shop on rue St.Suplice just west of rue de Seine and on the south side of the street...some gorgeous Easter bonnet, as one used to say back in the day. If one is there in the spring, there are really some gorgeous hats. I'm a hat wearer. I have had a hat maker here in L.A. since the 80s. I even designed one that my hat maker made for me and Barneys, B.H. ordered it. So, it's a serious passion for me.
There are all kinds of beautiful hats and the owner/designer has been there for as long as I can remember. I hope she's still there. When I get to Paris, in the spring, I'll have to walk by there. Happy Travels!
Also the Anna MAria Baretta clothing store is/was in the same block, but opposite side of the street. I started buying her clothes in the 80s. Happy Travels!
Apr 4th, 2010, 01:20 PM
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Some of my favorite purchases in Paris have been earrings. I found several shops in the Marais on rue des Francs-Bourgeois that had nice selections. The only name I can remember is Satelite, at 23 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, but there are more shops within a few blocks of that address. I wear them a lot and everytime I put them on I remember our trip (and get compliments). These were not expensive -- maybe $30-40. And they couldn't be easier to pack! In that same area is Mariage Freres for tea, which I also love to bring home. Brewing a cup of their Wedding Imperial or French Breakfast tea brings back memories as well. It's at 30-35 rue du Bourg-Tibourg (they do have other locations).
In this same area are: Place des Vosges (one of the most lovely squares in Paris) and two wonderful museums: Musee Cognacq-Jay (a collection of 18th century art and furnishings) and Musee Carnavalet (covers ths history of Paris and has a gorgeous courtyard garden). Both are smaller, more intimate museums where you can see quite a lot in a short amount of time as there aren't big crowds.
Also, as your time is short, remember to be sure to check when the museums you want to see are open -- most have at least one day they are closed. And both the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay both have at least one night a week when they're open in the evening.
I think if you really want to go to Versailles you can do it, just plan to get there when they open, as others have advised. No matter what you choose to do, you will not have seen everything you want to in Paris, so you'll want to come back. So if you miss something in Paris because you took time to go to Versailles, you'll see it the next time. You'll want to go to Versailles on a day when the weather is expected to be good, because the gardens, the Trianons and Le Petit Hameau are quite a distance from the Palace, so you will want good weather. Recommend you take the tram to the Trianons and Le Petit Hameau unless you plan to spend the whole day, as walking will take a lot of your time.
In this same area are: Place des Vosges (one of the most lovely squares in Paris) and two wonderful museums: Musee Cognacq-Jay (a collection of 18th century art and furnishings) and Musee Carnavalet (covers ths history of Paris and has a gorgeous courtyard garden). Both are smaller, more intimate museums where you can see quite a lot in a short amount of time as there aren't big crowds.
Also, as your time is short, remember to be sure to check when the museums you want to see are open -- most have at least one day they are closed. And both the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay both have at least one night a week when they're open in the evening.
I think if you really want to go to Versailles you can do it, just plan to get there when they open, as others have advised. No matter what you choose to do, you will not have seen everything you want to in Paris, so you'll want to come back. So if you miss something in Paris because you took time to go to Versailles, you'll see it the next time. You'll want to go to Versailles on a day when the weather is expected to be good, because the gardens, the Trianons and Le Petit Hameau are quite a distance from the Palace, so you will want good weather. Recommend you take the tram to the Trianons and Le Petit Hameau unless you plan to spend the whole day, as walking will take a lot of your time.
