Friday, December 19, 2008

MORE PARIS...




Oh - by devoting an entire post to the exchange rate, I made it look like that was the only thing that mattered to me. Then I tried to rectify that by posting cheesy photos; but then I felt like a dirty tourist. The truth is I haven't had much time pour le bloggage and I got over the exchange rate thing after about half an hour. Just have to be a little more careful and use trips to Isabel Marant purely as inspirational excursions. And if a small pot of tea in a cafe is £5, then I'll be asking for extra hot water and will be staying for at least an hour and a half.

The extent of freebies gained was as follows: 30% extra free on a goat cheese log, one free ginger biscuit in Kiehl's - NO SAMPLES (in the place that loves to give out free samples), free macarons, biscuits and sweeties in various shops. But that's sort of like the bowl of mints at bars and restaurants. It's free, but do you really want one?

But walking is free, walking, walking, walking. I was staying at a friend's place in Belleville this time, so traversed most of the 10th and 11th arrondissements on foot. The 3rd is my usual stomping ground and it was weird to realise that there was a vast expanse of Paris I didn't know at all.

And visiting kittens is always free. And taking photos.


I feel it's acceptable to be a shameless tourist in Paris during the winter. Any other time of year? Perish the thought. But since from Tuesday to Thursday it was cold and rainy, (almost turned to snow at one point, but not quite) most of Paris stayed at home. Walking across any of the bridges over The Seine you felt a camaraderie with the tourists; conspicuous by their red noses, cameras, bobble hats and scarves that completely mismatched their outfits - I expect they hadn't anticipated wearing all the clothes they'd brought with them simultaneously either. I couldn't help but join in with the picture taking - who was going to see? And the sky is amazing in the afternoons this time of year, even when the weather is grotty. But what a difference the sunshine makes. Everyone came out of the woodwork and it was lovely.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

well with all of your acceptance of being a "a dirty tourist"..i am sure once you head back to london, you will happen upon a wonderful "post-paris" find..;)

oh and had i known you were in the 10th i would have sent you to see my friend, who dj's at this place ...so one verre gratuit (+ he is goodlooking and a filmmaker...)
next time...
nancy

erica said...

i am going to have to go through all of your old paris posts to see where we should go for a little window shopping. i'm sure we'll have to visit the kitties, too.

seeing how it's snowing and 20 degrees here in boston, the projected 40s for next week in paris sounds incredibly temperate to me! i can't wait to do all of those touristy free things, especially with the dollar slipping yet again.

we'll be in the marais, just across the street from the pompidou, so i'm sure we'll have plenty of things to look at, but i definitely want to go to belleville and check out the chinatown (research topic).

Claire said...

nancy - it could have been a whole different kind of trip! ah, next time...

erica - My Bust article linked to in the side bar is all about the Marais. For less expensive but still nice have a look in Sandro (corner of rue Vieille du Temple and rue des Francs Bourgeois) and Maje (just off Vieille du Temple in rue des Blancs Manteaux) and oh - be sure to go further up rue VDT and the streets around there like Saintonge, Poitou, Charlot - in rue Charlot AB33 has some lovely delicate gold jewellery - not too expensive. The sales should be on everywhere then though. Oh and Le Marche des Enfants Rouges and Le Charlot and Rose Bakery all round there...I'll stop now! Have a wonderful time. You will. Say hi to the kittens for me!

Anonymous said...

http://www.garancedore.fr/
and she probably saw Clémence Poésy....around the same time you did...;)
and yes...a little advance notice about trips to paris...will make your trip to paris...less touristy...
nancy

Claire said...

Yeah I saw her on Garance Dore too - it must have been the same day as was taken around the same place. Shame I didn't see Garance too!

Ha, well my trips aren't usually so touristy but I was craving that fairytale Paris this time somehow so it was ok...but your friend sounds nice!

Anonymous said...

reading the word "filmmaker" pricked up your ears huh? ;)
nancy