11/30/09 by Paris-France | Blog, Kids | No Comments »
If you’re in Paris between December 09 and May next year and you’ve got kids with you, try to visit the Toy Expo held in the Gallery of Toys at the Museum Les Arts Decoratifs. Your kids will love the Playmobil exhibition, “Once upon a time” (Il etait une fois) with small figurines in different scenes.
Galerie des jouets
- Photo de famille pour l’exposition « Il était une fois Playmobil », 2009
- © Photo Les Arts Décoratifs / Jean Tholance
EXPOSITION
du 10 décembre 2009 au 9 mai 2010
Il était une fois Playmobil
« Il était une fois Playmobil » retrace à travers quatre grands univers l’aventure de la célèbre figurine devenue en quelques décennies l’un des jouets les plus répandus en France. Depuis sa création, ce petit personnage a évolué en s’adaptant à la vie contemporaine tout en respectant les vies dans lesquelles se projettent les enfants.
Les Arts Décoratifs
107, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
tél. : +33 (0)1 44 55 57 50
http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr
Map
11/13/09 by Paris-France | 75005, Blog | No Comments »
I’ve just read about a marvellous wine bistro in Paris called Les Papilles, in the 5th arrondissement.
The owner, Bertrand Bluy, was originally a chef patissier in some of France’s top kitchens, and in 2003 opened his own place. He wanted to create the kind of bistro that he’d like to hang out in with his rugby friends.
By all accounts it sounds like he’s done exactly that, and is succeeding very well.
This is a bistro combined with a retail wine store where you can buy a bottle of wine at the takeaway price, and for a small additional fee you can consume it on the premises. The kitchen provides yummy robust meals, at very reasonable prices. I’ll definitely be checking out this place when I’m in Paris next!
PS – Les Papilles means ‘tastebuds’ in French :-) appropriately. On the front window are the words:
- epicerie fin =delicatessen
- cave a vins =wine cellar
- vins de vignerons = wine growers
From the website: Located in the heart of a famous Parisian area near the Luxembourg garden and the famous Pantheon, our Bistroy… Les Papilles serving gourmet French terroir cuisine in the cosy atmosphere of a wine cellar and a fine old-style grocery, has an enviable reputation for thrilling your taste buds”
How to find Les Papilles
30, rue Gay-Lussac
75005 Paris
Tel. 01 43 25 20 79
Open: Monday-Saturday,10:30 a.m.-midnight. Lunch: noon-2pm; Dinner: 7:30pm-10pm Closed Sunday.
English Website: http://lespapillesparis.fr
Credit Cards: Yes
Prices: Moderate
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11/04/09 by Paris-France | Blog, Getting Around in Paris | 12 Comments »
“Where can I complain about Velib in Paris?” Michael of Ireland asks
I recently got over charge for using the bikes around paris.
I used it for 1 and half hours and got charged €8 euro and then €4 for my partner.
Do you have an email to make a complaint please.
Michael
of Ireland
Answer:
Hi there Michael,
Thanks for visiting my website!
I’m sorry you’ve had a problem with renting a bike to ride in Paris.
Here is the most recent website link to the Contact page for the Velib company – in English:
I hope this helps.
Good luck,
Teena
Velib Office Hours and Contact page:
- office open Monday to Friday 8:00am to 10:00pm
- office open Saturday 9:00am to 10:00pm
- office open Sundays and public holidays 9:00am to 7:00pm.
- go to the Contact form: https://www.velib-metropole.fr/en/crc
How to contact Vélib in Paris (updated January 2018)
Their website in English is here: https://www.velib-metropole.fr/en_GB
Their Facebook page is : https://www.facebook.com/Velib.Metropole
Their twitter is : https://twitter.com/Velib
Their phone, in France : 01 76 49 12 34
Additional Steps to take:
- make sure you have your receipts (either paper, or on a device like smartphone or tablet – iPhone, iPad etc)
- take PHOTOS of your paper receipts, and email them to yourself for evidence (in case you lose them)
- find the closest Tourist Information Office >>
- tell them what has happened, and ask them to please help you contact the company direct to solve the issue
- if necessary, contact your credit card company (or bank) and tell them there has been a problem with a particular company, and ask for their advice
- ask whether you can put the payment “on hold” until the problem is “resolved”.
When you have received advice from both your credit card company or bank, as well as the Tourist Information Office, you will be in a better position to deal with the problem.
Act on the problem straight away, don’t leave it for weeks, as it’s best to sort it out as quickly as possible.
If you’d like to complain because you’ve had a problem with a Velib in Paris
Just like in any other city, things can go wrong when you rent or hire a Velib in Paris.
- Take photos of the the bike, the lock – everything – in case you need to present them to make your case.
- If you have a problem with overcharging, contact VELIB immediately.
- Whatever you do, DO NOT get angry – be calm and provide exactly what they’re asking for, and it should all get sorted to everyone’s satisfaction.
Best of luck!
Teena Hughes
Getting Around : other Paris transport system options
10/31/09 by Paris-France | Blog, Tourist Tips | No Comments »
I’ve been asked where to find the best Chai Tea in Paris, and I wasn’t sure as I had never had to find this before … so I did some research and found a few places for you to start with.
I’d love to know if you’ve visited any of these places. Do post a message by clicking the Add A Comment link below :-)
“Chai tea was milky and fragrant with a bite of cinnamon, black peppercorns, cardamom and other spices I couldn’t name.”
Krishna Bhavan
24 rue Cail, 10ème – 75010 Paris
Métro: Gare du Nord
Tel: 01 42 05 78 43
Open 7 days a week
Iced chai tea lattes
Can be found in Starbucks in Paris.
Chai vanilla tea
Le Bon Marché
22 rue de Sèvres
75007 Paris France
Website : Le Bon Marché – Rive Gauche
Opening hours : Mon-Sat 9.30am-7pm, Sat -8pm
Tel: +33-1-4439 8000
Metro: Sèvres-Babylone
Loose leaf tea & muslin teabags @ Kusmi Tea
Kashmir chai (black tea with Indian spices)
http://www.kusmitea.com
Buy online or visit these storest:
Kusmi Tea
56 rue de seine
Paris, Paris 75006
France
BHV – Corner Kusmi Tea
36 rue de la verrerie – 3° étage
Paris, Paris 75004
France
Kusmi Tea
75 avenue Niel
Paris, Paris 75017
France
La Grande Epicerie
38 Rue de Sèvres
Paris, Paris 75007
France
Enjoy!!
I hope you enjoyed this update on “Where to find the best chai tea in Paris”!
Let me know if you have any questions about Paris or my website, or just want to share some tips about your trip to Paris.
Post a Comment below, send me an email, or click the little “Say Bonjour!” tab on the right side of the screen, or pop over to the Facebook page — I’d love to hear from you!
Ciao ciao for now, a bientot ! Talk soon!
Teena
Not on the Postcards from Paris Mailing list?
Pop over and sign up so you don’t miss out!
10/27/09 by Paris-France | Blog, Tourist Tips | No Comments »
How do I order coffee in Paris?
When you’re in Paris, it’s easy to get a bit confused about ordering coffess in cafés. I hope this description might help somewhat :-)
For all you coffee lovers who love to savour your Italian Arabica-style coffee beans, stop right here – you won’t get coffee like that in the majority of French cafés. Before you start to despair, I have found a couple of places in Paris where you can buy your Italian-style espressos and lattes (links below). The normal coffee sold in Paris is not made from Arabica beans, but is made from Chicory – a very different flavour.
These descriptions listed below are what the French people ask for in a café.
Two prices, same coffee … why?
You may notice people standing at the bar in cafés – they will pay a cheaper price than the people sitting down at tables, who require table service, so if you’re in a hurry you can save yourself some money by drinking at the bar or counter.
Normal sized cups
- Un Café : a normal sized cup of Chicory coffee.
- Un Café au lait : if served at breakfast time, this can arrive in bowl (un bol) – don’t be alarmed, this is quite normal. May also be served in a normal sized cup of coffee with a jar/small pot of milk.
Small cups
- Un Express : an espresso in a small cup.
- Une Noisette : a small espresso coffee with a dash of milk/cream in it (a macchiato).
- Une Crème : an espresso half-filled with warmed milk (small café au lait).
- Un Allongé : an espresso coffee with double the amount of hot water (weak black coffee).
- Un Serré : an espresso coffee with half the usual amount of hot water (strong black coffee).
- Un Déca : a decaf coffee.
- Un Américain : filter coffee (might not be available in some of the non-touristy areas).
I took this photo of the Cafe Americain – one place you can certainly get American-style filtered coffee.
Related Links:
Where to find soy latte in Paris
Teena recommends where to find Italian-style coffee in Paris
Teena’s tips on making the best Italian coffee in Paris – at home
10/18/09 by Paris-France | Blog, Food | No Comments »
Whether you’re in Paris as a tourist or a local, and you’d like to buy some Chinese groceries then a great place to start is TANG FRERES (Tang Brothers).
The main store is located in the 13th arrondissement, and you can buy coconut milk, lacquered duck, tofu, Lychee juice, curry, fresh Asian fruits and vegetables and all your Chinese grocery needs.
It’s packed on weekends so get there early to avoid the crowds.
Tang Freres
Supermarché (supermarket)
48 Ave d’Ivry
75013 Paris
Related Links:
Visit other ethnic multicultural districts in Paris >>
The map to Tang Freres:
[mappress mapid=”10″]
There are other places to buy Chinese groceries, which I’ll add whenever I find them. Enjoy!
10/14/09 by Paris-France | 75004, Blog, What to eat | No Comments »
Paella in 75004? Look no further!
I’ve just heard about Francois, an amazing chef who whips up the most delicious Paella in Paris … all from his trusty van parked at a local market twice a week.
Francois makes the paella from scratch, and if you are there on a Saturday, you’ll need to wait until around 11:30am. I’d be tempted to buy a couple of the other dishes to take home for dinner :-)
The very generous serves are 7 euro (at Oct 2009) and you’ll be in for a real treat.
If you’re not up for the Paella or would simply like to try one of the other dishes, check out Francois’ tasty treats:
- chicken stew with white beans and
- beef Bourguignon
- chicken fricassee
- big sausages with lentils.
Where to find Francois’s Paella at the Market
- Baudoyer market
Place Baudoyer, between rue de Rivoli & rue Francois Miron, 4th arrondissement 75004
Metro:Hotel de Ville, St. Paul
Open Saturday 7AM-3PM- Note: paella is not ready till about 11:30AM
Wednesday 3PM-8:30PM
Map to Francois’ paella in 75004
[mappress mapid=”33″]
10/13/09 by Paris-France | 75007, Blog | No Comments »
When looking for a yummy place to take some friends, Cafe Constant in 75007 arrondissement was recommended to me.
I look forward to trying it out some time soon! I’ve been told the 1st floor (1ere etage) is roomy and good for a small group of friends.
The Cafe Constant is owned by Christian et Catherine Constant, and Christian is a well-known chef in France. Christian’s words appear on the website, which I thought you might enjoy:
« Ici, je fais de la cuisine de brasserie traditionnelle inspirée des recettes de ma grand-mère. C’est un lieu où l’on peut venir prendre un café et un croissant le matin, un dejeuner en toute simplicité, un verre en fin de soirée… En un mot, un vrai bistrot parisien ».
Translated, “Here I create traditional brasserie cuisine inspired by my grandmother’s recipes. It’s a place where you can come and have a coffee and croissant in the morning, a simple lunch, a glass at the end of the evening – in essence, a true Parisian bistrot.” Sounds divine!
Courses: Entré (starter) 11 euro, Plats (Mains) 15 euro, and Dessert 7 euro.
You can also read the menu online >>
Café Constant
139, rue Saint-Dominique
75007 Paris
FRANCE
Tél.: 01 47 53 73 34
http://cafeconstant.com
10/13/09 by Paris-France | 75015, Blog | No Comments »
A friend of mine recently had dinner at Afaria restaurant in the 15th arrondissement, and said it was fantastic!
The tapas choices were excellent, the main courses were divine – and they have a dish called Ham in a Wooden Shoe – which is served … you guessed it … in a wooden shoe :-)
She said the atmosphere was vibrant and buzzing, and a grand night was had by all. I’ll certainly have to check this out for myself.
Afaria
15, rue Desnouettes
75015 Paris
+33 (0)1-48-56-15-36.
Metro: Line 12, Convention
10/08/09 by Paris-France | Blog, Videos | No Comments »
Spend Sunday with 105 yr old Frenchwoman as she talks about her life.
Un dimanche à 105 ans
Daniel Léger, 2007, 13 min 20 sec
“Documentaire hommage d’un arrière-petit-fils à son arrière-grand-mère. L’espace d’un dimanche, l’Acadienne centenaire … (A documentary giving homage from a gret grandson to his great grandmother. In the space of one Sunday, the Centenarian …)”
This is a truly deligthful little movie and I found myself clapping and cheering as I watched it. Even if you don’t speak French, you’ll enjoy this.
This remarkable woman has an wonderful sense of humour, and is active – still rides an exercise bike!
I felt so alive after watching this, and it reminded me to count my blessings – daily – and enjoy every moment. This is something to aspire to as we age gracefully …
I hope you like it too! (Thanks to EttaGirl for recommending this to me!)
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09/30/09 by Paris-France | Blog, Shoes | No Comments »
Massaro | handmade shoes to order in Paris
If you’ve got the time, the money and the patience, and you love handmade shoes, then you should check out this marvellous workshop.
Raymond Massaro’s grandfather opened his Parisian shoe-making business in 1894, and the modest workshop has been creating beautiful shoes for the fashionistas, royalty, movie stars ever since.
Even the Kennedy family members, Marlene Dietrich and Elizabeth Taylor wore shoes by Massaro, whose family has been a faithful friend of iconic fashion houses and fashion & couture stylistas.
The company was sold to Chanel, but Raymond Massaro still takes an interest. Interested in getting shoes made? You can :
- visit the showroom
- consult with a master shoe- and boot-maker
- they will cast a mold of your foot, take measurements and work with you to design the perfect shoe for you.
All of this takes about 40 hours of work by the small staff to make one pair of handmade shoes. I did a shoemaking course for 3 days and I can attest to how much planning and effort goes into making a pair of simple slip-on shoes, let alone something stylish and gorgeous! Pop by and have a look, even if it’s to just to acknowledge this amazing craft which is still heppening in the City of Love and Light.
Massaro
2 rue de la Paix | Paris 75002 France | http://www.massaro.fr
Phone: +33 (0)1 42 61 19 55
Related links:
Designer shoe stores in Paris
Comfortable casual shoes to buy in Paris
09/29/09 by Paris-France | Blog, Food | No Comments »
On a recent trip to Paris I rented a fabulous 2 bedroom apartment in Boulevarde Voltaire in the 11th arrondissement, and we were so close to everything! Bakeries (boulangeries), pastry shops (patisseries), butchers (boucheries), and my favourite – a marvellous delicatessen (artisan Charcutier Traiteur) filled with mouthwatering tasty treats.
My friends and I shopped here regularly during our month and got to know the owners quite well.
We tasted the most amazing ham off the bone, vegetable in brines and sauces, delicious patés, cheese and vine-ripened tomatoes (tomates). We had several fabulous picnics both in the apartment and on our daily jaunts – yum!
If you’re ever near Metro Voltaire, it’s a one minute walk to RONCERET at 138 rue de la Rocquette. You won’t regret it :-)
Say “Hi from Teena the Australian silk artist” – perhaps they’ll remember me!
Ph. Ronceret
138 rue de la Rocquette
75011 Paris
Metro : Voltaire – Exit: rue de la Rocquette
10 minute walk from Bastille along fabulous little rue de la Rocquette
LET'S CHAT