10/29/12 by Paris-Travel | Where do I find | No Comments »
Finding the location of public toilets in Paris is easy!
The location of public toilets in Paris is — everywhere! On this great Paris website you can find them by arrondissement / suburb (district), from the 1st / 1ere / 75001 / Premier to the 20th / 20eme / 75020 / Vingtieme.
They’re called “sanisettes” and they are modern 21st Century self-cleaning, grey space pods which easily blend into their surroundings – you might not even realise they ARE toilets. There are 400 in Paris, and great news! They’re also wheelchair-friendly (I’ve been told) or at least accessible for the disabled.
They’re open between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and can be found near major tourist spots, food markets and taxi stands.
Click this link to view the website with all the locations >>
Every time someone uses a “sanisettes,” then exits, the automatic door closes and it’s like it’s taking a shower :-)
The toilet bowl and floor are automatically cleaned, dried and disinfected.
Inside you’ll find coat hooks, a mirror and a handbasin, with natural lighting coming through the roof, and they use a reduced amount of water with renewable energy-source electricity.
How cool these public toilets are also eco-friendly and doing their bit for the planet — on flush at a time :-)
10/25/12 by Paris-Travel | Shopping | 2 Comments »
I found the best pet store in Paris for animal lovers
I came across a wonderful shop and the best pet store in Paris which I’ve seen:
- gorgeous toys
- bedding
- furniture
- jewellery, gift baskets
- clothing, raincoats
- collars (with jewels!) – fantastic!
The name of the store is PATTE A STRASS (Pawprints & Jewels) and can be found on Rue St Denis – I stumbled across this colourful inviting place one Sunday after I’d sampled the brunch in a restaurant close by.
I have a cat (Ms Mooshie) and most of my friends either own cats or dogs, so I’m always interested to look at pet paraphernalia – and I oohed and aahhed over so many things in this store :-)
Here’s the owner – Guy – talking about his store:
httpv://youtu.be/W1bh8Q6BQFU
And a few photos I took:
Inside the store was an Aladdin’s Cave of marvellous goodies for your cat and dog – and it’s obvious that Guy – the owner of the store – loves animals – I was probably there for at least a half an hour chatting and browsing, a delightful treat on a drizzly Sunday.
I fell in love with the little dog and cat sofas and beds – so cute!!
If you’re an animal lover and you’re in Paris, do drop in and say hello to Guy – tell him Teena sent you, and spend some time browsing in this wonderful place:
Pattes a Strass
Accessoires de Mode pour Chiens et Chats (Fashion accessories for dogs and cats)
169 Rue Saint-Denis
75002 Paris, France
Map to the best pet store in Paris!
[mappress mapid=”35″]
10/25/12 by Paris-Travel | Shopping | No Comments »
Shopping on a Budget in Paris for everyone
Guest post by Marvin
When you’re shopping on a budget Paris can seem like a very expensive city, and it can be tricky to find reasonable prices. You need to be a little bit savvy, and think outside of the box, do a little research and implement your findings. A few ways you can save are:
Window shop
I know the idea of only looking at the shops in Paris seems ludicrous. If you don’t live there, what are the chances of you ever visiting again? The trouble is that Paris is a very expensive city to shop in, so window shopping might be the only sensible option for you. You don’t have to stay in the hotel playing partycasino.com and updating Twitter to keep yourself from spending. Just only buy if you really want it.
Get creative
If you allow yourself to use your imagination, you might find there are some pretty creative ways for you to save money. For example, you could take the ferry to France or England, instead of the plane or train. Perhaps you can use your smarts to get deals on accommodation. The opportunities are there, you just need to find them.
Stay out of the centre
The most expensive hotels in Paris tend to be located from the 3rd to 7th arrondissements. Check out some of the other areas of Paris. Not necessarily the suburbs. The hotels near Montmartre for example, tend to be cheaper. Maybe you should think about vacation rental deals too? Here are some ideas >>
Picnic
Instead of eating out at a restaurant in Paris, why not take a picnic out to one of the parks? You get to experience the views, without the expense of a three course meal in the centre. Obviously you cannot go to Paris without experiencing French food, but you don’t need to spend on every single meal. Space it out. Check out some of the famous French food I love.
Getting around in Paris
When using the Paris Metro, instead of buying a new ticket for every journey, try buying a carnet, which is a packet of 10 Metro tickets. That way you don’t have to buy them each time you travel.
I hope you’ve found these tips to be useful, please write (post a comment below or send a Tweet or come chat on the Facebook page) and let me know if you have other ideas for shopping on a budget in Paris.
09/11/12 by Paris-Travel | Gifts about Paris, Paris France, Paris Shopping, Store | 2 Comments »
A-Night-in-Paris Store
I’m thrilled to announce that I have been designing drink coasters and cushion covers (and soon to be handbags, umbrellas, smartphone cases like iPhone, Android, Blackberry etc) and much more — all with a Paris theme, using my own handpainted designs and photos.
Please note that each item will be manufactured once the order is placed, and this can take 2-3 weeks before delivery.
I’m still working out the logistics so if something doesn’t make sense with the items or shipping etc, give me a yell, ok?
Items in the Store – woohoo!
Stay tuned for the smart-phone cases, toiletries bags, umbrellas and much more!!
To be notified of new products, please sign up for the Postcards From Paris Newsletter.
Cheers,
Teena
08/11/12 by Paris-Travel | A Day in Paris | 2 Comments »
After a day in Paris, exploring, chatting, taking photos and videos, I end up with some great photos as well as some quirky ones.
I thought it would be great to make short videos to highlight some of the things I do in one day when I’m in Paris.
This is the first of the videos.
A Day in Paris 001 with Teena Hughes
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-ZYWmjRqPI
Places mentioned in A Day in Paris
- croissant & cafe creme, watching the world go by – video Cafe 67, rue St Ambroise
- happy hour in rue de Belleville, 75002 Paris
- Cafe Faubourg, rue du Faubourg St Denis, 75002 Paris
- “Chocolat? Oui, bien sur!” Jeff de Bruges, Chocolatier, rue St Antoine, 75004
- Who wouldn’t want this Paris suitcase with the Eiffel Tower? rue St Andre des Arts
- the incredible St Sulpice and it’s amazing tower
- video: gorgeous fruit and vegetable store in rue du Faubourg St Denis, 75002 Paris
- amazing wall art in rue de Belleville, 75002 Paris
Map of Places mentioned in A Day in Paris
[mappress mapid=”34″]
07/16/12 by Paris-Travel | 75011, Restaurants, Where to eat in Paris | No Comments »
PLEASE NOTE: in Sept 2015 – New resto called “FACE B” is at this address
In July 2012, we found Les Mandibules restaurant in Paris whilst wandering around the 11th arrondissement, and I really wanted to check it out.
We were there relatively early at 7pm and were the only customers for a short while. The decor was super cool, old album covers, an old portable record player in the front window, Rolling Stones album in prime position. Lost of memorabilia around the place and great music on the sound system set the mood for a great evening.
The Menu at les Mandibules restaurant
- offered some delicious options and after choosing champagne as an aperitif, we decided on the duck and salmon for main courses.
Please note that “Entrée” in French is the “starter” course (as it is in many other countries apart from USA).
The duck was served with thinly sliced carrots cooked with cumin, absolutely delicious.
The salmon was servcd with wild rice and looked fantastic.
Our dessert of profiteroles was delicious – a small cup of chocolate was provided to pour over the profiteroles, which immediately hardened and provided plenty of crunch to go with the icecream inside the choux pastry.
If you find yourself anywhere near rue St Maur and rue St Ambroise, check out this delightful restaurant. The Patron was absolutely charming and quite a character, who ensured our visit was fabulous. (View the Where to Eat in Paris page and also the Famous French Food page.)
Prices:
- champagne 12,0 euro per glass
- entrées / starters 8,0 to 10,0 euro
- mains 18,0 to 22,0 euro
- desserts 8,0 to 9,0 euro
Map to les Mandibules restaurant
[mappress mapid=”29″]
Les Mandibules
5 rue Guillaume Bertrand
75011 Paris
Metro: St Ambroise / rue St Maur
07/15/12 by Paris-Travel | Kids, Museums | No Comments »
Ever heard of le Musee en Herbe?
Le Musee en Herbe is a museum for kids and they absolutely love it. You can wander around the current exhibitions or take the kids on a guided tour including animations (they must be accompanied by an adult)
How about some of their workshops? Weekends, Wednesdays and many school holiday days. The kids will learn about the current exhibition – the artist and their work – and then be encourage to create their own art in the same style. This is very cool!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KM7R_M-euA
View on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KM7R_M-euA
If you’re looking for things for kids to do in Paris, check out my other pages:
Click the buttons to read about all the other fun activities for kids
Le MUSÉE EN HERBE
21 rue Hérold
75001 PARIS
Tél : 01 40 67 97 66
Fax : 01 40 67 92 13
Ouvert du lundi au dimanche de 10h à 19h sans interruption, vacances et jours fériés.
Open from Monday to Sunday from 10:00a.m. to 7:00pm, holidays and public holidays.
Nocturne le jeudi jusque 21h. Open late on Thursdays until 9:00pm
Métros : Les Halles (ligne/line 4), Palais Royal (ligne/line 1 et 7)
Bus : 85, 74, 29, 48, 67
RER : Châtelet – Les Halles
www.musee-en-herbe.com
Map to le Musee en Herbe
[mappress mapid=”28″]
07/14/12 by Paris-Travel | Paris Travel Tips, Tourist Tips | No Comments »
Want to know how to use a foreign laptop plug while you’re in Paris?
When you’re going to be in Paris with your laptop, and you’re coming from another country, there are 2 things to consider:
- the plug which will go into a wall socket, and
- the voltage of your computer.
This video shows my Australian power cord plug, and how I get it to work while I’m in Paris. Luckily the French voltage (220v) and Australian voltage (240v) are very similar, so I don’t need a Voltage Converter. But you might. The last thing you should do is plug in your computer without findout FIRST whether you need a voltage converter — you run the risk of blowing up your hard drive.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfkpOcFSbx0
Want to view on Youtube? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfkpOcFSbx0
Transcript of “How to use a foreign laptop plug”
How To Use A Foreign Laptop Plug in Paris
with Teena Hughes of https://a-night-in-paris.com
With my laptop plug from Australia we have 3 prongs so what I needed to do was get a little attachment (plug converter) so that it would fit into the French system. So I simply got this little plug adapter here that just pushes on, and makes the two flat rods turn into round rods and also it pushes the height further away from the third prong for the Australian plug.
So all I had to do basically was just plug these two prongs into any electrical outlet here in this Parisian apartment and it worked just fine. So that’s all you have to do. Nothing special. So just get yourself one of these little plug adapters to go from Australian plugs to European plugs, and of course this will depend on which country you’re in.
Okay. If you enjoyed this quick Paris tip, you might like to get them in your email inbox – pop over to the website and sign up today!
See you soon!
Teena
Welcome to Paris France with Teena Hughes
If you’re not close to any shops, you can also buy these online – here’s the exact same one I have and it’s available online at Amazon:
Got any tips of your own on how to use a foreign laptop plug?
If you have any great suggestions and would like to share them, let me know and I’ll post them here; thanks in advance! View more Paris Travel Tips.
07/13/12 by Paris-Travel | 75011, Restaurants, Where to eat in Paris | No Comments »
Finding a traditional French restaurant in Paris is great!
On a drizzly evening when I was looking for something delicious for dinner, I wandered around a little quartier I wasn’t familiar with. There was a Lebanese restaurant and French bistrots, and then nestled – almost hidden – between some shops I found A Deux Pas.
I shook the rain off the umbrella and stepped inside this cute little place. I was disappointed to see “Reservé” (“Reserved”) signs on the tables, but I asked if there was room for one more. When the lady told me that they had one table left I was really pleased, and got settled at the first small table just inside the door on the left.
After reading the menu I could certainly agree that this traditional French restaurant in Paris had some marvellous options, and as soon as I saw “it” I knew what I was going to order.
While I waited to place my order, I took in the cool artwork on the walls, and had a good look around. There were 5 small tables along each of the two available walls, and the whole place was about 10′ or 3 metres wide. Each table could accommodate two people, so a maximum of 20 people in the entire restaurant. At the end of the room was the cash register and an open window into the kitchen where I could see the Chef.
I decided not to have a starter course, as I didn’t want to fill up before my steak with Bernaise sauce arrived (filet de boeuf avec sauce Bernaise is one of my all-time favourites from when I lived in Paris). I asked the delightful owner to recommend a glass of red wine (I think it was Corbierre) and I settled back to savour the thought of my dinner about to be prepared in the kitchen. My tastebuds were salivating with anticipation :-)
The owner returned and placed a gorgeous little bowl in front of me, and said it was a little “amuse bouche” to prepare my mouth for the first course. It was a small amount of soft white cheese, almost like ricotta, with hot bacon pieces sprinkled on top. A drizzle of honey had been added which made this a delicious and very interesting little taste sensation – what a lovely gesture!
When my dinner arrived, it looked absolutely fabulous. And it tasted delicious!
In fact I can remember the taste as I type this … the sign of an excellent meal. The filet de boeuf (fillet of steak) was resting in the centre of a platter, with a small bowl of Sauce Bernaise, and a larger bowl filled with small roasted potatoes drizzled with garlic and onion confit. Oh my! I’m in heaven :-)
The restaurant filled up very quickly with other diners, and I thoroughly enjoyed my little adventure here. I can highly recommend this restaurant if you’re in the area.
A Deux Pas
Traditional French restaurant in Paris
55 rue Saint Maur
75011 Paris
Ouvert du mardi au samedi midi et soir le dimanche midi / Open from Tuesday to Saturday lunch & dinner, & Sunday lunch
Réservations : 01 43 55 67 52
Metro: Rue St-Maur / St Ambroise
Prices:
- wine approximately 4,50 euro per glass
- main meals approximately 14,00 to 19,00 euro
You might also enjoy the Where to Eat in Paris page and also the Famous French Food page.
Map to this traditional French restaurant in Paris
[mappress mapid=”30″]
07/12/12 by Paris-Travel | 75003, Restaurants, Where to eat in Paris | No Comments »
Is Candelaria Mexican restaurant authentic?
Absolutely! Margaritas to knock your socks off, real guacamole to tingle your tastebuds :-)
A couple of new friends invited me to meet them at this little place at 7:0pm without any explainations of what it was like, so I took the Metro to Filles du Calvair (Boulevard du Temple exit) and headed north, ambling along until I came to rue de Saintonge on my left.
Turning into this street, I discovered all kinds of cute and interesting shops and almost had to drag myself along the street until I found the restaurant.
About as big as a postage stamp, there was one table just inside the door which seated about 7 people. Further inside there were a couple of high stools where people could sit at the counter and eat. The counter had a great old icy drink machine which was chilling a margarita mix and I was anxiously awaiting the result (haven’t had a good margarita in years!)
While I waited for my friends, I ordered Guacamole to nibble on with excellent corn chips (none of those crumbly packet varieties), and before I knew it the margarita was ready for me to sip.
Oh how delicious it was! A small glass with a red-crusted rim, it tasted divine, and was just what I needed after a busy day exploring Paris. Slowly the hungry hordes started to arrive, and I was lucky to be able to hang on to only one spare stool for my friends to sit on. The place got quite busy, very quickly, and everyone lusted over the table — I was hanging on with both hands :-)
When my friends arrived 40 minutes later, we managed to grab two extra stools as another party got up from the table, and the four of us perched around the Guacamole and Mexican beers while we all caught up on our news, told stories, and talked about what we might order. By now the place was really buzzing, and as a few bodies left they were replaced by more from the crowd outside. My tip – get here at 7pm if you really want to grab a seat at the table.
The items on the menu started from about 3,50 euro so between us we ordered a few of each item – soft tacos, hard tacos – which came in a variety of colours with enough sauces to satisfy any hungry crowd looking for delicious spicy Mexican food.
The beers flowed, the food fed our hungry stomachs, laughter followed and a great night was had by all. We eventually left closer to 10pm than 9:30, because the demand for the table was still high :-)
If you’re looking for authentic flavour, check out the Candelaria Mexican restaurant – I think you’ll be glad you did!
Candelaria Mexican restaurant
52 rue de Saintonge
75003 Paris
Metro: Filles du Calvaire
Have you also seen my Where to Eat in Paris page and also the Famous French Food page yet?
Map to Candelaria Mexican restaurant
[mappress mapid=”31″]
07/07/12 by Paris-Travel | 75010 | 2 Comments »
There are several ways to have petit dejeuner in Paris (that’s “breakfast” for us English speakers):
- you could pop out and buy croissants and baguettes to bring home to have with your tea or coffee
- or you could visit any of Paris’ cafés and have petit dejeuner there.
Two different prices for Petit Dejeuner in Paris
Standing at the café’s counter to have breakfast will always be less expensive than sitting at a table, and is perfect if you’re short on time. For the breakfast below I pay 4,80 euro, and I’ve seen the exact same in the tourist areas for 10 to 14 euro, so it pays to walk one or two streets away from the main tourist streets and find something a little less expensive if you’re on a budget. This also applies to cold drinks (like Coca Cola) and hot drinks (like tea, coffee and hot chocolate), and of course meals.
Petit Dejeuner prices vary greatly between cafés and districts
While I’ve been walking around the city on this trip, I’ve paid a lot more notice to the prices being asked for petit dejeuner in Paris.
I’m staying in a less-than-touristy area in the 2nd arrondissement, and have tried out a handful of cafés but keep coming back to the Faubourg on the corner of rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis & rue du Metz.
Above: the Petit Dejeuner Menu
Above: the Petit Dejeuner has arrived!
Included in the breakfast was a hot drink of my choice (tea, coffee, hot chocolate), fruit juice (not freshly squeezed, but from a bottle), pastry of my choice (one croissant, pain au chocolat etc) or “tartine” (piece of baguette with butter and jam and/or honey), and a little chocolate.
Above: Mmmmm – delicous!
I’m always happy to sit in this café and watch the busy business people, the delivery vans, while listening to the school children in the school in rue du Metz. It’s a colourful array of people and a hive of activity, which I do enjoy.
To get the best value for your money, check out several different cafes to see what’s on offer. They may be very similar, so see if you can see what others have ordered and if it looks good. At this price you can’t go wrong :-) Enjoy yourself in Paris!!
Map to my favourite local café for petit dejeuner in Paris
[mappress mapid=”25″]
Café Faubourg
cnr of rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis & rue du Metz
75010 Paris
Metro: Strassbourg St-Denis / Bonne Nouvelle
07/04/12 by Paris-Travel | Postcards from Paris | 2 Comments »
It’s summer in the City of Love
Postcards from Paris Video Newsletter, June 2012
The weather’s fabulous!
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postcards from Paris
from Teena Hughes | June 2012 video newsletter |
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 I’m writing to you from Paris!
Hi, this is Teena, and how lucky I feel to be back in the city I love, catching up with old friends (from when I lived here), meeting clients, making new friends – I’m having a great time so far, and I’m only half way through my five and a half weeks :-)
Today’s quick video Newsletter is about :
- my walk along the gorgeous rue Montorgueil
- posts I’ve written since I’ve been here
- and some questions and answers from the website.
Don’t forget to grab an espresso, latte, chocolat chaud, thé, cold drink, whatever you feel like, and let’s jump in :-)
[jbutton color=”orange” size=”xlarge” ]Join me in Paris?? I’m here until 20th July 2012 and would love to meet you!![/jbutton]
Join me in Paris in July 2012!
Going to be in Paris in July? Reply to this email and maybe we can find time for a coffee? I’ve already met some of my lovely followers and have a few more to catch up with – how wonderful!
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Recent Paris stories on the website
Upcoming stories
- How to catch a bus and use the RATP bus map, from the tickets, to finding the bus stop, etc
- The quickest, easiest way to work out your metro and bus routes online
- Using your iPhone in Paris – using Wifi (“weefee”) and local SIM cards
- My top 5 Apps for your smartphone in Paris (iPhone, Android, Blackberry etc)
- Finding fabulous Plus Size fashions with my clients in Paris
- Photo diary of coffees/cafés, drinks and meals I’ve ordered whilst in Paris
Question about Paris
- Sheila asks, “What does “bis” mean in an address in Paris?”
Excellent question Sheila! I didn’t know the answer to this, so I did some research.
What I found is that “bis” stand for “A” after a street number, for example:
- “12 bis” rue St Antoine, means there’s already a number 12, so this is “12A”
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Today’s Useful French
French words in the Metro
Some of these phrases might come in handy while you’re in the Metro:
- “Ou est le guichet, s’il vous plait ?” / “Where’s the ticket office, please?”
- “Ou est la Sortie, s’il vous plait ?” / “Where’s the exit, please?”
- “Un carnet, s’il vous plait ?” / “10 tickets, please.” (Same tickets can be used on bus and Metro.)
- Note: When I write SVP, it stands for “s’il vous plait“/”please” (and is shorter to write, you’ll see it everywhere)
- and always remember to be polite: “Je voudrais …” / “I would like …” (more polite than “I want”)
- always say “thank you”, “Merci beaucoup!”
Did you like the funny phrases in the last newsletter? I’d love to hear if they made you chuckle … here’s the link for the last newsletter >>
If you did like them, let me know, and I’ll feed you some more in upcoming Postcards from Paris :-)
 Metro Barbes-Rochechouart above ground What can I buy in a French:
- Boulangerie — (bakery) bread, baguettes, croissants; some sell ready-made baguette sandwiches at lunchtime.
- Supermarché — (supermarket) groceries, sometimes bread, alcohol & mixer drinks, most products for grocery shopping.
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Things to do in Paris in July
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Until next time! A bientôt!
I hope to get another newsletter out to you while I’m here, and I look forward to chatting with you on the website (use the COMMENT form at the bottom of the pages), Youtube, Twitter and Facebook (and soon on Google Plus), and of course you can click REPLY on your email I send you — it’d be so nice to hear from you!
  
Teena Hughes
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Teena Hughes, A-Night-in-Paris.com
PO Box 1333, Rozelle NSW 2039 – Australia
Telephone Australia (+61) 0408-801-808
https://a-night-in-paris.com |
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Did you enjoy this newsletter? You might also like to view the Postcards from Paris Archives.
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Today’s Video Newsletter
