Café de Flore

An art deco cafe with decor that hasn't changed since World War II, Café de Flore is the place to be if you're interested in having a drink next to the ghosts of Jean-Paul Sartre or Albert Camus.  And you never know, you may see Karl Lagerfeld or another current celebrity the table over.

We scored a coveted outside spot, though it did come with a creepy guy leering at us, smoking his cigar.

French cafes don't have lemonades, which is a bummer on a hot day until you realize they have a deconstructed drink called a citron pressé that you can order instead.  You're served freshly squeezed lemon juice, packets of sugar, and a carafe of water, so you can mix up your own lemonade, to taste.  Ice doesn't usually come with an order like this, so if you want things cold, be sure to ask "avec glaçons, s'il vous plaît." 

Need a housewarming/wedding/holiday gift for a friend that loves lemonades but has everything?  Food 52 sells a marvelous citron pressé kit that is perfect for summertime entertaining (currently out of stock, though, bummer).  Keep in mind, you can make this at home and customize however you'd like...you can use sparkling water or iced tea, add some vodka or gin, and use herb simple syrups to make things even more complex.  But don't worry, the simple and traditional citron pressé is graceful and poised, and stands on its own quite well. 

Ile de la Cité

Home to Notre Dame, Ile de la Cité is one of two natural islands in the middle of the Seine with a fascinating history. 

Barges (one of my mom's favorite camp songs to sing growing up)

It is impossible to represent the immensity inside the cathedral.  No picture will do it justice.

A Walk through Paris - The Marais

The word of the day was hot.  So hot.  Thank goodness for gelato!

I know the Musée de l'Orangerie isn't in the Marais, but we did begin our day out and about wandering through the art in this converted indoor orange grove.  Pictures aren't allowed in the main gallery, hence the lack of post about this lovely place.  However, if you like Monet, this is the museum with the amazing waterlily series "Nymphéas."  A must-see for impressionism fans, each of the eight canvases are about 7 feet high and 40 feet long.  Magical.  (there's a great article about the reopening of the museum in the New York Times)

I really wanted to jump in!

The famous L'As du Fallafel - although I can't find the online evidence for this, apparently the Clover Food Trucks in Boston found their inspiration in this tiny little falafel stand in the Marais.

Such a great sandwich.  The lightly pickled vegetables provide the perfect amount of acid to pair with the fried falafel.

Pistachio and nocciola gelato!

I think my new favorite thing to do while traveling is check out the thrift stores, like Free'P'Star. 

I've been searching for years for a ballgown that I could use to dress up as Sarah from The Labyrinth for Halloween...and of course, the closest I've gotten is the 35 euro number above!  Not bad, huh?  But way too poofy to try and cart along all day, and it's not quite close enough to be worth the hassle.  I did end up buying a vintage dirndl, so you can be sure I'll be ready to dress up next August 1st for Swiss National Day!

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the full Pompidou Museum..but I blame the heat (ha).  It's a giant modern-looking piece of architecture smack dab in the middle of garrets straight out of Moulin Rouge.  All of the escalators are on the side of the building, offering an incredible view of the city!

Ma Tour Eiffel, plus you can see the skyscrapers of the business district of Paris in the distance.

Sacre Couer

How many pictures will there be of us girls and the Eiffel Tower?  Many. 

After Ile de la Cité, we stopped at Shakespeare and Company, an English-language bookstore right near the Sorbonne.

The busy Boulevard San Germain.

July 7th walk through Paris

A.  Hôtel de Ville Metro Stop
B.  Imprimerie du Marais
C.  L'as du Fallafel
D.  Pozzetto Gelato
E.  Free'P'Star Thrift Store
F.  Centre Georges Pompidou
G.  Notre Dame
H.  Shakespeare and Company
I.  Cafe de Flores
J.  Cluny-La Sorbonne Metro Stop

Château de Vaux le Vicomte

The Château de Vaux le Vicomte is an incredible castle a short drive southeast of Paris, near the town of Melun.

On Saturday evenings during the summer, the castle puts on Candlelight Evenings, transforming a visit to a castle into a simply magical experience. 

Even the moat is straight out of a fairy tale.

One of the many candles.

Sara has some incredible photos from this evening of the candles, and so does Out and About in Paris.   She also did an interview with the co-manager of the estate, a fascinating read.

If the château wasn't amazing enough already, it is also home to a 17th century garden picnic called "Journée Grand Siècle" -- something I would love to attend some day! The wigs!  The slammerkins!  ...some day, I'll be back.