Wet ‘n Wild!
It doesn’t take much to turn me on around here.
For example, I know that very few of you will be as excited as I was to find this at Tang Frères…
But Alisa and Ms. Glaze?…you know you want it too…
Hot Duo!
Wanna see two Parisian studs going head-to-head in a groovy Parisian loft?
(Click to continue reading, for Adults Only…)
Here’s my tips and step-by-step instructions for How To Make The Perfect Caramel.
(You may wish to also read Ten Tips for Making Caramel, which preceded this post.)
Seriously my friends, is there anything better than chocolate and toffee together?
Especially when the toffee has a brown sugar-flavored buttery snap and luscious chocolate is smeared over the top so it hardens and melds with the crackly caramelized matzoh underneath. When a marriage is this good, a picture can only do partial justice to the love that exists between the happy couple.
Continue Reading Chocolate-Covered Caramelized Matzoh Crunch…
When a British travel writer asked if I’d like to meet for brunch last week, he also asked if I could suggest a reasonable place for the article he was doing. So I put on my thinking cap, kicked off my slippers, tossed my funky pajamas in the laundry bin, showered and…get this…shaved!…and actually took a break from my project and got a few breaths of fresh air.
Imagine that!
(This is getting to be a habit around here…)
Le Brunch is indeed available at some places in Paris, but je deteste being around people first thing in the morning—and I’m not so fond of Le Brunch either. So we compromised on the more civilized hour of 1pm. Not much is open in Paris on Sunday, which our President is fixing to change, so I suggested Breizh Café a tidy corner spot specializing in galettes de blé noir, commonly known as buckwheat crêpes.
This sparsely-finished restaurant is in the heart of ‘bobo’ (bourgeois bohemians) land, so there’s no shortage of strollers or hipsters hanging out in this part of the Marais on Sunday. Once you get by all the posers skulking on the sidewalks peering in gallery windows, cigarettes perched in the corners of their mouth and the obligatory Sunday am dark glasses…(who unlike me, couldn’t bother to shave)…it’s a relief to find an inexpensive place to eat where the food is anything but trendy.
Because owner Bertrand Larcher is a true Breton, the Breizh Café focuses on the quality of the products and lets them shine, rather than trying to mess with the originals: there’s no red pepper dust on the corner of the plate or twirls of squiggly sauces that have no business being there.
Last night I rounded a corner, and looked up.
It made me realize that sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in too many things.
And what’s really important is to give myself a moment to stop everything—take a look (and a photo)—and remind myself what a beautiful city I get to live in.
Although I don’t think happiness necessarily depends on where you live, I’d say in my case, it definitely has something to do with it.
Last month, I received an invitation to visit the French Sénat. Like most of the government buildings here in Paris, this is one fabulous. Think wildly-ornate with lots of gilding and chandeliers and gardens that are plucked and shaved within an inch of their life. (‘Nature’ in Paris is meant to be looked at…ne touchez pas!) Plus there was a gorgeous dining room where les Sénateurs dine.
(Well, I should say, the real Sénateurs, since they didn’t seem to have my name on that list.)
I don’t know why the exhibition of foods and wines from the Lot-et-Garonne, was being held there, but I felt pretty special all the same. And who doesn’t like feeling special?
There was a decent selection of foods to try. Lots of foie gras, some nice Gascon cheeses, and of course, pruneaux d’Agen. And lots of ‘em. Since they were free, I ate as many as I could, especially the ones stuffed with chocolate-flavored prune filling. I was in prune heaven!
Except the next day—I was in prune hell.
Like Armagnac (take it from me); it’s worth knowing your limits.
I decided my entryway was a disaster and got on the stick and pulled everything out and straightened it up.
Actually I didn’t get that far.
I did pull everything out, but lost interest and didn’t put anything back.
The good thing is, I can’t leave.
So I have to stay home and work.
That was really dumb.
This my new mobile phone.
I’ve nicknamed it Darth Vader since it’s dark, scary, and hisses at me a lot.
Carte Navigo
For Paris transit, visitors who are non-residents can buy weekly Navigo Découverte passes, which presently costs 16.30€, plus a one-time fee of 5€ for the cost of the pass, which is reusable for future visits.
You must bring a photo. There are photo machines in some of the métro stations, but I strongly urge guests to bring a stamp-sized photo from home where you’re less-stressed, since the machines require correct change, may be confusing, and sometimes don’t work. (If you press the wrong button, you might get a 10-inch close up of your nostrils.) It doesn’t need to be passport-quality, so any snapshot will do.
Carnets of Tickets and The New Ticket t+
Carnets of 10 tickets, as always, are also available at métro stations for 11.10€ and in Tabacs. Bravo to the new Ticket t+ that allows you 1½ hours to transfer between buses, trams, or métros…although not between the bus and métro systems for some reason. Tickets sold onboard buses can’t be used for transfers, which are marked sans correspondance.
Individual tickets are available as well for 1.5€, but the carnet is a better deal and any unused tickets can be saved for your next trip. Or given to a friendly American fellow who lives there.
Where To Buy
Weekly Navigo cards are available at SNCF train stations and métro stations manned by cashiers, as well as métro stations with an actual RATP office.
(Most of the regular métro stations have gone to electronic machines which take cash and some credit cards if they have a puce, or microchip, which replaced human cashiers. Larger métro stations, for the most part, still have cashiers to buy tickets and Navigo Découverte cards.)
What About a Paris Visite Card?
You can also buy a Paris Visite card which costs substantially more but can start or begin on any day. They’re available in 1 (8.5€), 2 (14€), 3 (19€), and 5 (27.5€) denominations. The Paris Visite card offers discounts on various monuments, museums, and other attractions, plus 25% off the Bateaux Parisiens boat, so they’re not necessarily a bad deal. You can buy them online, in advance from a third-party, or during your stay.
(All prices listed are subject to change.)
UPDATE: You can find updated information my post: Paris Transit Options.
More Paris Travel Links and Tips
Official Navigo website
Transilien French Train Information (in English)
Which Paris airport transfers to use
Some of my favorite Paris Travel and Dining Guides
Navigo to Carte Orange details on the RATP site. (The site is in French, although some information is available in English by clicking on the British flag.)
List and links for Paris Cooking Classes
Confused about how much to tip in France?
10 Insanely Delicious Things You Shouldn’t Miss in Paris, according to me
More of my Paris Travel Tips
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