Category Archives: France

Parc Monceau in the 17th Arrondissement

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

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As Mr. Selfish and I were looking for a museum, we strolled through Parc Monceau in the 17th Arrondissement. It was an unexpected surprise since the park was particularly tranquil and serene.

In 1769, the Duke of Chartres purchased the lot on which Parc Monceau sits and sought to built a garden in the English style (as opposed to the French style). The Duke also added random small-scale architectural features such as a windmill, pyramid, and some Corinthian pillars. When the Duke was killed in 1793 during the French Revolution, the park was sold to the City of Paris.

It was a very interesting park, and Mr. Selfish and I were glad to have happened upon it.  Parc Monceau also had the most awesome carousel I’ve ever seen; it looked to be Jules Verne themed.

Disclaimer: There is some dispute as to whether Parc Monceau is in the 8th or the 17th Arrondissement. Based on the map, it looks like it borders both arrondissementsto me. However, since I have tons of blogging material for the 8th, I will consider Parc Monceau as being in the 17th.

Don’t forget to check out my recommendations for the other arrondissements in Paris here.

Two Free Museums in the 3rd Arrondissement

22 Monday Oct 2012

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Mr. Selfish and I were very unlucky to have lots and lots (I mean – LOTS) of rain during our first couple of weeks in Paris. I discovered that one of the best ways to spend a rainy day in Paris is to visit a museum. We visited two very charming and free museums in the 3rd Arrondissement.

The first museum is the Musée Carnavalet, which focuses on the history of Paris. There are thousands of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and other works of art showcasing different time periods in Paris.

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The Twenty Arrondissements of Paris

21 Sunday Oct 2012

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Mr. Selfish and I are spending a glorious six weeks in Paris. I’ve been trying to figure out how to organize my blog posts on Paris and figured that I would do it by arrondissements, which are the different districts in Paris. Paris has a total of twenty arrondissements – each with a different flavor. The arrondissements are organized in a clockwise spiral. The arrondissement of each location is indicated by the last two digits of the postal code.

Here’s the map of Paris’ twenty arrondissements:

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Nuit Blanche 2012 in Paris

20 Saturday Oct 2012

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Nuit Blanche is an annual all-night art festival in Paris. During this one evening, which is typically in October, museums are opened until the wee hours of the morning with free admission and art exhibits are on display throughout the city. Mr. Selfish and I were lucky enough to be in Paris for Nuit Blanche 2012, which was on October 6th. We went with my little Parisian cousin, Lisa, and had a blast – despite the rain.

First, we headed to the Grand Palais. It is located on the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement. I always admired the building and figured we would take advantage of the free admission during Nuit Blanche. The line was quite long, but it was still early in the evening so the line moved quickly. We were only in line for about 20 minutes.

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Day Trips from Paris

04 Thursday Oct 2012

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Mr. Selfish and I are currently loving our little apartment in Paris.  But as is our nature, we want to do a few day trips from Paris while we are here.  Do you have any suggestions for us?  We’re currently looking at the following possibilities:

1.  Versailles – In 1682, Louis XIV moved from Paris to the Palace at Versailles.  It is opulent and beautiful.  The last time I went, it was the middle of winter, so none of the fountains were turned on and the gardens were mostly brown.  I want to experience Versailles in the autumn.

2.  Giverny is where Monet painted his water lillies.  Monet moved to Giverny in 1883 with his family, including his second wife and 8 children, living and painting there until his death in 1926.

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Hello Paris!

30 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Accommodations, Europe, Food & Drinks, France, Paris

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Mr. Selfish and I arrived in the City of Lights last night.  We are staying here for a glorious six weeks.  Although our apartment in Montmarte is quite small, we have two balconies and one of them has a wonderful view of the Sacre Coeur.  We moved in as the sun was setting…

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