miss b loves........Paris, old favourites and a few new discoveries (Part 1)

I've lost count of the number of times I have visited Paris but I never really tire of this very special city and a couple of weeks ago my birthday was a good excuse for a long weekend .....  favourite spots ..........and some interesting discoveries ..... so please follow along....

Our hotel was a short walk from some very familiar places......

.... but with our three day metro pass we were ready to explore further afield ... and Le Marais was top of the list .....Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis church is particularly attractive against a rich blue sky ....

and in the Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris, ..........

.....there was plenty of shade .......

and sun .... and I spotted this cute little Parisian dog just peeping out of his owner's bag ....... both of them basking in the sunshine ......

Popelini, a pâtisserie specialising in choux à la crème (cream puffs) was next on our list and we weren't disappointed. They are so delicious that I think they could be the next big thing .... 

Our final choice ....... lemon and pistachio (with a pistachio cream and morello cherry filling) 

Perhaps these imaginative éclairs from the nearby  L'Eclair de Génie might take over the world too .....

We made our way to Place de la République ....

We love to watch street performers but this was the first time we had actually seen a performance by a juggler in front of so many lanes of traffic!!

He certainly had a captive audience when the traffic lights were on red and quickly managed to collect a few coins from the drivers before they sped off .........

We headed over to the contemporary and quirky Merci concept store ......

 What an amazing fish tank........

...and we decided to stay for a fresh and healthy lunch ........

After lunch .....time to relax for a while at the Canal St Martin....

Back on the metro.......

 ....... to Ile de la Cité to Notre Dame .... 850 years old this year!

I've always had a soft spot for the iconic 2CV and I just about managed to take a photo of one as we were on the way back to the metro. Véronique (French Girl in Seattle) is also a fan and you can read her entertaining post about this cute little French car here

Finally....I must mention our memorable meal on the first night .....Bistrotters. We had read amazing reviews about this tiny 1900s bistro tucked away down a quiet little road in Montparnasse (fortunately we'd booked a table well in advance, as they were constantly turning people away!) François, the owner, was so attentive and chatty. One of the highlights was my starter ..... melon and ham in a gazpacho of watermelon and Pineau (an apéritif from Charentes where I lived for a year.)

I wore my new shoes and Jour d'Hermès perfume ..... two perfect surprise birthday gifts .....

...and our hotel was a success too....the Regent's Garden and there was the added bonus of a peaceful garden where we had breakfast, an oasis of calm ....

 ....... with the most delightful staff we have ever met in a Parisian hotel! This former private mansion was a gift from Napoleon III to one of his most devoted servants Dr Conneau and was transformed into a hotel in 1937.


I hope you will join me for Paris, Part 2 but please be patient.....I'm off on my travels again ......


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Thank you!!
miss b