1. Slow down.
Whether you’re there for two days or two weeks, unless you slow down your pace.. you won’t absorb the beauty of this splendid city. Rather than ticking all major attractions in two days, try to walk without agenda, or pick up a cycle/ Velib.
In the long term, the most vivid memories are made of moments when we stood and stared.
2. Span the Seine.
Spend half a day or evening, strolling along/ sitting by the banks of River Seine. And you’ll want to grab a canvas and start painting. It is so gorgeous!
From the many characteristic bridges that span the placid river, the ferries going to and forth, the magnificent trees with camouflage trunks that dot the banks, locals just goofing around or practising parkour.. you would fall in love with the city.
Tip..You should stop to give a random romantic kiss to your partner… after all it’s the city of love 😉
3. Visit a Boulangerie.
Get up early to visit a local boulangerie.. go gaga over the aroma of freshly baked bread and get that perfect baguette for breakfast!…And do remember to “Saw”, not “Squish” the Baguette, while slicing!
4. Visit the supermarkets
… and you’ll feel like a local, going through the daily routine of picking up breakfast or dinner.
5. Little things in life.
With the kids, a must do is a carousel trip around the gardens. We all know that the little innocents are most happy with most basic things. Yes they will remember the Eiffel Tower, may be the lit up pyramids in the louvre courtyard at night, but most of the carousel rides, and the ice- lollies!
5. Visit atleast one local market
…on a market day. Of course this needs planning as these happen on particular days; the well known in Paris, being the Bastille. Even if you’re not planning to cook your meals.. the sheer freshness of the produce blows the mind and one gets tempted to buy this and also that.
6. Always keep yourself hydrated = Have enough wine!
7. Culinary Escapade
This IS the Foodie haven of the world! There is simply so much to sample and learn in terms of culinary lingo!
If it’s your first time or the umpteenth time, try out the “food passport“
It’s simply a way of introducing a traveller to the best of Parisian/ french delicacies.. while taking you around on a self guided tour through the best parts of the city! As is mostly the case, when hubby introduced this topic.. I was not so keen considering it another touristy trap. But as is “always” the case, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does one get to sample the local delights.. macaroons or merveilleux or Navettes…oh yes I’m showing off… but visiting parts of the city which one might not visit otherwise. It was a fun thing to hold a map, deciding what we wanted to sample in which part of the city, take a metro ride, and then out looking for that quaint little shop, tucked in a corner!
Bonne journée!