Une boulangerie francaise

Voila, une boulangerie!

La Boulangerie

A French bakery, or "Boulangerie" in French, is a place you will (or already have) no doubt spend a lot of time in when in Paris or France. In Paris there is usually a boulangerie every two or three blocks. It's unusual if there isn't one in walking distance from where you are staying. The boulangeries usually bake early in the morning then again in late afternoon. So if you go into one at those times, the baguettes or pains au chocolat or whatever you desire are usually warm. The chocolate in your pain au chocolat will be melting! My favorite items are the "chaussons aux pommes." These are like croissants filled with apples, somewhat like an apple turnover but better, and they are especially "delicieux" when they are warm. As a kid in Paris, my friends and I used to buy a warm demi baguette (half a loaf of one of the French breads sold in the boulangeries) each, then we'd split a chocolate bar and stick it inside the warm baguette. It would melt and we'd eat it and enjoy. You can make these yourself in the U.S. Just buy a loaf of French bread, heat it and add chocolate. Kids love this treat.

A Medieval Castle in the Making, by hand!

http://guedelon.fr/: This is an amazing thing that's going on in France. Check out the website. A medievel castle is being built exactly as it would have been in 11oo or 1200. With the same tools as they used back then - nothing modern. All authentically medieval. It's located in the Burgundy region, in Puisaye. It's two hours from paris. You can visit the site, and you can even help build the castle by signing up for a castle building class. While you're there, you can visit a real medieval castle, the Chateau de Saint Fargeau, which is 1000 years old, still standing and beautiful.

Saturne Restaurant, Paris

The New York Times reviewed this restaurant this past Sunday: Saturne. It sounds great. It's located in the 2nd, in the Bourse district, at 17, rue Notre-Dame des Victoires. It has a prix fixe menu of 39 euros ($50 at $1.27 to the euro), a very decent price for four courses. It opened in September of 2010 and specializes in "wild and rigourously sourced artisanal ingredients" to quote the NYT. The food is "rustic" and "modern" at the same time. A sampling of some of the foods served there: grilled sardine with buckwheat pancakes, rare baby lamb with charred brussel sprout and other vegetable leaves, a lemony sorrel desert with meringue. Next time I'm in Paris, I think I'll check this place out!

The Louvre at Night. Wow!

A Great Hotel at a Great Price in a Great Location!

One of the hotels I recommend most to friends and family, and where I and friends have stayed, is the Hotel Louvre Bons Enfants. This is a three star hotel and is right around the corner from the Louvre. It is in walking distance to Rue de Rivoli, the Seine, Notre Dame, Place de la Concorde and more. It is clean, recently remodeled, on a quiet street, has a workout facility, air conditioning (the last few summers in Paris have been quite hot), and the rates are fantastic: doubles go from 94 Euros and triples from 152 Euros. The rooms are small, but one of my friends was able to stay there with her family of 5, with two rooms side by side. And all the rooms come with a continental breakfast. Check it out at http://hotellouvrebonsenfants.com/. You can also book a room there through http://parishotels.com/. This last website is a great resource for hotels in Paris. Through them, you can also book a shuttle from the airport to your hotel.

Welcome to my blog about Paris and France!

If you are crazy about Paris and France like me, then follow my blog. I will give you useful tips about Paris and France. Tips about language, travel and more.

Although I live in Seattle, I was born in Nice, France and grew up in Paris. I miss Paris and France terribly, and so I am always in touch with all things French. I also tutor and teach French, and so I can give you some language tips too. Friends and family planning trips to France are always asking me for advice about lodging, tourist attractions and travel in France. I love advising them. It keeps me in touch with France while all the way over here in Seattle!

My next post will be my tip for a great hotel at a great price.