Everyone's Going to Paris!

Le Consulat in Montmartre

My friend is leaving for Paris this week, and I promised to add a few more must-see spots that she and her husband will love.  Since they're staying in the 5e they will be near the very wonderful cinema, The Grande Action, 5 rue des Ecoles, with its deliciously comfortable red plush seats. They might be lucky and catch one of my favorite of the noir films "The Night of the Hunter" with Robert Mitchum.  It will probably show in English with French subtitles, like many of the films do. Can I tell you how cool it was to see my favorite film "Casablanca" there, and to read the subtitle "a ta bonheur, ma petite!" "Here's looking at you kid!"  [I think I'll have to go with the American translation on this one!]

They'll also be quite close to Les Deux Magots, the old watering hole of the likes of Hemingway, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, Picasso and Camus.  A glass of wine will cost  a minimum of 16 euros, and with the euro at around $1.49 today, I'd opt for tea and the fabulous lemon tart, and do my drinking in the crowded little bistros that dot the 6e.

There are some really fun places around this rue, here.

And, the 6e has many wonderful art galleries, in a well marked area.  Look for these signs:

And, of course, they'll have to go to Montmartre.  My suggestion would be to take the bus.  They'll see more, and when they change buses to go up the hill they'll get the real feeling for Montmartre as they curve around all the steep little streets.

But be sure to stay late enough to catch the view of the Eiffel tower lit up at night, then walk down the steps [ Les Escaliers] next to the Finiculare.  Very Brassai!

[or very Dean Polis]

Everyone will tell you to go to the  Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, but that's quite a trek from the 5th.  Might instead choose to go to the Cimetiere Montparnasse, much closer and also beautiful.  Sartre, de Beauvoir and Ionesco are buried here.

My friend Angie walking in the rain in the cemetary

There's so much more to write, but no matter where they flâner, they will be amazed and amused on their adventure in the City of Light.


Be safe, my friends, keep that neck pouch under your jackets, and God Speed!