I'm In Love With The 10th!

A Lock on the Canal Saint Martin

The 10th arrondissement, that is!

The 10th used to be industrial, off the beaten path, only some place you went to get to the Gare de Nord or Gare d'Est. It was kind of dirty, working class, not pretty.Except for the Canal Saint Martin with it's bridges.

Once, when I lived in Paris in the 1980s, I wandered up there. I was totally outside of my 7th arrondissement comfort zone. I had been working for a Countess and my best (only) friend was also a Countess, though I never let on I knew!

While I'd grown accustomed to the chic little boutiques selling to the barely surviving aristocratic class, this seemed strange and wonderful. Even I could afford to buy something here. People were selling food selling outside of the stores and people dressed normally - as in NOT in Hermes and Dior!

Why I didn't go back again, I'll never know. I was 23 and who knows what was in my head!

Music on a Friday Night

I just remembered that I loved it and felt that sense of discovery. I was also amazed that my Countess friend had brought me here, but we were going to rue de Paradis to see the advertising museum - which was fabulous. Later, in 1992 when I was in Paris with my husband, we wandered Paris looking for this street and museum, only to find it just as they were packing the museum up to move it into a separate wing of the Louvre building.

Many years later, I was desperate to find an apartment that would fit my family. I once again found myself in the 10th. For two weeks we lived there and now it's "my" neighborhood. It's become chic, young, and bo-ho - unlike in the 1980s.

An Awesome Cheese Store

Fun and Diversity in the 10th

As I pack my suit cases for another 2 week trip, I just can't wait to "go home." I can't wait to explore the new little restaurants with reasonable prices, the romantic nooks and crannies, and explore the neighborhoods just a bit further out and off the tourist beaten track. This will be my third time in this same neighborhood and this time just my husband and me again.

Not Dirty, Dark, and Dingy Anymore!

The one thing we will probably NOT be doing is having romantic strolls in the evening along the Canal Saint Martin. I've timed it all wrong and our trip is smack in the middle of the three month cleaning and repairing of the canal. C'est la vie.

So much to discover in Paris, even after 11 previous visits!!

Need help planning a trip to Paris of your own? Visit ParisMadeSimple and I can help! 

Coolness in My (Temporary) Paris Neighborhood!

I was pretty excited when my most recent copy of Budget Travel magazine had an article called: Latest Turnaround: Canal Saint-Martin, Paris. It talked about how this working class neighborhood is getting cool! As I looked at the list of the seven coolest places in the neighborhood, I realized, it was going to be MY neighborhood for two weeks this summer!

Le Pompon

There's a speakeasy called Le Pompon, located in a former synagogue, with a DJ and a smoking room - smoking is not allowed in bars any more without special permission. Locals call it vraiment cool!"  I'm not sure that I'm young enough to be that cool anymore but it does look like a fun place. But hey, I can dream!

Right next to our apartment rental (I mean right NEXT door) is a place called the Sweat Shop. You can rent a sewing machine by the hour and guest designers come and teach classes.

Chez Chiffrons

All of the other places sound cool too, but I'm looking forward to visiting the vintage clothes shop near by called Chez Chiffrons. Since the clothes seem to be retro designer clothes, I'm not sure I can afford anything. But, I'm still going to check it out. 

The other place is called Objet Céleste. It's a shop full of rice paper lanterns, mobiles, and jewelry!


So, now I know what I'll be doing in the afternoons, between afternoon cafe and late evening dinners!

Spring makes me homesick for Paris

Every year, when Spring finally settles down in Maine, I get homesick - homesick for Paris. Luckily, this summer I will be returning "home" with some of my family!

I bought my tickets and paid my deposit for the apartment that I wanted, way back in October. Then I sort of put my excitement for the trip in hibernation. Now I'm in full excitement - thinking of the possibilities and all the things we can when we get there.

One thing I've wanted to do for the last three trips was to take the barge trip down the Canal Saint-Martin. Some how, it's always fallen off the list for lack of time. But this time, I was sneaky. Our apartment is actually meters from the canal itself!

A Lock on the Canal Saint Martin, evening

Megan is only 11 and I'm not sure if the very slow barge trip will work with her. But I'm thinking that walking the canal will be even better!

Although I apparently crossed the canal on my way to a horrible job I had in the 11th (back in 1986), I was shy and walked very fast to my destination. I never even realized what I was looking at. I do remember the amazingly diverse neighborhood I walked through though - all the beautiful African ladies and their bright outfits and markets. It was one neighborhood I knew would be open and lively on Sunday as it was predominately Jewish and Muslim.

So I just can't wait to show Megan these places and retrace my steps. I used to pick up my charge

at his school and entertain him for the afternoon as my job - way back then. Now, I get to escort my own daughter and share the beauty of the city I love most - in all of it's color and diversity!