The city of love and light is still like an old femme fatale, cheeky and gorgeous with lots of different facettes in her 20 Arrondissements. Charming Montmartre and St. Germain, the exquisit Champs Elysees for shopping galore and a bit wilder the 13eme Arrondisement with lots of Streetart. But Paris was packed with people – not only the inhabitants but also the Tourists are back again after the Corona times. So to avoid the big crowds, either choose a very quiet month for the city or stroll around in the early mornings or during the week. And the not so crowded Arrondisements like the 5th or Montparnasse are also a very nice alternative, f.e. the Jardin des Plantes is worth a visit.
Creative cities and Streetart
This was the focus on my journey, wandering through the streets and exploring all
the walls, from giant murals down to tiny stickers, the city is plasterd with
creativity and sarkasm.
As Paris is known for the world known museums like the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay or Centre Pompidu the creative side of the city is directly shown in the streets. And the city is discovering the worth of these pleine air treasure – in the last years there was a big change about streetart. Usually forbidden or removed cities become aware of the cultural impact of streetart and start to support the artists with Streetartfestivals. The Paris Colorsfestival showed a nice collection of local and international artists with
the focus on female artists which painted live in Caisse de Butte.
Velodysee to La Défense
To explore the city you either need a pair of very good shoes or you can get around
by bus, tram, metro or Uber or rent a bike via the organisations Lime or Velolib. We choose the last one and it was very conveniend after a bit of struggling through the registration we had 3 days of freedom on the bike in Paris streets. We discovered the La defense – a neighbourhood a bit outside of the city with impressive Architecture from all decades. It’s the modern side of Paris and with good weather you can see just in one line to the Arc de Triomphe.
Paris – Housing of the poor people
Also there is the other, not so shiny side of the old lady with lots of elderly people suffering of hunger and living on the streets or tunnels in tents. As the rents rize and the tourism rizes the prizes for food as well the gap between rich and poor gets bigger.
Despite the poorness it is also heartwarming to have a closer look at the housing of the glochards, where you can see how they try with collecting lovely small souvenirs to brighten their small tent-homes with little flowers or pictures.
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Sleep
For a good sleep either you can check in at one of the thousands hotels, hostels or
Airbnbs, all quite expensive but as we’ve been in low season it was ok.
Mini Loft in 5th Arrond. Airbnb, close to Jardin de Plantes
Superlovely for 4 Persons – ca. 50 Eur p. P./Night
Arty Hostel, Montparnasse district
Ok for 2 nights in 4 bed female dormitory
ca. 27 Eur p. P./Night
Restaurants & Cafes
Le Hangar, in Marais
Nice Ambiente, Reservation
Boulangerie Marie
Sezono Bar
Nice drinks, local food
Le Maine Cafe
Boulangerie Hubert Patrice
La Menagerie
Maison Marnay, very yummy Bakery ;P
Culture
MAM- Museum of Modern Art Paris
Sacre Coer
Gallery Art 21, Montmartre
Centre Pompidu
Bookstore Shakespeare and Company
Halle Saint Piere, alternative Galerie and Art-Bookstore
Transport
Paris Visit Pass – Tickets for Bus and Metro, day passes
Velib – Renting Bikes for 7 Euro / day
Nature
Jardin des plantes Paris, 5. Arrond.
Parc Georges Brassens, 15 Arrond.
Co-Working Spaces
Coworking Cafe Cosy Paris
Drinks for 2 Eur, very friendly Staff and super location!
Anticafe Paris, close to Centre Pompidou
Very nice ambiente, different Cafes in France
Streetart
Streetartcities – Online – Map of Streetart in Paris
13eme Arrondisement
Marais
Montmartre
La Defense
New neighbourhood a bit outside of the city center, with lots of
nice architecture, a nice bike trip !