There is more to see on the Champs de Mars than the Eiffel Tower, although it’s hard to compete with the main attraction.

The gardens are large and heading south, away from the river, it’s easy to find locals enjoying this large stretch of green, children swarming around the playgrounds, and groups of foreigners playing pétanque (the French are playing in the Jardin de Luxembourg).

If you have never played pétanque the goal is to throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet (literally “piglet”).  Which like nearly everything in France is a reference to food.

On your next visit ask to join the game but be advised some Spanish, French or Italian may be needed or a girl with a very large American smile.

Enjoy!

Leslie

A friend recently told me all she wanted from her first trip to Paris was a picture of the Eiffel Tower.

My last visit was at least fifteen years ago and when friends (non-French) request a visit I tell them they are on their own to wait in the long lines to visit Gustave Eiffel’s iron lattice tower.

But this visit I couldn’t get away from the structure and I loved it.

With perfect weather I bicycled by it everyday and by chance enjoyed a dinner party in an apartment that not only overlooked the tower but had an open terrace that ensured a clear shot – fortunately I wasn’t the only one snapping photos.

If you have never seen the Eiffel Tower in person I hope these pictures inspire a visit. To view more photos visit my Flickr pages.

Enjoy!

Leslie

Lately I have been offering a lot of advice on Paris and it has me thinking about my own French planning.

If you are visiting Paris I can recommend pastry shops, budget or four star restaurants, hidden neighborhoods, small hotels, almost anything Italian and everything in between.

But when I visit Paris there are a few French things I can’t go without.  No fancy brands just my favorite French basics.

Monoprix for shower gel from Le Petit Marseille, T-Shirts from Petit Bateau, a Pharamacie or Parapharmacie (preferably Pharmacie Fouhety at 26 Rue du Four – for the best selection and prices) for Anthelios Sunscreen and La Roche-Posay Lip Balm.

This is not what most people think of when they are heading to Paris.  But for a city known for sophistication sometimes the basics are really the best.

For those of you heading to Paris…  Enjoy!

Leslie

Architecture is a challenge for me.  I like details and large structures can be overwhelming to me.

But I keep trying and I’m committed to one day buying a wide angle lens to experiment even more.

One of my favorite photographers is Jean-Michel Berts (the French Ansel Adams of architecture).  He says “Architecture is the cultural reflection of a civilization” – so true, especially for Paris.

You can’t visit Paris and not want to be a part of it.  The city is beautiful, imposing, and sometimes daunting (Which I’m sure the kings liked).

Paris is one city by day and another by night.  When the sun goes down and the lights go on the city sparkles, but with more than two thousand years of history it can also feel haunted.

When you have a car in Paris there is nothing better than a “Paris by Night”.  Driving around the city at night with no other reason then to enjoy the city lit up.

Even if the photos aren’t perfection I hope they convey some of the emotion of seeing Paris by night.

Enjoy!

Leslie

PS: Visit the Sous Les Etoiles Gallery through January 29th for an exhibition of “The Cities of Jean-Michel Berts”.

Each time I visit Paris something is different and every visit I make a mental note of the changes I see.

This visit I noticed more Velib bicycle stations – Yeah!

I also noted fantastic improvements in the public transportation system.  Changes included renovated, cleaner metro stations, with improved signage, and new digital panels displaying the current time and estimated time of arrival for your bus or train.

I also noticed American cookies everywhere.  They have become a staple next to the brownies in many boulangeries.  With all the sophisticated pastries and chocolate wonders in France who would have thought a basic chocolate chip cookie could be so popular.

However, there are things in France that never change and in January that is les galettes des rois (the king’s cakes).  The galette des rois are the traditional pastry of Epiphany celebrated on January 6th, but the French seem to celebrate it all month – perhaps an excuse to eat more galette des rois.

If you visit France in January you can’t miss les galettes des rois as they are displayed, front and center, in the window of every boulangerie in France.

This round flaky puff pastry is filled with almond paste or frangipan (a combination of almond cream and pastry cream).  They come in an array of sizes and are purchased by the number of people you will be serving.

If you are lucky enough to celebrate Ephiphany with a French family or friends you’ll know the novelty of the galette des rois is not just the quality of the pastry but the fève (little figurine) that is hidden inside the pastry. The youngest at the table, will hide under the table and call out who gets each slice.

Whoever finds the fève (which can be plastic, porcelain or even a fancy jewel) gets to be crowned king or queen for day.  Paper crowns (alla Burger King) are typically included with your galette des rois.

If you have never tasted a galette des rois, they are worth a try.  Make a note in your January 2011 calendar to reserve a galette des rois from your local French baker to share with friends or family (with or without the crowns).

A trip to France next January would definitely ensure you taste a galette des rois.  If not you can always enjoy the experience right here without the calories or risk of cracking a tooth on a fève.

Enjoy!

Leslie