Go through the turquoise doors and you'll come into an inner courtyard...
Turn right and go through the glass doors to the old and winding stairway....
Now, look up...way up...take a deep breath and start climbing the five stories...
Catch your breath when you reach the top of our landing and look down to see how far you've come!
Impressive, isn't it? Our built-in fitness program to help justify that extra croissant!
(why do my pants still feel too tight?) Anyway...welcome to our home away from home!
A small but efficient kitchen means we can make our own meals whenever we want to. We have already established a rhythm to our days and love slow mornings with simple breakfasts of sliced fruit, hot coffee, and fresh baguette from our local bakery!
The apartment has a contemporary feel, with all the modern comforts but still maintains the original charm of this old building with wooden floors, a hewn beamed ceiling and large windows to make it bright and airy.
It's fun to people watch from our lofty perch.
A view from our window...
We love living in this area of the Marais district. It is such an interesting and vibrant neighborhood. You can literally walk in any direction to see historical sights, museums, cafes, bakeries, and artisan shops of all kinds. We quickly discovered delicious baguettes and decadent desserts just around the corner at a boulangerie called Hure (pronounced hooray...which is what we say every time we go in!)
Here's what's in their front window...
There's Angie at the back of the line at a slow time of day...usually the line is out the door and onto the street...
The Louvre is a 20 minute walk away...
The river Seine is nearby,
With amazing views of the Eiffel Tower...
The Pompidou Centre, housing the largest modern art museum in Europe, is literally a block away from us. Its collection includes the works of famous artists like Kandinsky, Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse, and Miro. We were so excited to have the place almost to ourselves when we visited there one evening last week.
And, of course, the Parisians just love their outdoor cafes, no matter what time of year it is!
Rick Steves describes the Marais as " containing more pre-revolutionary lanes and buildings than anywhere else in town and is more atmospheric than touristy. It's medieval Paris and the haunt of old nobility."
"After the aristocrats left, the Marais became a dumpy bohemian quarter so sordid it was nearly slated for destruction. But today this thriving, trendy, real community is a joy to explore. It looks the way much of the city did until the mid-1800's, when Napolean III had Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann blast out the narrow streets to construct broad boulevards to accommodate armies and tanks, thus creating modern Paris. A big Hausmann-type boulevard was planned to slice efficiently through the Marais, but World War II got in the way." from Rick Steves' book, "Paris."
We love our new neighborhood and the history and charm it holds. And we still have so much more of the city to explore!
