What types of shoes do Parisians wear?

Before coming to Paris, I had no idea what type of shoe to bring because I had heard that Parisians don't wear flipflops, and that is what I usually wear.  When I got there, I found that Parisians wore sandals but they always had some kind of unique design to them.  I also heard that gym shoes were a no-no.  But I did spot some Parisians wearing running shoes!

 Some shoes on the subway- on the far left is a pair of sandals with a band around the foot and then there is only a band around the toe in addition to that.  Rarely see these types of shoes in America!  On the right side a woman is wearing a nice pair of flats.

 Far left is a man wearing tennis shoes (ADIDAS), woman in the middle is wearing a nice pair of flats, and woman on the far right is wearing a strappy sandal

Some colorful sandals

Overall, I found that most women wore either some sort of ballet flat or some strappy sandals, but no flipflops!

What are some typical Parisian sweets?

In Paris, one sweet that is everywhere that is not found often in the United States are macarons.  Macarons are made from egg whites, sugar, ground almond, and food coloring.  While I didn't care too much for macarons, and only had a bite of one while in Paris, they are a must-try while in Paris, and people love them! There are interesting flavors such as pistachio and rose.

 The dessert that I ate a ton of, however, was fruit tarts.  I saw them everywhere! Here are some at Le Bon Marche.

 Some cakes at Le Bon Marche

Here are some cute chocolates in the shapes of shoes and other objects at a chocolate store in Paris.  Of course, there are always crepe stands everywhere throughout Paris to satisfy your sweet tooth.  Overall, I was impressed with the variety and taste of the sweets in Paris!

When is the best time to shop in Paris?

The best time for shopping in Paris in my opinion is the summer.  In the summer, most stores have great sales!

For example, this store is called Rebel Cashmere.  I went there and everything was extremely pricey, but then I went over to the sale rack and there was expensive clothing that was now on sale.  I managed to find the most perfect denim jacket here.  I was amazed at the amount of sales in Paris during the time I was there.  I wish they had the same thing back here in the US during the summer.

Where can a Parisian get a delicious crepe?

I had one of the best crepes while I was in Paris at Creperie Josselin, located at 67 rue du Montparnasse.  Although I am not a huge fan of crepes, especially ones that aren't the sweet kind but have in them instead eggs, ham, etc., the crepe I had at Creperie Josselin was excellent!
I ordered a crepe with ham and egg and it had just the right amount of filling inside of it.

The inside of the restaurant was packed, and the tables are extremely close together.  We had to move the table to get in and out of our seats.  The restaurant had a lively atmosphere and a homey feel to it.

Overall, I would definitely go back!

Where can a Parisian eat dinner in an amazing ambiance?

1728 was one of the most amazing restaurants I have ever been to! It was built in 1728 as General Lafayette's mansion, and it is now a restaurant serving French-Asian fusion and is also an art gallery.

Outside the restaurant

 The bar area upstairs

 A statue of General Lafayette

 Inside the library room

 I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for delicious food in an amazing ambiance! (Entrees start at 40 euros so is very pricey!)

Where can a Parisian get a good view of the city?

At the Pompidou Art Museum, simply take the escalator or elevator to the top...

And an amazing view of Paris awaits you!

Where can a Parisian get good discounts?

There is good discount shopping located at rue D'Aboukir.  I had been looking for luggage to buy since I had a lot more to pack to take home than I had arrived with.  I ended up buying a black, really nice suitcase with wheels for 15 euros.  I later saw the same bag in Rome but for 30 euros, and it didn't even have wheels.

 A shoe store on the street

 A view of the street

A view of the little square along the street.

This street is mainly for women's shopping - they sell dresses, shoes, bags, and jewelry mainly.

A great street to go to if you are looking for some cheap luggage or clothes!

Where do Parisians buy fresh fruits and vegetables?

There are farmer's markets located throughout Paris.  One of them is right out front of the Citadines, which was extremely convenient.  Here, you can find fresh fruits and vegetables as well as clothing for sale.  The farmer's market also has prepared food, such as potatoes and chicken.

A picture of the market

Some hats and bags for sale at the market

The market was even selling the shoes I was talking about in an earlier post!

Where can a Parisian get a quick, cheap, and healthy meal?

A quick, cheap, and healthy dining option is a Greek restaurant called 'evi evane.'

evi evane can be reached by getting off the metro at the Sevres-Babylon stop.  The address is 10 Rue Guisarde.  Here is a view of the restaurant from the street (it has the blue awning).

I was drawn inside by the sign out front that had an advertisement for a pita for only 5,50 euros.

Once inside, there was a wide assortment of different Greek foods.  The baklava caught my eye.

This picture shows just how much variety of food the restaurant offers-

I ordered the Chicken pita, it was filled with different veggies such as tomatoes, a red sauce, and chicken.

It was light but filling.

For dessert, I ordered the baklava.  It looked different from the baklava I've had in the states in that it wasn't flat, but it instead looked like an egg roll.  It was delicious, though.

 

For the pita, baklava, and a drink the meal totalled 8,20 euros.  I will definately be back to evi evane for a quick, cheap, and healthy meal in Paris. 

What department stores do Parisians shop at for high-end clothing and accessories?

I got off at the Sevres Babylone metro stop and wandered into Le Bon Marche.  Le Bon Marche is a high-end department store.  When I entered, the first thing I saw were signs for Chanel, Dior, and other high-end brands.  The jewelry section had beautiful necklaces and bracelets for 100 euros on sale.

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The first floor also had scarves and hats.

There was a wide selection of makeup on the first floor next to the accessories department.

The clothes were all very expensive and high-end, as were the shoes.  There is also a section for men's clothing.

Le Bon Marche is a department store to visit if you are looking for high-end designer attire, accessories, and shoes.

What kind of sandals do Parisians wear?

While packing for Paris, I was debating whether or not to bring my strappy Sam Edelman sandals with me or not. They look like this-

 

I didn't think that Parisians wore sandals of any type.  I assumed they wore ballet flats.  To my surprise, I was wrong.  I see these types of sandals in the windows of nearly every shoe store I pass.  Likewise, on the streets, I see women of all ages wearing this type of strappy sandal.

The lowest price I've seen this style of shoe selling for is 10 euros.  I might just have to get another pair.

 The store where I saw the sandals on sale for 10 euros was near the Pompidou-

Where can a Parisian get good Chinese food?

I tried Dragons Elysees, which is located right off the Champs Elysees at 11 rue de Berri by friends on the program who had tried it.  The shrimp and fried rice were delicious.  The interior was really neat, as there was an aquarium below the floor.

 Johanna inside Dragons Elysees

 Inside the restaurant

 Fried rice and shrimp...they even gave free refills on the fried rice!

 A sampling of the menu.  Their vegetable rolls were among the best I've ever had!

The floor, with fish underneath!

I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for some good Chinese food in Paris!

What boutiques do Parisians shop at?

The way people dress in Paris is unlike how people dress in the states.  I have yet to see a Parisian in a baggy sweater, sweatpants, or gym clothes.  I have been shopping around Paris a bit to find some unique clothes that I wouldn't be able to find back in California.  One store I came across was 'Bel Air.'

Bel Air has stores throughout prices.  Although the prices are high, during the summer most stores have sales.  I was able to buy three tops from Bel Air, all at half price.

One of the tops I got has a Parisian style to it-

 

The prices are high, but with the sales during the summer months, the clothes at Bel Air become more affordable.  So, if you are looking for one-of-a-kind Parisian clothes, check out Bel Air.  They have around 20 locations throughout Paris.

Here is a view of the outside of one of their stores-

Where can a Parisian go to take a break during the day?

If a Parisian wants to take a break during a busy day, simply go to one of the cafes and sit down and have a drink.  Parisians like to face the street when sitting at a cafe, and simply relax with a good book or with friends.

Where can a Parisian have lunch in an amazing ambiance?

I would highly recommend Bouillon Racine, which Teo pointed out to us on our walk, if you are looking for a place to eat with an amazing ambiance.  When you think of eating a meal out in Paris, this is what you imagine.  The interior of the restaurant takes you back to the early 1900s, and you feel as if you have stepped back in time!  The food was great, too!

Pata negra pork with mashed potatoes...excellent!