Serendipitous Paris: A Random Assortment of Things to Do - Act I Scene I

Your experience of Paris will necessarily be differentand narrow alleys over thousands of acres. Way too
from that of any other traveler. Because youroften overlooked by tourists and Parisians alike, the
expectations are unique, your perception of thepark is a haven of silence and peace. Joggers,
French capital will be yours, and yours only. Diversitystrollers, families and lovebirds meet at this unique
being the name of the game, I thought you wouldvenue which is dominated by a rocky mound on top
enjoy being told about a larger variety of unusualof which stands a small gazebo which resembles a
places to visit, and singular things to do while in Paris.Greek temple. An awesome place to spend a Sunday
In this new series of articles, I will bring to yourmorning. The nearest metro stations are "Laumiere"
attention an assortment of such things which you areand "Buttes-Chaumont".
free to try out then and there. You can also findAntique Asia in ParisThe Cernuschi Museum shelters
more data on my Paris guideover 12,000 ancient objects of Chinese, Korean and
Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.comLike Church Music?EveryJapanese origins, of which 900 are on permanent
Sunday and on non-worked days, the imposing Saintdisplay in the beautiful 19th century mansion: from
Roch Church hosts organ concerts from 5:30 to 6:00neolithic potteries, to statues and weapons of the
PM. There is no entry fee, and the thrill is guaranteed13th century. There is only one other museum in
for a good 30 minutes. This venue is known for thisFrance which can compete with such a wealth of
event, so show up well before 5:30 PM. The Churchantique Asian art. This museum is worth its weight in
is located at 2 impasse Saint Eustache, between thegold! To visit it, go to 7 avenue Velasquez, near the
"Châtelet-Les Halles" metro station and the"Villiers" metro station. Don't go on Mondays, the
Louvre Museum. Free Couscous for AllThe "Lamansion is closed.
Cordonnerie" restaurant offers a nice, free couscousAh! The joys of visiting Paris in an unconventional
to its patrons every Saturday night at 9:00 pm. Away! You can imagine that a city which is 2,000
simple principle: order a drink (less than 5 euros), andyears old and has 1,000+ years of recorded history
you get the couscous. At that price, it's a steal.offers a lot more than can ever be summarized in
People know it, they flock to the place, and there iswriting. Facing such an abundance of things to see,
very little room available. The restaurant is located atwhich way should one go? My take (and that of my
142 rue Saint Denis, near the "Etienne Marcel" subwayold pal Vincent Ramelli, who was born in Paris and is a
station. Bagdad Cafe in ParisThere is the arch-famousdie-hard Parisian) is that Paris is better discovered
Bagdad Cafe on Route 66 (I ate there twice, yes!),outside the path traced by the millions of visitors. Not
and there is the much less famous but very livelyto say that the Louvre Museum must not be part of
Bagdad Cafe in Paris. On Thursdays, Fridays, andyour itinerary, not at all! But I just happen to think
Saturdays at 9:00 pm the place is taken over by fansthat if you include a detour to a less-well-known
of gipsy jazz players (Django Reinhardt style) andplace such as those recommended in our Paris travel
French pop singers. Live music and drinks atguide Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, your stay in the
reasonable prices, what better way to kill anFrench capital will become all the more interesting.
evening? The address is 22 rue au Maire, in the 3rdYou will have more local-color anecdotes to tell your
district, near the "Arts et Metiers" metro station.friends. And your trip will be even more memorable.
A Park Way Too Often OverlookedStanding in theSO yes, I recommend that you try out new spots
middle of the forgotten, off-centered 19th district,and venues, and I will continue suggesting those in
the Buttes-Chaumont park rolls out its majectic hillsfurther articles. Cheers!