#france
Today is the 1st round of the French Presidential Election! Yay !
Who is going to qualify for the final round? The racist? The lier? The out of touch with every day people? Stay tuned!
Well it’s the racist and the out of touch with everyday people! Congrats
Today is the 1st round of the French Presidential Election! Yay !
Who is going to qualify for the final round? The racist? The lier? The out of touch with every day people? Stay tuned!
Here’s the piece I did for the In The Streets of France Zine!! (and my process gif!)
And make sure to check out everyone else’s beautiful pieces on the zine’s website here: https://streetsofzine.com
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New Post has been published on https://www.alwayswanderlust.com/where-stay-paris/
Where To Stay In Paris | The Best Neighborhoods
Paris is one of the most romantic cities and is on most travelers’ bucket lists. Visiting Paris is a must for all of you who love the spirit of Europe, and wish to explore the art, fashion, culture, and gastronomical side of this fascinating city.
Every year, tens of millions of tourists visit the city, hoping to get their piece of the romantic cake everyone who’s visited Paris is talking about. Once you get a chance to explore this magnificent city you’ll understand why it is the most popular tourist destination in the world.
Ah, Paris!
The City of Lights and Capital of Fashion are nicknames that this city is described with. They tell you enough about how glorious this city is. The monumental value is proven by the fact that a large part of Paris is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Paris holds second place when it comes to the highest number of Michelin restaurants in the world (after Tokyo) which shows how seriously they take gastronomy.
But, when it comes to finding accommodation in Paris and deciding where to stay there’s a lot of choices. Officially, the city has 20 districts that are called arrondissements.
The districts are numbered from 1 to 20 and they are ordered in a clockwise spiral from the city center. The center of the city is called Kilometre Zero (it is where it all starts) and the mark of this location is in front of Notre Dame.
Knowing about the order of the districts will help you get around the city, however, considering that there are 20 districts or arrondissements to choose from, getting information about some of the best ones can help you find the one that fits you.
Let’s take a look at the best neighborhoods for tourists in Paris to stay in.
Please refer to the Wikitravel map for the numbered districts for reference.
7 – Saint Germain
This district is great for families and those who want to visit as many art galleries and explore the fascinating architecture of the city. Medieval churches, sidewalk booksellers, galleries, and numerous cafés such as the famous Flore (favored by Hemingway) will easily steal your attention.
You can have an amazing time just walking around this district and absorbing this distinctive architectural style or you can spend days visiting art galleries and appreciating all the impeccable pieces. Saint Germain is in the 6th arrondissement of Paris so the youthful atmosphere from the Latin Quarter is somewhat transferred to this district as well.
For a more touristy place to stay in this district focus on rue Buci. You’ll have lots of things to see there as soon as you walk out. Enjoy the good restaurant with your family and spend time strolling around and just breathing in the Parisian lifestyle. Make sure that you visit Luxembourg Palace and Gardens since every one of you will be amazed by its beauty. This is a great place to spend your afternoons when you want to chill after a tiring day.
Find the best places to stay in Saint Germain with our partner, Booking.com
2 – Marais
Located in the 4th arrondissement, Marais is the best place for shopping-lovers and those who are looking for rich nightlife. It is safe to say that this is the hippest and trendiest part of the town. Moreover, the area is filled with chic boutiques, interesting galleries, concept stores, cafés, and gay bars.
Since this was once a Jewish quarter you can find lots of great kosher restaurants. Young travelers can have the time of their life in this area, shopping in the daytime and partying in the nighttime. This is why most Millennials who are looking for a carefree time in Paris head to this place.
Besides shopping, during the day you can spend walking around and chilling in the Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris. If you feel like getting some historical information, head to Mémorial de la Shoah. This is Paris’s Holocaust Memorial Museum.
It is located in the heart of the Marais on rue Geoffroy l’Asnier. The best part is that the entry is free and they offer guided tours weekly. Any of you who love the work of French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic Movement Victor Marie Hugo, should check out the Musée Victor Hugo, where the writer lived.
Find the best places to stay in Marais with our partner, Booking.com
4 – 1st Arrondissement
This is a luxurious neighborhood that offers great sight-seeing and is well-connected to the rest of the city. The 1st arrondissement has lots of landmarks so staying here will help you to get around and see it all. Since there are many things to see here, it will be easier for you to pick your place of stay if you know its four quartiers and what they have to offer:
Quartier Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois
This quartier runs along the bank of the Seine and what you can find here are the Louvre(the “home” of famous Mona Lisa), the Tuileries Gardens, and the west part of one of two remaining islands in the Seine – Ile de la cité.
Quartier Les Halles
This is a place with a more relaxed character where you can enjoy luxurious shopping sprees. What is significant here for all the shoppers is the massive Les Halles shopping center. Besides the numerous stores, you’ll be surprised by the beautifully abstract architecture of this building.
Quartier Palais-Royal
The most prominent monumental site in this area is the Palais Royal. The Quartier Palais-Royal also includes the bigger part of the busy and cosmopolitan Avenue de l’Opera.
Quartier Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme serves as a center for this quarter. It is signified by its 18th-century street grid. The beautiful historic buildings make this area even more impressive and in them, you’ll find the most luxurious boutiques, jewelry brands, and hotels.
Based on the quartier’s locations and their most popular landmarks you can search for the accommodation in the one that you find most suitable for you. However, no matter which quartier you stay in, you can use the metro to quickly reach the other quartiers and see all the landmarks in the 1st arrondissement. What is certain is that none of these quartiers lack luxury and sight-seeing opportunities.
1st Arrondissement, Paris, France
Find the best places to stay in 1st Arrondissement with our partner, Booking.com
5 – 11th Arrondissement
We’ve finally got to the place for all of the hedonists whose guilty pleasure is the tasty food. Food-lovers will enjoy this area since it offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and places to enjoy the local cuisine. You can check out the Rue de Charonne part, located between the République and Nation squares, which currently presents the evolving dining scene in this hip area.
There is something for everyone so you can find cheaper restaurants, cafés, and bars as well as more expensive ones. Feel free to browse around and try out different places until you find your favorite ones. The cuisine varies from typical French to Mexican, meaning that you can literary try it all out.
Besides enjoying all the tasty food and savory drinks, if you stay in the 11th Arrondissement head to the Opéra Bastille, watch the entertainers at Place de la République, or mingle with the bohemians and bourgeois in the hipster neighborhood of “BoBo” quartier (Quartier de la Folie-Méricourt). Anyone who is looking to relax with their friends or a loved one while indulging in great food, head straight to this district. You won’t be disappointed.
11th Arrondissement, Paris, France
Find the best places to stay in 11th Arrondissement with our partner, Booking.com
1 – 7th Arrondissement
If you are a first-time visitor, this district can be the best choice for your stay. It is close to all the major attractions which will make it easier for you to get around. What you can find in the 7th arrondissements are the Eiffel Tower and its Champs de Mars park. This district is a great place for sightseeing.
History lovers will especially be satisfied with this area. Here are some historic places that you can check out there:
- The Musée d’Orsay (with French art dating from 1848 to 1914)
- The Musée Rodin with its sculpture garden
- Les Invalides (a complex of buildings containing museums and monuments related to the military history of France, as well as the Napoleon’s Tomb)
- The building of National Assembly
There are also express bus and tour operators the can take you to the famed Versailles Palace. The 7th Arrondissement really has all the marque landmarks that anyone who’s dreamed of going to Paris can check off their list.
The combination of history and fashion can be found at the Parisian mega-store Le Bon Marché which is one of the first modern department stores founded in 1838. The 7th arrondissement is recommended for all of you who don’t have lots of time to spend in Paris and want to see as much as they can for a short period.
7th Arrondissement, Paris, France
Find the best places to stay in 7th Arrondissement with our partner, Booking.com
6 – Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is the oldest district in Paris and it is known as the district of students. Therefore, if you are looking for an affordable and vivid location that offers fantastic nightlife Latin Quarter should be your pick. Lots of students from Academploy, an educational blog name this quarter as their favorite place to stay in Paris which shows that this is the best pick for the younger crowd. Latin Quarter is in the 5th arrondissement and it is the home of the Sorbonne University. This explains all the student-filled cafés.
This is a historic center of educational and artistic achievements. If you decide to stay in this area, you can spend your days visiting attractions such as the National Museum of Natural History and the Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens, as well as the Panthéon building that has the remains of notable achievers like Voltaire and Marie Curie.
Book-lovers will find their place in this district since it is filled with mega-bookstores on Place St-Michel as well as booksellers in the open-air who showcase the books by on the Seine. If you want to avoid the crowds, start with book-hunting early in the morning.
Find the best places to stay in the Latin Quarter with our partner, Booking.com
3 – Montmartre
For a budget-friendly but romantic area, head to Montmarte. This is the most romantic neighborhood in Paris. What makes it so fairytale-like is that it is located on the top of a small hill so you’ll have a beautiful landscape to look at and enjoy. Montmarte is also known as the Mountain of Martyrs and it’s set in the 18th arrondissement.
This charming place still has that village atmosphere that makes your night walks more romantic and simply takes you back in the time. And in the moments when you want some unforgettable entertainment, make sure to visit the Moulin Rouge.
With many gardens and vineyards, you’ll be able to get lost in nature. There are lots of little bistros, windmills, museums, and artists who are absorbing the atmosphere that resembles the 19th and 20th centuries.
Many novel writers come here to get inspiration that will get them good ratings. This is certainly a place that will leave you with many unforgettable memories. Montmarte is perfect for couples looking for a romantic getaway, artists who are in search of inspiration, and a group of friends who want to enjoy the authentic Paris atmosphere.
Find the best places to stay in Montmartre with our partner, Booking.com
19 – Belleville
If you don’t mind doing a little bit of walking and taking public transport, consider staying in Belleville. My first time in Paris I couchsurfed and stayed with a host in Belleville. This neighborhood is the China Town of Paris and the working-class district.
The neighborhood is not very touristy, there’s nothing particular to note except the awesome Parc de Belleville and Edith Piaf’s apartment (incidentally right around the corner of where I stayed). Graffitis might be construed as a bad image for the city but not in Belleville – it’s considered art here!
There are lots of cafes and bars to choose from and every weekend comes the farmers market. This area is some of the cheaper parts of Paris and still relatively safe and great for families. If you want to experience Paris like a local, stay in Belleville.
Find the best places to stay in Belleville with our partner, Booking.com
Best Time to Visit Paris
While the weather in Paris is similar to most European cities and there all tourists visiting the city at all times, there are still some differences depending on seasons. So, here are some of the best times to head to the City of Light:
- Early December-February – The cheapest prices and colder weather
- April-June and October-early November – Smaller crowds and best for sight-seeing
- May, June, September, and October – Best for honeymooners
- July and August – Very hot and the roads outside Paris will be congested because of the local’s holiday trips.
Ready to Visit Paris?
As you can see, Paris has so many different sides, and if you can’t explore all of them choose a neighborhood most suitable for your needs. To recapitalize and help you narrow down your choices, let’s just revise the best places to stay based on the preferences and group types:
- Where to stay in Paris if you are visiting the first time – 1st and 7th arrondissement
- Where to stay in Paris for good nightlife– Marais and Latin Quarter
- Where to stay in Paris for a budget-friendly trip – Latin Quarter
- Where to stay in Paris with your family – Saint Germain
- Where to stay in Paris for a romantic getaway – Montmarte
- Where to stay in Paris for a luxurious lifestyle – 1st arrondissement
- Where to stay in Paris for artists and writers – Montmarte, Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, and 11th arrondissement
- Where to stay in Paris for shopping lovers – 1st arrondissement, Marais, and 7th arrondissement
- Where to stay in Paris for food lovers – 11th arrondissement
- Where to stay in Paris like a local– Belleville
With this little list, you can simply find the area that you like the most and have an unforgettable trip to a place that exudes with history, romance, and guilty pleasures.
Jean de Vaudetar presents his Bible to Charles V of France (c. 1372).
> Illuminator: Jean Bondol.
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English Designer: Charles Frederick Worth (Father of Haute Couture)
1928/1929 Haute Couture
France Chiffon and Sequin
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Requested (:
My eyes opened and I groggily looked around trying to find the source that awoke me, with no luck. The time was 3:07 a.m, and beside me, Cris was sleeping heavily. I was about to go back to sleep, knowing that I would be grumpy in the morning if I didn’t, when it suddenly hit me. The craving for cookie dough ice cream.
Being pregnant was not exactly my favourite thing in the world, but the mere thought of my child that would arrive after nine months of this torture made it all worth it. The cravings though were something I despised very much because they mostly came at night time, ruining my sleep and often Cristiano’s as well.
With a sight I stood up, and threw on a cardigan before walking down to the kitchen.
“Mommy?”
I put down the spoon and smiled softly at the young boy in front of me. “Hey buddy, did I wake you up?”
He shook his head and sat down at the chair next to me, “I couldn’t sleep. I’m too nervous for the match tomorrow, I want daddy to be proud of me.”
My heart aww-ed at the boy in front of me, “I’m sure he will be, and you’ll do great, I just know it. Now, you have to go to bed again,” but Junior shook his head. “No, please mommy, I don’t want to.”
“Okay, fine. How about this; I’ll make you a cup of cocoa, and when you’ve finished that then you’ll brush your teeth again and go to bed?” Knowing his love for cocoa, I knew he would agree. “With cream?”
I nodded and giggled softly, “With cream.”
At the same time upstairs, Cristiano was tossing and turning. Suddenly his eyes opened widely and he gasped, reaching out for y/n, but was greeted by the cold night air. He stood up with a small smile, knowing that their baby probably was hungry in there and made his way to the kitchen. But when he got down he was greeted by two hushed voices instead of one.
“Hey, why are you guys up?”
Junior bounced up and ran over to his dad and hugged him tightly. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“He was nervous about the game tomorrow, or technically today,” I added softly before giving him a small hug as well as a kiss. “Hey.”
“Aww there isn’t any reason to be nervous buddy, you’ll do great and I will be proud of you anyway.” Junior looked up at his dad with big eyes, “Really?” “Really,” and then he took a look at Junior’s empty cup and grinned, “Now go and brush your teeth and then I’ll come and tuck you in okay?” “Okay.”
When Junior had skipped off, he turned to me with a loving gaze. “Cravings again?”
Giving him a nod, I yawned. “Yeah, but it’s gone now so I’ll go to bed again.”
“Yeah, I’m coming as well, I just have to tuck Junior in.” He disappeared into Junior’s room but I called him back,
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Requested (:
I stood in front of the mirror, inspecting myself, when I heard a voice speak up.
“You look absolutely stunning, like always.”
Blush coated my cheeks as I turned around to face my boyfriend Antoine.
“Thank you! You look extremely handsome as well. Are you ready to go?” He nodded and offered me a hand which I gladly took.
Not much later we arrived at the restaurant, and hurried inside, not wanting any paparazzi to see us. We found a table and as I was about to sit down Antoine pulled out the chair for me, a cheeky grin evident at his face.
“What’s up with you tonight?” I laughed, “You act so romantic, I haven’t forgotten about our anniversary or anything right?”
A flash of panic striked his face, but as I was about to ask him about it, we got interrupted.
“Can I take your order?”
Antoine nodded, and started to list up what we wanted.
“What do you want to drink Y/N?”
I was about to answer when I heard the waiter gasp, “Oh my God! Y/N?”
Confused to why the waiter recognised me, I looked up, only to see my ex -boyfriend Brandon.
“Brandon, hey! Long time no see,” I smiled, feeling a tad akward as Antoine openly glared at Brandon. “Yeah,” he smiled, not noticing Antoine’s hard gaze.
“How have you been?”
“All good, you?”
“Much better now that I’ve spoken to you,” he grinned cheekily, making me realise it was time to tell him that I wasn’t interested. But before I got the chance, Antoine stormed off.
“I’m so sorry, but I got to go,” I smiled apologetic and left before he got the chance to respond.
Antoine had taken car, leaving me to hire a cab in order to get home.
“Antoine, are you there?” Silence.
“Come on,” I groaned as I walked into the bedroom.
“What?” A voice spat from beneath the duvets. I walked over and took away the duvets that were covering him, before giving him a hug. “Please don’t be jealous,” I whispered and kissed him.
“Why not?”, he grumbled, “That fop ruined everything, I was supposed to propose and every-” He cut himself off and widened his eyes when he realised what he said.
“You were supposed to propose?” I gaped, feeling so happy that I was about to explode. “Yeah,” he nodded nervously before standing off the bed and sitting down on one knee on the floor next to me.
“I know it isn’t as romantic as you deserve your proposal to be, but hopefully you still say yes. I love you more than anything, and I had a whole speech prepared but now I’ve forgotten the whole thing, so I’ll just get to the point; will you marry me?”
I smiled widely and jumped off the bed and into his arms, “Yes! And you didn’t have to worry about Brandon, cus’ I’m all yours.”
He smirked and kissed me hardly,
“Then prove it.”
“Gladly.”
Requested (:
As the judge blew, signalling that the Euro finals were over, the audience went crazy. The French side was devestated, while the Portuguese was overjoyed.
Me on the other hand, could only think about how Antoine was feeling. He had worked so hard for this, and for nothing.
As Portugal lifted the trophy, I stood up and made my way to the French wardrobe, mentally preparing myself for what was to come.
He was already waiting as I arrived, and even though his face was emotionless, you could easily see the pain in his eyes. I hastily walked the last steps over to him and opened my arms widely, a comforting smile on my lips.
“Hey, I’m so sorry! You all worked so hard, and I know you’re upset. Do you need space or-”
He cut me off quickly and shook his head, tears starting to form in his eyes. “I just want to go home and cuddle, please?”
I nodded and gave him a tight hug before letting go, “Of course, let’s go.” Grabbing his hand, the two of you made your way to the car.
“And the little one also very much enjoyed the game, he wouldn’t be quiet in there,” I laughed and placed a loving hand on my three months pregnant belly. I could see Antoine smile softly at the thought of our little one, but the happiness disappeared as soon as it came.
“Hey! Antoine, over here! How does it feel to loose?”
“Are Y/N going to leave you now that you lost?”
“Do you think Portugal deserved to win?”
The paparazzi continued to shout out questions, some very rude ones, as well as snapping tons of pictures. I felt Antoine tense up, and I quickly gave his hand a gentle squeeze causing him to relax slightly.
We finally arrived to the car and made our way home, none of us being in the talkative mood.
As we arrived home, Antoine went straight for bed and motioned for me to join him, but I shook my head.
“I just have to fix something quickly, two sec and then we’ll cuddle.”
I walked into the kitchen and found a huge box of ice cream, and then grabbed two spoons. Walking back into the bedroom, I saw Antoine smile slightly as he saw what I had brought.
“Now,” I said and plopped down in the bed without caring about getting changed, “we can cuddle.”
We ate the ice cream in silence, and I then cleaned it away before we got ready for bed. I was about to fall asleep when I heard him speak up, “Thank you for comforting me tonight.”
Curling up against his chest, I smiled and gazed lovingly up at him.
“I would do anything for you, Antoine. I love you so much!”
“I love you too! And I don’t need a stupid trophy, cause’ with you and the little one, I’ve already wun!”
« brought you some roses », Paris, April 2018
model : @mohnvonm (Instagram)
photography : @nikokoworld
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« upside down, boy, you turn me », Paris, June 2018
model : @adaardente
photography : @nikokoworld
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