Spending the days before Paris with my mom was great; we stayed in a flat in the Republique/Oberkampf area right next to the Marais. I chose this area because it’s supposed to be where the artsy Parisians live, relativley less touristy than other areas of the city, and to local restaurants and bars.

We had great food and stumbled upon really cute little restaurants packed with Parisians (all whose lives we speculated about and made up stories about).

We befriended the guy at the local wine store, and tasted our way through the neighborhood.

We dropped into bakeries and pasticceries, completely overwhelmed with the selection of goodies that are otherwise nonexistant in our diets.
We sniffed perfumes and found our new favorite scents at a small perfume store in the Marais.

We took the train back to Frankfurt on Christmas eve, but not without a bottle of great wine, a baguette, cheeses and sweets. A spectacular Christmas eve dinner.

Here are some of my highlights from the trip. We did venture to the very crowded Champs Elysees and Printemps department stores, but were ready to the Metro back to our flat to drink our wine and eat Mexican food at the little restaurant next door that only opened after sunset, and was almost invisible during the day.

One of the great shop windows in our neighborhood near the Marais/Republique.

The busy Champs-Elysees.

Lights! Outside of the crowded Printemps department store.

Chocolates at one of the chocolate stores in the Marais.

Two of my favorite drawings in the newly reopened Picasso museum, which I’ve been trying to visit for 4 years. Finally, success!