I Prefer Paris

Courtyard Week: Cour de Rohan

Whenever I take my clients on a St. Germain des Pres tour, I love to take them to the Passage Cour du Commerce St. Andre in between Blvd. St. Germain and rue St. Andre des Arts. It's a charming passage dating back to the 1600s where the oldest restaurant in Paris still stands, Le Procope, along with small shops selling toys and games, cards, and knick knacks. Off the passage is one of my favorite courtyards on the Cour de Rohan, a gated alleyway. It contains three connecting courtyards folding on to one another from the 14th century. Part of it is a piece of the remaining wall that King Louis Philippe had built to protect the city in 1200.

I love the wild ivy,the sprawling trees, the hue of the pink stone, the dark ancient wood doors and standing in a place where a certain world used to exist.

Passage Cour du Commerce St. Andre/ Cour de Rohan, 6th arr.
Entrance at 128 Blvd. St. Germain or on rue St. Andre des Arts
Metro: Odeon

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Courtyard Week: 4 & 6 rue de Jarente

As you know I have a penchant for courtyards. Some of my most cherished Paris moments have been spent discovering hidden courtyards and I love the surprise of finding an an astray door or iron gate that leads to an unexpected treat. Many have lush, full gardens and plants, cobblestones, ivy climbing up to the tops of the buildings, and little country cottages, making it feel like a bit of rural relief in the urban jungle.

I recently uncovered some new courtyards and decided to do a series called Courtyard Week.Today's courtyard is close to my house on the rue de Jarente, a typical, narrow, charming Marais street. These are photos of two courtyards next door to one another. Rarely are either of these open to the public, but on a lucky afternoon a few weeks ago, the gates and doors of both of them were open. I love the tall, overwhelming tree that fills the center along with the budding pink hydrangeas. Also the romantic tin roofed and timbered beam little house.

4 & 6 rue de Jarente, 4th arr.
Metro: St. Paul

 

 

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com