Paris Checklist II

Since my last Paris Checklist, I've upgraded the scrappy bit of paper sellotaped to my wall to a word document shortcut on my desktop; a sign that things are going well, I'd say! I think I managed to do quite a lot but places remain unvisited and, as usual, more things keep cropping up. So here is the updated version:

Culture
Sainte-Chapelle
Eglise St. Eustache
Tour Montparnasse
Palais Royal
Museum Nationale d'Histoire Naturelle
Musée du Quai Branly
Cimitière du Montparnasse
Take a tour of Opéra
Giverny
See the bells of Notre-Dame

Food
Le Bal Café

Parks
Bois de Boulogne
Bois de Vincennes
Parc de la Villette
Parc Floral

General things to do
Rent a boat in Bois de Boulogne
Have a picnic by the Seine Does ice-cream count?
Go to the Paris Plage
See a film at the Open-air cinema

Food, Glorious Food!

I am guilty of a gross neglect of this blog over the past few weeks. But the truth is that I have been otherwise occupied. With what you ask? Perhaps exploring the beautiful streets and culture that Paris has to offer, travelling somewhere exotic or having a Parisian romance? Two of the three indeed being true, none of these reasons account for my extended blogging absence. In fact, the only thing to blame is: eating. I have been distracted by all of the gastronomical delights Paris has to offer and I have consumed them non-stop since my last post.

28/01: The weekend of my birthday my friends came to visit, and we had a day brimming over with culture; think the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame... But upon their leaving, the eating commenced and not even with lovely French food, but with burgers and pizza. In my defence I was hung over and already missing my friends.

04/02: This weekend my flatmate's sister came to visit her, so we sampled cakes and hot chocolate at Angelina's, ate falafel in le Marais and - and this is where it all goes wrong - Myberry. Myberry is a frozen yoghurt shop in le Marais, where you add your topping(s)of choice to a generous helping of frozen yoghurt, and it's addictive. On Sunday we went to the Chinese New Year Parade and ate Chinese food afterwards...followed by Myberry again.

12/02: On Saturday: My flatmate and I were lazy and went to le Marais again. We ate Jewish food for lunch, Myberry for desert (again!) and had coffee after. Sunday we managed to inject some culture into our lives and went to Versailles.

18/02: Friday night: Japanese food. Sunday morning: Breakfast in America; muffins, pancakes and a lot of syrup.

So, I haven't actually been eating any nice French food and with a trip to Amsterdam and Pancake Day coming up, it doesn't look likely to happen soon; at least I've not been eating typically 'British' food though, right? Anyway, what do I have to show for these weekends of gluttony? Some fond memories and an extra dress size...*





* I haven't actually gone up a dress size; I would be devastated!

Paris Checklist

Apart from a little scrappy bit of paper sellotaped to my wall, I haven't made a comprehensive list of places to go and things to do in Paris. Despite this, I have actually managed to tick some things off said scrap. So, here is my comprehensive list of things I am yet to see or do.

La Culture

1. Musée d'Orsay - It's scandalous that I haven't been yet.
2. Centre Pompidou - See above.
3. Institut du Monde Arabe - I actually did attempt this one, but I went on a Monday, when it is - of which I was unaware - closed to the public.
4. Promenade Plantée
5. Archives Nationales
6. Sainte-Chapelle
7. Eglise St. Eustache
8. Cimitière de Montmartre
9. Les Catacombes
10. Tour Montparnasse
11. Versailles
13. Palais Royal
14. Museum Nationale d'Histoire Naturelle
15. Maison de Victor Hugo
16. Musée du Quai Branly
17. Cimitière du Montparnasse

Shopping
1. Le Pestacle de Maëlou
2. Hi Panda

La Nourriture

1. The café in the first episode of season 4 Gossip Girl. May need to find out which one it is before I attempt to go.
2. Angelina's - for their allegedly amazing hot chocolate.
3. Baccarat - also inspired by Gossip Girl. This one probably won't happen, but one can dream, non?
4. Breakfast In America
6. The (elusive) British food shop

Pour prendre une verre (ou deux)

1. Planète Mars
2. La Fleche d'Or
3. Pop In
4. L'International
5. Le Tigre

(Merci Indie Travel Guide)

.And go to a gig. This list is not exhaustive; I think of something else I want to do here all the time. So, I will try my best to remember to add to the list and cross off as is appropriate. I'm also interested to see which category gets completed first...