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PHILIPPE MISTELI's avatar

Rue des Vignes is around the corner from Rue Raynouard where you can find La maison de Balzac - no need to introduction him . It has a nice little garden with a fabulous view on the Eiffel Tower. Rue des vignes is one of the many places where they used to grow wine. Richard did not mention the various wine stores but there are a number of them in passy - like the Chocolate store ( You must taste Alain Ducasse ) . There are 3 good Italian restaurants but also a brasserie called Camille. La Rotonde is ok ; you would want to go there to be seen. Idem for Aero. Le jardin di Ranelagh has indeed a water fountain - you will find them in some Italian villages. Next to the jardin is le Musée du Marmotan where you will find , ia, various MONETS. Last but not least you must go to Chez Carette on Trocadero - a landmark art deco bistro where you will have your croissant and chocolat chaud . You will be done for the day. Enjoy !!

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Anna Browne's avatar

Lucky you, to have such a friend! I'm inspired to book a trip to Paris.

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Nancy Harmon Jenkins's avatar

Lovely, Richard, thanks for the memories!

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Richard Goodman's avatar

My pleasure.

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Rochelle Ruth's avatar

Some of my most cherished memories are in a rainy Paris. This piece really sings.

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Thank you, Rochelle. I'm especially glad you liked it.

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PHILIPPE MISTELI's avatar

Merci mon cher Richard for your kind and interesting comments. It was great fun to have you in Paris. The 16th arrondissement is considered to be “ bourgeois “ but it has a number of interesting features and places to visit. It is one of the biggest and most populous ones of Paris. Trocadero is at its heart and offers a wonderful museum ( musée de l’homme ) and of course a great view of the Eiffel Tower ( the Iron Lady ) . Close to home are le musée Clemenceau, le musée du vin , la maison Balzac and le musée Marmottan ( house to many paintings of Monet ). And you will find a copy ( or is it the original ?) of the Statue of Liberty! There are a number of good restaurants but you would not naturally go to the 16th for a meal outside - except for breakfast chez Carette! There are a number of good food stores as you have pointed out - don’t forget the amazing chocolate of Alain Ducasse. Obviously you can stroll for ages starting with the quai New York along the Seine but le Bois de Boulogne is nearby. In short, many places to visit and so much to do. Please come back soon with your lovely spouse ( and daughter!) !!

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Thank you, cher Philippe. We would love to come back!

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Greg Rohloff's avatar

Years ago, I asked the shop girl for an inexpensive wine that she would take home herself. She smiled and picked up a bottle. After I paid, she directed me to a bakery for bread. Good wine, good bread, and a gracious clerk.

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Jane Baker's avatar

Absolutely thrilled to have this pop up I'm subscribed. Now I want to be there. My experience of Paris is unique to me so I can't claim my Paris is the chic designer version but I somehow that city has got in my bloodstream. (To say I love it is too facile).

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John Hazlett's avatar

Wonderful!

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Jolina Petersheim's avatar

Thanks, Richard, for transporting us to a rainy day in Paris. I definitely want to go one day.

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Richard Goodman's avatar

You won't regret that trip, Jolina.

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Sarah Van Arsdale's avatar

"I think you can be a citizen of Paris by right of passion." You sum up my feeling about being in Oaxaca, and it's hard to describe to people in the states, now I'm back for a couple of months. I often think of this poem by Basho:

"In Kyoto,

hearing the cuckoo,

I long for Kyoto. "

(trns. Jane Hirshfield).

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Love that poem. Leave it to the Japanese to express it in three lines.

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Betty Carlson's avatar

Monoprix has become very trendy over the past years!

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Susan Ficek's avatar

How lovely... we also stay in the 16th arrondissement My husbands family has an apartment in a belle époque building on rue des vignes ( there are two schools on the street and I love the sound of children running back and forth from school ). Proust once stayed on rue des vignes and complained about the sound of running children above him... causing him to gift them felt slippers... ( If my memory is correct ) Rue des Vignes is around the corner from the rue de l'assomption ( .. and yes we hang out at the aero.) . we also love le rotunde near la muette . One of our favourite pastimes is taking a jambon beurre from la grande epicerie and eating in the jardin ranlegah nearby .. did you know they dispense sparking water there from the public drinking fountain? only in Paris.!. you will find us there in June... But we have loved it in April and May rain and all... Indeed any time is a treat.. its my husbands favourite place... and he would live there if he could... sigh...

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Your husband's family has an apartment in Paris? You won the lottery.

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Susan Ficek's avatar

yes they have been incredibly kind..but we also stay at l'hotel passy Eiffel , le sourire de passy and this time when everyone descends on them, we will be staying in an apt on the rue de pompe.. But for their generosity I would be staying in the menilmontant district which has its own treasures including a great bookstore called le monte en ciel..

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Elizabeth Godfrey's avatar

Delightful! A treat for the senses! All the best paintings of Paris are rainy ones. I do wish our American cities still had all the separate shops. Europe is wise to hang on to them. They make shopping so much more fun.

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Richard Goodman's avatar

And meaningful.

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Charles Salzberg's avatar

If you've got Prime, Richard, and you haven't seen it yet, I recommend Etoile, which takes place in the ballet world. Half is in NY, the other half Paris, and there's one scene where school kids are lined up at a bakery shop. It's not art or a masterpiece, but it is fun. Problem is, they speak French so quick it's hard to keep up with the subtitles. I visited Paris years and years ago and it wasn't a very good experience. I got food poisoning (or at least the symptoms mimicked food poisoning), then when I finally recovered, I was tear-gassed when I found myself in the midst of one of those yearly student riots back then, and finally, I caught a cold the day before I was to return to the US. I kissed the ground when I landed, and it might be the birth of my credo: Nothing good happens when you leave home.

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Richard Goodman's avatar

Charles! You curmudgeon, you!

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Susan Ficek's avatar

Eeks....It was Joyce not Proust..

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