Paris Je T'aime

As an architect and a chef, and also a graduate of a French culinary school, when the opportunity presented itself for my husband to take an expatriate post in Paris, I believe I was the one in the family who was most excited.

And as I told my friends that “we were moving to Paris,” despite the fact that many reactions were “Oh good luck! Paris is lovely, Parisians not so much!” a mutual friend told me that I had to meet Okan who has walked all the streets of Paris and who would give me the best advice for “wining and dining.” Not only was he a restaurant owner in İstanbul but he is also a foodie.

Since then I follow Okan’s beautiful suggestions and posts and I have farmers’ market dates with him.

So when Okan asked me to write about my experience in Paris, I simply just thought “Oh Paris I LOVE YOU. I really do!”

Despite the very long gray period in winter, I still love you.

Having always thought “Oh, I am definitely a summer person, a beach person, and if winter never existed I would still be ok,” I still love Paris so very much!

After living in different English-speaking countries and continents, France was the very first country that I did not speak the language at all! I was nervous about this fact, especially having the judgment in my mind that “French people,” especially “Parisians,” can be very rude when you don’t speak their language. Luckily it turned out that it wasn’t the case! At least for me it was in the past.

With my “zero French” in the beginning I found people helpful and kind. And afterwards they appreciated the effort that I made to speak their language. My impression is that they are hesitant to speak English because of their heavy accent, not because they are “snobs.”

Being a serial expat and moving to Paris at the age of 42, I am well aware that it is up to me to make the experience the best, I should look for the positive. And I think if you are ready to love Paris, Paris will salute you with open arms…

Why I Love Paris:

*I love the amazing architecture of the city.

*The art is just everywhere in your daily life in Paris. You don’t need to give extra effort because you are already exposed to art everywhere.

Art represents itself in every aspect of life. Art in the gastronomic and dining scene, the architecture, the fashion, the people, the streets, the music, theatres, shows, operas, ballets, simply through the entire city.

Just wandering around the city, sipping “un petit café” on a terrace while people-watching will cheer you up because the city is so alive!

*As an architect I am blown away every day by how this city respects its history, its foundation in every aspect of the architecture.

Some find it too nude, or the color palette too pale and boring, but I love the tones of this city, having it in the background of my daily life it just blends in so nicely. It gives me pleasure to walk everyday and while doing this, every time I see a different detail in the architecture of the buildings and surroundings. Just like the effortless, chic style of Parisians, the city gives me the same feeling, and I believe that “it is what I like the most “ about Paris.

*Unfortunately nowadays in the world everyone tends to seem to follow certain styles, images and materials. I find in Paris that French people all have their own different styles. Yes, they do have a certain “simple, elegant Parisian style image” but you don’t see prototypes.

*Another thing that I also enjoy so very much is “being able to live without “DRIVING” at all.” For over a year now this is the most dramatic change in my life after moving to Paris. Having lived in the US 8 years, South Africa 4 years, and 6 years in Istanbul just before moving to Paris, words are not enough for me to explain how amazing it is “not having the stress of driving”. It changed the quality of my life. I have much more time to myself. No stress of traffic, and I am enjoying the outdoors more than ever. If not in a hurry, I walk almost everywhere because the city is so compact.

We are lucky that the daily [commute to school] [or school run] is right on the very famous ”Bir Hakeim“ Bridge. Every day we see brides and grooms, wedding photo shoots at the very famous photo spot, or some days movies shooting and lots and lots of colorful people.

I realize that my shoes are getting worn out because of serious walking. The winter coats that used to just sit on the back of our cars are also getting worn out too! I learned to dress for the weather and be outdoors.

Having the grand parks in Paris also makes life easier with kids. And when the weather is rainy or extremely cold you can choose to visit a museum from hundreds of options in Paris. Yes, I am not exaggerating, there are more than 100 museums within the Paris city limits. I realize that I have written my article mostly about the winter as we go back home during the summer, but spring and fall are even more beautiful in Paris. The city just blossoms in spring and in fall the color palette grows even more stunning.

To finish up my Paris experience, so far for over a year now, I shouldn’t forget of course, last but not least, the gastronomic scene of Paris, my biggest motivation to move…

I believe this topic is its own very big topic.

To me, Paris is still the center of “high gastronomy” and traditional French cooking.

I have so much respect for the French cuisine which preserves their traditions up to this day. The crisp white table clothes, waiters in the long aprons, the traditional, unique French decor and ambiance in the restaurants that are still kept in old, historical buildings, and the traditional French dining rituals.

I enjoy and discover everyday the French gastronomic culture. From the classic bistros, brasseries, and bouillons to the world-famous Michelin restaurants, high-society hotel restaurants, the famous “Boulangeries,” and Chocolateries.

Everyday I still enjoy the one-and-only world-famous « baguettes ».

And as a chef, I am enjoying and exploring “cooking” in my Parisian kitchen, which is the oldest and most historic one I have cooked in so far.

Love from Paris...

Deniz Bakıcı

My Expat Journey in the City of Lights

Introduction:

Paris, the city of love and enchantment, has woven its way into my heart as I embarked on a thrilling adventure. With each step along the cobblestone streets and every encounter with its vibrant culture, I discovered the true essence of living in the City of Lights. Allow me to share my personal narrative of embracing Paris as an expat, a journey filled with wonder, challenges, and transformative experiences.

Navigating the Rhythms:

From the very beginning, Paris revealed its secrets to me through its daily rhythms. The morning rituals of sipping café au lait in quaint corner bistros and indulging in flaky croissants awakened my senses. The city unfolded like a symphony, with the sound of accordion music mingling with the chatter of locals enjoying their apéritifs by the Seine. I learned to dance to the unique beat of Paris, where time seemed to slow down, and appreciation for life's simple pleasures took center stage.

Bridging Cultures:

Language proved to be both a barrier and a bridge in my Parisian odyssey. As I fumbled through my attempts to communicate in French, locals greeted my efforts with warmth and patience. With each conversation, I embraced the beauty of the French language, its nuances becoming the threads that wove me into the tapestry of the city. From sharing stories with fellow expats to engaging in animated debates with Parisians, I discovered that language transcends mere words; it is a gateway to connection and understanding.

Unveiling Hidden Gems:

Paris revealed its hidden treasures in the most unexpected places. In the winding streets of Montmartre, I stumbled upon charming art studios and lively markets. I lost myself in the corridors of the Louvre, awestruck by the masterpieces that breathed life into the canvas. The intimate gardens, such as Jardin du Luxembourg and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, offered respite from the bustling city, inviting moments of reflection and tranquility.

A Tapestry of Flavors:

Parisian cuisine unveiled a symphony of flavors, an invitation to indulge in gastronomic delights. From the aromatic allure of freshly baked baguettes to the delicate dance of flavors in a perfectly crafted macaron, each bite held a story waiting to be savored. The local markets became my haven, a kaleidoscope of colors and scents, where I discovered the joys of selecting perfectly ripe fruits and sampling artisanal cheeses.

Overcoming Challenges:

Living in Paris as an expat also presented its fair share of challenges. The administrative intricacies tested my patience, but perseverance prevailed as I navigated the bureaucratic maze. Over time, I found solace in the support of fellow expats who understood the triumphs and tribulations of building a new life abroad. They became my extended family, offering guidance and companionship along the way.

Conclusion:

My expat journey in Paris has transformed me in ways I could never have imagined. The city's grandeur and charm have shaped my perspective, igniting a passion for embracing new experiences and seeking beauty in the ordinary. Living in the City of Lights has taught me the power of connection, the joy of discovery, and the importance of immersing oneself in the rich tapestry of a foreign land. Paris will forever hold a piece of my soul, a place where my expat story continues to unfold.

Savannah Houston

How to keep the Paris love alive?

I came to Paris as an Erasmus student in 2011. I had a limited time to spend, only 5 months in this beautiful city. Having visited for short weekends before, I knew I wanted to explore Paris a little more in depth.

I have to tell you, being a student living in Paris, especially when studying at Dauphine is not the best way to get the most out of this city. but sometimes you cannot choose your luck. You have to create your own luck. I spent 5 magical months and when it was time to leave, well I have to tell you my mom and the taxi driver had to carve me up from the pavement as I was sobbing like crazy.

In the taxi to the airport, I said out loud “ i'll be back. I know i'll be back”.

Took me 8 years.

I moved back to Paris, this time with a CDI contract, following my dreams, taking a leap of faith. 

One thing I have to tell you, no amount of French (my french was already advanced), no amount of knowledge of wine, no amount of extroversion , no amount of “Oh i have been in a french school I know how french can be” prepares you for an actual move in Paris.

Paris, as beautiful as it can be, is not necessarily international in its mindset. 

You have to be ready to be immersed in French culture, and not try to find your own culture, or expect people to think like you.

Compared to London, New York, the people you will encounter in your daily life, they will most probably not be immigrants. 

With a lot of things in life, you don’t try to change what you can't control, you learn to adapt.

Because the beauty of the French system is, you are treated equally with any other French person, so you are not less, you are not more special than anyone else. 

Once you see that, everything gets easier.

It took me 6 months (and that is thanks to the book Culture map by Erin Meyer) to understand that French only comments on the negative because positive does not need to be pointed out. It took me around a year to learn that being very precise, very “ferme” (firm) in your choices of words will take you anywhere in both professional and personal life. not necessarily how we do things where I came from.. 

After 4 years of being here, having been through lockdowns, having married here, and collected a beautiful amount of friends that I get to call family (one being the owner of this blog),  how to keep the love alive?

Did I already say “you need to create your own luck”? 

If you are a foodie, there are amazing openings in Paris every week. I have around 250 restaurants in my Google maps that I still have yet to try. Also, having a friend like Okan helps.

If you love wine, there are thousands of types of wines, different cepages, and different regions. I don't think my lifetime will be enough to try them all. One tip: having a good “caviste” helps. He will not only try to sell you good wine, but also you will find yourself drunk while buying wine. My personal rule for wine is to spread them around weekdays so I can drink one glass each night rather than 5 glasses at one go. remember “one glass of red wine is medicinal.” (i forgot where i read this but who cares its convincing right?)

If you love cheese, and please see a doctor if you don't like cheese, try to set a goal for each week / each month, to try a new cheese. gives me so much joy to see what French are capable of doing with just cow milk or goat milk. Pure magic.

if you love walking, I think you will just need to click on other tabs on this website, he’ll be able to tell you more.

If you want to make friends, there are amazing supper clubs like “twenty two” or “club du souper”. I cannot guarantee these friendships will last a lifetime but you will have one hell of a great time.

if you love traveling, it's just a matter of knowing which SNCF website to use.. Once you do that, France will have all the climates, all you need based on your holiday style.

It is just a matter of setting the sails a little loose, having a little serendipity mindset, going out of your house without a reservation for once, strolling a little and finding a cute little bistro, a terrasse with some sun, taking a big inhale (except for in the metro), having a glass of wine and fall in love with Paris all over again. 

Also seeing Tour Eiffel at night in all its beauty helps a lot. 

Just enjoy the small things, don’t stress about the strikes!

Pelin Cankurt Chlabovitch

I was never an “Emily” or a “Carrie” in Paris.

When Okan asked me about my Paris I was smiling inside. I thought to myself, having a Paris account, wandering around Paris and smiling on the photos he must be thinking we have always had a great relationship with Paris.

My story is a little bit different, and I am happy to share it with you.

I was never an “Emily” or a “Carrie” in Paris. Respected the culture, loved the books and writers, was a fan of movies because of the realness, bluntness… but I was never a oh my Goood I have to go to Parisss type of gal.

To tell you the truth I was dreaming of Kefalonia, Ischia, Florence, Rome, Amalfi or even clubbing in London more than Paris 😊

Then a coincidence brought me to Paris in 2002. I didn’t like Champs Elysées, I didn’t like Foquet, I didn’t like Café de Flore I found the coffee cold, the famous hot chocolate too sweet,overpriced and even then I asked about Les Deux Magots the café nearby, which I still love by the way. If I weren’t a huge fan of Simone De Beauvoir Café de Flore was like another touristic café where no one speaks French. I hate shopping so Galleries Lafayette besides the marvelous architecture meant nothing to me, by the way again no one speaks French in there. I loved Musée du Louvre and went directly to see Italian paintings hence my real wish of going to Florence and Rome. My first impression of Paris was: “the city is beautiful with magnificent buildings but too much “made” everything is prepared like a movie platform” That was exactly the reason why I literally ran away to Naples, Rome, Athens soon enough to find real life.

Years later when I came back, I told people guys don’t take meto those touristic places, I don’t want to do that Champs Elysées, Eiffel Tower, Avenue Montaigne cliché, take me to a breakfast where you would usually go, show me what you do in real life. I am sure none of you goes to Queen and dance in bubbles which is by the way really 90s.

One of them said I know where you will go and fall in love directly and we went to Place des Vosges, started walking around little streets, took a coffee in a real French café. I discovered Jardin des Rosiers where people with naked feet reading a book kissing their “amoureux” I sat on the street and enjoyed a falafel 😊 And for the first time I enjoyed being in Paris far from the “I came to Paris so I have to go to Ladurée” crowd. I discovered Bastille, Oberkampf, Cour du commerce, Musée de la Vie Romantique, Maison d’Isabelle, Passage de l’Ancre, Musée Rodin, all the small streets of Montmartre.

I discovered the word “caviste” from a friend who used to say Mon caviste told me to drink this with that each time he brought wine to an apéro. Never I had a caviste before 😊 I met the guy and he was like for me a savant, a magician 😊

I learned that in Paris people love talking about food, men love cooking and most of the time they are the ones who give you a great receipt. I also learned that in Paris women don’t talk about their beauty secrets like a Turkish girl would talk about her coiffeur, her intermittent fasting schedule but that doesn’t mean that they don’t care. I started to have great massage, hammam, beautician, hairdresser addresses and that they are all for Paleo diet. They wake up at 7 to brush their hair and pretend like they just woke up and left the house in a hurry.

I found out that they don’t like chain supermarkets much they love going to the local markets, touch and smell the food they want to buy.

I discovered Balzac’s home, my father loved Balzac and mom and dad’s flirtations were all about the Lilly of the Valley😊 It became my happy place very quickly.

I discovered all the streets where my favorite French movies were taken. I fell in love with the bridge of Alexandre III, had a girls night out on a péniche and played babyfoot, read a book lying on the sofa of Shakespeare & Co bookstore, waited at the waiting rooms of the doctors who are always late, I met French administration where you have to ask 5 people at least to have one right information, I had a bank person who is in charge of my account! I have never entered in a bank in my life before, we just did everything online. It was such a funny experience. 

I waited in line because that boulangerie is the best in town for baguettes and that fromagerie has the best goat cheese. Eating is not a joke in Paris. You can’t go to a chain coffee shop to drink coffee because it is not real coffee, you can’t grab a sandwich for lunch you should savor whatever you eat, these match me so well. I learned that Parisians are also like me not a real fan of I love Paris wouuuww exaggeration and don’t really go to all those Do it in Paris stuff.

The more I met them the more I liked them. Like me they are against everything, they express themselves loudly, I love the strikes, manifestations, the fact that they never let go off anything.

I love that life stops at 4 o’clock for a huge Pavlova or Religieuse because it is goûter (tea time).

I love the doors in all the colors and shapes and sometimes I stop by to take photos of them. I love taking a walk towards St Germain, asking advice to my caviste (oh yeah, I have one) and on my way seeing my neighbors and gossiping about the politicians. 

All this is to tell you that Paris and I shared lots of fun and sad stories, sometimes melancholic sometimes sunny after all those years still a lot to uncover and always very beautiful in Septembers my dear Paris you are home. 😊

21st Century Professional Flâneur

The first time we met, I thought Okan was a compatriot from Spain who had just moved to Paris... I was really wrong, we were actually born thousands of kilometers apart, and on getting to know each other, we could also confirm that we had really different backgrounds, past experiences, tastes and careers. But curiously life had brought us to the same place with very similar personal circumstances and we came to coincide on each other in a period of our lives in which we both spent our time as modern flâneurs.

And it was so because the city was calling us to roam it streets without haste, to drift around solitarily, following our instincts, without any final aim but to enjoy the infinite hues and details it was laying out for us. Without being aware of it, we fulfilled all the necessary requisites of such an occupation: ‘To leave without being forced in any way, and to follow your inspiration as if the mere fact of turning right or turning left already constituted an essentially poetic act.’ (Edmond Jaloux, ‘Le Dernier Flâneur’, Le Temps, May 22, 1936.)

Paris and its streets became our home away from home. Without a routine and hours to live by, it gave us the necessary calm to appreciate it, discovering its details lost at first sight, a spectacle only for those eyes gifted with the sensitivity it required. Well, although, like I said before, the differences between us are many, (fortunately for Okan!) it’s still true that we share that sensitivity that made it easier for us to enjoy the city and its sights, also architecture, music, beauty and art in general in their different manifestations. And we also share an enormous curiosity that pushes us to entertain the most diverse likes and interests. And I understand that these factors made us connect and start our friendship. 

But I stayed at the edges of flâneurism, that of Poe and his "Man of the crowd", that of Baudelaire, that of Walter Benjamin's passages, whereas he went further, Okan took flâneurism to our contemporary times, which already in the century XX had changed to photography as a form of essays of impressions, he moved onto social networks of the XXI century, and started his great work of Parisbywalking on Instagram.

The above-mentioned Walter Benjamin, tells us in his book “The arcades project” “Couldn’t an exciting film be made from the map of Paris? From the unfolding of its various aspects in temporal succession? From the compression of a century’s long movement of streets, boulevards, arcades, and squares into the space of half an hour? And does the flâneur do anything different?” And this is exactly what Okan have set out to do with his systematical walks through the map of the city.

It may seem like an anachronistic figure in our society of hurries and tight schedules, daily routines that alienate us, cities whose agitation is hostile to passersby, citizens who do not take their eyes off their screens and walk oblivious to their surroundings, absorbed and isolated from it by their headphones. We do not walk: we move from point a to point b, and the path is just an annoying necessity between two activities, which we try by all means to make as short as possible or we practice sports absorbed in our thoughts and concerns, lost in the music we listen to.

But our age has endowed the flânuer with a specialized weapon that Okan has very cleverly donned: smartphones and instant connection, the internet. As we have already said, in the 20th century, with the development of compact cameras, the flâneur moves onto a new dimension: “ The photographer is an armed version of the solitary walker reconnoitering, stalking, cruising the urban inferno, the voyeuristic stroller who discovers the city as a landscape of voluptuous extremes” Susan Sontag, from On Photography. Today technology makes it easier for us to act like entomologists in search of rare and beautiful specimens; collect, treasure and classify images, urban prints, visions of the buildings that cross our paths every day, whose free for-all beauty we’re actually disregard, their exciting stories left unknown to us, only so that once captured, we can then expose them and share them on digital platforms and social networks.

And this is what Okan has been known to do with mastery and great generosity, allowing other modern digital walkers to be participants in the beauty captured, cataloged and shared by clicking or sliding their fingers on touch screens. In this way they can also feed their curiosity and satisfy their craving for knowledge, be it aesthetic, architectural, historical or gastronomic, the last of which our bon vivant guide and guru is so passionate about.

And for those of you who haven’t been lucky enough to meet and enjoy this fun, humane, generous, intelligent and passionate person in real life, you can now thankfully access at least a little bit of him on Instagram and now on PARISbyWALKING.com.

The City that fulfills the thirst for new experiences

I first came to Paris when I was 8, it was my first trip outside of war stricken Iran where I had grown up, and soon after we moved here for good. The contrast was stark.

During the first year my mother took us to visit every monument and museum. My most striking encounter back then was the Musée d’Orsay and it’s impressionists’ collection. I also remember vividly the Centre George Pompidou and the adjacent fountain with the Nicky de Saint Phalle statues and the general atmosphere there. And of course seeing Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triumph and the whole experience of getting up there. I enjoyed the street performances, the old green swings, the merry-go-rounds, the Jardin d’Acclimatation... I also remember hating the smelly cheese at the school’s cantine, the unfounded rudeness of some Parisians and missing the unflinching Tehran sun.

photo by Maryam M.

photo by Maryam M.

photo by: Maryam M.

I remember understanding my father’s philosophy of life regarding happiness and grasping and enjoying the present, walking in the Jardin de Luxembourg and the parks at the bottom of the Champs Elysées during my student years. I also remember countless hours in cafes drinking expressos and smoking cigarettes discussing small and grand matters with my friends. I always enjoyed discovering Paris through the eyes of others. I remember afternoons where I picked up random metro stations and trajectories to discover what I didn’t know yet.

Then I went to London for new adventures, to get lost again and make new discoveries. I loved London, but I was always excited to travel back to Paris. Then I had my son, and after some time I realized that I wanted to share Paris and the French culture with him, and so we came back when he was 3, and by chance moved to the same street where I had first shortly lived in Paris. I was worried about Paris being too static, to get bored. Every corner has a memory for me, but we are making new ones. I realized that the city changes under its timeless appearance, and so does our experience of it at different times of our lives and with changing mindsets.

Despite having lived in Paris for over 17 years in total, the city continues to fulfill my thirst for new experiences, and I never get used to how beautiful it is. I believe it is a true privilege to live here; it’s not easy to get the permit to stay, the language and culture are not obvious at first, nor is the job market for newcomers; it also comes with high taxes and prices, but for me it’s worth the effort and sacrifices.

Maryam M.

Paris is Paris

Without doubt apart from those who have lost loved ones, the global pandemic has probably hit those of us hardest, those of us who miss sharing a laugh and a toast with loved ones on a seaside bar, always be the last one to leave the table at the tavern, coming back home carrying our shoes, our feet covered in sand, constantly hugging and kissing each other, in other words those of us who really DO love to live.

And it hit us right when we had just moved to Paris, the capital city of the cafés where the culture of socialization has reached a subtle perfection.

Although once we were the last ones to leave a club in Istanbul, recently feeling a little resentful of everything, we had already retreated our tables and long drinks with friends back within the walls of our homes. But, remembering a Turkish saying about how our minds feed from each other, now we find ourselves looking for alternatives to keep ourselves from collecting dust at home, left on our own.

Actually, against all odds, life in Paris is still really not that bad: I’m watching the constructors from the building across the street enjoying a cold beer at lunch on the corner café, still in their overalls. The elderly gentleman of the neighborhood, a coffee in his hand, in his fedora hat and cashmere coat, ordering whiskey or rum shot makes me happy in the morning. It is possible and amazing to watch the sun set and the moon rise at the same time from the top of Montmartre.

The city culture, which has unfortunately migrated away from my country along with the minorities, makes me feel better every day here, in Paris.

Sometimes I miss the tourist groups hanging around the corner that I used to complain about before.

And of course sometimes, inexplicably on a Sunday afternoon usually, when I feel lonely, disappointed, angry, fearful and sad, I pour myself a double rum or calvados. I look at all my feelings through 40% proof alcohol. I try to keep myself still as a rock, grounded against the current of a river and I start to feel cleansed. Strong, healing, exciting feelings show themselves and flow through me. I feel that the stronger and more traditional drinks flow better into the spirit of these times.

And at the end of the day, just as Vincent Van Gogh told his brother Theo;

“And mind my dear fellow, Paris is Paris. There is but one Paris and however hard living may be here, and if it became worse and even harder - the french air clears up the brain and does good - a world of good.”

I hope that the days when we will spread out to crowded tables on a sidewalk café and raise our glass to good times are not that far away.

Gülçin Sargın Beşer

More Than Just a City

Paris is probably a way of life. European metropolis, cosmopolitan city, tourist magnet - yes, all that is true, but it does not reflect what is special. What is it that makes this unique?

photo by Volker Kraayvanger

If you live here, you feel like you're part of a story - a never-ending story, Paris is never-ending. You can choose who you want to meet - the Sun King, Saint-Saëns or Sartre, each era resonates incessantly in this city, literally sweeping those who engage with it. Yes, the charm of some places and spaces is disenchanted by the countless tourists, but even in everyday life, in some places you are fascinated every time to be part of this city. Maybe not exactly on the days when I stand in the crowded metro. But when I'm in a great restaurant, concert hall or park, definitely. 

 The feeling of strolling through alleys, spontaneously sitting down at a small table on the sidewalk, ordering something, only to think that it had to come just like this. Standing on historical monuments, looking at the sand-colored buildings and imagining how everything looks with horse-drawn carriages, ladies with parasols and gentlemen with top hats. Driving fearlessly into the traffic circle of the Place de l'Etoile, honking the horn and experiencing a spontaneous amnesia of all the traffic rules. Amazing. Finally arrived. 

I hope this feeling of having arrived will return on subsequent visits to Paris. A few weeks after I have already "left" Paris, I return for the first time. By car, alone - for a business trip. In the evening, the rush hour traffic has already died down, I have a hotel near the Église Saint Eustache. Much is familiar, the prominent monuments facilitate orientation, the evening sound of wailing sirens and accelerating scooters penetrates through the half-open window into my car. Everything as always. Exactly as it should be. And I am part of it.

Volker Kraayvanger

There’s a Paris for Everyone

There’s a Paris for everyone. And if you’re lucky, you get to have more than one version.

My first time was like for most people, as a tourist. If you don’t fall in love head first with the city there’s only one explanation: you lack a heart. Paris takes control over you, it overwhelms you with its beauty and magnificence. You walk down the street and you are suddenly taken by breathtaking buildings, one of its monuments or simply a little lane that pulls you in, inviting you to find out its every little corner. In Paris, even the beaten path is amazing: The Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notredame. Of course, you’ll never forget the first time you lay eyes on Mme Eiffel. Paris invades you.

A few days in Paris, and mind you it was winter, I knew I had to come back.

And so I did. Many years later, I was an exchange student in HEC, one of the business schools outside Paris. My suitcase and I moved into a sub-let studio on the 15ème arrondissement, at Place du Commerce. And for the first time, I lived Paris. I explored every corner of the Jardins de Luxembourg, I walked both margins of the Seine up and down. I found out the best financiers of the whole city were steps away from my apartment, a luxury my tiny budget could afford. I met people. Parisians and not, I mingled. I went to Queen on a Monday night and lost track of time and space. I ate crêpe at four in the morning at a corner of the Quartier Latin after a big Salsa night, before crossing town on my way home. There wasn’t a cafe on the 15ème I didn’t know. I walked around the Invalides and I met Rodin inside his museum and from a completely different perspective, I lost myself again in time and space. Paris does that you, stops time and takes you to a parallel universe. If you want to lose yourself to find yourself, walk at night on the streets of the Ile de La Cité, talk to the artists and buy posters in Montmartre. Stroll around St. Germain and le Marais. Spend a day (no, not hours), a day inside the Musée d’Orsay. Find yourself a tandem partner to learn French (and I wish I could say we became more than that but we only really exchanged words back and forth, in French and Spanish. C’est la vie).

Eleven years later, I’m on a plane from Melbourne, Australia, destination Charles de Gaule. I had a little more than a suitcase this time. More specifically, seven pieces of luggage, 200kg of airfreight and a 20ft container that would arrive 3 months later. A husband and 2 children. Life had changed, I wasn’t on a tight budget anymore. My comfortable apartment was situated on the Avenue de Victor Hugo. And again Paris takes you over either you want it or not. At the Jardins de Luxembourg, we spent most of the time in the amazing playground they have (once in company of no less than Marion Cotillard), we also discovered les Jardins d’Acclimatation, the carrousel at the end of Trocadéro, the Ateliers Créatifs at George Pompidou, the playground at Place des États Units and every corner of Parc Monceau (aka Parc Monsieur, according to my son). I collected unforgettable moments like going to the tip of the merry-go-round at Place de la Concorde, only to realize my kids were fine but was terrified by the height. Running like crazy after them flying on their trottinettes under the arcs of Place de Voges. The picnics at the margins of the Canal St Martin. An unbelievable afternoon when exceptionally they opened the nave of the Grand Palais and my kids just ran like little rockets from side to side. And of course when I took them to meet Rodin.

photo by Taciana Fonseca

photo by Taciana Fonseca

photo by Taciana Fonseca

It was a different Paris, busier, more stressful, and rare were the moments to lose and find myself. Burocracy, endless administrative processes, back and forth with several institutions to get things done (from the government to your internet provider) – Paris lacks efficiency, it can waste lots of your precious time. Some people are respectful, many are very rude. The fast pace of the city runs you over like someone who shoves you inside the metro and almost make you trip over your own feet.

There’s a Paris to everyone. And if I can give you one single advice: keep your tourist eyes always on. Don’t let the frenzy, the rudeness of people, the traffic, the fear gets into you. Go to the parks, enjoy the Seine, find by mistake that amazing bookshop at Rive Gauche, and carve time just for you and Paris alone. Even if you have a residency card, be a tourist. Forever. And on a daily basis, let Paris invade you.

Taciana Fonseca

See the Positive Side

I was asked by a good friend of mine to talk about my experience in Paris, as I’m Venezuelan living in this gorgeous city since 2016.
At first when Okan suggested it, I thought, where am I going to get my inspiration from? The Champs-Élysées, Eiffel tower, Arc de Triumph, Place de la Concorde, Musée d’Orsay and the list goes on and on and on... Are they not enough inspiration for me to write an article about my experience in Paris???
Well, I have to say sometimes it is not as simple as thinking about the beautiful buildings, museums, streets, monuments that you get your inspiration to write about this beautiful but very difficult to live in city. At least it was my case!
Everything started in August 2016, when my husband due to his job got moved to Paris.. I was unhappy with the move as I was very happy living and working in London.
Personally, the differences between the two cultures (English and French) were huge in many senses. I didn’t expect it just being two hours apart from each other...The lack of organization, nonsense burocracy, people complaining all the time for everything, among others, made me feel to miss London.
However, one of the things that made me feel good living in Paris, was the food!!! Having a very nice dessert (even in a metro station) it was possible, a simple but very nice baguette with cheese made me feel I was actually in the city of lights where intolerance to gluten doesn’t exist! :)
Nice terraces (without people smoking in your face) but let’s forget about that just for one second. It is another charming thing about this capital.
How about the language? Love it! For me French is so romantic where everything sounds lovely even «poubelle» sounds romantic to me.
It took me a year to understand how the system worked and once I did it, everything was easier and smooth.
Et voilà... Currently, I’m living here and I consider myself lucky living in one of the most famous, glamourous and charming boulevard with my children and husband who are very happy. I just see the positive side, taking the time to discover this beautiful country that for many Venezuelans can only be a dream that sadly, they won’t make it true!

Mary Manzano