The wonders of la ville d’amour are endless, but you have to
start somewhere. Here are a few highlights from our latest jaunt across
the pond.
see
For free vistas of the city and its landmarks, stroll up Paris’s
steepest hill to the Basilique
du Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, a neighbourhood once home to
artists such as Picasso and Modigliani. Come at sunset to see the Eiffel
Tower light up, hawkers ply their wares and local youth crowd the stairs
in this popular hangout spot. http://sacre-coeur-montmartre.com
do
Our three-hour walking tour with Urban
Adventures took us along stylish streets and through secret passages
to see glorious architecture and real Parisian life, with a
well-deserved break for cheese and baguette in-between. Bring a map so
you can return to the adorable and easy-to-lose shops you see along the
way. www.urbanadventures.com/destination
eat
The Saturday-morning lineup of locals at bakery Arnaud
Delmontel convinced us the goods were worth it even before we tasted
the pastries, tarts and macarons. Ladurée gets all the hype when it
comes to the petite sweets, but our favourite was the prettily
pink-and-white marbled rose flavour here. www.arnaud-delmontel.com
shop
Ballet flat addicts might want to set a budget in advance to a visit to
one of the city’s several Repetto
boutiques, with the iconic shoes spread in a rainbow of colours and
styles, including kitten heels, T-straps and even boots, plus
ballet-inspired streetwear. www.repetto.com
go
Europe’s so wee from a Canadian perspective: London and Paris are closer
than Toronto and Montreal. Hit both cities on one trip while avoiding
excess airport visits via the comfortable and just 2 1/2-hour-long train
ride on Eurostar. www.eurostar.com
Kat Tancock
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