Sunny Day in the 5th: Rue Mouffetard, Jardin des Plantes, and Tea at the Grande Mosquée

Okay, let's face it - when I use the word Sunny, what I actually mean is that a handful of sun rays peeked through the clouds intermittently during the day. What I DON'T mean is the bright, powerful, stark sunshine of California - That kind of sunshine, my friends, I probably won't be seeing anytime soon. But for now, a few warming rays bring a much-needed feeling of warm happiness. This Saturday, I went on a little wander through the 5th Arrondissement with my friend Ellen. She introduced me to a really great Crêperie on well-known Rue Mouffetard that has made its appearances on many a travel itinerary, but which I had never heard of. In fact, I had never even walked this famous foodie road until now! I was pleasantly surprised with how charming it was - on a slight incline, full of delicious scents of roasting meat, felafel, and sweet crêpes, miscellaneous shops, an American diner... shall I go on? The Crêperie, called Au P'tit Grec, offers GINOURMOUS sweet and savoury french-style pancakes at really modest prices. Not only was the Egg, Cheese, and Ham crêpe super filling and yummy, but even the typical Nutella crêpe we had for dessert was exceptionally good - I have a theory it's the butter they use on the grill when heating. If you decide to go, be advised that there will probably be a substantial queue for both take-away and sit-down, and that the interior seating is extremely limited. But don't let that stop you! More info at the bottom of the post. The temperature was really so lovely, and strolling down Rue Mouffetard, Nutella crêpe in-hand, was bliss. And of course, flower shops only add to the ambiance. After a little brainstorming, Ellen and I made our way over to Jardin des Plantes, which was only just beginning to sprout flowers here and there. Not only is it a botanical garden during warm weather, they also had an Orchid exhibition in a massive greenhouse, a Natural History museum, and a small Zoo. We satisfied ourselves by merely walking around, as we both had no desire to stand in line and pay for entrance tickets ("help me, I'm poor" - Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids). We finished our Journey in the 5th with some hot, sweet mint tea at the Grande Mosquée de Paris. We chose to sit in the front courtyard, with white walls, blue tile work, soft, diffused lighting, and a chorus of songbirds. The tea was a nice treat, sweetened to my taste. I saw a few people enjoying sweet-smelling hookah. We had a look-see around the interior, and it certainly didn't disappoint - different rooms with painted walls, red curtains, gold accents, the works. I highly, highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area. It was so lovely to experience a little slice of Paris I had never tasted before. Just when you think you've seen it all, that there's nothing left to explore or ignite that sense of adventure and discovery - a friend takes you somewhere new. It's really made me want to branch out more, see places in Paris I've never thought to see.

Places Mentioned:
Au P'Tit Grec Crêperie - 62 Rue Mouffetard, 75005
Jardin des Plantes - 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005
2bis Place du Puits de l'Ermite, 75005
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Visual Diary: Exploring Versailles

Today I decided to explore my new town a bit more, get familiar with the streets, scope out restaurants, and make mental notes of essentials like dry cleaners and bakeries. It was quite brisk out, with a freezing wind on the larger boulevards, but as long as I kept a quick pace, it was manageable.

Here is my visual diary of the day, or at least half of it. The remainder I spent watching Kiki's Delivery Service under a blanket.



9am - Boulangerie Run



{I got a croissant, a viennoise au chocolat, a custard-chocolate-filled thing, and a quiche lorraine}


12pm - Aimless Walking

{Went for some purple lipstick today}



1:30pm - Found Antique Market










3pm - Late lunch




And that, my friends, was my day! Tomorrow, I have a vintage shopping binge planned with a fellow Californian!

À toute à l'heure!

PS: Giusy from Lulu's Sister, did a fantastic feature of my blog, which you can read here.


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The Paris Memoirs: Marché Aux Puces de Saint-Ouen

Flea Markets - where else can you find such a wide array of STUFF? When you go to flea markets, you find things you never knew you wanted. For instance, I don't typically sit at home making shopping lists that consist of "fabric scraps," "miscellaneous beads," "gilt frames," "amateur oil paintings," "skeleton keys," and "kitschy teacups," and yet, the minute I set foot within a flea market, I just want ALL of the things!

The Flea Market of Saint-Ouen in northern Paris is perhaps the most famous in the city, I've heard there are plenty more that are more reasonably priced, but this one sure is charming, only once you get past the two blocks of seedy-looking pop-up shops selling the lowest quality clothing, phone cases, and, pardon my language, other random shit.

Once you get out of the metro, keep your eyes fixed straight ahead and make a beeline for the REAL flea market, don't be fooled by the tourist trap that comes first. This blogpost gives really good directions, complete with map and all!

Now - enjoy these photos! I only took pics of the little alleys that contained mostly "junk" or knick knacks. The market also boasts a large collection of fine antiques, which you should check out if you have the money or the desire.






















I bought the postcards in this post from this little market stall. I tried speaking French to the little lady there and she gave me a small discount :)



I plan on visiting other Paris flea markets in the future, and when I do I'll be sure to let you know how they compare.

For clear directions to the market, see:
This blogpost
The official website

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