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My Paris neighborhood

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Living in my ‘hood in Paris Centre has a million reasons why it’s the best place to live in the world.

It’s just a five-minute walk to the famous Centre George Pompidou Modern Art Museum where living works of art are created every day, like today’s expo of France’s ultimate drag queen Paloma, unimaginable exhibits of Matisse to Joan Miro, a large collection of contemporary and modern art, workshops, library and the NOW exhibit of Gerard Garouste – mind blowing artist who created the decors of Paris’ biggest disco “Le Palace” during the 80’s.

Another 10-minute walk and you’re facing Notre Dame Cathedral, now being reconstructed after the fire that gutted its roof to beat its completion for the Paris Olympics in 2025.

Philippine’s version of Betty Catroux, Queen of Shagreen luxe furniture Ria Augousti with Pål Larsen; right, the harvest moon shines in my neighborhood*
High end chocolatier extraordinaire Patrick Roget boutique around the corner; right, having an impromptu dinner at the sidewalk terrace of Bouldougue resto*
My fav Brazilian waiter serves our wine; right, cod on mashed potato drizzled with truffle oil topped with zingy alfalfa sprouts*

Walk to the opposite direction down rue des Francs Bourgeois and you’ll pass most of Paris’ high end shops from premiere parfumeur Guerlain, Chanel to low cost Uniqlo where local students come out dressed like the cast of “Emily in Paris”.

Fifteen minutes away and you end up in Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square and I must say it’s most beautiful plaza in the City of Lights. 

What’s amazing though is the endless choice of activities one can do, from shopping to museums galore starting with my favorite, the Carnavalet Museum because it contains rooms from different eras of Parisian lifestyles.

After all, I am in the apex of the Marais, which once was the Jewish ghetto, where fabulous mansions still exist – hidden behind gigantic doors that lead to private courtyards.

When I go out of my gate, there’s my secret perfume brand Nicolai which traces its roots to Guerlain, the oldest global brand of scents.

I can spend the whole day just smelling all its perfumes. Around the corner is the luxury chocolate boutique, Patrick Roger with small balls of this aphrodisiac can cost an arm and a leg.

I pass through funky Space Hair where you can go out after a seance with luminous blue, shocking pink or bubble gum green colored hair.

Who can resist a scoop of French vanilla ice cream with lace caramel crisp?; right, the interior courtyard gardens of the Musee des Archives across my street*
Full mirror panels welcome me to a hidden café 10 meters from my flat; middle, charmante Camille serves us wine in my neighborhood cantine “Chez Camille”; right, a medieval tour hidden in the back of a restaurant across the Musee des Archives*
French version of Monte de Piedad’s inner courtyard turned café restaurant by the employee’s co-op; right, finest foie gras served at Camille*

In a span of 50 meters, I pass through trendy boutiques, Asian restaurants, pastrami takeouts, the best burgers in town (it’s their buns) three pastry-bakeries offering mouthwatering delights from basic baguettes to flakiest croissants, sushi, noodle shops, even a Peruvian sushi place I still have to try and a mini supermarket sandwiched by two Arabian fruit stores that offer avocados from Chile to mangoes from South Africa.

I’ve always been a downtown bred boy even in faraway Bacolod. Oh yes, if only I could write about the surprises I can discover in my hood back home in my City of Smiles.

MY PRAYER

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37–38, NIV*

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