Paris In July: Adding to My Fave Guidebooks!

During 2014's Paris in July, I did a post on some of my favorite guide books and maps to Paris. Those remain some of my favorites and you can find that post HERE. (Photos in this post are mine.)

The antique market at Vanves

But what about a more recent option? I have found it in the very delightful and well organized and illustrated "Paris," a Curious Traveler Guide by Eleanor Aldridge. The back of the book blurb calls it "An Insider's Guide to Paris without Pretension." It lives up to that hype.

As with most guide books, she breaks the city down into sections -- for example, The Marais, The Seine, Montmartre, etc. Within each section she includes not only a well written introduction to the area's overall charms but a breakdown restaurants, bars, cocktails, coffee shops, patissieries/boulangeries, and things to see. 

Artists in Montmartre

She also goes into some of the areas most visitors to Paris don't always think of, offering interesting places to visit and eat throughout the city. I found this especially interesting and useful.

 

In addition to some of the main attractions she includes some of the lesser visited museums and attractions (which may be less crowded and in some cases, without admission charge. Also on the "free" list, visiting the Marche aux Fleurs, Seine walks, and cemeteries.

Marche aux Fleurs

 Among the items she lists that don't always show up in one's itinerary are the medieval museum of Cluny, home to Roman ruins and the Lady in the Unicorn tapestries.

The Roman ruins in Cluny

And, Victor Hugo's home in Place des Vosges, which is less decorated as a home than as an homage to the writing and art, interests and passions, and significant relationships of the author of "Les Miserables" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

A room at Maison Victor Hugo

She also includes parks, hotels and day trips, making it a useful book for the traveler. 

The Medici Fountain at Jardin du Luxembourg

And, by keeping within areas, one can easily plan their Paris visit with the least amount of wear and tear to the feet (because as delightful as the buses are and as quick as the metro is, part of the beauty of Paris is seeing it on foot). She not only lists restaurants but advocates a picnic in one of the city's beautiful parks. Rick and I can recommend this!

Taking time for a lunch break at Place des Vosges

The book was published in 2019 (after the burning of Notre Dame, to which she refers). She doesn't list prices overall, which is good, knowing how they fluctuate. But she gives you an idea in some cases (notably, dining) of what things cost, which is helpful. 

I'd definitely refer to this one if Paris was in my schedule.

This post is part of "Paris In July," a month-long blog event hosted by Tamara at Thyme for Tea and Deb at Readerbuzz. Bloggers post about the books, films, sites, music, food and more related to Paris and to France. See this week's entries here.

Check it out! 

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