Winter in Paris and its gentle street corners

Morning coffee by Canal St-Martin

Arrive early on the weekend at Canal St-Martin and you will be able to enjoy a rare peaceful space in the heart of the splendid Paris. You can stroll or rent a bike from the public bicycle system Vélib to roam the canal-side paths.

Looming over the canal, built by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to provide artificial fresh water to the people, is the iron bridge that appeared in the film about Amélie, where she often went to play stone throwing. Not far away, the series of “Antoine et Lili” shops, brightly colored in yellow, pink, and apple green, are located next to each other like a cheerful call, making you want to come closer and admire the colorful cartoon world inside the glass door.

And while Parisians and tourists were still sleeping in their warm blankets, I chose a place outside a street corner cafe and ordered a cup of hot chocolate. When bringing my drink, the pretty waitress suggested turning on the wall heater to help with the cold. “Yes! Merci beaucoup, mademoiselle” (Thank you, madam) - I replied immediately. And now I had the answer to the question of how Parisians can sit outside drinking coffee 365 days a year without feeling cold.

More information:

Location: The Canal St-Martin is 4.55km long and lies in the 10th and 11th arrondissements. To get here, you can take the metro to Stalingrad, République, Goncourt, Jaurès, Oberkampf, Richard-Lenoir, Bastille, and Quai de la Rapée stations.

Explore the Grand Cerf Gorge

Besides the straight, luxurious avenues such as Champs Élysées or Haussmann, Paris also fascinates many travelers with its small covered alleys, commonly called "passage couvert".

The highlight of these alleys is that they are often hidden behind small streets and “sandwiched” between massive buildings, making them difficult to see. That is why Passage du Grand-Cerf, although located right next to the bustling Montorgueil street, is especially deserted. Established in 1825, this is one of the oldest “passage couverts” in Paris, surrounded by a metal and iron frame, with elaborate carvings. Thanks to the roof system with large stained glass panels, the alley is always filled with light.

Here, you will find many creative spaces and diverse products for sale. De Marseille et D'Ailleurs sells cosmetics and perfumes, Le Pas Sage is a themed bar, Lil Weasel specializes in bedding, while L'Illustre Boutique chooses to honor illustrations designed by the artists themselves. These illustrations are only produced in limited editions, numbered and signed. In addition, the store also has a corner displaying unique ceramic products by artisan Elise Lefebvre.

More information:

Location: Passage du Grand-Cerf is located near Montorgueil Street, in the 2nd arrondissement and is just a 3-minute walk from the Étienne Marcel metro station.

Enjoy outdoor photography at the Luxembourg Gardens

In the guidebook “Dessine-moi un parisien”, in the article about Jardin du Luxembourg, author Olivier Magny advised readers to spend time admiring the photos on the railings surrounding the famous garden.

80 photos hanging along Médicis Street not only take you to visit heritage buildings such as memorials, train stations, ancient houses, cathedrals... across France, but also tell you stories about the love of the profession and the talented hands of craftsmen.

More information:

Event: This winter, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Heritage Fund, the French Senate will treat citizens and visitors to a photo exhibition called “Le Patrimoine, une Passion, des Hommes” which will last from now until January 15, 2017.

Enjoying tea in the middle of Paris 6ème

Just a few steps from the Saint-Placide metro station, Thés George Cannon is one of the most interesting tea spaces in the 6th arrondissement, with more than 250 types of tea from all over the world (China, India, Japan, Vietnam...)

In the festive atmosphere of the last days of the year, Thés George Cannon becomes even more brilliant with tea boxes designed in the style of Christmas gifts, with packaging filled with red. The taste of this season's tea is also more special and sweet because it is infused with herbs and spices from France such as orange peel, cinnamon, caramel and blackcurrant.

More information:

Event: Thés George Cannon is currently exhibiting an exhibition of paintings by Jean Cabane, a painter from the South of France who has lived and worked in Central Vietnam for over 10 years. The exhibition “Éloge du Silence” will run until January 7, 2017.

Catch the sunset at Le Marais

Le Marais, a favorite destination for free-spirited hearts, boasts a wide range of shops: antique shops, art galleries, gay bars, rock fashion, batik, silver, photography, cashmere and a plethora of concept-store cafes.

The most interesting thing is when you see famous brand name fashion stores “strutting shoulder to shoulder” with friperie stores that specialize in selling second-hand goods. Yet the low-cost fashion stores are still more crowded.

If you follow the world’s most famous fashion bloggers, you’ll often see them rummaging through the old warehouses of Le Marais, happily bringing home a vintage dress, a leather briefcase from your grandfather’s time, or even a coat that hasn’t been seen on the streets for decades. The sweetest thing about this is the price. You only need to prepare about 10 Euros for a bag and 30 Euros for a leather jacket.

And to end the afternoon wandering Le Marais, I always go to Vosges Square, the oldest square in Paris, built in 1605 to celebrate the wedding of King Louis XIII and Princess Anna of Austria. The symmetrical rows of houses hug the square like a shelter, helping you escape from the noisy sounds of the streets outside. At that time, sitting on a park bench watching the trees gradually changing leaves, strolling on the red brick corridors or admiring the quiet roofs against the pink sky are all very romantic choices.

Personally, I like to stop by Ma Bourgogne nearby and order a glass of red wine to match the color of the sky. But which brand I order depends on the waiter's suggestion!

More information:

Location: Le Marais is in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The two most convenient metro stops are Hôtel de Ville and Saint-Paul.

Trang Ami

The Thanh