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Exploring Small Shops in Paris


When not touring Paris with the other JSF students, I took advantage of the two weeks of annual sales in Paris which conveniently began two days after our arrival.  Using my guidebook to tea shops in Paris as a launching pad, I explored many different arrondissements (areas in Paris).  My favorite shops were always the kinds found in the little side streets, where fewer shoppers and tourists wandered and where one might find amazing sales in the forgotten back corners.  Here are a few of my most memorable stops:

1. La Place de la Madeleine, 8th Arr.

In the center of the Place de la Madeleine, there was an old building modeled after a Greek temple.  A large circle of trendy and upscale shops surrounded the building with streets radiating out from the center.  There were fancy boutiques, lots of cafes, and several gourmet food shops including Fauchon and Hediard.  I bought lots of chocolates in adorable tins from Fauchon, smelled more teas than I can remember from various places, and did lots of window shopping. 

2. Near Metro stop « Monge », 5th Arr.

As you ride the escalator up from this station, you find yourself in a small square.  There are several tea shops nearby.  This area wasn’t quite as trendy as the Place de la Madeleine but the shops weren’t as expensive either.  I admired lots of jewelry and found some really good bargains hidden in the backs of stores.  There were also a couple of pastry shops which made the streets smell amazing.

3. Montmartre, 18th Arr.

With the famous church Sacré Coeur at the top of a very large hill in this neighborhood, the place was continuously crowded with tourists.  My favorite shop in Montmartre sold small gadgets and trinkets like what you might find in a French version of Urban Outfitters.  I bought a colorful clock with lots of French phrases.  At the top of the hill near Sacré Coeur, there is a square filled with artists selling their own paintings.  You could find almost anything in Montmarte, from pastry shops, cafés, and restaurants to clothing, jewelry, and lots of fabrics, just beware of all the tourist-trap shops scattered in the area! (-Emilienne)