It’s Stroll-with-Me Sunday! Today, I prepared a special video tour just for you. Walk with me around the little atelier village near my home, and learn a bit about what makes it special.
Today’s stroll:
Bucolic lanes with charming cottages. You forget you’re in the heart of a major metropolis.
©Lisa Anselmo
©Lisa Anselmo
Gorgeous old store fronts. There were two printers and an old photo studio all in a row. Makes me wonder if this neighborhood once catered to commercial arts, and designers, like me.
©Lisa Anselmo
©Lisa Anselmo
©Lisa Anselmo
Fields of poppies and glorious gardens among the urban sprawl.
Poppies! ©Lisa Anselmo
©Lisa Anselmo
Get caught up on my diary, here.
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Follow my series, My (Part-Time) Paris Life, produced by Nomadic Frames.
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On today’s bookshelf
4.5 stars on Amazon. Click image to buy.
My (Parttime) Paris Life 
Hi Lisa!
You don’t know me but I’ve been subscribing to your newsletter for a while. I love Paris and live in Ottawa right now. We went into lockdown here a day before Paris did. Yesterday I read your book on Kindle. I really enjoyed it. Congratulations! I smile to myself imagining Geoffroy saying his ass was jumping out of his head! Thanks to YouTube I can visit Paris from my couch in Ottawa. Your video today helped me discover a new area of Paris.
I lived in Paris first for two months, (in 1999 and 2001) twice, and then for three years, (2003-2006 and 2014-2017) twice. My husband and I got married there in 2004.
Life is complicated and so my Paris life is « part-time ». I am in my “Paris nostalgia“ phase of my lockdown. Thanks for your book. I also lost my mother to cancer. I’m sorry you had to go through that.
Cancer patient is one of the many roles I have had in Paris, breast cancer, treated at the Institut Curie in 2016. I can add to that list dilitante, stay at home Mum, wine agent, occupational therapy intern, student of culture, …
I have been back in Ottawa for almost three years this time.
We will be here for good it seems as our kids are 9 and 13 and our families are here.
I wish for you a peaceful déconfinement as it is soon in Paris.
Thank you for the daily newsletters.
My recent armchair travel to Paris (walk with Adrian Leeds on rue de Bretagne on youtube) has made me want to watch the film Sarah’s Key but I can’t find it.
Did you have a day 40 of quarantine epiphany?
I think I planted the seed for another life in Paris- who knows for how long- and when.
All the best,
Laura
Sent from my iPhone
Thank you Laura for this! And thank you for sharing your story. Stay safe in Ottawa!
Hi Lisa, thanks for the lovely walk. I’m going through withdrawal and your video was so nice. I’m not sure when one can return to Paris but I guess we’ll hear more this Tuesday. It sounds like some new normal will occur in France with travel within the country starting but international visitors might not be able to enter until September. Keep the posts coming. Best wishes, Bill.
Yes, it’s all a moving target. I wonder when I’ll be able to go back to the States. It’s not easy. Stay well, Bill!
Lisa, I SO enjoyed this delightful walk. Thank you for bringing me along. How gracious and generous of you. Much love, Linda
I enjoyed doing it for you!
Merci beaucoup for the Sunday stroll. I love Paris and return annually to visit her. I hope my late September 2020 trip happens if not maybe next year. I enjoy your newsletter very much.
Fingers crossed! God willing.
Lisa – So are you no longer “part time” in Paris, but full time there? Did you give up work and life in NYC? I have had a lifelong love affair with Paris. Traveled there (on a Eurorail pass, don’t even know if they exist anymore) during college. Went back to be a jeune fille-au pair for a year in Neuilly Sur Seine. Have traveled back there, usually for a month at a time, at least ten times. Most recently this past September. I love it so and your blogs and videos are a lifeline for me…especially in these challenging times. Your video today was great. I have your book and love it!
Christine, Boise, Idaho
I still have NYC, but I also have Paris. If you’ve read my book, you know that I left my post in the magazine industry in 2014, but I’m far from retired. It’s great that you were able to come to Paris before all this went down, and hopefully you’ll be back soon again. Thank you, Christine!
Loved the Sunday stroll. It was almost (well sorta, kinda) like being back in Paris. Which arrondissement is it that you live in? Not that I’m all that familiar with all of Paris’ neighborhoods, but your looks like an undiscovered delight.
There was an article in the NY Times online recently about the Rue des Martyrs and how little it has changed, even in these terrible times. As my goal is to be un flaneur (flaneuse?) To that end, the most recent time I was in Paris, I walked down the Rue des Martyrs on my walk back from Sacre Coeur and the street is an utter delight. I’m sure it’s well out of your 1 km area, though.
Yes, Rue des Martyrs is far for me. I always loved the energy of that street and wanted to buy something near there ten years ago, but my friends were horrified since it wasn’t considered safe (or desirable) at the time, and steered me away. Shame because the real estate in that area has gone up 10X. As Elaine says, the street has gentrified and a lot of the traiteurs and artisan shops that made me love the street are closing in favor of hipster places and chain stores. And thanks to her book and other articles about the street, it also draws tourists (which any of us travel writers are guilty of), and that has also changed the vibe there. Unfortunately, the area is less diverse now and insanely expensive to live in—jumping from about 8,000 euros per square meter to 18,000. The few food artisans that are left do help this former market street to feel like normal during lockdown, I’d imagine, since they’re open. That must be nice.
Merci for the lovely neighborhood walk Lisa! The sights and narration were enjoyable. I really enjoy your column; thank you for making things brighter every day 🙂
Aw, thank YOU for the support. It keeps me going.