Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel.com is pleased to have as our guest, Dr. Jim Braude, who is a medical doctor as well as an expert on the hidden gems of Paris. Dr. Braude is the owner of Our Home in Paris--three apartments, as well as the Hotel Saint-Louis-Bastille in Paris. He is here today to share with us his expertise on Paris, France.
Norm:
Good day Dr. Braude and thank you for participating in our interview.
Dr. Braude:
Thank you for having me, its good to be here.
Norm:
Dr. Braude please tell us something about yourself and when and why did you become interested in purchasing real estate in Paris?
Dr. Braude:
My first love is medicine; I've been practicing for about 25 years. My second love is Paris;
we started about ten years ago, at first renting apartments, and then I realized that if we bought
an apartment, we could then renovate and rent it back to clients who wanted the same wonderful experience.
Norm:
As a follow up, where are your properties located?
Dr. Braude:
Our apartments are in the area called the Marais, or the 4th arrondissement. This is a very hip, cool neighborhood, with lots of shops, galleries and restaurants.
Norm:
As you are a connoisseur of some of the hidden gems of Paris, I wonder if you could describe six romantic gems that you would recommend to our readers to check out.
Dr. Braude:
Sure!
*** In the late afternoon, find the church of St Gervais, and listen to hundreds of priests and nuns, in starched white uniforms, chant their evening prayers. It's magic.
*** Also for the late in the day light, go to Saint Chapelle and watch the afternoon sun stream the most beautiful stained glass windows in the world. Stay late and hear a violin concert too.
*** For the early morning on Sunday, walk along the river Seine where there are no cars allowed, and walk all the way from the Isle St Louis, past the Louvre, and to the Alexander bridge near Napolean's tomb.
*** Find the beautiful little park Places Des Vosges, and at the far left corner, find the restaurant Ma Bourgogne, and order the best fois gras and cider from Normandy, while sitting outside and enjoying the play of light on the medieval park.
*** In early spring, enjoy the explosion of color in the Luxembourg Gardens.
*** Take a romantic boat ride on the Bateau Mouche, the river boat that can give you a sample of all the major attractions in the city, and then pick where you want to go back later and enjoy an afternoon.
Norm:
Everyone knows that the French are famous for their superb cuisine; could you name and describe six reasonably priced restaurants in Paris that will not put you in hawk for the rest of your life!
Dr. Braude:
*** For the touristy treat, get a reservation in advance at the Jules Verne at the top of the Eiffel Tower. The view is unsurpassed, service is wonderful, and its pure theatre.
*** For wonderful food, find the Grand Mericourt, on rue folie mericourt and saint Sebastian, in the 11th. The youngest chef in Paris, and a superb, very reasonable dinner in a twenty seat no smoking venue.
*** For the best sea food, I love La Luna in the 8th district. Even before ordering, a bowl of tiny clams arrive, soaking in a delicious butter sauce.
*** La Tete Dailleurs is a wonderful small place on rue beautreillis, where the owner Hughe will make you welcome as you dine on St Tropez specialities.
*** LaSerre is very expensive and worth it, with the additional wow factor of a ceiling that opens up to the stars on a nice summer night.
*** For the best club sandwich, consider Fauchon near the church La Madelaine.
Norm:
My wife, Lily, lived in Paris for three years many years ago. She always boasted that Paris had many cultural events that the public could attend without having to spend a great deal of money, such as plays, concerts, museums, etc. Could you tell us something about these events and where can one find out about them prior to traveling to Paris?
Dr. Braude:
All of this is available on line and at the newspaper kiosks in a magazine called Pariscope. It even has an English language section. It's updated every Wednesday.
Norm:
As a follow up to the last question, could you name and describe your most favorite off-the beaten-path venues and why are they your favorite?
Dr. Braude:
Consider a picnic lunch at the Museum Rodin, and contemplate The Thinker. Then walk over to Napolean's tomb.
Explore Rue Franc-bourgeois in the Marais, and the many wonderful unusual shops on this street where everything remains open on Sundays (unusual in Paris)
Find the church of Saint Denis and see hundreds of marble white funeral sculptures of the past dynasties of France, and get the CD rom to help learn a quick history of the monarchies. Marie Antoinette and her son are here as well.
Find the Nissan-Commando museum and see a house exactly as it was when it belonged to a wealthy pre WWII family who collected magnificent furniture and art from prior centuries. The family is gone, all killed in WWII (they were Turkish Jews), but the legacy remains and is open to the public.
Go to Pere Lechaise cemetery, find a tour guide, and meet Mozart, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison, amongst others.
Norm:
When do you feel is the best time to visit Paris?
Dr. Braude:
May and September- for the best weather.
August - for the least crowds, as most Parisians leave on vacation. Also if you want to rent an apartment, rates may be lower.
December - for the Christmas spirit (and incredible sales!)
Norm:
What advice would you give to travelers on a limited budget when visiting Paris vis à vis restaurants, accommodations, attractions, etc
Dr. Braude:
For airfares, ask your travel agent (well in advance) to see if he can connect with a consolidator. Often they purchase bulk tickets that are less expensive than even interest rates.
Here's a find: the oldest hospital in Paris: Hotel Dieu, also has a small hotel in it- great location just next to Notre Dame.
Here's a tip: enjoy the Parks -- they are all free, and many are stunningly beautiful.
For museum: find the museum of Paris (Carnavalet) - also a free-bee. Also, take a train and go to Versailles, and enjoy the grounds for free. See Marie Antionette's little village she created for herself and her children le petit trianon.
For food: brasseries are reasonable and can offer very delicious meals, with wine. Also, expensive restaurants serve the same meals at lunch for much lower cost than dinners.
For hotel: by all means, rent an apartment. Having your own kitchen is a huge savings and, there are so many wonderful take out places, we often graze while walking home and eat in for delicious meal of fresh foods and vegetables.
Norm:
Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?
Dr. Braude:
Just go. And follow your instincts. Just walk. The French have a word for it: flaner. To walk and wander and see what happens at the moment. Paris is a great city to explore, sometimes without a map, just wander and be amazed at the sites and the people. The people are very, very different from us attitudes, priorities, goals. It's part of the experience to learn from this, and let another culture into your psyche, even for just a while.
Merci Dr. Braude pour votre participation.
Mon plaisir, merci bien. (my pleasure ,thank you)
To find out more about Dr. Braude's properties click on Our Home in Paris--three apartments and Hotel Saint-Louis-Bastille in Paris.
