France Travel and Culture Tidbits

I plan to focus this blog on lesser-known and less-visited places in France, along with cultural tidbits. One might ask, then, why start with Paris? Well, by most accounts it is the number one tourist destination in the world. And for good reason. It is beautiful with art everywhere. And you don't have to go indoors to see it. So many buildings and even Metro stations are works of art. The food and shopping are amazing. I could go on and on, but you can get all that from websites.

My first tidbit is Rue Daguerre. It is a fairly short street - about nine blocks long - between Av. du General LeClerc and Av. du Maine in the 14th Arrondissement. For me, the blocks closest to LeClerc are the most interesting. The first few are pedestrian only, lined with food and other shops - fruit and vegetable vendors, cheese merchants - most selling outdoors as well as in - restaurants, bakeries, chocolatiers, etc. And not much could be better than grabbing a seat on the patio of Cafe Daguerre, ordering coffee, breakfast, dinner, beer, whatever (everything is good , including my favorite duck confit), and watching the flow of people. One reason I love the 14th is that it is a less touristy and less "chic chic" area of Paris, where real everyday middle-class French people live and work. Amusez-vous bien! (Have fun.)

For a few pictures and more about Rue Daguerre: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187147-d9861535-Reviews-Rue_Daguerre-Paris_Ile_de_France.html