Inouïe

Alright, this post is going to be a little different because it's going to be more about Paris and less about me. I know, I know, depressing...but still bear with me. Inouïe in french means "unheard of" or "unprecedented," and so the subject of this post is going to be some of the more rare or unheard of things to do in Paris that I've discovered. I think a lot of people come to Paris and see all the touristy stuff in a couple days -- the Louvre, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, etc. However, then those people come back and are like hmmm I wanna do something less touristy and have no idea where to even begin and so they go to like the Rodin Museum or whatever which (don't get me wrong it's a great museum) is still on the list of larger tourist attractions of Paris. So, I've decided that, having been here for a couple months now, I'm going to try and make a list of top-10 non-tourist things to do in Paris, so that next time you're in Paris or someone asks me to show them the "real" Paris, this list will come in handy. It's a good mix of museums, sites, experiences, and places to eat. Here goes...(also I'm trying out my best guidebook writing style, so no laughing)

1) Couscous at the Grand Mosque
This is a must-do. The largest mosque in Paris also has an amazing restaurant/café attached to it (so French, right?) and there's also a beautiful garden. For a very specific time during the day (I believe it's between 11 and 2) you can eat a meal at the restaurant, which is amazingly decorated with Arabic mosaics and full of couches and big round tables. Get either couscous or tagine, and don't forget to ask them to bring around the dessert platter...delicious North African treats await! For me, this is a prime example of something that's not french and yet so quintessentially Parisian. The Arabic community here is so large and present that eating good couscous has become something that all Parisians do, regardless of heritage.

A little taste of the cafe at the Grand Mosque.

2) Le Procope
This is the oldest café in Paris, and some might argue the world. It was opened in 1694 and Voltaire and Diderot used to frequent it often. It's on the Rue de l'Ancienne Comedie in the 6th arrondissement, and while the menu might be a bit pricey, it's worth it just to go in and have a coffee where Voltaire once did! One of the most magical parts of Paris for me is walking down the same streets that so many famous men and women have, and Le Procope is a prime example of one of those places that just oozes history.
3) Saint Sulpice
This is legitimately one of the weirdest looking churches I have ever seen. It's also located in the 6th, and not only is it just really cool to look at from the outside, but it's also pretty neat inside. It's only a little bit smaller than Notre Dame, and Charles Baudelaire and the Marquis de Sade were baptized inside it. Also, some of the paintings in the side chapels were done by Delacroix. Definitely a cool thing for the art and architecture fans.

Saint-Sulpice...what a crazy looking church!

4) Les Archives
The Archives of Paris are located in a Hotel Particulier (which is like an old urban mansion thing) which is incredibly designed and decorated. Not only that, but they also put up really awesome (free!) exhibits using materials from the archives which are, it goes without saying, incredible records and very well preserved. Even though the words will be in French, it's still neat for the non-French speakers to get as much as one can from the exhibit's visuals. Also, in walking through the building you can see facsimiles of some of the most important documents of French history like the Edict of Nantes and some letters written by Charlemagne.
5) Take a stroll around Montparnasse
I know I already wrote a post about the awesome-ness of Montparnasse, but it really is worth taking a walk around the neighborhood if you're looking for something to do. You can have a coffee at one of the four famous cafés (Le Dome, la Coupole, Le Rotonde, and Le Select) where Hemingway, Picasso, and many others used to go to daily. You can also go to the rue de Campagne Premier and see Man Ray's old studio and right across the Boulevard Raspail you can see Picasso's first studio. Also not to miss is the large sculpture sitting in the middle of the road on the Boulevard Raspail near the Boulevard de Montparnasse...it's a Rodin, Just sitting there, in the middle of the road. So if you REALLY need your Rodin fix...

The hotel where Man Ray and Kiki used to live on the rue Campagne Premier in Montparnasse

6) Watch the sun set from the top of the Centre Pompidou
To be fair, watching the sun set from anywhere in the world is usually a pretty cliched great experience,and the Centre Pompidou is a pretty great building, and so when you mix the two together..! Anyways, not only is this a great museum for art (and a very typical tourist attraction) but if you go to the top floor it presents one of the most amazing views in all of Paris. And when the sun is going down and the Eiffel Tower starts to sparkle...man...
7) Day trip to Chantilly
This is really worth doing if you're looking for an easy day trip from Paris. It's about 25 minutes on the train and you can see an amazing castle in an adorable town. 1000 times less touristy than Versailles, and I would argue just as pretty and easier to do in just one day. Also, the castle houses an amazing museum that has to stay on the premises (as dictated by some guy's will) and so there's three Raphaels and a bunch of other amazing things...definitely worth the trip!

The Chateau at Chantilly!

8) Eat a praluline from Pralus
Ok, I know all I talk about lately is this bread but seriously if you are in Paris YOU MUST TRY IT. It's a life-changing experience...the pink pralines...the hazelnuts...the butter...35 rue Rambuteau. I even have the address memorized. GO.
9) Rue Mouffetard
This is a great street behind the Pantheon that epitomizes a lot of what is great about Paris. There are markets and fromageries (cheese stores) and adorable restaurants and it's where a lot of locals go to shop. Getting stuff for a picnic there would be amazing...you can get a lot of stuff for cheap! Definitely a good way to eat some typically french bread and cheese.
10) Promenade Plantée
This is a little garden on top of some buildings in the 12th arrondissement. It goes for a couple kilometers, I think, and is a great way to get some green stuff into your day. It makes for a really pleasant walk or run and it's also neat to look down off the side and see Paris from a different angle. Also, it's just cool that there's a garden on top of some regular old buildings!

A picture (I did not take) of the Promenade Plantee. Neat, right?

 And so that concludes the list! The next time you're in Paris see if you can check out a couple of these things...I promise it will be worth your while! One of the best things about Paris is that it has so much to offer, from amazing world-renowned museums and sights to just everyday ordinary things that somehow become extraordinary when in this city.