Le Marais

One of my favorite places to check out in Paris is the Marais. The Marais is a neighborhood in the 4th arrondissement. It got its name back when Paris was first being developed. The area was originally a marshland, which was then drained and used as a new area to build houses. In French, 'marais' translates to 'marshland.' So there you go.

Nowadays, it's a cute little neighborhood to wander and maybe even just get lost in. It's full of narrow, winding cobblestone roads that seem to crisscross in every direction. And because of its history, you can find some of the oldest houses in Paris here:

Also, as I've mentioned before, a bonus is the fact that the Marais has become a primarily Jewish community. Saturday is their day of rest, so Sunday becomes a busy day for businesses instead. My favorite Sunday activity is heading over to the Marais and grabbing falafel for lunch.

The streets are filled with a lot of expensive and chic fashion boutiques -wonderful for window shopping. But if you're looking for a deal, there are also many thrift shops scattered around if you know where to look. Once, I even came across a random yard sale-type thing going on in a public square. It looked like people from all over the neighborhood came to sell old clothes and books and things. I've only seen it once though, so that's not a common occurrence.

Finally, the cutest little spot to hang out and relax is the Place des Vosges. It is the oldest planned square in Paris. It's the perfect place to sit and people watch, or just enjoy the picturesque fountains and trees. It is surrounded on all sides by identical red brick buildings, which give it extra charm:

A bientot!