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| Arc de Triomphe, adorned with fresh snow |
Two weeks in my own apartment in the center of Paris. Paris Vegan Day: an extremely well-attended celebration of all things herbivore. Scrumptious, animal-free food shared with friends, on the go, at gatherings, and alone in my apartment. Obviously, there's lots to tell you about, so I've decided to blog about it sonata style, and break my trip recap into three movements:
- Today, I'm sharing a photo essay of the sights, as well as a few shots of my day trip to Brussells.
- Paris Vegan Day was such a successful, well-attended event that it deserves its own post; and finally...
- I'll tell you about--and show you-- my vegan culinary adventures in the City of Lights.
I've been visiting Paris since I was 18. I've lost count of my trips, but I'm pretty certain this was #12. I've been to just about all of the tourist attractions, sometimes more than once, so on this trip, I really wanted to live each day according to its own rhythms. I spent my time just wandering, buying my produce from the markets, cooking, writing, drawing, and watching bad French TV [I really got hooked on
"Fais Pas Çi, Fais Pas Ça]. Generally speaking, I spent about 6-7 hours each day just walking and wandering. Days went by when I didn't speak a word of English. But since a picture is worth 1,000 words, I think it's better to show you my trip.
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| Notre Dame at night |
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Rue Oberkampf, around the corner from my apartment, all gussied up for Christmas.
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| Though not as famous as many Parisian churches, St Paul's is my favorite. I love the light and how it exudes such a large sense of space for such a small church. |
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| Place des Vosges, where Victor Hugo lived. |
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These eco-friendly, inexpensive rental bike stands are dotted throughout the city and people really use them. You just swipe your card, ride to your destination, then park the bike at the next kiosk. Only drawback: they don't take US credit cards.
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| Galeries Lafayette, one of Paris' biggest department stores, all done up for the holidays. I found the contrast between this opulence, and all the street people and their blanketed pets depressing. |
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| Nativity figures for sale at a Christmas market. |
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| Sacre-Couer |
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| Paris' most pretentious sign. |
A day in Brussells
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| Looking toward the main square. |
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| The chocolate Mannekin Pis in the shop windows turned out to be more interesting than the real one... |
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| ...Which was disappointingly obliterated by this silly ski costume. |
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Brussells' magnificent Hotel de Ville.
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| Cool street art. |
