Marais: Hidden gems
Good weather, and time to spare. These are the two simple components that build up a day of simple abundance in Paris. Explored the Marais in my own pace in a beautiful Thursday morning, navigating the cobblestoned paths, small fashion boutiques, Jewish quarters, and outdoor cafes. Only when we slow down our pace, erase “set schedules”, do we start sauntering into hidden gems and explore unexpected surprises.
Contrary to the high-end outlets of bigger brands well known among tourists, the Marais stocks itself with a huge collection of boutiques. Small shops with independent designers, thrift shops (with second hand branded goods some of high quality), and high-quality boutiques with brands expanding their global footprint are scattered among the twists and turns of the area. I normally feel more comfortable checking online collections before venturing into the store, yet feeling the texture of materials, feasting your eyes with the colors and design of actual items, and conversing with the store owner can be a delight. From books, I’ve learned that the French shop owners treat their stores like personal territory, most hold their collection with pride and esteem. Venturing into the store, greeting the owners with a delightful “Bonjour”, and conversing slightly is a joy. I found that most boutique owners are extremely courteous (when you enter with a smile and a kind greeting), leave you a lot of personal space, and are happy to give recommendations when needed. I’m grateful that I navigated before the tourist season hits, when the owners are not as exasperated with the crowd and frenzy of the tourist season. Of the bigger sized boutiques, quite a few are already expanding their global footprint, venturing into Asia. Yet, staying loyal to the French concept of simple abundance, high quality and simple design is something that I appreciate in their limited number of seasonal collections. Glad to learn about a few French brands, and settle them inside my treasured chest of style inspirations.
After a morning of wandering around the quaint quarter (off season and morning time; summer afternoons must be packed!), I crossed Pont Neuf, and walked along the Seine and reached the Latin quarters. The student area around Sorbonne features numerous outdoor cafes, with Parisians and tourists enjoying the midday sun. Bathing under the light and beautiful ambience is a delight, and I stepped into Paul, the Boulangerie of France that has expanded its global footprint and landed in Taiwan haha. It had a nice outdoor seating area, so I got my baguette, an apple tart, and a bottle of eau de gazeuse and bathed under the midday sun. Sitting beside me were a French elderly couple, dressed well and formalfor a Paul outdoor picnic haha. They greeted me with “Bon Appetite!” and dived into the simple abundance of midday recharge. Sitting on the sidewalks, looking at tourists and people in all walks of life going by is a relaxing and interesting “loisoir dans mon temps libre”. I seldom people watch in a café back in Asia, the stalls are mostly indoors, the air is smoggy outdoors, and I wonder about the “time to spare.” Felt happy with such a day of simple abundance, of venturing in Paris, enjoying the street, the view, the ambience, and the people. Spring is here, at last!
