Secret places
=”1″>“How different was my first sight of Paris from what I had expected . I had imagined a town as beautiful as it was large. I saw only dirty stinking alleys, ugly black houses, a stench of filth and poverty. My distaste still lingers.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
As it happens, it is not only Rousseau’s distaste for Paris that lingered, but also his views of the city, that remain almost as valid today as they were in the 1700s. Indeed, most of the houses look simply gorgeous now, yet the alleys are just as dirty, and the streets are filled with prostitutes, pick-pockets, and homeless men. Yet, at the same time every cliché that is said about Paris ceases to be such, and becomes bewitching reality. It truly is one of the most romantic cities in the world, the food is one of the best, and the sky seems to have been painted by Degas. And, I believe, it is in the tension between these two faces of the city that Paris’ true heart lies.
It is, of course, the same for one of the city’s most famous quartiers, Marais. La Place des Vosges, for example, one of Marais’ most popular attractions, has been ever since it was built in the 1600s both “a pick-up spot for whores, and a fashionable promenade in the city.“ Nowadays it continues to be just as fashionable, as it is touristy.
Still, all things considered, it remains one of the city’s most charming places. A site that is best explored on foot with no map and no plan, for it best unveils himself to the curious ones. Walk along the Place des Vosges to discover Victor Hugo’s house tucked away between douzens of little art galleries. If any building catches your attention, and believe me it will, do check and see if you can go in. You will not only, most likely, be able to do so, but will also be pleasantly surprised by a beautiful courtyard. Marais is one of the greenest places in Paris, yet all the gardens, that are by the way public, are hidden behind building walls (Hôtel Carnavalet, Hôtel de Sully, and Hôtel de Soubise just to name a few).
See if you can find the designer outlet store, La Piscine, and if you do, bargain for a further discount, you’ll probably get it, but expect no more than the additional 10-15%. Wander away from the fashion boutiques on Franc Bourgeois only to find the tiny Rue des Rosiers the heart of a historic Jewish quarter , but also the place to get the “best falafel in the world.” You could find most of these in the guides and ‘insider’ tips, but, as with most places, they much more charming when uncovered accidentally by yourself.
So wander aimlessly and see what ‘secret places’ catch your heart. That’s what I did, and remained enamoured.
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=”1″>Sandro Leather Collar Dress
Juicy Couture Trench
Miu Miu Pumps
Sandro Belt
Wolfort Tights
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62 Responses to “Secret places”
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wow!! beautiful photos! Paris looks amazing.
I just love your cute black dress!! 
x
You look GORGEOUS and great outfit!
you look absolutely fabulous ,darling!!! xxx
i love paris! you look absolutely beautiful
Oh so fabulous! I wish I could go there and discover all it’s secrets, ugly or beautiful.
I know what you mean!! And I believe what you say applies to nearly every city in the world. None is absolutely perfect, they all have this double face that make them real, tangible and more exciting.
Beautiful photos! I got quite a shock the first time I went to Paris as it wasn’t what I had been imagining.
Laura
whitewinters.blogspot.com
i love all in this post…is all great and soft…well done dear.
have a look at mine if u want..kiss
Patchwork à Porter
i love the text!! can you belive that i’m crying? i miss marais and the falafel and place de vosges…i miss you , too!!! See you in 28th!kiss
what an amazing place to take photos! adn they are gorgeous photos! and that outfit is amazing!
please follow me back if you like or if you havent already,
x
shopstyleconquer.blogspot.com
I love your outfit…I love neutral colors and the shoes are the icing on the cake…
Such a classy and lady-like look. Especially adore the collar on that darling dress!
♥, Jamie
http://www.TheFancyTeacup.com
I love your shoes!*__*
-Julia
your hair is amazing:) waow so fierce!;)
I love your posts about Paris!
You look amazing in this outfit!
Kisses
love the dress!! the leather collar is amazing
Kisses!!
http://fashion-whatelse.blogspot.com/
It seem a great place! You look gorgeous and the outfit combination is great!
cute collar & perfect trench!
<3 steffy
Steffys Pros and Cons
You have such wonderful pictures and such an amazing look!
I love this. I also liked how you described Paris as a mix between the two ideas. Those pumps are so classic and sophisitcated!
xo Louisa
Http://circasundayafternoon.blogspot.com
I love your photos, you look really pretty in these pictures, and your hair is amazing! And it’s just great when you discover a place all by yourself, and not be trapped into the usual touristy junks that tour companies organize. From your post, it truly resonates just how wonderful your trip to Paris was.
Cheers,
Wi
A Single Girl’s Musings
I love this outfit and I was very surprised that you remind about Rousseau. I like Rousseau’s philosophy very much. Have a great weekend!
This is a perfect outfit for the city of style and love
You look gorgeous! Thank you for this first-hand story about Paris! It’s always so interesting to know about people’s experience 
Can’t wait to read more!
Please check out my blog because I just gave you an award on it
XoXo
Plami
http://www.fashionthrill.com/
Nice look
I like yout blog. If you want, we can follow each other 
WOow Chère Ioana the (flaming) way you are in symbiosis with this fascinating City truly is Breathtaking*, AND I widely agree, far beyond any kind of cliché, Paris’ charm intrinsically is multi-faceted, her ugliests sides (paradoxically) tending to extol the uber majestuous ones . . .
* cf. this fallish chromatic palette
à Bientôt, Antoine
you’re lovely in paris!
How fitting Rousseau’s quote is! I must admit that I felt the same when I first came to Paris last year. I’ve spent the last two summers studying abroad there and they have been amazing, but I always have to take some time to get used to the city again – it is very loud, hectic and dirty, but there is always something to do, always a new place to discover that I quickly fell in love.
Reading your beautiful words (you’re such a great writer) about one of my favorite quarters of the city has made me dream again… have a marvelous time!
You look beautiful!
I really want to visit Paris, but I know it won’t be as amazing as it can be said! x
Sirens and Bells
I loved your hair!
you are always so beautiful
http://www.ourfashiondiary.com
You look dazzling! So classic and chic!
u look so inoccent and i love your hair woow..
thx for stopping by hoe to hear from u soon again
love
delasheela.blogspot.com
love love love your trench! The soft gold buttons are so perfect with it! Gorgeous photos my dear!
You look so beautiful in this pictures. Amazing
Absolutely stunning photos!! You look gorgeous – your hair is amazing!!! So jealous – Paris is my dream destination!! I love your blog!!
http://sweetandsassy-sherry.blogspot.com/
Just lovely.
bespokebaroque.blogspot.com
you look like a doll! it’s so beautiful!
intra-adevar, dincolo de clichée, Parisul nu se digera usor.
am numarat: de-abia a 18-a oara acolo i-am simtit farmecul incat sa vreau sa mai raman, in contrast cu datile in care dupa 2 saptamani vroiam acasa. cel putin pt mine a fost an aquired taste 
evenimentele, mancarea, atmosfera – extraordinare. dar dureaza sa poti trece peste mizerie, zgomot, agitatie. locuri secrete? pai locul cu best falafel ever din cartierul evreiesc. e aproape de locul cu best pita ever – 50 m mai jos. un mic magazin cu umbrele de pe bvd st michel, aproape de gradinile Loux. aleea care duce spre Palais Tokyo. libraria de langa Institute de monde arabe, o galerie ascunsa intr-o curte interioara pe care nu ai cum sa o descoperi decat din greseala – pe ille st Louis (au expo foto, tablouri si o mercerie fascinanta cu 100.000 de nasturi sculptati, ciopliti, colorati + o poveste intreaga spusa de ferestre mari si iedera cataratoare). si mai sunt multe, cum ar fi locul de unde cerul pare photoshopat sau unde intalnesti cele mai fresh tinute sau chiar locul in care aerul e muzica. dar nu ti le spun pe toate ca atunci n-ar mai fi locuri secrete :p
p.s.: frumoasa prima fotografie. pare una de epoca in care culorile puternice se pictau peste
imi place cum atunci oamenii erau asezati chiar in centrul imaginii – cum esti tu aici -, nu spre partea de jos.
Beautiful pictures !
i love your coat !!
kisses
so cute your look and this phtos!
♥
http://quemepongobyalbavila.blogspot.com
I hope you didn’t travel the city in heels
)
Gorgeous outfit!
HOly shit your hair is incredible…
An amazing group of photos with that fabulous hair!
you look beautiful, I love your hair too, it’s gorgeous! Lovely pictures.
love,mongs
mythriftycloset.blogspot.com
I partly agree with Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris when I first discovered it was not at all the image it is famous for,…I hav to think of Patrick Suskind’s Perfume – but there are indeed places you can discover with time, if you have the time, to just wander…
The food in France generally is one of the best I have ever eaten and I miss going into a partly filthy bistro, outside of touristic areas, to eat some of the best dishes tourists will sadly never touch. Kiss kiss si distractie placuta in continuare!
The photos are really amazing, but I have to disagree with you on one point.
I don’t know where you’ve seen only prostitutes and stinking alleys in Paris, but as someone who has lived there for a year and visited I don’t know how many other times, I’ve only seen 3 homeless men sleeping on the street next to the Sorbonne (it’s true they sleep there every day). And as for the prostitutes and dodgy people, mostly in the Northern part near Place Pigalle and my opinion is that even there you can’t find them that easily. The rest is mainly clean and cleaner than Bucharest will ever be.
Thank you everyone for the wonderful input The relocation to Paris is not without difficulties, and your words helped a lot!
@Melanie: I completely agree! Whenever it gets too hectic and loud, I too discover something new, and fall in love all over again!
@Sasha: multumesc pentru idei, o sa le incerc sigur
@Ingrid: I’ll be on skype later tonight, we should talk more! And so very appropriate to mention Suskind!
@Fashionthroughtravel: I’m so happy you like the pictures
However, regarding Paris, well, I was mainly trying to make a point about how Paris is not as big of a cliche as people say, and that it is not perfect, yet, in spite of this, even more charming. Still, I have to maintain my position on the dirtiness. The streets really are dirty, there are homeless persones in front all almost every shop, and certainly in from of every metro entrance, and as for the prostitutes, I’m not even going to mention the 18th, but have you ever walked at night on Rue St. Denis? However, not in spite, but because all of these flaws, I believe that the city is even more beautiful, because it is more real.
I have to say it’s really interesting to hear your views on Paris!
I hope I didn’t make you mad, it’s just my point of view and maybe you haven’t been there long enough yet to figure out where to go and where not 
I agree with you on the homeless people in a lot of subway stations (I didn’t think of them in my initial comment!) but I’ve never seen them in front of shops… As for Bd. St Denis I don’t know why anyone would want to get that close to the Northern part of Paris… The North is really dangerous and frankly nobody ever goes there besides the people living there, I think you chose some weird spots to visit
I’m not saying that you only have to visit the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th and 16th, I lived in the 11th myself, but that doesn’t mean that outside these parts everything is dirty
Actually Rue St. Denis is in the 2nd, quite far from the the North
but no, how could you make me mad 
) I’m actually happy we’re debating this, because it only goes to show how utterly complex and special Paris is! xx
My mistake about the Rue St Denis then! An interesting debate about a stunning city, I agree! Have a nice day
Nice shoes
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Despite of all the bad sides that Paris has, that’s where my heart lies. There’s just a unique spirit left there.
I hate Brussels, though it also has many beautiful places. I believe that there’s no city like Paris!
beautiful pumps!:)
How old are you anyways?
Love this post. I just moved to Paris from San Francisco and it has been a whirlwind, but every day I try and take a new street, discover a new viewpoint and attempt to speak to at least on Parisian, in French of course. My French needs a lot of work.
http://laperleaparis.blogspot.com/
Beautiful photos. I love your make up and hair color.
Your blog is great, I’ d love to follow each other, if you like mine as well.
denizsaatcioglu.blogspot.com
your outfit is great! and i am in love with the color of your hair! you look so beautiful!
http://profdrskinnybitch.blogspot.com/
f f bine scris si punctat! penru mine a fost nevoie de o a doua vizita ca sa ajung sa ador parisul, insa socul primei vizite de turist nestiutor cu hotelul rezervat vis a vis de moulin rouge
ramane intiparit in minte…totusi…paris is paris and one of a kind! does not beat my lovely london though 
!!! that most def my all time number 1!
xoxo,
meelusha
You look great in those pictures. Paris is really a great setting to do these kinds of photography.
I agree. You look totally stunning on those photos. I wish I could visit Paris as well. If that happens, I would not let any opportunity to pass by without doing some photo shoot sessions. I bought a new DSLR camera at the camera shop in Australia, and I think it would be nice to use it for a photo shoot session in Paris.
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