Let me share our pre-Christmas weekend in Paris, highlighting everything we enjoyed. We had clear winter skies, walked everywhere, savored delicious food, met old friends, made new ones, and explored hidden corners, avoiding the usual tourist spots. Here’s my Paris diary.

We arrived late on Friday night via an Air France flight from Bristol. From Charles de Gaulle airport, we took the RER mainline and connected to the Metro to Montparnasse, reaching our hotel around 10 pm. The area around the hotel was unremarkable, with restaurants closing and late-night shops. We checked into our room on the 23rd floor of Hotel Pullman, ready for a good night’s sleep, as we had a tour of Marche d’Aligre planned for the next day.

On Saturday morning, the grey skies lifted as we enjoyed breakfast at Restaurant Justin, featuring fruit, yogurt, and a miniature pain raisin. We then took the Metro to Ledru Rollin, where our guide David from Viator greeted us. He gave us an orientation of the Paris arrondissements, and we strolled through the market, admiring the beautifully presented produce. David explained the market’s history and the reasonable prices due to the fast turnover.

Inside the covered market, we drooled over the cheese, fresh meat, charcuterie, and foie gras. We bought saffron and old-fashioned sweets before admiring the flea market’s glass and porcelain. We then tasted cheeses at a nearby wine shop with a glass of 2001 Medoc, enjoying the creamy Rocamadour, earthy Saint Nectaire, and blue Roquefort with quince cheese.

David recommended some market restaurants for lunch, and we dined at Le Chat Bossu. Guy had rabbit stew, and I tried Steak Tartare. After lunch, we walked towards the Seine, enjoying the atmosphere. We stumbled upon the Promenade plantée, a green pathway on an old viaduct, and walked until it ended.

We reached Place de Bastille, where a Christmas funfair was underway. Seeking calm, we walked along the Canal Saint Martin, reminiscent of London’s Regents Canal. We then walked along the Seine, passing several bridges before entering the Jardin des Plantes. The garden featured classical French style with wild and romantic botanical plants.

We met my old friend Pierre-Jean and his sons for a beer, reminiscing about old times. Back at Hotel Pullman, we quickly freshened up before heading out for dinner with our Cookening host, Adelia. She served a delicious French Creole meal, and we enjoyed a pleasant evening discussing life in the Caribbean and French politics.

On Sunday morning, we visited Rue Mouffetard, hoping to catch a market, but found only food shops. We walked up Rue Monge, dodging the queue at Eric Kayser’s bakery, and admired the sweet shop Le Bon Bon au Palais. We then attended mass at Saint Julien le Pauvre, followed by coffee at Odette tea shop, enjoying the view of Notre Dame.

We walked past Notre Dame Cathedral, taking photos of its cleaned facade, and continued to Ile Saint Louis. We explored the charming shops and galleries before heading to the Marais. At Place des Vosges, we visited Maison Victor Hugo, enjoying the rooms decorated by Hugo himself.

After our visit, we walked back along the Seine, buying a Bob Dylan poster for our son. We crossed Pont de l’Archevêché, where lovers attach padlocks, and admired the views of Notre Dame at sunset. Exhausted, we took the metro back to our hotel and dined at Cafe Atlantic.

On Monday morning, we checked out and met my childhood friend Fabienne for coffee. We reminisced before she accompanied us to the train station for our flight home.

Our weekend in Paris was filled with delightful experiences, from exploring markets and hidden corners to enjoying local cuisine and reconnecting with friends. It was a memorable pre-Christmas getaway.