Sunday, January 20, 2013

Notre Neighborhood

        Our neighborhood in the 16th is really nice.  Most important things first:

Rue de Chaillot.  From the front door, turn left.
1.   G-20.  The G-20 is our supermarket.  Take another left at the end of the block on toRue Georges Bizet.  At the next corner is Rue de Chaillot.  Turn right at there is the G-20.  Household supplies like bottled water, garbage bags, and paper products are in the back left side of the store.  By the way, you bag your own groceries at the G-20.

2.   Laverie.  The Laundromat is down a few doors and across the street from the G-20 on Rue de Chaillot.  The trick to using the Laverie is to take laundry detergent with you (you’ll find it in the bathroom or under the kitchen sink); there are two laundry bags and a 2-wheel cart that I usually use to transport stuff back-and-forth.  There is a large white control panel on the wall near the front door. 
a.   Put your clothes into the washing machine;
b.   Use the knob on the machine to indicate whites and temperature;
c.   go to the control panel and punch in the number of the machine;
d.   the machine will prompt you for 4 euros to wash (it might be 6 but I think it is 4);
e.   enter coins or you can insert paper money;
f.    return to the machine and push the small silver start button
g.   when the washer is done, put close into one of the 4 dryers;
h.   enter the dryer number into the control panel
i.    put in one euro
j.    if the clothes are not dry when the machine stops, enter the machine number again and put in another euro.

The proprietor of the shoe repair shop adjacent to the Laverie will help you if you have any troubles.  He doesn’t speak English, but he has to help out French people, too.

3.   Neighborhood Bakery #1.  Don’t know the name of the bakery, but while your stuff washes, go to the bakery you passed on the way to the Laverie and get a croissant and a coffee.

4.   Tabac Marceau.  At the very end of Rue de Cahillot is a café which is very good.  Great omelets.  [Don’t buy cigars there, their humidor isn’t that great.]  This is a good place to start the day with a late breakfast or early lunch.

Pierre 1er de Serbie.  From the front door turn left:
5.   Prego.  This is a pizza place.  Cute little place.  Nobody speaks English, but it is no problem to look at the menu and figure out what you want.

6.   Bar.  A new bar/restaurant opened next to our building.  The wine is on the expensive side (per glass), but it is good for a night cap at the end of the evening.  We haven’t eaten there, but plan to next time.

7.   Tse-Yang.  The Chinese restaurant next to our building is supposed to be the best Chinese restaurant in Paris.  We’ve never been there.  I can only guess it is expensive.

Pierre 1er de Serbie.  From the front door turn right:
8.   Café.  The café at the end of the block is nice.  Reasonably priced.  They have English language menus if you want.  Good for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

9.   Bakery #2.  A hard right at the Café (on Rue Freycinet) is another bakery.  Nice baker.  We have a point and nod relationship.

10.       Valentin.  We like this place.  It is further down the street next to Le Post (the post office).  It is open for coffee and couissants (while they last) in the morning.  The lunch menu is really good.  The menu is not in English and no one speaks English, but the menu has burgers, pasta and salads.  They are open for wine in the evening, but close early and no dinner.  We like this place!

11.       Waknine.  Expensive.  This place does not seem to appreciate non-French customers.  We never plan to go back.

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