Parisian Tea Garden Plus

Bonjour Glenda,

I explored the French edition of a Victoria magazine I have (see A Starbucks Birthday May 2010) and have a couple more Parisian treats for you to explore.

For a tea break in your tour of art museums, search out Musée de la Vie Romantique, situated at the end of a tree-lined courtyard in an 1830s mansion. It is just a five-minute walk from the Musée Gustave Moreau. It is dedicated to novelist George Sand (1804-76), but the small permanent collection, which includes drawings by Delacroix and Ingrès, may appeal to your artist's heart. The greatest attraction though is its tea garden. The tearoom 'Le The Dans le Jardin' is tucked in the corner of the garden in what was once the greenhouse. It is a rare opportunity to enjoy one of the many lovely secret garden spaces hidden behind Parisian facades. I hope you find it at 16 Rue Chaptal in the ninth arrondisement of Paris. Have a sip of tea for me!

There's a tiny French country kitchenware store that looks worth exploring: 'Au Petit Bonheur La Chance' at 13 Rue St. Paul in the Marais District. The store, where eight is a crowd, is described as being charming, unpretentious and addictive. If it's in your neck of the woods have a look, you may just find the right metal canister for your kitchen. But there are also ceramic ones and speckled or stenciled ones. The era, from the 1870s to the 1950s, may not be quite your style but you just never know what great memento of Paris you may find.

I'm ready to start planning my next trip to Paris!

Au Revoir,

Brenda