26 Jan Ask an Au Pair: Drew has discovered a great café near Sacré Coeur
What inspires you about Paris?
How alive the city always is. There is always something fun, gorgeous, and glamorous to do no matter your mood.
How would you suggest meeting Parisians?
Through online meetups. There are lots of Facebook pages and apps to meet up. Trust me, once you meet one, you meet many.
How do you improve or master your French language skills?
Find a French friend who is willing to take it slow and practice with you.
What is your favorite neighborhood?
I love the Latin quarter most definitely. Also, all around chatelet/Les Halles area, there are endless places to eat and shop.
Can you describe a best meal you’ve had in Paris?
Most surprisingly, the best meal I had was a small run down brasserie that I don’t even remember the name of, but it was by the Sacre Coeur. I had wine and a poached egg croque with frites. Amazing.
A favorite café or bar?
My favorite café is the Hardware Society by the Sacre Coeur.
A favorite shop?
Shakespeare and Company. If you’re any kind of book lover like I am, this is a haven.
A favorite museum?
Musée Cluny/Musee d’Art de Moyen Âge or Rodin Museum
What is your favorite secret Paris spot?
The garden around the corner from Shakespeare and Co and across from the Notre Dame. You’d think for the location it’d be far more crowded, but early mornings are stunning there and it surrounds a smaller, less known church and has the oldest tree in Paris located there.
Any spots outside of Paris that you would recommend for a weekend or day trip?
Normandy or Strasbourg.
What do you dislike most about living in Paris?
The seemingly “cold attitude” of french. It’s not at all that they are rude, but especially being American, the French’s more laid-back take on service and life can be a shock at first.
What advice would you give to incoming au pairs?
See as much as possible and know that you will be uncomfortable and lonely at times, but Paris is going to do wonderful things for you. And always, always communicate with your host family, no matter the issue. They’re your family and your employer.
Get to know Paris, from an au pair’s perspective. Our “Ask an Au Pair” series was so popular that we’ve decided to continue it with our next round of au pairs! We pose a dozen questions about the City of Light to those who are seeing it with fresh eyes and learning all of its wonderful intricacies.