I'm back in Paris, and not so strangely, it feels like home. I'm not at our lovely little hotel in the Tenth, the Hotel Taylor, instead I'm in a very nice AirBnB just down the road in the Third. The area feels a little grungier that where we find the Taylor, but not so much that I feel unsafe. I walked home alone from dinner tonight and all was well. My little apartment sits on top of a small boutique hotel. The view of the rooftops is wonderful. I think I'm going to like my four nights here. Even better, I get the BBC News on the telly. English! At last!
This is the view.
Anyway, I have three full days in Paris before I go back to Australia on Thursday morning.
I've been somewhat sick - though I'm pretty much better now, my lungs are still not quite playing ball. Hot air seems to set them off.
I've got plans for Tuesday and Wednesday. We've got a ticket for a tour to Versailles on Tuesday - going with one of the group - and I'm very much looking forward to this.
On Wednesday I've got a timed ticket to The Louvre, going later int he day when hopefully some of the crowds have thinned out.
But what to do tomorrow?
I have some ideas, but I'm going to outsource this to AI and see what it comes up with. AI and I are going to become friends. It's a novel thing. But I want to see what it comes up with.
My prompt reads as follows:
"I would like and itinerary to see some things in Paris on a Monday. I do not want to go to the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, Versailles, Notre Dame, Musee Carnavalet or Montmartre. I am staying in the Third Arrondissement. I love history, churches and quirky things."
It is important to say that you're going on a Monday as many museums are closed. Also, I have noted places I don't want to go as I've either been there, or I'm going there.
Let's see what they say?
To be honest, I'm rather impressed.
Here's what it said:
Great! Since you’re staying in the 3rd arrondissement (the Marais area), you’re already in one of the most charming and historic parts of Paris. And given your preferences — history, churches, and quirky things — I’ll craft a Monday itinerary that avoids the big-ticket places you mentioned but still gives you an immersive, offbeat Parisian experience.
🌿 Paris Itinerary – Monday (Historical + Quirky)
Base: 3rd Arrondissement (Le Marais)
Themes: History, Churches, Quirkiness
Museums closed on Monday are noted, but this plan avoids them.
🕘 9:00 AM – Coffee & Breakfast at Café Charlot
📍 38 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris
A classic Parisian café right near Marché des Enfants Rouges. Great people-watching spot and an atmospheric way to start your day.
🕘 9:45 AM – Explore Le Marais’s Hidden History
Self-Guided Walking Highlights:
🏛 Place des Vosges – Oldest planned square in Paris. Walk under the arcades and admire the symmetry.
🏠 Maison de Victor Hugo – Exterior only (closed Mondays), but still fun to imagine the writer’s life.
🕍 Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis – Stunning Baroque church, often overlooked.
🏰 Hôtel de Sens – One of the last medieval mansions in Paris.
🕰 Rue François Miron – See medieval half-timbered houses (very rare in Paris).
💡 Tip: Walk toward Île Saint-Louis via Rue Saint-Antoine for historic vibes.
🕦 11:30 AM – Église Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais
📍 13 Rue des Barres, 75004 Paris
One of the most beautiful, lesser-known churches in Paris with a fascinating organ and a serene atmosphere. Also home to a monastic community – it feels far from the tourist trail.
🕛 12:15 PM – Lunch: Quirky Option
L'As du Fallafel (34 Rue des Rosiers) – Legendary spot in the Jewish Quarter for falafel. Grab it to-go and eat in Place des Vosges or nearby square.
OR
Chez Janou (2 Rue Roger Verlomme) – Cozy Provençal bistro, less quirky but very atmospheric.
🕝 2:00 PM – Visit the Church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
📍 Place Sainte-Geneviève, 75005 Paris
One of Paris’s most beautiful churches (and quirky!). Houses the shrine of Saint Geneviève, patron saint of Paris. Features rare rood screen and gorgeous stained glass. Also, it’s just beside the Panthéon, which you could admire from outside.
➡️ Nearby: Walk past the Rue Mouffetard area for quirky little shops and a historic market street.
🕒 3:30 PM – Arènes de Lutèce (Ancient Roman Arena)
📍 49 Rue Monge, 75005 Paris
Hidden Roman amphitheater in the Latin Quarter. Quiet, peaceful, and surreal to find Roman ruins tucked away in the city.
🕓 4:15 PM – Quirky Stop: Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
📍 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris
Open on Mondays! This is a bizarre and beautiful museum of hunting, nature, and surreal taxidermy. It’s elegant, weird, and very “cabinet of curiosities.” A hidden gem right in your arrondissement.
🕕 6:00 PM – Early Evening Stroll Along the Seine
Walk from Pont Marie or Pont de la Tournelle along the riverbanks. As the sun goes down, the city glows. Bonus: visit the Shakespeare & Company bookstore if you’re up for a detour.
🍷 7:30 PM – Dinner Options (Marais Area)
Le Colimaçon – Cozy, traditional French bistro
Les Philosophes – Solid classic in a historic location
Derrière – Quirky, hidden restaurant behind a nondescript door, with an eclectic, homey interior
🌙 Optional Late Stop: Le Comptoir Général
📍 80 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
A super quirky bar and cultural space themed around colonial Africa, vintage oddities, and art. It’s a hidden gem near Canal Saint-Martin, a short walk from the 3rd.
There's a few things on here which look interesting. I love the idea of the churches.
There are a couple of stops as well that I want to incorporate. I might looking at finding a ticket to see inside Saint Chapelle (also something to do early Wednesday morning). There are some libraries I would like to investigate - I've been to the Richelieu, but AI is recommending the following:
1. 🕰 Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève
📍 Place du Panthéon, 5th arrondissement
🕒 Open Monday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Why visit:
Breathtaking 19th-century ironwork reading room
Incredible view of the Panthéon
Used by university students, but visitors can admire the architecture
Feels like stepping into a historical novel
🔎 Ask politely at the desk if you're just visiting — staff are usually welcoming.
2. 🏛 Bibliothèque Mazarine
📍 23 Quai de Conti, 6th arrondissement (Inside the Institut de France)
🕒 Open Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Why visit:
Oldest public library in France (founded 1643)
Stunning wood-paneled reading room and antique globes
Lesser-known gem, peaceful and elegant
✅ Open to the public — quiet visitors welcome.
3. 🐘 Bibliothèque Forney (in Hôtel de Sens)
📍 1 Rue du Figuier, 4th arrondissement (Marais)
🕒 Open Monday: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Why visit:
Housed in a medieval Gothic mansion!
Specializes in decorative arts, fashion, and crafts
Free exhibits sometimes on design, posters, Art Nouveau
🌀 Very quirky and fits your interests — plus, it's right in your arrondissement.
4. 🕍 Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal
📍 1 Rue de Sully, 4th arrondissement (near Bastille)
🕒 Open Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Why visit:
Former 18th-century mansion with opulent interiors
Rich in literary and revolutionary history
Collection includes manuscripts, first editions, and more
⚜️ Often overlooked, but a hidden jewel near the Seine.
5. 📖 Bibliothèque du Musée des Arts et Métiers (optional, niche)
📍 60 Rue Réaumur, 3rd arrondissement
🕒 Open Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Why visit:
Technical and industrial focus — for fans of quirky engineering history
Near the fascinating Musée des Arts et Métiers (also open Mondays)
🔧 A niche option, but cool if you're into the history of invention and odd gadgets.
I've got some interesting options. Just because AI tells you to do it doesn't mean it has to be done, but I love that it's come up with the cheap, easy and interesting things to do.
I'll let you know what I get up to.
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