From Amsterdam to Paris and Self Catering on Rue Cler

It was a quiet Saturday morning as we finished packing, had some coffee, and checked out of the apartment we were staying in.

The streets were quite empty, except for the local street market; the Lindengracht Market.

Our favorite statue of Theo Thijssen cracked us up. Remember, on our first night in Amsterdam, which was rather chilly, the sculpture of the child in the display was covered with a blanket? Well, I guess since it was market day.....he was now covered in kale! 

The one thing the Missus really took to in Amsterdam were the Stroopwafels and She had quite a collection to take home with Her.

The walk to Amsterdam Central Station was uneventful....even sedate.

Purchasing our tickets early on Thalys, I netted us a good deal in First Class. So we had had some time to relax in the lounge. Folks here were nice. The really friendly young woman in uniform saw us; approached us, and lead us to the waiting area, and then since we had first class tickets, walked us to the lounge. Great service.

Here we found a nice quiet corner, had some water and coffee. There was a group of Japanese businessmen in the lounge as well.

It was a smooth (and ontime) three hour - fifteen minute ride from Amsterdam to Gare Nord in Paris.

From there it was a taxi ride and viola! We were back on Rue Cler.

The 7th is (for now), the Missus's favorite district in Paris. In fact, She was toying with the idea of trying to buy property in Paris (more on that later). So, I decided to get a studio apartment basically one street over from Rue Cler.

And while we stayed in the area previously, we had never been able to take advantage of all the wonderful looking shops in the area. On our previous trip, we had always wanted to just relax, grab some cheese, wine, and a baguette, but weren't able to find the time. This time, we made sure to enjoy the late afternoon (after a nap of course), by doing some shopping at places that had multiple recommendations on sites like Paris by Mouth and others....to many to name.

First off, the cheese, Fromager Marie-Anne Cantin a highly revered and recommended shop was basically just down the street.

Amazing selection of cheeses, many unpasteurized, so you won't find these in the states.

Great service; the butter......is so....."buttery".....

Fromager Marie-Anne Cantin
12 Rue du Champ de Mars
75007 Paris, France

Next, the baguette, "bien cuite, s'il vous plait" - well cooked is our preference.

Les Gourmandises d'Eiffel has three top ten placements in Grand Prix de la Meilleure Baguette de Paris over the last decade.

For some reason, we didn't care to much for our baguette from here; perhaps it was too late in the day.

Les Gourmandises d'Eiffel 
187 Rue de Grenelle
75007 Paris, France

Circling back to Rue Cler. We had wonderful help picking out a wine to go with our cheese from the local outpost of Nicolas.

Nicolas
39 Rue Cler
75007 Paris, France

And picked out some lovely tomatoes and since we bought butter from Marie Cantin; I convinced the Missus to get some radishes from Les Halles Bosquet.

Les Halles Bosquet
50 Rue Cler
75007 Paris, France

Along with that excellent Gouda we purchased in Amsterdam. This made a nice meal....with cheese leftover for the next day's lunch.

Though the Missus still doesn't get the radish with butter thing.

After freshening up a bit, we decided to head out for a stroll.

More than one person I know has told me that the Rue Cler area is more for tourists, it's the "Paris the mind expects", but not the "real Paris". I don't know.....seems like lots of locals around, along with tourists of course.

And we were having a great time. We loved the dogs in the area. I'm just sorry I never got a photo of our favorite, whom we saw 4-5 times....he really got around. This mutt was so obsessed with whomever preceded him and would keep sniffing the walls, sign posts, trash receptacles. We named him "Wall Sniffer"......and we kept seeing him all over the place!

Of course we had to finish the evening off by viewing the Missus's favorite landmark in the world.

From both sides of the Seine.

As we watched the Eiffel Tower light show go off; the Missus muttered to me, "it's so nice to be back in Paris".

Comments

[Two Foodies One Journey]

You can buy quite a lot of unpasteurized cheeses in the US if you ask the right shops (and restaurants)

[Soo]

Great collection of Stroopwafels! Wall Sniffer sounds cool. Next time you need to get photos of Wall Sniffer in action!

[James]

Love it all; and French dairy is soooooo good! (When it was open in OC, Surfas used to sell salted Beurre d'Isigny, which freezes really well.)

[Kirk]

Not the one's I want TFOJ....especially here in San Diego. Almost all are French or Italian raw milk cheeses.

We hope to see him again......and get photos Soo!

[Kirk]

It really is James...soooo good!

[Junichi]

Would've been a perfect picnic haul if it was warmer weather.

[Kirk]

It sure would have been Junichi.

[kat]

paris beautiful as always:)

[Kirk]

As always Kat....as always

[AlysonRR]

We stayed in a flat in the 7th on Rue Saint-Dominique. It had a large balcony and the four of us (my mom and I with my son and niece, who were both 12yo) sat on the balcony every evening with bread, cheese, and salad. It was lovely!

The kids would get excited each time the horse carriages went by, running to the balcony to see them.

With a peek-view of the Eiffel Tower, the distance to the sights, and great shopping, we loved staying in the 7th!

[Kirk]

Hi Alyson - Thanks so much for taking the time out to comment. I think that this time around; I wanted to have the Missus experience what something in the 7th that would cost over half a million Euros would be like. She still loves the 7th and I'm sure we'll stay there yet again on our next (our 3rd) visit.