Apartment Review: 3 rue Des Grands Augustins
I was 17 when I
made my first trip to Paris. I was crossing the bridge at Pont Neuf
when what would become my day dream for the next five years manifested.
Oh, to live in Paris! I concocted plans to come in the summer and work
as an au pair before college; or maybe, if I lost 30 lbs, I could work
in France as a supermodel. I would take two cute French kids, a boy and
a girl ages three and four, to the Luxembourg Gardens and push the
wooden toy boats around in one of the fountains with a tall stick.
There would be a cute French guy standing next to me, and I would be
wearing that white Betsy Johnson skirt with the pink flowers on it, the
one that was given to me after I wore it in a high-fashion photo shoot.
I would live in one of those cute apartments in the passageways leading
to the Seine on the left bank…an apartment on Rue Dauphine, Rue
Mazarine, or rue des Grands Augustins….
Three
doors down from the Seine where you can buy black and white post cards
for 1 euro or have your portrait painted for 10 euros, 3 rue des Grands
Augustins hides behind an upscale modern restaurant, with valet parking
for 8 euro, and the mass of booths lining the Seine selling leather
bound books, scenic sketches and calendars. The small two-bedroom
apartment that sleeps six is located at the top of seven flights of
stairs (no elevator). Not to worry, someone will help you with your
bags, plus the view of the Eiffel Tower is worth it.At
900 euros a week (a special price for Bonjour Paris subscribers),
you’re talking a little over a 100 euros per person per week. In the
6th arrondisement on the Seine, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better
deal.
It’s difficult to imagine
a more charming or traditional Paris than on rue des Grands Augustins,
but "traditional" and "charming" are not the words I would choose to
describe the décor in this apartment. Three rue des Grands Augustins is
a palette of primary colors chosen seemingly at random. You’ll make
phone calls from a red telephone and light your book with a green desk
lamp. You’ll listen to music on an old boom box that probably dates
back to 198, with silver graffiti on the speakers. When glancing around
the space you’ll find yourself frequently asking, "Why, I wonder…." why
not a white phone, but a red one? Why a plastic chair? Why blue? But
then, the French do love color.
Please
do not misunderstand me, the apartment is not ugly. In fact, its
slanted ceilings, hardwood floors, and view of the Eiffel Tower contain
all of the elements for a charming apartment; the décor in this one is
just a little…wacky. But hey, it’s a fabulous location, and it sleeps
six. So why not take the tour…The
entrance is charming and full of light. The floor is made of the
original tiles dating back to the XVII century. A small wooden desk
sits under a window on the left, the perfect place for writing the
folks back home.
The two
bedrooms are almost identical--you can relax about the children arguing
over who gets the bigger room. Both are small, as are most bedrooms on
the left bank. They contain minimal furniture--a bed, a lamp, a
nightstand. The bedspreads are busy, a sea of colors. In one bedroom
there are shelves that line the far wall, filled neatly with figurines
of, well, I don’t know what. There is a small window in each that
brings adequate light. The floors are hardwood. I don’t think you’ll
want to take your afternoon tea in here; instead take a nap and then
grab a café up the street at La Pallette.
The
living room is a comfortable size, not big, not small—however, it may
get a little cramped if you have two people staying on the comfortable
fold-out sofa. Oriental rugs warm the Versaille-style tile floor.
Charming meets funky--a small fireplace and slanted ceilings,
contradicted by a square glass dining table with black trim that seats
four (it looks like something bought at a garage sale) or a round blue
plastic chair. Patterned mirror tiles are fastened in a long
single-file row down the wall to the left of the fireplace. Upon the
mantle is a bright red vase awaiting the daffodils from Sunday’s market.
Behind
the glass table there is a small window out of which you can see the
Eiffel Tower, a delightful view during your morning cup of coffee.There
is a small television in the living room as well as dial-up internet
access via Wanadoo, though you must bring your own laptop; the
apartment does not contain a computer. There is, however, an upscale
internet shop nearby on rue St.-André des Arts. This café is quite hip
and trendy--you might even make some friends while checking your email.
The
kitchen is small but has lots of light and contains everything you’ll
need for a home-cooked French meal. The bathroom has a separate toilet
and is of a good size for the left bank.
This
is the perfect apartment for a family traveling to Paris on a budget
and looking for their own space in, perhaps, the most quaint
arrondissement of Paris. With the Seine two doors down and the Mariage
Frères tea house around the corner, there is no doubt that while
staying on rue des Grands Augustins you will have a very Parisian
experience.
During your stay at 3 rue des Grands Augustins, try some of these nearby restaurants located on your street:
Ze Kitchen Gallerie: 01 44 32 00 32
Relais Louis XIII: 01 43 26 75 96
Restaurant Jacques Cagna: 01 43 26 49 39
Mariage Frères, salon de thé: 01 40 51 82 50
Pagodon restaurant: 01 43 26 55 16
Roger La Grenouille: 01 56 24 24 34
Relais Louis XIII: 01 43 26 75 96
Restaurant Jacques Cagna: 01 43 26 49 39
Mariage Frères, salon de thé: 01 40 51 82 50
Pagodon restaurant: 01 43 26 55 16
Roger La Grenouille: 01 56 24 24 34
Tariffs:
3 days (minimum stay) 550€, the special price for Bonjour Paris subscribers is
450€
1,100€ a week, the special price for Bonjour Paris subscribers is 900
3.000€ a month, the special price for Bonjour Paris subscribers is 2.200€
3 days (minimum stay) 550€, the special price for Bonjour Paris subscribers is
450€
1,100€ a week, the special price for Bonjour Paris subscribers is 900
3.000€ a month, the special price for Bonjour Paris subscribers is 2.200€
For bookings, contact Manuela Corti at mcorti@kyros.net
Kirsten joins Bonjour Paris from Los Angeles, California where she recently graduated from the University in Southern California with a BFA in Acting. Last year Last year she co-wrote the book and lyrics to a new pop musical which expects to open in Los Angeles next spring. Two years ago, while studying at a conservatory in London, Kirsten fell in love with Paris and decided that she was destined to return for some time. She's thrilled to experience this dream come true.
