A Tourist in Paris, Halsman exhibit

If you live in Paris, believe it or not

Every now and then you wish you were again a carefree tourist throwing caution to the wind.

I did that on Saturday. I went to see the Halsman photography exhibit. As exciting as the giant blowup posters in the Metro.

A few tips for tourists:
M. Asked me, "was it safe to take Paris buses?

YES! If this man isn't worried his puppy will be taken, you shouldn't either.

S. asked me where are the best croissants?
When you live in Paris you pretty much stop eating croissants and p'tit dejeuner as served in hotels and cafes. There are too many other goodies to waste your calories on.

Like Brioche de Rois during the month os Janvier.

I never tried the Provençal galette before but these are truly delicious. Inside, fleur d'orange delicately flavored brioche. Outside a crackly thin sugar coating with preserved fruit. Eric Kayser makes this mini version. I kept eating it Before I painted it...

The classic January galette des Rois is pretty much like eating a layered croissant made with the same puff pastry (another reason to save yourself).

I've been researching these. They are only available from Jan 1-31.

Gerard Mulot makes this divine version with pistachios and big Spanish almonds. Get it while you can. Forget those croissants.

For a year I have been ogling these adorable feves (favors placed inside the Galette des Rois). On Saturday, feeling a bit tourist-like I sailed into Angelina and paid an outrageous 27€ for these minis. The equally adorable feves sitting on top are from the very reasonable Picard - DIY individual galette des roi (4€ for 2 feves).

I took a quick look at Angelina's gold leaf galette (the price was hidden) and went on my way.

The trouble with indulging yourself with luxury items is you start thinking you deserve others. You have to be a tourist to slip so easily into this frame of mind. I've passed this seafood restaurant, VIN et MARÉE so many times yet never went in. A bit of chatting with the maitre d and I waltzed inside. The interiors are from the ocean liner, SS Normandie. Luxury indeed.

The formule dinner menu was not really very steep...

Naturally I went for all coquille Saint Jacques. They give you a lovely bowl of mussels in lemony sauce first 'on the house'.

My main, more scallops with leaks plus une verre of Quincy 'Domaine de Villalin'. When you're pretending to be a tourist you can get wine even though normally you don't touch a drop. It enhances the meal though I couldn't finish my glass...

Vin et Marée has a lovely counter outside of fresh fruits de mer at 165 rue Saint-Honoré so they're easy to spot and open 7 days a week.

I usually never notice at my Metro entrance (by Niki de Saint Phalle), when I'm tearing around. Was she referencing

The dome at Église Saint Roch also on rue Saint-Honore? A nice postprandial stopin after indulging all day as a pretend tourist.
Its good idea to look at the evening light at Concorde instead of rushing off home.
Sometimes I wish I was a tourist again...