by Wendy
This is not a post about shopping at Chanel or Yves Saint Laurent on the Champs Elysees. This is a post about picking up a few interesting souvenirs here and there in Paris.
Shakespeare & Company Bookstore – If you, or someone you’re thinking of, loves books, this is the place for your souvenir. While not the original location of the shop Sylvia Beach ran in the 1920s, this is a seriously cool bookstore with its own literary history dating back to the 1950s. There are rows of used paperpacks in stalls outside, suitably portable for carrying to a nearby cafe. There is a maze of rooms with crowded shelves, chairs to settle in and read, and at least one cat. There is a program offering writers a place to sleep in exchange for work around the store and drafting a short autobiography. This is where the star-crossed couple Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meet once again during the opening scene of the movie Before Sunset. It was a treat to visit this store, and I happily wandered around for awhile. Before I left I bought Jack a book of Apollinaire’s poetry with English translation, accepting the clerk’s offer of the special Shakespeare & Company stamp on one of the pages.
Rue du Rivoli – On the way walking to and from the Centre Pompidou one afternoon, I had fun browsing some of the busy shops lining the Rue du Rivoli. You’ll find stores like H&M and similar European brands for the budget fashionista. At the costume jewelry boutique Balabooste I bought earrings for me and Sunny and scarves for me and my other sister April. At the giant clothing store C&A I bought a floral blouse for myself and a t-shirt with puppies on it for my niece MJ. I contemplated the 50-60 euro platform espadrilles at a couple of shoe stores but walked away because I was traveling light. I really should’ve bought a pair.
The Countless Souvenir Shops – You’ll see one right after the other on the Rue du Rivoli in the arcades close to The Louvre, but of course, they are all over Paris near tourist attractions. Prices can vary. You’ll likely find delightful tchotchkes for yourself or family and friends back home, from pencils and postcards to Eiffel Tower keychains, from decorative soap to compact mirrors, from t-shirts and berets to fidget spinners.
The Grocery, the Bakery, the Sundry shops – Every country seems to have its own preferred Haribo gummy candy selection, which makes a fun souvenir. Sunny picked up a colorful box of macarons to-go from PAUL. On a whim I bought a small tin of “Pastilles Menthe Mint Drops” at the Charles de Gaulle airport, which ended up being licorice flavored. I should’ve bought European chocolate.
The Pharmacy – My brother-in-law Jimmy was feeling sinus congestion from cigarette smoke in cafes and visited a local pharmacy. We loved the story he returned with of the kind French clerk who showed genuine concern as she recommended medicine and offered comfort, “You poor baby, this will help you feel better.”
Monoprix – Oh, I love this place. It’s like the French equivalent of Target. April and I discovered it when we were in Montpellier and it quickly became a familiar and reliable spot for groceries, health and beauty items. Since then, I always try to go when I am in France, especially since they’ve added clothes, accessories and household items.
Yes, I gave this souvenir a flower. It deserves it.
MJ enjoyed checking out the kids’ clothing section at Monoprix and even bought a bathing suit. You may have to ask a clerk to disconnect the items fastened securely to the hangers in order to try them on – just do your best pantomime if you can’t explain in French. They should get it.
Me, I’m always on the lookout for a new French beauty product to try. On this trip I picked up a bottle of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, a dry oil spray for skin, face and hair. Around 20 euros or so at Monoprix, it could be one of my all time favorite foreign souvenirs. A few cursory looks online show the difficulty of finding this in the U.S., so I’m going to have to ration what’s left. I should’ve bought another one. I should’ve ditched the other toiletries in my quart sized bag and made room for three.