Paris Trip Itinerary: Eiffel Tower, Julia Child’s Cook Shop & a Magical Flea Market

Well, Hello Paris, La Ville de la Lumiere-The City of Light!

I still couldn’t believe it, Paris, oh, La La! Four-thirty AM, awake and alert, no joke! That time zone business still biting me, waking me long before the city stirred. My family was zonked like zoo animals, wrapped in flannel sheets and huge comforters, completely out. I stood on my balcony again, totally enthralled by the sleeping city, its indescribably enchanting and fetching life surrounded and captured, as bracing Parisian air hit, finding me barefooted and in my dearest polka dot PJs! What a sight I must have been, glad it was dark; I felt like I had the place to myself. A few people still awake or just waking, strolling in pre-dawn’s twinkle below. The city ever gorgeous, with Haussmannian style houses everywhere we looked, their beige stone facades and black wrought iron balconies charming and teasing and oh, for that wonderous Art Nouveau Architecture, its lovely and whimsical elements of animals and flowers sprinkled throughout the city. And don’t even get me started on the Louvre Museum, its elegance speaking for itself, a true architectural icon. 

I stood on the balcony for the longest, breathing in the air, the Boulangeries, or French bakeries already at work creating delicate pastries and breads, enough to make me want to venture out and grab some for our breakfast. I couldn’t get enough of it, taking dozens of pictures in my mind.

Everyone eventually stirred feeling myself salivate while looking at our Petit dejeuner-(breakfast), mouthwatering buttery and flaky Croissants, chewy Baguettes, Canapes filled with fresh fruit pudding, or savory smoked salmon and cream cheese, Choux Pastry Puffs-sweet and crunchy on the outside, with a cream filling, chocolate Madeleines, with vanilla and delectable chocolate sponge cake, Croque Monsieur-with Jambon (ham) and Fromage (cheese) , and Eclairs, made with choux dough, filled with cream and topped with chocolate!

We had fresh fruit from my favorite little store across the street and three stories down, glistening tart, dark-red plums, fragrant apricots, plump, juicy grapes, and chocolate covered orange peel-Orangettes, fresh juice, Schweppes, hot tea and fresh dairy farm eggs, pain de mie-(bread) and Miel (honey). And then, the best thing of all, the French Beurre (butter). 

We lazed around in our PJs, excited to get out, but remembering what we’d done the day before, tucking into another pastry and hot The (tea), relishing every moment we spent there. (References from Wikipedia):

L’Arc de Triomphe: It’s stature and size dumbfounded us at this iconic historical monument ordered by Napoleon I to commemorate the military achievements of French Armies, following his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Each of us marveled at the detailed sculptures of Napoleon’s Triumph and French Soldiers, Peace, the Departure of the Volunteers, and The Resistance, which took a mere thirty years to build! The Arc is located at the intersection of three Arrondissements: the 16^th, the 17^th, and the 8^th. The impressive Neoclassicism style was designed by Jean Francois Chalgrin in 1806 and was inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome. There were three other architects that designed features of this stunning structure in the thirty years it took to complete.

Champs-Elysees, situated in the Eighth Arrondissement of Paris, stretches between the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe, and was created in 1667 and is known the world over as one of the most luxurious avenues in the world, with exclusive shops, cafes, cinemas and best places to be seen on the planet. My mouth was agog as I took it all in, now this was the Parisian life that I always imagined it to be! This pic I purchased there says it all: (E put my pic of Champs-Elysees here)

Napoleons Tomb and Les Invilades complex is truly one of the world’s most masterful and stunning architectural gems ever built. It holds the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte; its dome is 351 feet tall, making it one of Paris’s tallest structures. From the outside, and some distance away, its golden dome, covered in real gold leaf, capture its majesty and breadth in one felt swoop. I remember clutching my chest in awe as I entered the cathedral, its vast dome soared overhead with solemn and historic presence and splendor. Everywhere we looked was marble, columns, inscriptions and wonder. It was quiet, talking kept at a minimum at this final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose work is indelibly stamped in French history. This site also is home to The Musee de I’Armee, an enormous military museum with preserved uniforms, weapons and machinery.

Now we scampered about getting ready, with a full day ahead, it was everyone’s aspiration-visiting some of Paris’s most iconic landmarks. Dressing warmly, we knew the Eiffel Tower awaited, another dream fulfilled. 

  Today’s Itinerary: Sunday, January 5 — Paris School of Architecture, Julia Child Kitchen Shop, E. Dehillerin, Le BHV Marais, Eiffel Tower; Photo locations & Flea Market

Our plan for the day read like a curated, food-and-design lover’s map, starting at the Paris School of Architecture where we could possibly spot student work or public exhibits that revealed how Paris shapes its buildings. I especially wanted to go there; I was doing research for a book and wanted to look at design for buildings from a historical perspective. Paris was a city globally known for beauty and innovation. We called an Uber to take us there, but it was not meant to be. 

A Favorite Moment-Paris, Kindness, and Unexpected Grace: One of the most meaningful moments of our trip happened not on a planned itinerary, but on a quiet Paris street when my family and I were lost. After being dropped off by our Uber driver, we found ourselves searching on foot for the Paris School of Architecture, unsure of which direction to go. We stopped a striking older woman walking by and asked for directions. She gave them kindly, but then did something extraordinary. She invited us into her home. Once there, we stepped onto a large veranda filled with plants from all over the world, blooming beautifully in January. I mean there were pomegranate fruit, fist size, Oleanders with red flowers, Variegated Ginger, Lemon trees loaded with fruit, and many others! The sight took our breath away. Here it was cold as the dickens, hovering around 43 degrees, and her plants were green, healthy and thriving. It made the gardener in me positively swoon!

Ms. F, as we will call her was quiet, dignified, and deeply wise, everything one hopes to become with age. She spoke gently about her family, cautioned us about pickpockets near the train station, and listened as we shared stories of our own family. That encounter felt blessed, a reminder that kindness still opens doors and that grace and help often arrives when we least expect it but need it. Later, when asked what was your favorite part of the trip, our youngest member said it was when our Guardian Angel found us, and so it goes, out of the mouth of babes. Forever bless our sweet Parisian Angel, may she be protected wherever she goes, we will never, ever forget her.

From there it was a culinary and cookware pilgrimage: To the legendary E. Dehillerin, Julia Child’s favorite shop for cookware, located in the 1^st arrondissement of Paris. Situated in the Halles neighborhood, it was the shop that Julia Child frequented, buying supplies for her books and cooking shows. It is heaven for anyone who loves tools for the kitchen. E Dehillerin has been home for chefs and cooks since 1820, and known for its classic copper cookware, French kitchen equipment and carbon steel pans.

This isn’t just a cookware store; it’s more like a museum with decades of culinary history. It’s everything we wanted to see and more, I’ve been in countless cookshops over the years, but this was another dimension altogether. Every square inch was covered with kitchenware, gleaming and gorgeous, waiting for us to take them home. The aisles are tightly packed with sparkling copper pots, professional-grade knives, molds, utensils, and every imaginable kitchen tool. It is paradise!

We all spread out in different directions, admiring cookware, pastry tools, another looking for the perfect French whisk. The store has a distinct old-world atmosphere, with handwritten price tags and tall shelves that seem unchanged for generations. The staff, classically French, added to the charm with their expertise and competence. I could only think of Julia Child, right there getting info from generational craftsmen. 

I wanted their expertly crafted copper pans, but they were so heavy, I’d need a man and five elephants to tote them for me. I ciphered and ciphered how to pull it off but finally decided they were for another trip. Boo hoo!

Someone wanted a paring knife from E. Dehillerin, a real beauty, getting it packaged expertly its box, brown paper, and white and red twine. This is one kind of like it but not bought from there:

I was wholeheartedly for our family member getting it, but later in our trip, as we left Paris for London, it got me in real hot water. I was asked by family to “store it in my luggage.” More about that little snafu later….

Le BHV Marais, The Julia Child Department store beloved for its eclectic mix of home goods and lifestyle items and known as the place where Julia Child sourced many household staples. BHV is stylish, yet practical, the epitome of Parisian living. Located in the lively Marais district, the store is surrounded by cafes and boutiques oozing with charm. Inside each floor we glimpsed something new, with gorgeous linens, décor, elegant French cookware, and one-of-a-kind gifts. The building’s historical architecture blended with modern design, offering inspiration. 

The Eiffel Tower, the highlight of the day came with our family’s visit to the Eiffel Tower. Approaching it from the vantage points of Port Debilly, Avenue de New York, and Rue de l’Université provided the perfect blend of flawless views and quiet Parisian glamour. Each location offered a unique photographic angle, capturing the tower’s iron lacework, containing over 18,000 iron pieces!

Port Debilly and Avenue de New York give excellent water-side vantage points for Eiffel Tower photos and offer the kind of frames that look like postcards. Rue de l’Université offers a lovely, tree-lined street perspective of the Eiffel Tower. 

Built and designed in 1889 for The World’s Fair by engineer Gustave Eiffel, it is 1,063 feet tall, much more massive than I ever imagined! It was the tallest structure in the world until 1930, and has been visited by more than 300 million people!

Standing together beneath the Eiffel Tower felt emotional like nothing I’d ever experienced. Its immense scale astounding, with engineering and creativity capturing flawless French design. We heard laughter and excitement, everyone entranced by magic. That day I snapped thousands of pictures in my mind, an unforgettable chapter in our journey.

My most aspirational moment came as we stood on the second floor and looked out over the city from every angle. Due to high wind, the third floor was closed, as Paris unfolded beneath us, photos captured the glory below:

Jardins du Trocadéro

Jardins du Trocadero area in Paris.

Palais de Boulogne

Palais de Chaillot-Building at the top of the Chaillot hill in the Trocadero area in Paris.

Bois de Boulogne

Bois de Boulogne-large park in west edge of Paris.

Pont de Bir-Hakeim

Pont de Grenelle-bridge in Paris

Champ de Mars

Champ de Mars, large public green space in Paris.

I remember sitting with a glass of champagne and a piece of chocolate, closing my eyes and letting the moment settle. As a child, standing atop the Eiffel Tower symbolized the highest dream I could imagine. In that moment, I felt gratitude, fulfillment, and the quiet joy of knowing I was exactly where I was meant to be.

The tower sparkles every hour for five minutes at night, The City of Light welcoming all who come. Paris has been thought of as The City of Light since the 17^th and 18^th century when it became the center for the Age of Enlightenment, visited by philosophers, scientists, and artists. Also, it was one of the first cities in the world to illuminate the streets of the city on a large scale.

 As long as I live, I will never forget that instant, that second when I turned and gasped as The Eiffel Tower lit up as 20,000 lights beamed across Paris, and into our hearts. Simply mind-blowing. None of us wanted to leave, but we wanted supper and one other place to visit.

Our last stop for the day, a special treat: a flea market, Metro Jussieu, open 7 am–6 pm, this was the first Sunday of the month, the only time it operates, and a perfect time for treasure-hunting. The market was a little gem, rows of antique books, vintage clothing, jewelry, and homewares awaited. It was like a treasure hunt; each table filled to overflowing. This community Flea market was full of surprises, vintage postcards, antiques, like these wonderful pearl handled appetizer forks, books, and maps.

As the afternoon sun settled, the market visit became one of the most unexpectedly memorable moments of the trip. The blend of authenticity, discovery, and shared joy created the perfect ending to a beautifully full Parisian day.

Today was magical, getting to meet our Parisian Angel, Ms. F, who brought her own kind of light. Going where Julia Child shopped for cookery, visiting the Eiffel Tower, and going to an awesome Flea Market that topped the day in a most lovely way. A truly unforgettable journey.

Today we traveled from: our Airbnb, 110 Boulevard de Sebastopol, 3^rd arrondissement in the Marais central area, to E. Dehillerin, 1^st arrondissement, 18-20 Rue Coquilliere, to The Eiffel Tower, 7th arrondissement, to Jussieu Flea Market, 5^th arrondissement, and back home to 110 Boulevard de Sebastopol.

Watch for our next Itinerary in this Series: Bon Voyage: A Winter Abroad Itinerary: Monday, January 6 — Notre-Dame, Seine River Cruise (noon), Square du Vert Galant, Sainte-Chapelle, Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, Place des Vosges, and City Pharma.