Shopping Rue de Buci – I’m moving here just as soon as I make a few million euros.

In search of a store called Flamant, which Melissa was looking to for inspiration (and it was a really great home store), we walked through behind St. Germain (on the Seine side) and ended up on Rue Furstenberg. Despite its comparably unattractive name, I think this is one street in downtown Paris that I’d really be happy to live on. Just a block or two away from the hubbub of St. Germain (think 5th avenue) this quiet little street has its own little square lined with fun and odd little boutiques, one of which is Flamant. Though very pricey, it really did give you a sense of the Parisian Arte de Vivre, or Art of Living. Every detail was accounted for and it was almost like Pottery Barn except more minimal and more upscale, with many items feeling like heirlooms in a way that Pottery Barn just can’t seem to achieve on their scale. Just off of this lovely little street was what I think is the best shopping area in Paris for people like Melissa and I.

A few feet onto Rue de Buci and it felt like home. A block later we see the Taschen book store and I’ve died and gone to heaven. Their art books are the best in the world and here they were all congregated in one place. Taschen is a publisher who seems to throw caution to the wind and publish great books regardless of the cost of production or seemingly niche market. Other booksellers in the area were just as charming. We came across a wonderful little store entirely dedicated to books about decorative arts with books stacked willy-nilly floor to ceiling. Then there were the stores with oddities like model ships under big glass bubbles or a lacquered blowfish. There was a wonderful Salon de Tea, which I was tempted to take up residence. Flower markets, cafés and restaurants catering to the wealthy inhabitants of the area. Where do I sign up?