We Said …
Where we get lost on the Left Bank - and elsewhere


LODGING

Hôtel du Petit Moulin (expensive to very expensive)
011-33-1-42-74-10-10
www.paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com
This boutique hotel from fashion designer Christian Lacroix is an explosion of colors, fabrics, furniture, and fixtures that offers, in his own words, a "journey around a room."

Sport Hotel (inexpensive to moderate)
011-33-1-43-43-61-36
www.hotel-paris-sport.com
The rooms may not feature 300-thread-count linens and other luxuries, but you still get a lot for your euro here, including a quiet location near a park and a lake.


DINING

Cosi (inexpensive)
011-33-1-46-33-35-36
It's easy to get your fill of bread in Paris, but don't let that stop you from trying this focaccia that's filled with whatever ingredients your heart desires and cooked right at your table. Sandwiches and wine round out the menu.

Krung Thep (inexpensive to moderate)
011-33-1-43-66-83-74
Parisians will tell you there aren't many places to get good Thai in town - with this exception. The menu is masterful, and the decor is divine.


ATTRACTIONS

Bibliothèque Nationale de France
011-33-1-53-79-59-59
www.bnf.fr
This library/public space, nicknamed the TGB, has its detractors, but so did the Eiffel Tower at one time. Still, it is an architectural curiosity worth checking out the next time you're in the trendy 13th Arrondissement.

Marché aux Fleurs
(on Place Louis-Lépine behind the Tribunal de Commerce)
Springtime in Paris - an ideal time for a visit to one of Paris's flower markets. This one has the adjacent Seine for added scenery.