If Roland Garros is always a unique show that combines chic sport , fashion, beauty, eroticism, performance and styling, the particular circumstances of this tournament began as a national competition in 1891 opening to international participation in 1925, making it a particularly exciting event.

On one hand there is the possibility that Rafael Nadal, absolute ruler of the tournament in the last decade, conquers his seventh title, becoming the first person doing so. This is a feat that is only available for the few chosen ones like Nadal, almost unanimously regarded by his peers and within the tennis world as the best clay court player in history.

For this to happen he must win, the Serbian Djokovic, a tremendous athlete that has demonstrated his amazing power at the last three finals of the Grand Slam Tournaments (Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australia Open) Djokovic, whom many see sharing with Federer the honorary title of best player of all times, lately is coming out stronger psychologically.

Besides the terrific Djokovic, Nadal may find a terrible foe in his knee, which recently has intensified a longstanding problem of tendinitis primarily responsible for those three years ago where he won the title at Roland Garros. His forced retreat a few weeks ago in the semifinals of the Miami Masters have shot off all the alarms, but he  is expected to arrive in Paris in a favorable position to try to make his legend even bigger  and prevent Djokovic winning consecutively the four Grand Slam trophies, the true aristocracy of world tennis, .

The distance separating the Serbian right now in the world ranking no longer depends on him but on the performance by Djokovic, who must reach the final and was eliminated in the semifinals last year, this will increase his point count, while Nadal, defending champion can only hope to defend the 2000 title then achieved.

Paul Oilzum

With them, players like the universally acclaimed Federer , despite age and time elapsed since the last Grand Slam he conquered, is always a favorite for his quality to win any tournament, he was in fact the one who stopped Djokovic in 2011 from making it to the finals, the eternal promise of a still not crystallized Andy Murray or Del Potro’s continued threat announce an exciting tournament that transforms the city for 20 days, as you’ll see for yourself if you rent apartments in Paris

Contact Me 

Despite the huge changes that have been taking place in metropolises around the world, more and more directed at the indiscriminate consumption and the abuses of the global economic crisis, Paris is a place where you can still spend a pleasant time whether traveling alone, as a couple or as a family. If you know how to explore this city the right way and have a suitable length of time, you will have a rewarding and enjoyable trip without a negative impact on your finances.

If live music interests you,Parispresents major artists of all styles. Pop, indie, electronica, rock – in this city you can see all your favorite artists throughout the year. Of course, when it comes to pop and jazz, nothing is better than to spend time inParisto discover small clubs where the music is performed live. It is worth mentioning that in these two genres, the talented young singer Esperanza Spalding has become an international phenomenon, having received an award at the 53 edition of the Grammy Award Ceremony. A double bass with a delicate and sensual voice, she has conquered new radio frequencies that court fans of soul, jazz and pop with songs like “Little Fly”, “You Know You Know and “Smile Like That”. Her latest album, “Radio Music Society”, released in March of this year, continues to garner the praise of international music critics.

The concert by Esperanza Spalding will take place at the Parisconcert hall La Cigale on May 23. Once you’ve started, you will not be able to stop listening. For more information, visit the musician’s official homepage: http://www.esperanzaspalding.com/

Alexa Ray

Rent apartments in Paris so that you can enjoy this formidable city during the spring and summer months. Markets and open-air concerts, exhibitions, and wonderful fairs await you in the streets of Paris. Take advantage of the best climate and mild temperatures.

Contact Me 

Ingredients to make crepes filled with cream of leeks for four persons

• For the crepe
  • Four eggs
  • A pinch of salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • A cup of flour
  • A half-cup of milk
  • A bit of butter
• For the filling
  • A bit of butter
  • Three large, washed leeks
  • Two tablespoons of flour
  • A cup of milk
  • Salt, pepper and ground nutmeg

Making the crepe

Beat the eggs in a bowl until they foam, salt and pepper to taste, and add a half-cup of milk and continue whisking until everything is well mixed. Without stopping, add the flour to the crepe mixture (one cup) and continue until a golden dough without lumps has formed that has the consistency of a light cream. Let this rest for one hour.

In the meantime, you can prepare the filling. First you will make a thick béchamel sauce. Melt a teaspoon of butter in a pan over low heat. Be careful not to let if foam. Immediately, put in two tablespoons of flour until it forms a thick paste. Add salt and pepper to taste and a little bit of ground nutmeg. Slowly add the cup of milk which has been reserved for the filling with the mixture in the same pot over low heat, stirring the pot as necessary to keep it from sticking, until the mixture has thickened. When it has stopped boiling and instead begins to form volcano-like forms, remove it from the heat.

In a pan over low heat, melt a tablespoon of butter and cook the diced leeks (which have been previously washed to remove all remnants of sand). Be careful not to let them burn; they should be golden and crispy. Mix the cooked leeks into the béchamel sauce.

In the large, round non-stick pan we mentioned at the beginning of the article, place a tiny amount of butter (just enough coat it with the fat). When it is hot, drop some spoonfuls of the crepe dough into the pan until it forms a nice crepe. You have to be careful that it does not stick, that it isn’t too thin (because it will break when you turn it) and that it isn’t too thick. When the one side has turned golden, you flip it to the other side and cook until golden. Continue making the crepes. You will need four crepes for each person eating. Once you have finished making the crepes, you can divide up the filling (the béchamel and leek mixture) in the center of the crepe and roll it up to form a tube.

Candela Vizcaíno

You can prepare this exquisite recipe in anticipation of your stay in your apartments in Paris It can be served hot or cold or sprinkled with a bit of goat’s cheese and baked until you are ready to eat. Bon appetit!

Contact Me 

We’ll begin our trip in the world-famous Louvre Museum, where you can see the famous painting of La Gioconda by Leonardo da Vinci. In this museum you can see some of the most important art collections in the world up until the previous currents to impressionism.

Impressive and impressionist is the Musée d’Orsay, which is located on the right shore of the right bank of the river Seine, on 73 rue de Lille. It has works by the most famous artists, such as Monet, Degas, Manet, Delacroix and Latour. There are even pieces of furniture, photographs and items that belong to the period between 1848 and 1914.

So that it’s not all paintings and serious art, the Musée Grevin is famous for its wax sculptures, of which it has over 300 replicas of celebrities, with an overwhelming realism, causing contradictory emotions. This is one of the most famous wax museums in the world and it was inaugurated in 1882, almost two decades after the inauguration of the exhibition Palace of Mirrors, which is still being exhibited. This museum is suitable for all ages and it’s located on 10 Boulevard Montmartre.

If you’re going with children or you have the soul of a child and you are thrilled by magic, Paris has a Museum of Magic that’s located on 11 rue Saint Paul. In this museum there are a series of arches from the 16th century that connect with the playful world of magic from the moment you arrive. There’s a wonderful machine of fortune, like those that used to exist in the fairs, that in exchange for a coin it will tell you your fortune. There are plenty of illusions of all sorts and it’s an entertaining visit to do with a group.

Galerie Arnaud is located on 13 rue Nicolet, next to Boulevard Barbès. It’s a gallery that specializes in abstract contemporary art. It’s a great place to see the new trends in painting, learn about art prices and enjoy the creations.

Galerie Lelia Mordoch is located on the rive gauche, the left bank of the Seine on 50 rue de Mazarine, an area of small and medium-sized art galleries. It was inaugurated in 1989 and it specializes in contemporary art. There are permanent exhibitions by interesting young artists and established famous ones.

Galerie de l’Évolution is a beautiful and interesting place, located in a building that dates back to 1889 that was remodeled in 1994. It has 6000 sq metres of exhibition space to see the process of the evolution of species. It’s located on 36 Jardin des Plantes.

Lastly, you cannot miss out on going to the Musée Balzac, since the writer made of his novels the best portrait of Paris and its citizens. It’s located on 47 rue Raynouard. It’s a big museum where you can taste the flavour of his time and learn about this writer in depth.

For more information: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor%C3%ADa:Museos_y_galer%C3%ADas_de_arte_de_Par%C3%ADs

Nancy Guzman

If you’re going to rent apartments in Paris don’t forget to bring this list of recommendations that will help you organise your leisure time better.

Contact Me 

The world of comics would not be like we know it, without the influence of Robert Crumb. This American guy, passionate about music, is considered the precursor of the underground comic, because of his irreverent and satirical stories and his way to reinvent the form of comics. His vision of the American society, the family, women, sex and music from the 20’s and 30’s, are some of the recurring topics of his creations. His most iconic characters, Mr. Natural and Fritz the Cat, have marked three generations of readers and their style has wandered between the grotesque and documentary realism. He illustrated Bukowski, Sartre, Kafka, and the album cover of Chep Thrills by Janis Joplin. Also, he has created numerous stories about figures of jazz, blues and country, always linked to American folk art. He is an author, who has always published under his own terms and with a great sense of “do it yourself” (DIY).

The Museum of Modern Art has organized the largest retrospective to date of the author, appropriately titled “From underground to Genesis”, from the 13^th of April to the 19^th of August. Over 700 original Crumb, publications in which he has collaborated and his sketchbooks will be on display. This is a journey from his first illustrations to his recent work Genesis, an adaptation of the Bible with his personal underground touch. The exhibition focuses on the obsessions of the illustrator: his love-hate relationship with women, music and critical introspective of the modern world. The museum has developed for this special occasion, a collector’s DVD (which includes T. Zwigoff’s documentary of 1994 dedicated to the artist, as well as a special Crumb), and a bilingual catalog (English and French) with 220 rare and original illustrations. Two unique pieces that can be purchased at the museum library, which will dazzle the biggest Crumb’s fans. Visit the museum website for more information where you can also buy tickets.

In parallel, the Martel Gallery has scheduled, in collaboration with the publisher Denoël, an exhibition and sale of works by the artist, from the 5^th of May to the 5^th of June 5. On the 4^th, Robert Crumb himself will be on the exhibition. The works on display, which can also be seen on the web http://www.galeriemartel.com/index.php/les-expositions/galerie-martel-robert-crumb can be purchased.

Elena Alvarez

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see the creations of this icon of the counterculture, visit the City of Lights and book one of our apartments in Paris the best choice for a memorable stay.

Contact Me

One of the best brasseries in Paris is Au Pied du Cochon. Near Les Halles and it is open 24 hours a day, making it the ideal choice anytime of the day. Opened in 1947, numerous Parisian artists and personalities have passed through it. Specializing in pork dishes, you should not leave Paris without trying their steak and crepes flambéed with Grand Marnier.

Near the square of Les Vosges, we will be able to find the oldest brasserie in Paris, which was opened in 1864. This brasserie is also the most beautiful of the whole city with its charming Belle Epoque decoration, Bofinger. There you get delicious sauerkraut, always accompanied by beer, and their dessert-tasting plate is wonderful.

At the heart of Saint-Germain, the preferred brasserie by writers and intellectuals of Paris is located, Le Balzar, which was opened in 1886 in the Latin Quarter. Illustrious clients such as Yves Saint-Laurent and Wim Wenders come here regularly. Among its specialties, highlights the andouillette de Troyes, which is typical sausage of the city of Troyes, and veal with foie apples.

L’Européen is one of those brasseries that go unnoticed by tourists and boasts an exclusive Parisian clientele. Situated opposite the train station in Lyon, this is a modest place that serves great food and has the freshest seafood in Paris. Try their fruit de mer (seafood) and their delicious chocolate mousse.

In Montparnasse, you can find La Coupole (http://www.lacoupole-paris.com/fr/), a brasserie that at its inauguration in 1927, invited among its guests had Jean Cocteau and Ernest Hemingway. For a long time, it was a must-see place for the Parisian high society; Simone de Beauvoir and Sartre were common clients as Henry Miller. Although it suffered a major overhaul a few years ago, it still retains its air of elegance and paintings by artists of Montparnasse: Derain, Leger, Picasso and Kisling are just some of those who left their footprints here. Make sure to visit the ballroom and to try their specialty, lamb curry.

All these brasseries offer the possibility to book a table through their websites. Prices in this type of restaurant usually costs around 20 Euros for the main courses around 30 Euros and menus of the day, a great way to save and test the seasonal dishes of the letter.

Elena Alvarez

Now you only need to choose one of our apartments in Paris and spend a few days discovering the delights Parisian gastronomy.

Contact Me 

In district 1, Le Pan (15 Rue Pierre Lescot 75001), a typical brasserie offers a different gourmet coffee each week and is one of the most economical ones , a good reason to be surprised with their proposals. One of its variants is a milk chocolate mousse accompanied by  mini versions of butter cakes, muffins, biscuits and  an almond tart Tatin, for 7 €. Cuisine et confidences (33 Place Marché Saint Honoré 75001) is famous for its Sunday brunch and offers the most traditional coffee gourmand, a mini opera cake, a Canele (small rum and vanilla cake typical of Bordeaux) and a  butter and caramel cream , for 8 €.

If you love strawberries, you must try coffee gourmand at Moutarde Street (23 boulevard des Italiens, 75002), an American bistro at District 2 who serves fresh strawberries and strawberry cheesecake with a waffle and ice cream for 7 €. But if you’re a real sweet tooth, yours is the one served at Les Philosophes (28 Rue Vieille du Temple 75004), a charming cafe Le Marais offers a chocolate cake with black chocolate sauce, , a financier of pistachio (a kind cake) and île flottante (floating island), a dessert similar to custard with meringue and caramel sauce for 8 euros and a size larger than usual.

Near the Champs Elysees, you have two interesting options: Pizza Berri (4 rue de Berri, 75008), an Italian restaurant offering their  Italianate gourmet coffee version, a slice of homemade tiramisu and a scoop of coffee ice cream for 8 € . Certainly, the ideal for coffee lovers. Le Roosevelt (61 avenue Franklin Roosevelt 75008) produces delicious desserts and coffee gourmand, tiramisu with ice cream, crème brûlée (crème brûlée), a black chocolate mousse and tiramisu cream with strawberries for€ 11. The most expensive of our selection, but no doubt worth the price.

Finally, in District 9, Le Comptoir de L’Europe (27 rue d’Athènes 75009) is one where the regularly change their coffee gourmand, you may find lemon tart, a custard and prune clafoutis tart or pie of apple, almond financier and a chocolate muffin, among other varities.

Elena Alvarez

To carry out the sweet route that we propose, book one of our apartments in Paris and enjoy an unforgettable stay in Paris.

Contact Me 

The Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves (a flea market at Porte Vanves) takes place in District 14 all weekend from 7 am to 1 pm, although some stalls remain until 3 or 5 pm. It has some 380 stalls filled with treasures: furniture from the 18^th century to the 60s as well as all kinds of antiques and vintage clothing. Address: av. Marc Sangnier y av. Georges Lafenestre (metro line 13, Porte de Vanves).

In District 11, you can visit the Marché de la Création de Bastille, a paradise for lovers of arts and crafts and for those looking for original objects. The exhibitors are artists and they show their creations every Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm. You can find out about its artists here: http://www.artistesparisbastille.fr/ Address: Boulevard Richard Lenoir (metro lines 1, 5 y 13, Bastille).

One of the oldest markets, dating from 1860, and the most popular since you can find real bargains, is the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil (flea market of Montreuil), which is located in District 20. Open from Saturday to Monday from7 am to7:30 pm, it is ideal for those who enjoy digging through mountains of things to find a treasure. There are clothes, furniture, and all kinds of used items with prices starting at one euro! The best time to visit is Monday. Address: Av. De la Porte deMontreuil (metro line 9, Porte de Montreuil).

Now that organic products have become a trend in France, the el Marché Biologique de Raspail (Raspail organic market) is a favorite of the Parisian upper class and the most expensive market in the city. You might even see Carol Bouquet or Vincent Lindon strolling around. You can find all kinds of organic products here as well as high quality fruits, vegetables, dairy products, breads… Most of the 40 vendors are also the producers, selling their goods directly without any middlemen. The market is open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from9 am to 2 pm. Address: Boulevard Raspail, 75006 (metro line 12,Rennes).

And last but not least, at the Marché d’Aligre you can find a little of everything, from food to antiques, in a neighborhood that also has small shops and bars nearby. It is an ideal spot for interacting with Parisians. Take a break at the wine bar Le baron rouge, where they serve oysters as an appetizer starting at 12 pm which goes well with a glass a white wine. Address: Place Aligre, 75012 (metro line 8, Redru Rollin)

Elena Alvarez

Visit the markets we have recommended to enjoy memorable days in the French capital. Nothing is better than staying in one of our apartments in Paris Pick the one that interests you most from our extensive portfolio and make the most of your vacation in Paris.

Contact Me 

The great success of Foster the People in the music industry is somewhat unusual. The band was born less than 3 years ago and has achieved an unprecedented success without any album on the market, or record company or marketing campaign behind how? Thanks to the Internet. During late 2009, three twentysomethings created Foster The People in Los Angeles. Their lead singer, Mark Foster, decided to hang one of their songs, Pumped Up Quicks, on his website in early 2010, offering free download. And then the unexpected happened. The Nylon magazine selected the song for an advertising campaign and quickly began to circulate through the blogs into a viral hit, attracting the attention of the music industry. After several offers, the band was eager to maintain its essence “indie” and chose Startime International, without giving up control of the publication of their songs within the U.S.

To avoid being merely a fashion, Foster the People wanted to work hard, without haste, and spent several months writing new material. Moreover, their popularity had come so suddenly that had little direct experience. Again displaying their wit and using the full network, Mark Foster sent email inviting their fans to their concerts in small clubs. In January 2011, they release an almbum with three songs, which contained their hit Pumped Up Quicks, destined to be their first official single. The songs are selected to appear on shows like Gossip Girl and Vampire Diaries, while being played in numerous independent radio stations, which kept the group’s popularity up without pressure from the realese of their first album. When finally the band launched their album in June 2011, Torches is placed at number 8 in the list of Billboard 200 selling albums.

Since then, Foster the People has been in a tour promoting Torches around the world, an eclectic dance pop album with notes and profound lyrics, while hanging the “sold out” sign in most of their concerts. The prestigious newspaper The Guardian has been defined them as “the new promise of pop” and this is your chance to see them live in Paris, so hurry to get your tickets before they sell out! You can buy them online on the website of Le Bataclan: c

Elena Alvarez

And to sleep comfortably, you should book one of our apartments in Paris This is definitely the best way to enjoy your stay in the French capital freely and without worrying about timetables.

Contact Me 

Over the centuries things have apparently changed, and human rights have spread throughout the world. But we now face other, more integrated types of savagery that continue to destroy entire regions of in parts of South America on the pretext of getting fuel and timber, and wars in the Middle East are also waged due to the lack of oil and the global energy crisis. We now know about discrimination against immigrants and people of color, or against a person’s sex or appearance. The “savage” loses its true human condition to become part of a cluster of figures and numbers which can be viewed as a commodity.

Contemporary art now effectively takes advantage and profits from these discourses and conflicts. Many new artists indiscriminately use certain conditions that are marginal or peripheral in an attempt to “claim” the problems outlined above. They use their cultural capital or origin to make installations, exhibitions, performances around the same problematic about which they complain, since it continues to have the colonizing gaze of the West. Thus, more than ever, one needs to be highly critical of contemporary art and exhibitions.

Without a doubt, L’Invention du Savage is an exhibition that creates conflicts, both historical and conceptual, and one that can greatly impact everyone who visits it. Using a variety of resources, it shows how the creation of the term “wild” or “the savage” was adapted to Europe, stemming from an interest in the exotic and the different that also reveals the nature of racism and discrimination that has existed and is still present today. In addition, the exhibition presents the distance that still exists towards what is labeled as freak as well as differences in gender, religion, and esthetic values of the body. In short, this is an exhibition you should not miss on your next trip to Paris. For more information, click on this link to the official website of the Quai Branly Museum: http://www.quaibranly.fr/

Alexa Ray

Rent apartments in Paris and visit this important exhibition. Paris offers a wide variety of museums and galleries, where you can find the best in contemporary and modern art.

Contact Me