I could (and did) spend hours here. There are so many books to look at and it's absolutely amazing…read more They've got quite a selection of first editions. Just incredible. The shop opened in the 50s by an American called George Whitman and he initially named it Le Mistral. I believe the name changed in the 60s to what we know it as today. As a fan of literature, Shakespeare and Company is like Mecca. The Holy Grail, if you will. Whether you stick downstairs where it gets busy or upstairs where it's for more of a library feel, it's simply a magical experience. An experience that transcends you into the pages of your favorite novel or book of poetry. A timeless, nostalgic, and electric adventure awaits you.

Shakespeare and Company is one of the notorious Global booksellers. It is located in Paris, on the…read moreRiver Seine across from Notre Dame (you really can't miss it), and there seems to be a block-long queue everyday, anytime it's open. Founded by Sylvia Beach in 1919, it was a hangout for many American and British writers when they lived in Paris. Like any great bookstore, this retail establishment has an impressive inventory of books in English, in all major categories: Children's literature, classics, culinary, culture, economics, history, politics, travel, etc, etc. We checked 4 different days, and finally got in on our fifth try. The shop is a labyrinth of interconnected rooms, and actually takes up nearly a whole block. The check-out clerks will stamp your books with the Shakespeare & Co logo and name; so it's fun to gift a classic, like Winnie the Pooh, to your grandkids. And there is a cafe next door where you can sit and enjoy your purchases. Read up on the Tumbleweeds.

This was worth the visit for some quirky and amazing folk art. There is an exhibit in a dark room…read morethat had so many fabulous pieces of art, that I thought we had seen the whole museum. But wait! Up some windy stairs is a sunlit room with about the same amount of art. Some things were creepy, some were a level of obsessive detail that required long minutes of marveling, and some were inspiring. 2 hours is a sufficient visit, and you will want to reserve time to peruse the bookstore and get a snack, lunch, or beverage at the café. The museum is in the garment district, and the art may inspire you to pick up some fabric to make a collage.

A stunning cyclorama with two feature exhibits, a bright and airy bookstore, and a crazy busy cafe…read morefor an accessible 9€. We popped in for the Jeunet/Caro exhibit, because when in Paris, you Amélie. The design of the exhibit space is in a wagon wheel, with fixtures from the duos filmography segmented by "pie piece." An intriguing blend of movie props, original script notes, stills and videography paint a brilliant behind-the-scenes for The City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, MicMacs, Alien: Resurrection and more. A floor up, sunlight floods a year-long showcase residency called Turbulence in the Balkans, featuring Eastern European works but unfortunately, no brass bands. Sad dance party loss. Anyhoodle, the space open, well-designed and easy to get through in an hour or so. If the exhibits catch your fancy, pop in for an afternoon delight.

Relay is mostly a European newsstand found in most airports and train stations, and is similar to…read morethe UK's WH Smith and US's Hudson Dufry. This particular Relay Newsstand is at CDG in the international section, next to many of the upscale Duty Free stores and close to Starbucks. I was able to purchase several international language newspapers and books here for our long flight back. The lines were short and you could also purchase beverages and sandwiches as well.

This place is tres expensive! Gah! I was quite impressed…read morewith the depth of their reading materials. People go far out of their way to read the French Vogue magazine, or the Parisian Cosmo. That's what I was doing here, anyhow. I was thrilled to see that they have all the weird European magazines that I always long for overseas, and have to resort to reading a digital version. They had Le Monde, the Parisian view of the world news. They proudly carry Charlie Hebdo, the controversial newspaper. They have the comics of Asterix, the Belgian viking. The prices on everything was pretty marked up. They had some souvenirs of Paris, and a special tricky section where it's "Half off!*" (*The second item when you buy two.) The clerks were typically aloof. They sold old looking sandwiches and incredibly marked up sodas. I skipped out on the food. There are better options in the terminal.