A Perfect Stay.
I love staying in the Fifth Arrondissement when I visit Paris, close to rue Monge and place de la Contrescarpe. The location of 9 rue des Arènes is the best of all worlds. It is a short block from rue Monge, I call it the Main Street of Paris, convenient to Metro stations, close to the Seine and, most importantly, it is directly across from Arènes de Lutèce, a Roman arena discovered in the 1860s. The arena is a center for neighborhood activities, but quiet and serene from the 5th floor apartment. From the living room you look at trees and birds, and beyond, the buff colored buildings surrounding it. In the distance are the Panthéon, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont and the tower of Lycée Henri-IV. In the further distance you can see the towers of Notre Dame.
The apartment itself is lovely. It has a very pleasant living room, well-proportioned and light filled. The kitchen is very modern, with excellent appliances and an abundance of everything you need to make and eat meals. I was particularly impressed with the washing machine. I wish I had it at home. The bath and bedroom are well-appointed and comfortable to use. The bed was very comfortable. The closet space in the bedroom is enormous. There are an abundance of electrical sockets throughout the house. Solène and Françoise were very prompt in communicating and a pleasure to work with.
The neighborhood itself contains numerous grocery stores, cafés, butchers, bakers, fruit and vegetable stores, fish mongers, hardware stores, etc. Plus, the open air market at place Monge is one of the best in Paris.
A great space to enjoy a visit to Paris, one where you can relax and refresh after a day of activities.
Pat Hamilton