PARIS WALKING TOUR AU FLANEUR

I invite you to join me for a Paris walking tour au flaneur as we wend our way from one side of Seine beginning with a discussion of the importance of the café in Parisian life and the luminaries like Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus, Juliette Greco and Miles Davis who filled them, to the other, pausing to enjoy the obvious (the Louvre) and the slightly hidden (passage Vivienne.)

Paris is not just the most beautiful and most romantic city in the world it is a state of mind. Savor every moment of your time in the City of Light, especially those unexpected pleasures that lurk around every corner as you lift your head skyward and discover a bas-relief or water color painting one flight above the ground on a building you had passed before without noticing.

I invite you to join me for a Paris walking tour au flaneur as we wend our way from one side of Seine beginning with a discussion of the importance of the café in Parisian life and the luminaries like Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus, Juliette Greco and Miles Davis who filled them to the other, pausing to enjoy the obvious (the Louvre) and the slightly hidden (passage Vivienne.)

In Paris with the best, funniest, crazy, zany tourist person we ever met.

Quite frankly, he is “one-of-us,” real misbrucha’. His vocabulary spans “boychick” to “assiduous“ and the barbs that make the day very enjoyable.

At appropriate times, he sings songs which highlight different sites and stories and he appears twice monthly at a local tavern singing all the songs in “our songbook” from Tony Bennett to Johnny Mathis.

He graduated from Brooklyn Tech, 1964. But he was a natural born salesman and he ultimately became a salesman in the “Schmatta” and jewelry biz for many
years. But he continued reading, studying and learning about art and the history of Europe.

For us, he gave us what we wanted - practical knowledge combined with genial entertainment.

If you are planning a soujourn to Paris, contact us for his website.

“Paris is my stage as soon as Ieave my flat every morning. I love it.” Terrence Gelenter

He’s known as your American friend in Paris but he’s better than that; a New Yorker who has been reborn in France as smoothly as he sings the nightclub classics. You could not have a more breezily entertaining guide.

-Martin Walker, The Bruno, Chief of Police series

Flaneur: a detached pedestrian observer of a metropolis, a “gentleman stroller of city streets”, first identified by Charles Baudelaire.
Paris is not just the most beautiful and most romantic city in the world it is a state of mind. Savor every moment of your time in the

City of Light, especially those unexpected pleasures that lurk around every corner as you lift your head skyward and discover a bas-relief or watercolor painting one flight above the ground on a building you had passed before without noticing.

I invite you to join me for a Paris walking tour au flaneur as we wend our way from one side of Seine beginning with a discussion of the importance of the café in Parisian life and the luminaries like Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus, Juliette Greco and Miles Davis who filled them, pausing to enjoy the obvious, the courtyard of the Louvre, the slightly hidden (Passage Vivienne and the market street Rue Montorgeuil where the Rocher de Cancale mentioned in Zola's The Belly of Paris still stands and the patisserie STOHRER where Baba au Rhum was invented.
In our travels we will meet the wine merchants, galeristes, restaurateurs and eccentric personalities who have become my friends and will give you a warm welcome to the neighborhood. A day of guerrilla theater with me as director and you as an actor whose unique observations and impressions add a texture and spontaneity to our script.

Tour Duration: 10AM-3PM (estimated), no-host lunchHost: Terrance Gelenter
Price: 1-2 persons 350 euros
3-4 persons 500 euros
Informations and reservations: terrance@paris-expat.com

Lucky us! Tom and I spent the morning with Terrance walking through Paris and absorbing her magic. Such a great way to start our visit. We met at Le Deux Magots for coffee to get a taste of cafe life, then headed out to explore the City with Terrance guiding. The man is amazing - steeped in French history and full of insight into Parisian life. He embodies joie de vivre, as did we strolling the Saint Germain neighborhood and over the Pont des Artes to the Louve and Palais-Royal. Terrance knows a lot about all things French - Jazz, film noir, World War Two history, literature, ancient history and so much more. He has access to all you want to do. Historical tour of Versailles - done. The best restaurants (at any price) - he'll tell you where to go. A place to stay - follow his advice. Terrance directed us to a charming apartment in Le Marais, walking distance to all we want to do or hop on the Metro right out the door.

We are thoroughly enchanted with Paris having been guided by Terrance. Such a treat to have him on hand to lead us in the most interesting directions. On Thursday, we're headed
to Duke's Bar to hear him sing. He's a man of many talents.

The Michigan Mob
Our day with Terrance was a highlight of our fabulous week in Paris. From the moment we met him at Les Deux Magots and
he quickly broke into song, we knew we were in for a fun-filled day. Because Terrance has so many friends in Paris, including: waiters, shopkeepers, and random people on the street, he made us feel like insiders. He took us down streets we never would have discovered without him, and shared pieces of history we hadn't heard about.
From the delicious puff-pastry shop we happened upon, to the 19th-century shopping arcades, we experienced some of the delights of Paris that most tourists never discover.
Terrance's knowledge of all things Parisian is endless; he knows the history as well as interesting tidbits about the cafe culture.
Once our tour was over, Terrance let us know that he was available for the rest of our trip as a resource for restaurant recommendations, shopping, and questions. His suggestions were excellent, and the lunch we had on our tour was the best of the week.
I highly recommend the Paris Walking Tour au Flaneur, or any other tour that Terrance is offering.
Amy Kilbridge
East Lansing, Michigan

wanted to say thank you for the incredible tour of Paris. Meet at Les Magnot was such a great idea, Parisian café and plotting out our magnificent journey. What my family enjoyed the most was blending in history but seeing Paris in different way by visiting the iconic sites but have a personalized narrative to truly enjoy the trek.

My wife enjoyed all the shops that were so unique and off the beaten path. Your tour really catered to our kids based on their interests. The secret path at the Louvre, was something the kids are still talking about. Every shop and cafe we walked into had a different story and you did such a great job of explaining everything.

Frank Hayden & Family, Evanston, IL

I wanted to thank you for your time while Jen and I visited Paris. It was such a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to making it back out there and getting more time seeing the city with Terrance.

Until then I will stay updated through the newsletter. Take care,
Kwai

I just want to say thank you again for just the loveliest day in Paris on Saturday - I will forever cherish that day! I had the best time getting to know you and getting to know Paris a bit better. I cannot wait to come back and see more. Thanks again and hope to see you in November!
All the best!
Jen

Margaret & Farah

Paul

Marie, Julie, Janis and Alain at Le Mesturet

Paula &

Sydney, Mill Valley

Chelsea & Tom, Asheville, NC

Tony & Lee-Johnson City,

The tour was awesome, merci. Gina & Sydney DeVito
We then spent a day with Terrance, walking Paris. It was the day after his birthday and he was, amazingly, still able to show a wonderful side of Paris. We saw where he was moving too and learned so much about the man himself. It was a delightful day and one we keep hoping to repeat sometime soon. Joyce Shor Johnson

The wise-cracking, entertaining Terrance Gelenter, a former New Yorker who’s a cross between a tour guide and a stand-up comic who looks and dresses the part of a Parisian was our guide in Paris. His tours are filled with lots of anecdotes about Paris life and he often interrupts his walks to say “bonjour” to the many French celebrities he knows and who frequent the Paris cafes of which the fast-talking American has become an expert.

“Paris’ café culture dates back to the 19th century and Hemingway popularized them with tourists in his writings,” Gelenter tells our small group outside the famous Café Les Deux Magots in the St. Germain des Pres area. “If you come into a café two days in a row, they’ll know your name and what you drink.

“A smile and a bonjour will get you a lot in a Paris café,” he tells us. Terrance has been known to regale his clients with a sampling of his favourite love songs – his rendition of Tony Bennett classics is most entertaining.

“I love my job because it allows me to show people the real Paris and not the one that’s been planned out for them in a guidebook,” says Terrance over a glass of wine in a classic French restaurant where everyone knows him – he even gets the owner/chef to take us to the room’s ancient wine cellar for a private viewing.

Try doing that without a guide. Marc Atchison, Travel Life Magazine

At Angelina's

Reed, Terrance & Poppy

We had a wonderful day touring with you today. Debra Laws

Jasper, Julie, Shelby, Brian–San Francisco
Greetings Terrance, You escorted my wife Gayle and I on the most memorable street tour in Paris of which we will never forget and talk of often. As you know better than any of us; once you go to Paris once you must go again. When we do we will walk again with you. Best Regards, –Conley Roaseau, SF, CA
As longtime subscribers to the Paris Through Expatriate Eyes newsletter, The Paris Insider, we knew that the Paris au Flaneur program would be an illuminating way to prepare ourselves to discover and enjoy Paris on our own–we just didn’t know that it would be so entertaining.
Thank you very much, we certainly enjoyed sharing our day with you. Lovely food and very much enjoyed the Marais area and we were so lucky with the weather. We had a lovely evening strolling around the Marais in such pleasant conditions. Also thank you for the photos you emailed
We would like to book the Astier for Harry’s birthday on Sunday 21st December at 7:00pm – or thereabouts. Would you mind making a booking for us?
Once again, we certainly enjoyed your tour. Falafels for dinner tonight!
Leanne, Sydney AU

Our host Terrance Gelenter combines the journalist’s eye for detail and subtext and the film critic’s knowledge of cinematic Paris,

accompanied by the saloon singer’s ability to sing a few bars of songs, in French and English, inspired by Paris –imagine that you are in one of Hollywood’s great musicals about Paris. – Philip Knowlton & Suzanne Fitzgerald

John & Paula, NYC

The Van Novak Twins-Walnut Creek, CA

Maddie & Heide

Ramsey, Todd, Dennis, Tex, T

We so much enjoyed meeting you and seeing parts of Paris that we didn’t know existed. We learned a lot and began to share your enthusiasm for this amazing city. Le Mesturet was a treat for lunch and we never would have found ourselves in such an authentic and friendly setting without you.

The 69 bus took us almost to our doorstep. Thanks for escorting us to the stop. We’re getting a sense of the city and tomorrow we’ll check out the Bateaux Parisiens and perhaps do their lunch cruise.

Thanks so much for a wonderful introduction to Paris. When we again will be in Paris and France –which we hope will be soon – we’ll be sure to get in touch.–Bruce & Richard, SF

Victoria & Olga the Fabulous Finns

Deb & Ken, Shreveport, LA

From Southern New Zealand and near Carcassonne all roads lead to Paris and Terrance-Lyn, Selwyn, Gay and Vic pausing for lunch at Le Mesturet during a day of flanerie.

The adorable Maddie, Donna, John & Shirley at Le Mesturet as we take a break for flanerie.

Rob & Nicole from San Francisco at La Dernière Goutte tasting a white beaujolais.