While in Paris, Heather & I were honored to be asked by Mr & Mrs. Smith (the fascinating hotel reviewers) for our opinion of a new property in their collection: the Hotel des Academies et des Arts .
Just behind the Luxembourg Gardens and a few blocks from the famous Montparnasse cemetary, this hotel is just slightly off the touristy beaten track but still close to everything. Most convienent, I thought, was that it was just off the blue line RER straight to the airport!
On a small street full of quaint shops and artist studios just off the Place Pablo Picasso, you get your full share of what a street should be in Montparnasse.
We loved this cute shoe repair shop across the street -how convienent (and opens EARLY). You know...just in case you scuff your heels!
Views of the street from our hotel room. 
Above you see the Place Pablo Picasso which houses some really great cafes.
The small lobby has a manager 24/7, so there was always someone there to bother with our touristy questions. They always had an answer and not all of our questions were so easy! Also -they all spoke English which proved really useful.
The library lays just off the lobby - we had breakfast on this comfy couch each morning! Notice the first of many paintings of artist models climbing ladders -a theme throughout the hotel.
Off the library was the small dining room which was open to guests for breakfast but also to the public for afternoon tea. Doesn't this look like a chic apartment?
Upon checking into our room we were surprised with Pierre Herme macaroons! We were excited to try these as we had been living on macaroons and I'm sad to say we were a bit disappointed; We preferred the Laduree!
The room was very comfortable, stylish as you can see by these examples and each room was different. They featured the artists' model though in different and creative guises!
As Heather mentioned already, the rooms are cozy (as all Parisian rooms are it turns out!) so keep that in mind when traveling with others. Definitely room for 2 people with very effiicient closet space.
The rooms on the rear of the hotel, like this one above, seemed to have a bit more room. Our room faced the street but was very quiet (very important for light sleepers like me!)
The artist model appeared everywhere - even on the rear courtyard!
Even the elevator had a window in it so you could watch the artist models climb the elevator shaft - really clever I thought! Saves you the ackward moments of eye contact with strangers on the elevator for sure: watch the art instead!
I would heartily recommend this hotel to people who have been to Paris before. I think we were lucky to stay in a hotel in the heart of the tourist areas for our first few days and get the lay of the land, then move to a more authentic area for the rest of our stay. The hotel was beautiful, elegant with amazing service and still only steps away from everything. Definitely worth a stay on your visit to Paris!
While just 2 blocks from our first hotel (which Heather talks about 
You can see it has balconies facing the Seine and the Louvre across it, seen below.
I only wonder about the tourist boats with floodlights which crowd this area of the Seine late at night. If you live here have your black out blinds ready!
Great examples of all different styles of Parisian architecture.
Why bother going to the Louvre across the bridge here when you can see amazing items like this in the shop window!
These bike stops were all over Paris. This location is ideal to pick up a bike after a visit to the Louvre and the Quai Voltaire!
Thats the lampshade you put in a stylish restaurant .... on THAT lamp? Seriously?
Nestled behind the Institut de France in St. Germain is a quiet, charming little park with some unusual features.
Notice anything odd? cobblestones, trees, lanterns, benches......
This fountain looks ok -charming even.
Oh yes -the benches look like open books! I loved these whimsical places to sit and perhaps.....read!
Just don't let the creepy statue of the monk across the street scare you away!
Surprises around every corner!
A trip to Paris isn't complete with a healthy dose of shopping. Parisians excel in this department for sure! All shops, even the most simple, are very beautiful and tasteful with a big imagination! 
Or an eye-catching window display. This makeup shop (again along the Rue du Faubourg St Honore) had quite a crowd gathered in front of it. The makeup 'palatte' was made out of glitter that caught the afternoon sun beautifully.
A lot of shops would have a speciality, such as this 'Orchideiste' -that was a new word for me!
A charming hat shop.
A shop of chic houseplants!
You all know I'm not always a fan of taxidermy but this shop was too fantastic to miss!
Why go to the zoo? These animals are silent and won't bite! 
These small birds were SO charming -I could see one sitting very happily on my coffee table! I was so tempted to get a little canary! I contented myself with taking home some candles though.
The shop is surprisingly bright filled with tons of natural light. 
An immense collection!
Turkeys and butterflies cohabiting peacefully.
I loved the wall color in here! 
One of the shops I was most looking forward to visiting did not disappoint. Cire Trudon in St. Germain was a fun stop with very 'historical' fragrances: warning -they're not all pleasant! However, I picked up a heavenly scented candle here, Proletaire.
And why waste time in a museum when you have roman antiquities filling shop-fronts along the small streets of St. Germain?
Or check out the Chagall along the Rue St Honore?
The city is so gray, that these flowers really POP!
This beautiful umbrella shop along the Boulevard St Germain reminded me of one of my favorite movies, the umbrellas of Cherbourg!
Notice the metal umbrellas hanging outside? 
The shop front of Zuber was black to show off the colorful wares inside.
Our favorite shopping haunts were definitely found walking around St. Germain back streets or along the Rue St. Honore. Avenue Montaigne had some AMAZING super high end clothing stores but was a bit intimidating to say the least!
Photo at the top of the post is of the St. Germain Laduree store where we spent a small fortune DAILY.
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