While I get settled in our apartment in Paris I’ve asked a few friends to do guest posts on their favorite “secret spots” in Paris. Today we have Lindsey from Lost in Cheeseland.

When I’m asked to describe what I love most about Paris, I rarely hesitate. Its bakeries on every corner, its rich cultural heritage, its lush parks, its efficient public transportation system and its fascinating characters all form my image of this vibrant city. These are also the same elements that foster a sense of comfort and ease in navigating the city, much in the same way that the streams of independent coffee shops, yellow taxi cabs and bustling city streets are for New Yorkers. But there is another layer to Paris where the real stories and intrigue reside – in the less visible, rawer parts of the city where hidden passageways meet brilliant artistic expression.

Perhaps the most well-known of the Paris street-artists is Miss Tic, a visual artist whose stylized self-portraits are scattered throughout the city. More than art, her work is visual poetry stenciled onto public space – no need to enter a museum or gallery to see her messages, they’re all around us.
Much of Paris is too perfect – too proper, too pristine, too romanticized. Wall-art helps to humble the city, taking its classical and historical side and merging it with the whimsical.

Bienvenue à Paris, Jordan! Keep your eyes open, there is a plethora of wall art geared for kids too. I can’t wait to see what secrets you stumble upon!
{More examples of Paris street art}

Lindsey Tramuta lives in Paris with her French husband and cat. She is the creator of Lost In Cheeseland where she writes about food, love, life and struggles in Paris. Follow her on twitter: @LostNCheeseland.

Top photo: Lost In Cheeseland
Bottom photo courtesy of Fotopedia