Sophie and Jack's romantic Paris itinerary from the book Toy Boy

Sophie is a 35-year-old lawyer, single.
When she was younger, she made a pact with her friends that if one of them ever reached the age of 35 without a relationship and a pregnancy in sight, she would have a child on her own, and all the friends would be there to help her raise it.
Now Sophie is 35, and for her birthday, her friends bought her a Toy Boy, the latest in vibrator technology, which, in addition to all its other abilities, is also a fertility device, which was supposed to look, sound, and feel exactly like a man – Sophie’s perfect man, only better. The Toy Boy was filled with the sperm Sophie had selected from the sperm bank, and her friends assured her that all she had to do was have fun with her ideal man, and he would take care of the rest.
Unfortunately, there was a mix-up, and what Sophie got was the exact opposite of everything she had ever loved in a man...

The problem is that Jack, the Toy Boy, had a mishap that no one could have predicted – he developed intelligence, independent thought, a sense of humor, and in effect became the first inorganic life form, and Sophie found herself head over heels in love with him, as hard as she found it to believe.

Sophie, the realist and cynical, and Jack, the pure and dreamy, will have to go through many tests for their love to survive. They will have to get through Sophie's friends, her parents, and the rest of the world.

During the book, Jack and Sophie travel toParis to visit her parents. On this visit, they will have to decide whether to tell Sophie's parents that Jack is not just a handsome computer technician she knew, but a custom-made android, a sex toy, who by a miraculous coincidence has developed human intelligence. But this trip has several other goals, some obvious and some hidden. Jack is planning a particularly romantic trip, which also includes several culinary milestones in the City of Lights.

In this article, you can learn more about the route that Jack and Sophie took in the City of Lights, and if you want to recreate it the next time you come to Paris, you can do so with notes from The Francophile himself (The owner of the site) and another route that is not written at all in the book.

Map of the places where Jack and Sophie traveled in the Toy Boy book

Hôtel Des Marronniers The hotel where Jack and Sophie lived

https://youtu.be/FogVLncFN-8

Truly, as a nation known for its love of refinement and elegance, the French have managed to completely miss the point of interior design. (final)

Sophie may not be impressed by the wallpaper in the sweet little hotel, but she is impressed by the breakfast, served in the dining room that opens onto the garden. This room in the hotel will be where some of the most significant events in their lives will take place, as well as the conversations about them.

The Francophile's word: Although I haven't stayed at this hotel (yet), its location is simply perfect. Right in the center of the Saint-Germain district, not far fromChurch of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, rue de Seine, for its plethora of galleries and endless restaurants nearby. I will definitely have to sample it sometime in the near future.

In the meantime, if you are interested in staying at this hotel yourself, here are a number of links that will help you find the cheapest and most affordable price for you:

Links to the hotel: Booking.com

Saint-Germain Metro Station

From the hotel, Jack and Sophie walk hand in hand through the small, narrow, picturesque streets to the nearest metro station, whose walls are covered in amazing murals. They board the first train that arrives and travel a few stops to a larger, much more modern station, noisy and bustling with people. An old Frenchman sitting with an accordion and playing chansons dedicates a Leonard Cohen song to Sophie and Jack. From there they continue to the Algerian market.

The Francophile's word: While I don't have much to say about what goes on underground at the Saint-Germain Metro (in reality, the metro station is much less romantic than the book suggests), I certainly have something to say about what goes on above ground. The metro entrances are near Boulevard Saint-Germain, and there's quite a bit to see on this square. Here are a few quick ideas:

• Saint-Germain Church – one of the oldest churches in Paris that recently underwent renovation and is more beautiful than ever.
• Cafe de Flor וCafe de Mago – Perhaps the most famous cafes in Paris whose name is associated withSartre and Simone de Beauvoir Who used to sit in these cafes and work there.
• Brasserie Lip – Favorite place Ernest Hemingway Who used to order a hot dog, cold potato salad, and beer there.

I could go on and on about this area alone, but time is short and Sophie and Jack's trip has just begun. However, before we move on, if you would like to get to know the area a little better and know what it looked like in the 18th century, you are welcome to take a look at the following video:

Aligre Market (Marche d'Aligre), also known as the Algerian Market

Jack, an artisan chef and food lover who just got the option to taste and smell in an upgrade (sorry for the little spoiler), walks among the stalls as if in a dream, stopping every now and then to buy a paper bag of something and taste it. At the back of the market, Sophie and Jack sit down to eat grilled chicken and small, round potatoes. After they are full, they continue to the flea market.

On the other side of the Algerian market, there is a makeshift flea market, where Parisians sell their wares on folding tables. Jack wanders among the stalls, looking for something special. Finally, he finds an elderly Frenchwoman who looks like a destitute countess. He explains to her in fluent French what he is looking for, and she finds him exactly that – a black velvet ribbon with an oval piece of ivory hanging from it, carved in the shape of a noblewoman's face, set with ruby-colored gems. Bordeaux Deep around. He puts the jewel around Sophie's neck, and then tells her about the conversation he had with the Countess. At another stall Jack stops and buys a small antique lock, and the stall owner writes their names on it, connected by a red heart.

The Francophile thing: The Allegra market is undoubtedly theMy favorite market in ParisThe reason for this is the great culinary variety and the fact that it is open almost every day. If you ask me what a divine breakfast is, it consists of only two items and both are found in the market or its immediate vicinity.

The first item is an orange tuna spread that can be found at the covered market. It’s true that it’s “just” tuna spread, but believe me, it tastes heavenly. After you’ve bought the spread, it’s time to make it a good friend, so I recommend you go to the Boulangerie Bo, which is less than a minute’s walk from the market at 85 Charenton Street.

Don't be tempted to order a baguette there or croissant, not because they are not good but because there are quite a few of them in Paris. Instead, buy yourself a few slices of fresh black bread, baked on site of course. With these two, return toThe rented apartment OrYour hotelSpread the tuna spread on the slice of bread and after the first bite you will discover the meaning of the phrase “talk to God.”

And one last thing, if you're looking for Culinary Tours in Paris And you want to get to know the market in depth, then let me recommend you take Guided tour of the Aligra market And discover its secrets through both the legs and the stomach.

Sweet wheat

Jack explains to Sophie that this is the patisserie with the most famous croissants in Paris, and also that desserts, as we know, are a separate stomach, and then he buys croissants, macaroons, and some profiteroles. They sit to eat them by a small fountain, and then comes the most romantic part of the trip…

The Francophile thing: This is indeed an excellent patisserie located a few minutes walk from the Allegre market. It has been around since 2006 and is run by Fabrice LE BOURDAT and his wife Celine. Almost everything you find there is made on site and its three most famous desserts are theTarte Tatin, Millefeuille and Mont Blanc.

After you have managed to choose your dessert from all this abundance, you are welcome to sit at one of the tables in the store or in the garden directly opposite and savor the taste.

Address:

7 rue Antoine Vollon

Open Tuesday to Saturday 07:00-19:30 Sunday 07:00-13:30

Metro: Ledru-Rollin Station

The bridge over the Seine

Jack and Sophie are walking slowly along the banks of the mighty river, sparkling in the sunlight. They stop when a bridge crosses the river nearby. Jack takes out the lock they bought, but to Sophie's surprise... (I promised no spoilers!).

The Francophile thing:
The book doesn't say which bridge they stood on, and all the bridges are fairly far from the Sugarloaf party where the couple spent time before. So I have a feeling that to get to the bridge they took a taxi or the metro, and I recommend that for you too.

So you're welcome to take a look at this video and choose the bridge that Jack took Sophie to, and then write to me in the comments which bridge you chose and why.

L'Entrecote Restaurant (Le Relais de Venise)

After a few busy and difficult days in Paris, Sophie and Jack meet the new friends they met on the flight – Shiri, Yohai and their two children – at the famous restaurant. Sophie accidentally lets out Jack's secret, and the end is... (Spoiler!)

The Francophile thing: This is a family restaurant located in the 17th arrondissement and serves only one dish: entrecote steak with green sauce, the secret ingredients of which the family that runs the restaurant does not agree to reveal. The truth is that I have not yet had the opportunity to eat at the famous branch of the restaurant, but I have eaten at its London branch and enjoyed it very much.

Restaurant address: 271 Boulevard Pereire.

Marais tour

According to the book, Sophie and Jack wandered the streets of the Mara with her father and there they received his "blessing of the journey."

The Francophile thingAlthough the book does not mention specific places where Jack and Sophie traveled, it can be assumed that they took a short route that included Vosges Square And Francs Bourgeois Street with its many palaces and boutiques.

If you are looking for hiking trails that will help you get to know the Marais District Let me recommend these three:

• Hiking route in the southern and central Mara – A long and detailed route that can take you about eight hours (including lunch and rest).
• Hiking route in the northern Marais following Madame de Savigny – This is a route that complements the previous route and focuses on the northern part of the Mara.
• Patisserie route in the Marais district – For all those looking to discover the culinary side of the Marais. If you are looking for a guided culinary tour of the Marais district, let me recommend: This trip.

Another day of travel

After all the drama in Paris is over, all that's left for Sophie and Jack is to enjoy another day of sightseeing in the most beautiful city in the world. This day isn't detailed in the book, but here's the itinerary the Francophile built for them for the day, and the main places they visited:

Notre Dame Church and the small streets around it

It is absolutely clear that there is no trip to Paris, especially if it isThe couple's first time in the city of lights, without Notre Dame Cathedral. Jack, being an android, must have known every detail of the church's long history and if you want to read a little about it, you are welcome to enter my article dealing withHistory of Notre Dame. Also, Jack, being programmed to be a hopeless romantic, must have taken Sophie for a walk through the side streets near the church and they must have come to the Rue de Colmbes, which was named after Thor (a male pigeon) who saved his pigeon girlfriend who was buried alive under the rubble of a building.

Lapérouse Restaurant

After a romantic walk around Notre Dame, it was time to eat something. Jack, as a hopeless romantic, chose the Lapérouse restaurant for several reasons. The first reason is the external and internal beauty of the restaurant, which corresponded well with his developed sense of aesthetics. The second reason is of course the excellent classic French food. However, the third reason is the fact that the restaurant has been known for almost two hundred years for its private rooms where diners can do as they please before or after the waiter brings them their food in complete secrecy. Therefore, it is not surprising that this restaurant was particularly loved by Victor Hugo And other writers would bring their mistresses here. What Sophie and Jack did in the private room after dinner I'll leave to your imagination...

More information and reservations for Lapérouse Restaurant

Fürstenberg Square

After lunch, Jack and Sophie continued their stroll through the 6th arrondissement. After a light and pleasant walk through the galleries of rue de Seine, they arrived atFürstenberg Square.

Jack knew very well why he brought Sophie to this square because it is considered by many people to be the most romantic square in Paris thanks to its intimacy, the four trees and the lanterns in the center. They may also have entered theDelacroix Museum Which is right there to enjoy the works of this wonderful artist and the quiet of the small garden inside.

We end Jack and Sophie's little trip in this square because it is not far from their hotel, where they must have returned for another night of love. And if you are not tired yet and are looking for more routes in the City of Lights, I recommend you visit the page Itineraries in Paris And find you another route or two to discover the charms of the City of Lights.