Headed to Paris... recommendations?

[Chozn1]

Hi all, the misses and I are headed to Paris next week in celebration of ten years of marriage. She's definitely the planner and I'm the one that likes to wait until the last minute (as this thread would attest) but I was wondering if some of my fellow TRF'ers had anything they had done while there that really made the trip for them. We're going to do the standard fare with the Lourve and what not, but sometimes the best experiences come from a recommendation, so if you have one, throw it at us

[Taffi Abernathy]

Est-ce que vous or votre epousee parle francais? J'ai visite la France comme un estudiant sur un tour. J'ai vu sites typiques come La Tour Eiffel et les musees. Allez a la site, "Bienvenue au Monde Francais." C'est tres utile. La France est tres belle! Vous allez adorer le pays. Bonne chance.

[Chozn1]

Oui, je suis marié, mais je crains que mon français est très limité. Merci pour cette recommandation. Il ya combien de temps avez-vous visité?

[DoxaDavid]

Versailles is something to behold. Artist quarter is fun and different to walk around. Get your picture drawn for cheap. I'm sure I'll think of a few more..

[Taffi Abernathy]

J'etais la en tant que fille de l'ecole. S'il vous plait, comment puis-je trouver les accent de mon ordinateur? Merci! (plus que 30 annees!)

[Chozn1]

Originally Posted by DoxaDavid

Versailles is something to behold. Artist quarter is fun and different to walk around. Get your picture drawn for cheap. I'm sure I'll think of a few more..

Right on! Let me know when you do

[Dan Pierce]

Have a great time. Just trying to take in all the beauty will be hard enough.
dP

[ijen0311]

I thought the catacombs were amazing (yes... I know it's macabre)...

[jdc]

Make sure you walk the Champs Elysées and see the Arc de Triomphe you can walk to the top. Musee D'Orsay, Montmatre and Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, do a boat trip at night "bateau-mouche". Visit Napoleons tomb at Les Invaildes. Visit Pompidou Center, shopping at Les Halles. Look at area called Paris 2000. I also liked the Musee National D'art Moderne.

Get a good guide book regarding restaurants you will need to book well ahead before you go to get a top restaurant reservation.

Use the metro to get around Paris.

You will need a week to see Paris. Be aware of pickpockets and keep handbags across your front. Paris is a beautiful and romantic city.

[boa2]

Picasso Museum
Rodin Museum
Berthillon - incredible ice cream (Ile St-Louis, behind Notre Dame)
Go to the top of Notre Dame
Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower
Walk the Marais
Eat as many croissants as you can

OUTSIDE OF PARIS:

Take a day trip to Mont St.-Michel if you have time. One of the most amazing places you will ever see.


Also, as much as I love Versailles, if time constraints forced a decision between the two, I would opt for the cathedral at Chartres.


One hour east of Paris, in the Champagne (with many domains for tasting) region, is a beautiful town called Reims (pronounced 'rance'), and the cathedral has stained glass by Chagall


Chateaux of the Loire:

[unclesallie]

here's my two cents: start at the latin quarter, walk around there, wonderful restaurants, stroll over to Shakespeare & co. across from Notre Dame. Walk over to Notre Dame, spend a little time in Notre Dame, then walk to Le Marais(you've walked from the Left Bank to the Right Bank), and just wander around, lots of little shops, great restaurants....that area is especially nice at night. Try to get a corner room at a hotel with huge/high windows that look out over a square or circle in Paris. Finally, do not miss Musee d'Orsay. I think the trick in Paris is to find small shops and restaurants that are high quality.

[boa2]

Originally Posted by unclesallie

here's my two cents: start at the latin quarter, walk around there, wonderful restaurants, stroll over to Shakespeare & co. across from Notre Dame. Walk over to Notre Dame, spend a little time in Notre Dame, then walk to Le Marais(you've walked from the Left Bank to the Right Bank), and just wander around, lots of little shops, great restaurants....that area is especially nice at night. Try to get a corner room at a hotel with huge/high windows that look out over a square or circle in Paris. Finally, do not miss Musee d'Orsay. I think the trick in Paris is to find small shops and restaurants that are high quality.

Great plan!

And between Notre Dame & Le Marais, you must go to the Ile St-Louis for Berthillon. I'm telling you, I've never had better ice cream or sorbet.

[Chozn1]

Thanks all for your input. By all means if you have anything else just let me know and we'll take a look. I've emailed Mrs. Chozn a link to the thread so she's checking everything out as well.

[Denny M]

Originally Posted by Chozn1

Thanks all for your input. By all means if you have anything else just let me know and we'll take a look. I've emailed Mrs. Chozn a link to the thread so she's checking everything out as well.

I also second the Rodin museum. Small but it ended up being my personal favourite. It's within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and the Invalides/Napoleons Tomb.

Also try and visit the Eiffel Tower late in the afternoon. We stayed up there and watched the sunset and soon after all the city lights started coming on. Left the tower after it got dark and watched it sparkle with thousands of lights (however this only happens for 5 mins every hour). It was well worth it.

Really liked staying in the St Germain area. If nearby go to the Gerard Mulot pattiserrie for sweets - absolute heaven.

Did not enjoy the Loire Valley day tour with Cityrama. The guide seemed jaded and bored with his job. They then packed us in a double decker bus it got real stuffy and uncomfortable after a while. The commentary was constantly repeated in 3 languages - Italian, English and Japanese. Once at the Chateaux there was very little time to explore and have a look around. It was also very expensive - next time, i would go independently or with a smaller tour group.

To do the French countryside any justice you need at least another 2-3 weeks. It's a whole separate trip in itself.

[Tombstone]

Too bad the weather will not be a bit warmer. Someday you and the misses must return when it is summer and take a romantic train ride to the South of France, The French in the south are the true French.

When you arrive you must drive the quiet country side, which is breath taking. During your travel you should find a family owned home/farm(many to choose from)which is also a hotel. These farms are not American farms rather they are clean architectural treasures of the french past. Most of the rooms are decorated by hand with a french taste which adds to the magic of your stay. Every meal is home cooked with herbs and wines most meals are usually a meal of the reigon.

The most important aspect of your voyage you must rent a small boat and float down the magestic Dordogne river.

I have been all over the World, I have seen things I can't believe, the Dordogne is pure perfection and beauty. You will float down a slow moving Dordogne and pass a multitude of castles, and structures which will take your breath. Often you and the misses will be the only people around. The trees (thousands of them are green) the air is sweet with the odor of flowers, and life is peaceful. I have been down the Dordogne many times, it is the reason I return to France, it is France, Paris is the mother to New York and acts as such. The Dordogne is a treasure not to be found any place else on this planet.

[unclesallie]

Originally Posted by boa2

Picasso Museum
Rodin Museum
Berthillon - incredible ice cream (Ile St-Louis, behind Notre Dame)
Go to the top of Notre Dame
Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower
Walk the Marais
Eat as many croissants as you can

OUTSIDE OF PARIS:

Take a day trip to Mont St.-Michel if you have time. One of the most amazing places you will ever see.


Also, as much as I love Versailles, if time constraints forced a decision between the two, I would opt for the cathedral at Chartres.


One hour east of Paris, in the Champagne (with many domains for tasting) region, is a beautiful town called Reims (pronounced 'rance'), and the cathedral has stained glass by Chagall


Chateaux of the Loire:

Man, What Beauty. I'm not sure how I ever missed those spots, but if I remember correctly I was off to another country after about 5 days!! Had I taken more time I might've skipped Madrid for the pictured spots and then gone on to Palma.

[BigHat]

Another vote for a day trip to Mont St.-Michel if your schedule supports it. Spent a week in Normandy doing an in-depth study of the invasion in 1994 and we took a break to visit that place. I was embarrassed to admit I never knew such a beautiful spot existed before I got there. Don't miss it.

[Rockrolex]

In Paris, you must see the Cathedral of Saint-Chappelle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Chapelle) on the Ile de la Cite. It has the most beautiful stained glass windows I have ever seen.

Then before or after, go to Chez L'Ami Louis, 32, rue du Vertbois
75003 Paris. Tel: 33 01 48 87 77 48

Some say it has the best roast chicken in the world. I say anything you get there is wonderful. The best in down home French bistro food. But make your reservation now. Doesn't matter - lunch or dinner.

[boa2]

The French countryside is indeed soul-touching. It hits me like no other place I've ever been. I studied for a year in Paris, and have spent another 6 months traveling throughout the country. I've also cycled twice through France.

If you can get to Mont St.-Michel, it's a day trip that is often combined with stops in Bayeux (you can see the famous tapestry) and the beaches at Normandy. I would agree with Tombstone that the Dordogne is a place you have to see one day, but I would disagree that the true French are in the south only. Drive through the small villages of Normandy, and you'll sense a magical culture that can just about make you weep. Or Brittany. Or Burgundy. In fact, if you can get to Vezelay in Burgundy, it too is well worth the visit.

[jdc]

I agree Howard France as most countries has it own regions, customs and character all can be appreciated in different ways. I have toured the Champagne regions on a few occasions, keeping away from the major producers, great fun driving around finding little villages like Vertus and seeing all the smaller producers and trying the produce. The French producers we got to know think it is funny that Champagne is not normally drunk with food in Britain.
These are great guys
http://www.champagne-veuve-fourny.com/uk/family/