Paris 2012

Good Afternoon from Rome Ladies. 

Can you believe it's noon and hubby and I are just getting ready to leave the hotel.  He's not feeling so hot so we had breakfast then a nap and now we're off for a tour of the catacombs. 

If anyone is interested.  I do post pics on FB, if you want to friend me, I'd be happy to accept.  So far we haven't gotten too many up as the internet in our hotel is not wonderful and it is the only place we have had wifi available.  We do plan to keep posting pics and can't wait for our trip to Paris!

Search Heather Kriston McCrimmon

Hope everyone has a great day, and so far the weather has been beautiful!!

Just caught this thread and thought I would add a few things. I L O V E Paris. I have been there 3 times and plan to go again someday. No I am not rich. I am lucky to have some French friends, related to my former job who have helped me do Paris on a budget.

My favorite things:

walking the city and just enjoying the ambience. Just beware, it is easy to get turned around, the streets go in circles and sometimes it is a bit disconcerting to end up on a desolate street. I found the carnes for the metro to be just as good as a city pass, but if you plan to do a lot of excursions, get a train pass from a local travel agent. They can make sure you get one that goes to the areas you plan to visit. Train travel is easy and the metro is great once you get it figured out. You can also take the train from the airport, but pack light. We actually did our laundry once and it was no big deal. Bring a little soap powder.

It is great you have an apt. I loved being able to shop for food and make sandwiches and such. Take them to the a, sit on a bench and have a picnic while people watching. Plus,we do not like to spend a lot of time waiting in resturants. Places to go, things to see!

I like the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe better that the Eiffel Tower. You have to climb the stairs, but it was fun. And less crowds. It is great to stand at the center of it all and get that 360 view.

The bateau on the Seine are such a cliche, but they really are relaxing and a great first thing to do because you get your bearings.

I do not like the Louvre nearly as much as Le Musee D'orsay, which where you will see more impressionists rather than classics. 

I love history so the Conciergiere is a very interesting. 

My husband is catholic so I planned a tour d'eglises for him one Sunday. We literally did 6 cathedrals in one day. We started out with mass at the oldest (St. Louis?). We heard the huge pipe organ at St. Suplice (check for times). We went to Sacre Couer, a couple of others I can't remember and the highlight was a sunset mass in Notre Dame where we heard a beautiful A Capella chorale. I told my husband if he moved me to Paris, even I would convert to catholicism. lol

The day trip to Giverny and Versailles is well worth it. But don't try it in the same day as we did on a tour even though they are in the same direction. Each one deserves a full  day to enjoy.

Buy your train passes and museum tickets here to avoid the lines, and the deals are not always available there.

Use the ATM's but check with your bank to see if they know where you can get the best deals on fees.

Be wary of the panhandles around the main tourist sites. I found them to be very agressive.

Talk quietly and dress like the natives. No tennis shoes or shorts. Do not draw attention to yourself as being American, but I found Parisians to be usually very nice as long as I made some attempt to speak French. I only had one rude waiter in 3 trips and that was because he would not get me any ice. Do not expect to get ice. It was so hot when I was there one June. I finally had to break down and go to a MCD, just so I could buy a cup of ice!

I would skip the Moulin Rouge and only visit the Montmatre area during the day. The view is really great from there.

Bon Voyage!

Just got back from 2 weeks in Florida, so am just reading these posts now.  Heather, sorry that you and hubby were sick.  Hope it didn't put too much of a damper on your trip.

 Kathy and Heather, sorry to hear that both of didn't particularly like Rome.  I would be interested in hearing more of the details about that.  Was it the dirtiness or unfriendliness of the people? Sounds like you thought that the sights and food were good.

My husband wants to concentrate on Florence first with maybe a few days in Rome, then a return trip to Rome later for a longer stay. We both love museums and art galleries and historic places, in general.

 Another great city is Vienna.  I spent some time there when I was younger.  It looks like the imperial capital that it once was.  And I absolutely love Wienerschnitzel the way they make it, with European style cucumber and potato salad on the side - yum!

Sorry, got a bit crazy there.  I promise to post pics when I get a chance. 

I don't remember seeing anyone smoking inside a building but everyone hangs by the door and smokes.  I'm an ex-smoker so I can't say too much about it but you'll definitely run into it.  We were also surprised  at the young age of the smokers.  They all seemed to be kids, unless I'm getting that old.  LOL

Yes, you'll want to leave the back pack at home for your vatican tour.  I think some of our problem was it was so crowded there we just felt like we we be herded thru.  I was pretty disappointed in the touring but not the actual site

Michelle, We ate dinner at Jules Verne, your right it's INSANELY expensive but it's a once in a lifetime experience and it was worth every penny.  Try the marshmallows they give you for dessert.  Out of this world delicious!

We were in Paris in November. Dh went to the Louvre one of the days because they had a temporary exhibition that he wanted to see. Meanwhile I went to the Centre Pompidou, which is right downtown and has various temporary exhibitions. When we were there the main exhibition was Edvard Munch. Since I am a fan, but have never made it to Oslo, this was great.

I also really enjoyed the 3rd arrondissment, especially "la marche des enfants rouges" which is like a farmer's market, but with restaurant stands as well, and a cute shop  called Merci on 111 Blvd Beaumarchais, which has designy stuff. 

If you have access to a kitchen, do visit a supermarket and buy some great cheese, ham, wine etc. Make sure to visit a couple of bakeries as well. 

Luv, can't see the pic, but most bakeries have wonderful pastries and they will make coffee to go. When we were there, I would go get coffe to take out and pastries every morning and we would eat them in the apartment which looked directly out on the Eiffel Tower.

Luv, I don't think you will find American-style coffee easily in Europe. But you could just ask for a cafe au lait, since the hot milk will make the coffee less bitter.

Michelle, I love a good strong cup of coffee, absolutely loved their coffee.  Sorry, but your stash may come in handy for you.

Luv now I can see the kitchen. It looks great! The stove is probably gas burners sunk into the countertop.

When you go to the supermarket, look for ready-made soups. They are usually in the dairy-case (for refrigeration) in large bottles, and some of them are great. With some fab parisian bread and a salad of already prepared greens from the supermarket and a slice of good camembert you have a very quick, easy and good meal and cheaper than eating out.