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Post by sistereurope on Jul 30, 2007 7:34:46 GMT -5
Hi Everyone!
I'm back from summer vacation, which is very depressing. So to cheer myself up I have been thinking of my xmas trip to Paris with my ma. After re-reading everyone's trip report, I realized that we have no winter reports except for my own!
The first time I went to Paris was in April - it was still a bit chilly at times, but we also had some lovely spring weather and we were able to walk and enjoy the parks. It was pretty cold last Dec...excpet for the Seine boat ride though, most of the activities that my kids were interested in were indoors.
So, with that lengthy intro, finally my question: Can any of you experts tell me what you enjoy most about Paris in the winter? How can we take advantage of the season? It will be my mom's first trip, and I really want it to be special - I don't want to feel "bummed out" that she won't get to see Paris in her spring and summer finery, if that makes any sense.
Thanks!
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Post by luckyluc on Jul 30, 2007 7:50:26 GMT -5
Actually I prefer Paris in winter!
I have been in November, December, January, Febuary and March. December of course is the most magical.
The advantages are: fewer tourists, less people in the museums, even more cultural activities following "La rentrée. The trees and leaves don't obstructed your view of the monuments, one have a very complete panorama of Place des Vosges when the trees are bare. The fresh air give you wonderful excuses to enjoyed vin chaud and chocolat chaud. The church concert selection is endless and of course the stores windows are even more precious than usual. So don't hesitate Paris in winter is different but still very much Paris.
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Post by Truffaut on Jul 30, 2007 7:55:01 GMT -5
Can any of you experts tell me what you enjoy most about Paris in the winter? Ha! That's easy--no lines ;D It takes 5 minutes to get in the Louvre, 15 minutes at the Eiffel Tower, 5 minutes at the Orsay, etc. Last-minute reservations are fairly easy, too. I've been every year since 2000 in November, and most years in January or February, too. It can be cold, but not really any worse than DC/Baltimore. To me, the most difficult issue with the weather is that French people seem to keep their heat turned up to the "Fry" setting. You're walking around outdoors and its 40 degrees, then you go into a store and its 90 degrees. If you don't remove layers of clothes right at door, you'll faint before you can do any shopping! The windows at the department stores--especially Galeries Lafayette are spectacular and I wouldn't dream of missing them. Also, the windows of florists throughout the city take on a special charm. Depending on your dates, all the cultural sites are in full swing--ballet, opera, theatre, concerts, etc. Foodwise, I prefer restaurant dining in the winter months. Some of my favorite traditional "grandmother" dishes suit me better in the winter--bourguignon, daubes, blanquette, tarte tatin (someday, I'm going to lièvre à la royale).
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jul 30, 2007 9:08:42 GMT -5
In 2002 I went for 10 days in late February for a "girls' shopping trip" with a friend. We rented a flat on Ile St Louis, and had a really great time. It was cold (not unbearable), rained some (not constantly), but as someone has said, weather is merely an issue of appropriate clothing! I liked winter in Paris very much (other than the fact that Berthillion closes for school holidays in February!). I agree that it's great to go places without hoards of tourists blocking every view, clogging all museum entrances, etc. It's also just interesting to see the city in other seasons - like, seeing the Seine in almost flood stage, with the water lapping over the walkways below the islands. Here's a photo of Ile St Louis taken in late December (different trip, but same experience generally as to weather, crowds, etc.): And, here's a view of the rear of Notre Dame, with the trees bare, on the same trip: Winter is a great time to visit Paris (but so are Fall, Spring and Summer!)
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 30, 2007 9:13:24 GMT -5
Thanks...that's just what I wanted to hear
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 30, 2007 9:22:39 GMT -5
Paris in the winter is what I fell in love with! I've never visited in the Spring or Summer. I know it's beautiful those times of year, but I don't care for crowds and wonder if I'd still feel the same? So your question works both ways! (Eventually I must get to Paris during cherry season!)
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 30, 2007 9:26:03 GMT -5
I felt that way too...I enjoyed Paris in December as much as I did in April. It's just that I was thinking about my mom, and since it's her first trip I want it to be great...I am sorry that she won't get to see the gardens in full bloom, but the reminder about the reduced crowds makes up for it!!!
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jul 30, 2007 9:30:58 GMT -5
There's even an ice skating rink on the Eiffel Tower (don't remember which "leg"), weather permitting. Parisians themselves seemed to be unaware of it (we had read about it in the San Francisco newspaper before we left), but it's there if you look. Unfortunately, it was closed the day we went over to check it out (it was raining, and that was not compatible with iced surfaces!). I have since read a bit more about it, so it seems to be something that's now done every winter. (On the February trip- don't remember about December - there also was a very large ice rink set up in front of the Hotel de Ville, which I think is done each winter.)
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 30, 2007 9:47:33 GMT -5
Yes Becky, the ice skating rink was at Hôtel de Ville when we were there in December 2005. Also, I second the department store window displays--they are great fun to watch!
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Post by Jody on Aug 2, 2007 7:10:03 GMT -5
We love going to Paris in the winter. We have gone either in Nov, Feb or March every year for the last 20 years. We leave Nov 12th this year.
I do have at least a partial trip report from last Nov.'s trip, then we went onto Lyon and Burgundy for 10 days before heading back to Paris. I kind of pooped out after writing the 1st part of Paris and then Lyon and never finished with Beaune, Dijon and Auxerre. If I can find my notebook I can at least list the places we saw on our last week in Paris.
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Post by Happygoin on Aug 2, 2007 7:21:55 GMT -5
desmarais, I'd like to read your trip report. I, like sistereurope, am going to Paris this year in December. I love Paris in the winter but I've never been at Christmas time so I'm really looking forward to it....never mind...found your trip report. Thanx!
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Post by Jody on Aug 2, 2007 7:24:33 GMT -5
I've posted it in trip reports. I never did fi
I'd love to spend Christmas in Paris, lucky you!
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Post by geordy on Aug 2, 2007 8:28:39 GMT -5
I've been often in November, twice in January, and once in February. Second, or third, what everyone has said, less crowds, cultural scene in full throttle, decorations, excuses for hot chocolate and all the other foods Truffaut mentions! And sometimes better planes...not the awful cram them in 747's they still use in higher tourist season! And the one thing I didn't like....dealing with the cigarette smoke more because you are in doors more They are fixing! ;D So December should indeed be magical! I've always been there too early or too late for the Champs Elysees tree lights...some of the other streets yes...and the Isle St. Louis decorations are charming! 39 more sleeps for me!
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