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Post by asrcolorado on May 22, 2008 14:51:47 GMT -5
 Here goes everyone, let me know what you think: Arrive in Paris at 8:00 am - DAY 1: Montmarte neighborhood to include: Sacre Coeur Basilica Perfume shop - 10 Rue St. Lazare Opera Garnier tour DAY 2: Louvre Museum Jardin Tullierries l'Orangerie Museum Champs Elysees (window shopping) Arc de Triomphe DAY 3: Picasso Museum Maison de Victor Hugo (Place de Vosages) Notre Dame Cathedral Booksellers along the Quai Des Grands Augustins Shakespeare & Co. Wander the Latin Quarter The Pantheon DAY 4: Musee d'Orsay Rodin's Museum & Gardens Eiffel Tower DAY 5: Choose my favorite neighborhood to go back to HELP!!!! Thank you...........
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on May 22, 2008 15:03:21 GMT -5
I don't think you need a lot of help, if this fairly covers what you would like to see most. Just be sure to allow lots of time for cafe-sitting, deviations when you see something interesting, etc. Have fun!
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Post by Jody on May 22, 2008 15:03:24 GMT -5
Looks good, you've grouped your interests nicely. I would add a street market depending on the days you are there.
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Post by ouiparis on May 22, 2008 15:04:38 GMT -5
Good job!  Why don't you reserve the final day for whatever you want to go back to. Of course, you won't know until you get there. Day 3 looks a little packed. You can do it, but you won't have a lot of time for each place. Just plan on not being able to do everything (of course you've heard that a million times by now). When are you leaving again? |
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Post by GitteK on May 22, 2008 15:33:41 GMT -5
Day 1 I exalted you for listing Montmartre as your top priority for the first day !!  Be aware that if there are afternoon rehearsals on stage at Opéra Garnier, you will not be let in. Check their website. I have not been inside the opera myself, but I have been told that visits in the morning are the most "secure" choice ? Day 2I would choose either the Louvre OR the Orangerie, because in the latter you have to 1) stand in a never-ending line to get in or 2) pre-buy your ticket, e.g. in FNAC - and AFAIK the ticket would have a limited period of allowed entrance-time, so that could become a stressfactor. Louvre is such a marathon affair - and you can enjoy it from the outside (which is truly a grand sight) without necessarily going in. Really, it will be here the next time you come also, so no worries. It is not all that fantastic, just m2 after m2 of old stuff.  Champs Elysées for windowshopping ?  Hmmmmm......... If you are a female, then I'd go to Louis Vuitton on the south side of C.E. - and then down Avenue Montaigne to see some of the posh fashion houses, but C.E. itself is a grave disappointment  - unless you are heavily into Virgin Megastore, fast food, cinemas and automobile display rooms...... Day 3I would go to Notre-D. in the morning, when they open - to avoid the buscrowds. Pantheon............ hmmmmmm....... I have never heard anyone rave about it, and moreover it costs a fortune to get in. I'd recommend that you visit the stunningly beautiful church Ste Étienne-du-Mont to the rear left of Pantheon instead, where you can light a candle for Paris's patron saint: Sainte Geneviève. (OBS! the church is closed during lunch hours, for some obscure reason) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montagne_Sainte-Genevi%C3%A8veen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-%C3%89tienne-du-MontAfter that a stroll down Rue Descartes and Rue Mouffetard is always a good idea  Day 4What IS it with you Americans and this Rodin fellow ........... ?? Is it all that forbidden nudity on display, peut-être ? ;D
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Post by annettecinca on May 22, 2008 15:35:21 GMT -5
Yes, you've done really well! Looks like you've been doing a lot of homework For touring the Opera Garnier (what day of the week do you arrive?) English tours are offered on Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday at 11:30 am & 2:30 pm, so you might wish to work around that if you can. |
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Post by Laidback on May 22, 2008 17:12:10 GMT -5
I think you can manage everything. You didn't mention the specific day of the week, but I am sure you are aware that the Louvre and the Orangerie are closed on Tues., whereas the Rodin, Picasso and d'Orsay are closed on Mon. I would also try and not schedule Sacre Coeur on a Saturday or Sunday because of the crush of tourists on the week end.
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Post by asrcolorado on May 22, 2008 18:00:15 GMT -5
Thanks so much!!!
;D
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Post by Shoesy on May 22, 2008 21:51:03 GMT -5
When I first saw your itinerary, I was surprised to see Montmartre as your first destination on the day of your arrival. After thinking about it for a while, I rather like the idea now. Assuming that you'll be feeling energetic once you get settled in, it can be a splendid way to start your trip, and being active like that will help you fight jet-lag IMO. |
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Post by goldenmama on May 23, 2008 6:36:49 GMT -5
I would also add that the Champs-Elysees was a major let-down. The Disney store? Virgin Megastore? Sephora? Been there and done them at home! |
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Post by Truffaut on May 23, 2008 7:11:20 GMT -5
I agree with everybody's rather negative assessment of the C-E, with the exception of Vuitton (and I'm not even a real Vuitton fan) AND the Toyota showroom that has amazing concept cars you won't see anywhere else (and I'm not even a real car fan, either). That said, if it's always been your dream to stroll down the C-E, you should do it for a few blocks |
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Post by asrcolorado on May 23, 2008 8:47:45 GMT -5
 WOW!! All of your guidance was so helpful....... I think I'll skip the Pantheon per GitteK, and as you suggested, give the Champs only a couple of blocks per Trufant........ I've always wanted to sit and "contemplate" with "The Thinker" dude, so Rodin's visit stays, GitteK ;D Thanks for all this wonderful advice! ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on May 23, 2008 8:50:56 GMT -5
Actually, the Pantheon is interesting and the best part is the view from the top - well worth the price of admission and the climb up the stairs, as you can see out over the Luxembourg gardens toward the Seine.
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Post by sistereurope on May 23, 2008 8:53:30 GMT -5
I agree with your revised itinerary, including the tweaks from our knowledgeable experts. It seems loose enough that you can discover some unexpected delights, which I'm sure you will. Be sure to report back to us!
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Post by geordy on May 23, 2008 8:56:55 GMT -5
It is easy to say skip the Champs Elysees once you've BEEN THERE!!!!
But if you haven't.......at least here in the USA..it is a BIG symbol of Paris....we've seen it on the news, parades, old horrible images of Nazi tanks, joyous celebration after the Liberation, movies etc.
My first trip to Paris, head cold, warring companions, sprained ankle and all..walking down that Avenue put a smile on my face as I said to myself I'm walking down the F%$&ing Champs Elysees!
Sure..all the chain stores...but you can have an overpriced glass of wine and watch the World stroll by! And on a belle jour to stand in the middle, with all the traffic whizzing by, and look both ways... ;D
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Post by GitteK on May 23, 2008 10:18:11 GMT -5
And if you are lucky enough to be in town when France wins a major football tournament, then you are allowed to WALK in the middle of CE - all the way from Concorde to Arc de T. - singing La Marseillaise with all the other ecstatic fnas of Les Bleus !! Now THAT's an experience you'll never forget....... guess who tried that !! |
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Post by Anne on May 23, 2008 10:32:42 GMT -5
I second Penny on her suggestion of an evening Seine cruise . Actually, even a daylight cruise is nice because it gives you a totally different perspective on the monuments . We did the "Bateaux Parisiens" one hour sightseeing cruise starting from Eiffel Tower to the Hôtel de Ville and back www.bateauxparisiens.com/EN/boats-cruises-paris-seine-uk.htmlIt seems that Penny went with the "Vedettes du Pont-Neuf", same itinerary but just the other way round www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/ |
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Post by Shoesy on May 23, 2008 10:33:05 GMT -5
I was on CE after a big French soccer vistory, and I don't remember anyone singing "La Marseillaise". What I do recall is a zillion cars tooting their horns and shirtless guys hanging out the windows, shouting their heads off. BTW, I guess I'm one of the few people who actually liked walking up and down the CE  , not for shopping, but just to enjoy a long after-dinner walk along a lively lit-up avenue. I admit that the CE is by no means a charming section of Paris, but I found the stroll there to be pleasant nonetheless, and it was a good way to walk off the calories I had acquired from eating steak-frites at Relais de Venise. |
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Post by ouiparis on May 23, 2008 11:09:20 GMT -5
It is easy to say skip the Champs Elysees once you've BEEN THERE!!!! I agree with Geordy. I'll never forget walking down Champs Elysees making our way toward the Arc de Triomphe. My then-fiance and I would periodically cross to get to the middle of the street to take photos of ourselves in front of the Arc. |
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Post by asrcolorado on May 23, 2008 17:14:37 GMT -5
Hi again......... Thanks so much for sharing all your great memories....... I don't go for another few months, but I will be sure to come back and give you a report.............. This is me trying to contain my excitement: ;D ;D ;D
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Why don't you reserve the final day for whatever you want to go back to. Of course, you won't know until you get there. Day 3 looks a little packed. You can do it, but you won't have a lot of time for each place. Just plan on not being able to do everything (of course you've heard that a million times by now). When are you leaving again?
Hmmmmm......... If you are a female, then I'd go to Louis Vuitton on the south side of C.E. - and then down Avenue Montaigne to see some of the posh fashion houses, but C.E. itself is a grave disappointment 
- unless you are heavily into Virgin Megastore, fast food, cinemas and automobile display rooms......
WOW!! 
, not for shopping, but just to enjoy a long after-dinner walk along a lively lit-up avenue. I admit that the CE is by no means a charming section of Paris, but I found the stroll there to be pleasant nonetheless, and it was a good way to walk off the calories I had acquired from eating steak-frites at Relais de Venise.
hahahha