Thing to Do
Created by BReese
Paris 2007
Sun 02/18/07 (day 1)
New Journal Entry
We always buy a 5-day ticket for the trains. There are two train systems: the RER is for the whole region and the Metro is for getting around specifically in Paris. We always stay in a small suburb so we need the RER train to get to and from the heart of Paris. It seems like the week long ticket is around $50-$60. It's the least expensive way to get around. We never used the taxis in Paris so I don't know what rates are.
The first day in a new city, we always get a one or two pass for the tourist bus. It's a hop-on-hop-off system that takes you to all the hot spots in the city and you can get on and off as many times as you want. Well worth the $18 for one day and $30 for the two day fare.
Restaurants/cafes can be expensive but you have to eat. A bottle of coke or cup of coffee (no free refills on Cokes)is around $3. One lunch at a sidewalk cafe in Moulin Rouge was about $45 for the two of us for salads, veg sandwich, and coffee.
We chose a hotel that included a free continental breakfast to save money. We ate out for lunch and then stopped at the markets for fruit, cheese, bread, and wine to take back to the hotel to have for dinner.
The city is divided into districts called arondissements I think. It's easy to get around on the Metro and almost everyone speaks English. Most everyone is very friendly and helpful.
Bakeries, produce markets, butcher shops, and fresh flowers are everywhere and they get busy after work. Everyone stops to get food for dinner at the end of the day. Seems they shop one day at a time. It's so "romantic" to see so many people walking home with a fresh loaf of bread and bunch of flowers at the end of the day.
The first day in a new city, we always get a one or two pass for the tourist bus. It's a hop-on-hop-off system that takes you to all the hot spots in the city and you can get on and off as many times as you want. Well worth the $18 for one day and $30 for the two day fare.
Restaurants/cafes can be expensive but you have to eat. A bottle of coke or cup of coffee (no free refills on Cokes)is around $3. One lunch at a sidewalk cafe in Moulin Rouge was about $45 for the two of us for salads, veg sandwich, and coffee.
We chose a hotel that included a free continental breakfast to save money. We ate out for lunch and then stopped at the markets for fruit, cheese, bread, and wine to take back to the hotel to have for dinner.
The city is divided into districts called arondissements I think. It's easy to get around on the Metro and almost everyone speaks English. Most everyone is very friendly and helpful.
Bakeries, produce markets, butcher shops, and fresh flowers are everywhere and they get busy after work. Everyone stops to get food for dinner at the end of the day. Seems they shop one day at a time. It's so "romantic" to see so many people walking home with a fresh loaf of bread and bunch of flowers at the end of the day.
Air fares in June are pricey everywhere I look. Peak season is like that but if that's when you can go, you just go. Feb works out for us and it's always around $400 for nonstop roundtrip airfare through American.
I don't know what to recommend for hotels because we stay cheap- really cheap. It's called a tourist class hotel which means you have a clean bed and bathroom and just enough room to walk around the bed. Be sure to check that you have a private bathroom with your room. That's not a "given" like it is here in the U.S. Some have bathrooms in the hall like a dorm and you get to share it with everyone.
I don't know what to recommend for hotels because we stay cheap- really cheap. It's called a tourist class hotel which means you have a clean bed and bathroom and just enough room to walk around the bed. Be sure to check that you have a private bathroom with your room. That's not a "given" like it is here in the U.S. Some have bathrooms in the hall like a dorm and you get to share it with everyone.
Points of Interest
The Louvre
Musee des Arts Decoratifs (Decorative Arts Museum)
Paris Tourist Information Centre
Musee Picasso
Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Centre Pompidou
Maison de Victor Hugo (La)
Musee de Notre-Dame de Paris (Le)
Quartier latin (Latin Quarter)
Musee National du Moyen-Âge
Musee Eugène-Delacroix
Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)
Musee Rodin
Musee Maillol
Arc de Triomphe
Jardins des Champs-Elysees (Les)
Centre National de la Photographie
Musee des Parfumeries-Fragonard
Musee Claude Monet
Basilique du Sacre-Coeur
Musee d'Orsay
Salon du Chocolat
Espace Dalí
Maison Rouge (La)
Musee de Montmartre
Halle Saint-Pierre
Musee Marmottan Monet
Olympia Hall
Planned Activities
Mon 02/19/07 (day 2) - Paris
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Wed 02/21/07 (day 4) - Paris
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Thu 02/22/07 (day 5) - Paris
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Fri 02/23/07 (day 6) - Paris
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Sat 02/24/07 (day 7) - Paris
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Sun 02/25/07 (day 8) - Paris
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Mon 02/26/07 (day 9) - Paris
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Tue 02/27/07 (day 10) - Paris
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