janey

We came home on the l6th of Oct. Here are some of our thoughts. We were in Paris twice before and stayed in the 5th and the 7th.This time we stayed in the 15th, just a couple of blocks out of the 7th. Some people say one doesn't need much of a hotel room because how much time do you spend there.Well, we like to come &quot;home&quot; to a place that is plesant to be in to have a drink and put feet up before dinner. We found the Tourisme Hotel on the internet and wanted the luxury room shown .The price for that room with breakfast for two was 82 euros.A,d it really was a lovely room with a huge marble bathroom. The hotel is at a big metro station{three Lines}. There is a Monoprix across a big street with a super market in it. There was a McDonalds very near to take out coffee late at night and a cafe across the street that gave us a huge pail of ice each day for 1 euro.All of the above made for the creature comforts.<BR><BR>On that one street there were seven or eight really wonderful restaurants.We generally stay out all day and at dinner time love having a restaurant nearby. This is a residential neighborhood, so one really saw what the French are up to. On Asturdays there is generally soem type of outdoor market around the corner and on sundays there is always a very big market selling all of the foods, wines and other stuff.We love stuff.We used an orange card for the first time.And that is wonderfull.<BR><BR><BR>we took three of the english walking tours and they were wonderful.The guides knowing and fun.And a super buy at 10 eurs pp.<BR><BR>We took the canal boat for the second time and loved it again. It travels thru the center of Paris and goes thru 6 locks.It is a little boat, so the rising and lowereing of the boat is very visible. Liked it more than the Panama Canal.It leaves from the canal at the Bastille metro station.<BR><BR>We went to the Cluny and were surprised by a concert that was just starting with singers and musicians playing music of that time. It was free and is performed frequently.<BR><BR>We went to Chinatown&gt; It was not a thrill, but we did have some wonderful pho.<BR><BR>My husband had a nose bleed one night just as ou dinner was being served. A French woman at the table next to ours saw his distress leaned over and gave him some ointment that her doctor gave her for her nosebleeds. It worked. We gave her a souvenir of NewYork and she kissed us and thank us. Are the French un friendly?<BR><BR>If I were giving someone a tip, I would say to try your own restaurants. Many that are suggested here have so many tourists that they have &quot;attitiudes&quot;. <BR><BR>I am not sure that my stream of consciousness message here is helpful, but I just want first timers to know that to just kick back and not wooy about what you may be missing on the list of &quot;must sees&quot;. you will never see everything and it will make future visits so appetising.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

xxx

<BR><BR>No offense, janey, but just a brief comment. The reason some people say that &quot;one&quot; doesn't need much of a hotel room because one doesn't spend much time there is because that's what works for them. If you, and others, like to spend more money on a hotel that is pleasant for you, that works for you.<BR><BR>There's no one-size-fits-all-when it comes to hotels, nor should there be.<BR><BR>Glad you had a wonderful time in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Patti

Hi Janey,<BR><BR>Thanks for the trip report. I'll be visiting Paris for the first time in March so I've been avidly reading any and all reports. Do you remember the street your hotel was on? I'll be staying in the 7th but we may want to wander over to the 15th for dinner some night(s). <BR> <BR>I do have a list of must-sees, but mostly I just want to experience Paris--sounds like that's just what you did!

topper

ttt<BR>

Janey

Patti, The hotel Tourisme is at 66 Ave de la Motte-Picqet. The restaurants I spoke of are across the street for about two blocks. The ones we liked very much are Suffern, Legauloise, Gitane and especially Le Pere Claude.All of them have priced fixed dinners at about $25.pp without wine.