BumbleB6

I just wanted to thank everyone who took the time to answer questions I posted recently about Paris, (and in the past about my gathering trip ideas to Spain.)

We just came back from Paris last week, and our trip was more successful thanks to advice and tips I was given on this forum.
I ended up not going to Provins for the day, but went to Chateau de Vincennes and Chartres on two separate day trips. I highly recommend both.

We used the Paris Museum Pass for four consecutive days, and for 3/4 days, it is a good value. We visited L'Orangerie, Musee D'Orsay twice, popped into the Louvre and Pompidou Centre twice, saw Sainte-Chappelle... and avoided the long lines in each place. I missed Musee Cluny - again - so I'll just have to go back someday...

20 years ago, my husband and I went to Paris just before we got married, and on our first night, we took the boat cruise on the Seine at dusk. We did this again, with our daughter, again on our first night, and it is "tourist-y" but very enjoyable.
We also went up to the Eiffel Tower 2nd floor observation deck. It was part of a nightime tour I booked. It was enjoyable, but, honestly, if you don't have time, or can't get tickets, it's probably nicer to go up on the 4th floor of the Pompidou Centre, or to Sacre Couer in Montmartre (which we didn't make it to, this time, but I remember from last time, the view was nice).

We stayed at the Citadines Bastille-Marais near the Place de la Bastille and on the outskirts of the Marais. I was very pleased with the small apartment we rented there, the Citadines staff, and with the neighborhood. We stayed here because my daughter and I prefer to keep a vegan diet, and this was close to the vegetarian restuarants close by.
In that vein,I want to say, if you are veg*n, and you've been ambivalent about going to Paris, don't be! We ate very, very well. We didn't even make it to all of the veg and veg-friendly places in the area. There are also lots of Greek,Italian, and Middle-Eastern eateries where it's easy to find food. We had no problem eating, and again, ate very well. I didn't even use the apartment kitchen I had except to store olives and fruit in the fridge...

The next time we go to France, we will get out of Paris, and explore another part of the country.

I also have bookmarked and saved my posts asking about Madrid and Spain. I had considered going there in March this year, but my husband wanted to return to Paris. Happy we did. Hopefully, we will return to Spain in spring of 2015.

Thanks, once again!

P.S. Love the Paris metro! So easy to use, and efficient.

StuDudley

>> Love the Paris metro! So easy to use, and efficient. <<

On your next visit, try the bus system. It's above ground so you can see more. We often take a zig-zag or circular route through Paris using several buses routes linked together. We go through different neighborhoods, and get off the bus to explore an area if something looks interesting from the bus. We've often discovered farmer's markets and shops we didn't know about.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

>> Love the Paris metro! So easy to use, and efficient. <<

On your next visit, try the bus system. It's above ground so you can see more. We often take a zig-zag or circular route through Paris using several buses routes linked together. We go through different neighborhoods, and get off the bus to explore an area if something looks interesting from the bus. We've often discovered farmer's markets and shops we didn't know about.

Stu Dudley

trvlgirlmq

So glad the museum pass worked out well for you.

Don't wait another 20 years to return! The Cluny is wonderful and I am trying to see how to fit it in to our trip so my oldest can experience.

BumbleB6

Oh we won't wait that long again! My daughter will be in college in two years, and my husband will retire in 6.

StuDudley, that's a good idea with the buses, actually... Wish I'd thought of that. It was good for us to walk around though, after the fattening food we ate.. The first night, we were so wound up from arriving (despite the jet lag) that we walked from Place de la Bastille to the Louvre. Yes, we're nuts. Yes, we were exhausted! Thankfully, we got on the bus tour that night, and they drove us around..

kerouac

I'm glad you had a good time. I have never tried to imagine what it is like to be a vegan in Paris, but strangely enough, I would have thought that vegans would very much prefer to use the kitchen in the apartment rather than hunting around for vegan food in restaurants. So I am impressed that you had no problems finding suitable things to eat.

BumbleB6

Thanks, kerouac. I mapped out the veg places before I left the U.S., so I knew about them already. Put them into my Pocket Earth app.. But places close, or move, so.. I always try to have a kitchen for backup. We did use the fridge and kettle regularly.