Jocelyn_P

Hi,

I've posted about my itinerary before, but it's changed quite a bit, so I wanted to run it by you again. This is the second trip to Paris for me, first for DH:

Sunday: arrive CDG 9:30am. Explore neighborhood (we're staying in an apartment in Passy).

Monday: Segway tour 10:30am. Hubby is VERY excited about this!

Tuesday: Giverny.

Wednesday: start 3-day museum card. See Louvre (English tours at 11, 2, 3:45), Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe.

Thursday: Versailles.

Friday: Paris Walks Hemingway's Paris at 10:30. Afternoon: Pantheon(?), Notre Dame, Ste Chapelle.

Saturday: Parc Monceau, Opera (use degas' "Parc Monceau and Grand Boulevards" walk?)

Sunday: Paris Walks Montmartre at 10:30. Bird market at Cite metro stop?

Whenever the mood strikes us:
Seine cruise at 9:30pm
Eiffel Tower
St Germain area, including Laduree
Marais/Place des Vosges
Monet museum and wine museum (perhaps on my own while DH naps)
Rodin museum?

I'm trying to make it less scripted so we can feel like we're being spontaneous. Thanks to everyone who's helped me with the planning so far. Any other comments are suggestions are welcome.

ira

Hi JP,

May I suggest that you visit the Parc Monceau on Sunday morning, have brunch at the Jacquemart-Andre' Museum and visit the museum after brunch.

See http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/jandre/

Do Montmartre on Saturday.

Jocelyn_P

Hi ira,

What's different about Parc Monceau on a Sunday?

ilovetulips

Hi there are a few things that I want to add- do take time to vist Luxembourg Gardens. It is just wonderful. I didn't get a chance to see Parc Monceau, we didn't have the time and I know you are visiting Giverny, but Luxembourg Gardens is so amazing. The other place that I really enjoyed was St. Sulpice. It is mentioned in the book the DaVinci Code and I didn't know how spectacluar it would be, but I just loved it. It is very close to the Luxembourg Gardens. Also, people told me to make time for sitting at a cafe and people watching. I tried to get in all of my must see sites, but make sure you do this!

Jocelyn_P

Hi tulips,

Thanks for the suggestions. We are planning to see Luxembourg Gardens and St. Sulpice when we stroll through St. Germain. I'm glad you had a good time on your trip--I need to catch the latest on your trip report.

jody

If you are at Park Monceau, do visit the Nissan de camondo museum..the house and furnishings are wonderful ane the family's story heart-breaking!
If you are going to have brunch at Jacquemart-andre , make a reservation! Personally I'd rather be seeing other things than sitting around eating at lunchtime..I save my long meals for evening.

palette

I would suspect Ira is suggesting Parc Monceau for Sunday because it is near where the brunch he suggested would be and you wouldn't be back tracking sites. I assume, however, that the Sunday guided tour of Montmartre is what fits your schedule. The brunch is wonderful though should it be pouring rain and you decide not to do the walking tour. There are no reservations, and you can find the info on the museum's web page. Go hungry and don't fill up on the hot chocolate before your food arrives (spoken from experience).

If you are in Passy, take a few minutes (actually I spent an hour and a half) to walk through the cemetery - Manet and many other "famous" are buried there. Again, you can find a list of the "residents" on the internet.

You might want to do Notre Dame and St. Chapelle on the same Sunday you do the bird market since they abut each other.

I would also recommend the Batobus - on previous trips, the ticket was done by distance traveled, but this year we found it was 11 Euro per day - a great way to travel from one end of the river to the other. We used it at the end of the day because my friend couldn't walk any more due to a bad back. We did almost a full round trip. Because it had just stopped raining, I got some fantastic shots from the back of the boat. Besides, it's just plain fun to be on the river in a boat. (There's no narrative, but it really isn't needed.)

Have you done the free fashion show at Galerie Lafayette on Friday (3:30 I think it was) and then the views one flight up on the store's roof? The show is less than an hour and even your DH might enjoy the lovely models.

When you get back would you give us a review of the Paris Walks. I have always meant to do them, but this past trip in April I was with some late sleepers, and there was no way 10:30 a.m. was going to work for them. (Lesson learned on my part.) Also, the Segway - I'd love to, but need someone to tell me how easy it would be!!

Sounds like a well thought out schedule. Have a great time.

jody

You can make a reservation for the brunch at J-A, if you speak to the maitre before entering the museum.

jody

While exploring your Passy neighborhod make time for a visit to the Musee Marmottan

donnae_b

Jocelyn -
The free fashion show at Galleries LaFayette must be reserved before you leave on your trip. Go to their web site and see if you can get your names on the list. It is a very fun event, considering you are in Paris. They sit you at a table (there are about 20 tables), dim the lights, put the music on and very fashionable models (men and women) walk down the runway modeling clothes.
This would be something fun to add to your list.

donnae_b

Another fun thing is to go to Rue Mouttafard (sp) on a Sunday and watch the accordian player and cabaret type street performers around 10:30 a.m. They perform in the street for all the locals and tourist. This event enhanced our visit to Paris.

Robespierre

That first day seems a little thin. Many people agree that to get over your jet lag, you should keep moving until evening, then sleep soundly until morning.

There's a sort of public transport excursion bus called the Balabus that runs through Passy and all up and down both banks of the Seine. Pick up a <i>Mobilis</i> card for &euro;5.30 at a M&eacute;tro station, and you can ride all day, jumping off and on at will. (For those under 26, there is a <i>Carte Jeunes</i> that does the same thing for &euro;3.20). Here's a map:

<b>http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php?loc=bus_paris&amp;nompdf=balabus&amp;fm =pdf</b>

Beatchick

I'd also include the All&eacute;e des Cygnes in your Passy tour - you could also include the Marmottan &amp; your wine museum on that day, too, since you'll be able to be out &amp; about by noon.

I'd suggest doing the Rodin &amp; the Eiffel Tower on the same day. I'm looking forward to having lunch at the caf&eacute; in the garden; it's not very expensive (the menu is on the Mus&eacute;e Rodin website) and the setting is stunning!

AnthonyGA

Anyone with such a detailed minute-by-minute itinerary isn't familiar with Paris weather.

Giverny and Versailles are very questionable investments given the limited amount of time you have, unless you have strong personal reasons to visit these places.

On my first visit to Paris I had no itinerary at all. I simply walked each day, going in whatever direction seemed interesting. I eventually managed to see many of the major sights (during a 1-week stay), almost by chance. I skipped Versailles and the Louvre, and I didn't having done so when I saw them on later occasions.

Budman

No Musee D'Orsey? Well worth a couple of hours.

Jocelyn_P

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions!

Hi Budman,
I spent several hours in the D'Orsay in Feb and DH has no interest, so we'll skip it this time. I'll get my Monet fix elsewhere.

I ran the fashion show idea by the boss, and he's not really interested. He's afraid it will be like a time-share condo sales pitch and they won't let you out until you buy something, lol.

Jody, we (or I) will definitely see Musee Marmottan. (I called it the Monet Museum because I know how to spell it without looking it up )

palette, I have St Chapelle and Notre Dame on Fri just because we'll still have the active museum card. It wouldn't be out of the question to see them again on Sunday, though. Regarding the Segway tour: DH is now saying this will be a &quot;test drive&quot; and he may end up buying one. What in the world would we do with a Segway in Tulsa, Oklahoma???

Robespierre, I hear you about staying active that first day. DH can't always do it, though (he works ~80 hours a week and crashes as soon as he's away from the pager), so we'll have to play it by ear.

Anthony, that's exactly how I saw Paris last time--my girlfriend and I just walked out the door in the morning and went wherever the wind took us (literally, one day!). DH really wants to use the museum card to avoid some of the lines, so some pre-planning was required this time. I also want to make sure I can fit in Giverny, which I've always dreamed of visiting. Something tells me the gardens can be just as beautiful and romantic in the rain.

Thank you again for all these great ideas. Keep em coming!

Scarlett

I think most things in Paris are just as beautiful if not more, in the rain! I still haven't seen Giverney..sigh.
I hope you get a lot of pictures of you two on those Segways LOL
Remember the Batobus, even if you go on the Bateau Mouche, it is just another form of getting from your neighborhood to another and with that view from the river!
He will love it and you will be planning the next ,longer trip soon

LarryJG62

I wholeheartedly agree that Sunday brunch at the Jacquemart-Andre museum is worthwhile, as is the Parc Monceau and Nissim Camondo museum.

Have you thought about visiting the Pere Lachaise cemetery?

Bon voyage!

AnthonyGA

The gardens at Giverny are rather dull in the rain, and the rain is a serious problem when you are trying to walk around outside. Monet painted them almost exclusively during good weather, and that's when they look best (and when they resemble his paintings the most).

Best to check the weather report before going to Giverny. In summer it's usually not difficult to find a clear day.

whiskey

Jocelyn not sure what yours' and DH interests are but I would add the Conciergerie to the day you visit Saint Chapelle and Notre Dame - one needs a little death and imprisonment to balance all that stained glass splendor Seriously though, its so close by and can be done in 1/2 an hour, I think its worth a look.

I would also add the Cluny, even for a brief visit (to see the tapestries). I also love the Carnavalet - which is free, so that is a possibility on a day when your pass is no longer valid.