Jim01

My wife and I recently had a week in Paris, the beginning of a 9-week stay in Europe. The 3 highlights were: a guided walk of Montmartre; the English tour of the imressionists at the d'Orsay museum; and Versailles. We took a number of the Paris Walks (PW), but a few were not as good as we had hoped, perhaps we were trying to do too much in the short time and perhaps we were tired with some jet-lag. Below in the next message is a brief outline of our week, with a subjective score out of 10 for each experience.

Jim01

Our week in Paris:-
Sat: Marais guided walk (Paris Walks)7/10; English tour of Notre Dame 7/10.
Sun: Montmartre (PW) 9+/10; Paris & the Occupation (PW) 7-8/10.
Mon: Pere Lachaise Cemetery 6/10; Latin Quarter (PW) 6/10; vedette on Seine 5-/10
Tues: d'Orsay English tour of impressionists 9+/10;
Wed: RER to Versailles, Eng tour 9+/10; Louvre Eng tour 7+/10; Arc de Triomphe/Champs Elysees 8/10.
Thurs: St Chappelle 8; Conciergerie 8+; Les Invalides 7+; Rodin 7.
Fri: Tour Eiffel 7+; Musee Carnavalet 7.
Recommend: the 3-day museum pass, the week's metro pass or at least the carnets.
Final comment: First visit to this beautiful city, needed to see the important sites that we'd read about, and perhaps will return and slow down.

ira

Hi J,

Glad that most of your visit was above "C".

Any interesting restaurants, hotels, other items?

Jim01

Ira, thank you for your interest. We had an apartment near the Louvre so we mainly ate in. This obviously saves money but reduces the enjoyment. I tried unsucessfully for many weeks to make contact with Michael Osman in order to spend a day with a local. When we were in Prague we were able to do this, so that my wife and I were able to ask all the little questions about daily life, etc. I think it would be nice to stay at Montmartre. I feel that Paris is a great city, that deserves to be re-visited several times.

Christina

I enjoyed your report also, and don't think many people have rated the Paris Walks, so that's useful. I like the point ratings -- succinct but useful.

Tweeter

We are headed to Paris in early September and I have considered the Paris Walks of the Montmartre. I would be curious why you considered it a highlight? Did you go to the Sacre-Coeur and if so, what are your thoughts? We are trying to priortize our trip, so any other info would be helpful! Thanks!

SusanP

Jim, This was an interesting report. The only observation that I would make is that it seems you took a lot of guided tours for one week in Paris. While this may give you more history/background for what you're seeing (which I am all in favor of), Paris is also a city for walking and absorbing the atmosphere (even if you don't always know everything about what you're seeing) and enjoying the parks and cafes. Also, the food! I hope in a future trip you budget enough to eat in the many, many great restaurants there.

Tweeter, Sacre Coeur is one of my most favorite things in Paris. I know it's now always on the "most-see" list of many people, and I don't understand that. The blue and gold design in the central dome is spectacular IMHO, one of those things that I think I will want to see every time I am ever in Paris (not to mention lots of great mosaics along each side). Due to my arthritic knees, I didn't climb to the top of the dome, but it's supposed to be a great view from up there. And the Place du Tertre, just up and to the west of Sacre Coeur, is fun to see. Many artists painting there. I know many say it's touristy, and maybe it is, but I enjoyed it (after all, we ARE tourists!). And I think a great memory of your trip to Paris is to have your portrait done there. Walk around and see which artist has a style to your liking. Have fun!

SuzieC

I enjoyed staying in the 1st, the Louvre area...

And I whole heartedly agree - Paris is a place that I'll need to visit more and more. In my daydreams - I land in Paris, visit a while..then shoot off to other parts of France as I'm convinced Paris is NOT the sum and total of the French experience, just a marvelous part. All in good time... I guess.

Byrd

Thank you, Jim, for the informative report. I'm sending it to the others in our little group who will be in Paris in October.

By the way, we were able to contact Michael Osman and have his services reserved for one day.

It's good to see your rankings of Paris Walks, since some of our group will be seeing Paris for the first time, and may be interested in more guided time.

The five couples of us will probably be off in various directions for part of most days there.

I'll be looking for your report on Prague, as we are going there, too.

Thanks again.

Byrd

Jim01

Tweeter, I am sorry to be slow in replying. I haven't looked at Fodors since I posted some time back. Our walking tour of Montmartre finished at, but didn't really cover the Sacre Coeur in detail. The guide for Montmartre had a passion for the village, and actively participated in the lifestyle; he knew every local food item in each shop or restaurant, the best places for music, the details and sites of the French artists, etc. Well organised, authoritative, calm & relaxed, friendly & able to speak with all of the group individually, interesting, not bogged down in historical minutiae, genuinely enthusiastic.

Jim01

So, I recommend you get to Sacre Coeur early, as we did, and spend some time there before the guided walk of Montmartre.

Jim01

Byrd, we only had 3 days and 4 nights in Prague, definitely too short. We enjoyed it so much!
Sunday: 9.30am, Insiders Tour, approx $(US)20 each, 4 hrs with 30 min lunchbreak, fairly good tour, too many people, covered most of Prague, including the castle 8/10. Really nice dinner, very inexpensive.
Monday: Inexpensive concert in the morning; 2pm: The Architecture Walk (Prague Walking Tours) meet at the Old Town Square. Brilliant tour, a must. 9.5/10. Concert at night - given free tickets.
Tuesday: private tour with [email protected], 3 hours; the price was 1500 crowns, ie $US 70, for my wife and myself. This tour was organized by email in advance. 10/10. The guide was superb. We were able to stop at various cafes and discuss many aspects of Czech life. The guide was extremely informative, and answered every question we put to her.
The Prague Walking Tours seem good, but I think the quality of the tours in Prague is generally good. They make Prague culture so accessible. I hope you have more than 3 days. Prague is great!

glk11b

Jim01. What do you mean by "Paris Walk"? Is this a guide? How do I contact them? Similarly, what was meant by "English tour"? We leave on Sep 19 so are anxious for you or anyone to explain. Thanks. Jerry

Jim01

Paris Walks: please check this on google to find their web site. They run different 2-hour tours approximately twice per day. We really liked the Montmartre tour. At the d'Orsay museum they have some English-speaking guided tours (rather than in French); check their times and allow plenty of time to be admitted to the museum prior to the tour; similarly in other places, eg Versailles, Notre Dame, Louvre.