JackGlasser

Since I do have a scheduled tour to do of Marais on thursday (jewish holiday, etc), Thought to spend some time the precceding Sunday afternoon in St. Germain de Pres and Latin Quarter. May sound a little strange this request for advise. I know that shops are closed in these areas on Sundays but will there still be some of the same ambience? At least the architecture and the old streets cant change.

denisea

You will be fine. We have stayed in the area several times and it is not deserted on Sundays.

Christina

That is a major tourist area, I wouldn't bet the shops are closed (some are, of course, but stores are allowed to stay open in tourist areas like the Champs-Elysees and St Germain). And you are right the streets and buildings can't change. I think you may have more romantic ideas about St Germain than the reality of it. It is hardly charming in many locations, like tons of young people and "bums", etc, sitting around the small square where the Odeon metro stop is, and throngs of tourists on the terrace of Les Deux Magots. That ambience doesn't change, it is there every day.

Ralph Lauren is open on bd St Germain on Sundays, I know that.

adrienne

There's lots of gypsies in the 5th & 6th on Sundays. They're swarming everywhere.

JackGlasser

Thanks for the warning regarding 5th and 6th-gypsies--I do have some concerns about them

mamcalice

We normally stay in the 6th near St. Germain des Pres and I have yet to notice "lots of gypsies" on Sunday or any other day for that matter. Of course you will find them around Paris but as long as you are alert and don't engage them, as in any large city, you should not have a problem.

cigalechanta

I stayed around the corner from the Odeon and NEVER saw a gypsy. There were lots of French at the Deux Magots.

theflock

I stay in St. Germain des Pres every year and have never seen gypsies or bums. Well, maybe one sitting on the steps of St. Sulpice asking for money. It's a busy area and there's a lot to see besides shops.

DeborahAnn

In the many times we've stayed in the 5th or 6th I've never noticed or been bothered by swarms of any group that would be trying to separate me from my possessions.

On Sundays at Saint-Sulpice church you can listen to the wonderful sounds of an organ recital beginning about 11:30am for a half an hour or so.

On any nice day, not too far from St. Germain des Pres, the Luxembourg Garden is great for people watching, especially on the weekend. Have a terrific trip. Deborah

immimi

...now, adrienne, don't be naughty!

Phread

Just a question, and maybe I am missing something, but why tour the Marais on a Jewish holiday? I'd think that would be the worst day to tour the Marais.

parisbyphoto

Yes, very safe around st Germain des pres, but the Lain Quarter does not feel as safe, though I have never had a problem there, even carrying very expensive camera kit for all to see.

If you want a preview of st Germain des pres, you can find a few photos here and a 360° photo of the Abbey inside and out.

http://www.parisbyphoto.com/monument...gdp/index.html

kerouac

Saint Germain des Prés is particularly boring on a Sunday depending which streets you are on. Boulevard Saint Germain is pretty much the same as ever ( = boring to me, but that's just me ), but streets like rue Bonaparte or rue Jacob are beyond dead with all of the art galleries that have replaced any normal expression of commerce. Rue de Buci is alive until 13:00 and then it joins the general coma of the area.

Oh, don't worry -- if you want to visit the double or triple-priced famous cafés, they are there to take your money as fast as you can give it to them.

kelsey22

I spent two Sundays in the area. It was fairly quiet so I went elsewhere. I will be writing about my gypsy encounters (or lack of them) in my trip report. Sunday in August in Paris in this area was sleepy delicious especially in the Jardin Luxenbourg.

annhig

There's lots of gypsies in the 5th & 6th on Sundays. They're swarming everywhere.>>

Jack - just to make it clear, adrienne was having a little joke due to what has been posted on another thread.

you should be pretty safe in st germain on a Sunday [or any other day, come to that] but as Kerouac says it can get a bit dull after 1pm when the shops shut and everyone goes home/sits down for lunch.

you could always schedule a "brunch" somewhere followed by a visit to a museum like the musee d'orsay or the cluny.

JackGlasser

thinking of doing the louvre in the morning; then going to st. germaine afterwards

kerouac

If the point is to walk around there, it's not worth it on a Sunday. It would be better to go to the livelier outer areas of Paris like the Parc de la Villette, the Buttes Chaumont or Chinatown.

kelsey22

Cafe Marly is right at the Louvre. Fun to people watch (albeit a costly one). You can get a seat facing the Pyramide.

annhig

Jack - really, i'd do it the other way round. St Germain will be dead on a sunday pm.

the other problem is that the Louvre gets very busy on sundays. the cluny would be a much better choice, IMO. it opens every day except tuesdays:

http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/ang/hom...21040_u1l2.htm

if the only day you can see St. Germain is sunday and it's a "must" for you, i would go for a nice walk around St. Germain and the Luxembourg gardens in the morning, have a good lunch, then see the Cluny in the afternoon.

JackGlasser

best days to see versailes and the louvre (except for thursday- have something schedule then I leave; also not there friday. Arrive early Saturday afternoon. Also best day/time Notre Dame and sites of the Island