100 Great things to do in Paris
Apr 14th, 2006, 08:00 AM
#221
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not sure what number you guys are up to but here are a few experiences I didn't notice on the list...
Dine with Jim Haynes at his place in Montparnasse (search for posts and his weblink under "Jim Haynes")...interesting way to meet people from all walks of life.
Write out a postcard from the Champ de Mars and mail it from the post office in the Eiffel Tower...will be marked "Eiffel Tower" (I know this sounds tres touristy but people back home really get a kick out of this).
Find the crepe-making guy on one of the streets in the Latin Quarter and order a Nutella or butter & sugar crepe - every night if possible.
Wash your clothes in a laundromat and ask a local for help with the machines...it's a fun way to strike up a conversation (and find out about the best places to eat)!
Visit the outdoor markets...the bird and flower markets are especially interesting and make for some neat (yes, I said "neat") Kodak moments.
Take an inexpensive, 30-minute cooking class at Atelier des Chefs www.atelierdeschefs.com (and don't forget to compliment the chef as you enjoy your meal afterwards!
Peruse the Greek restaurants in the pedestrian-only area of the Latin Quarter and enjoy their brazen solicitions for a meal (they'll actually throw plates onto the ground to get your attention!).
Shop at a Parisian supermarket and bring back some goodies to keep at your hotel room for those late night (or early, early morning) munchies!
Going back in mid-May...hope to do all of the above and more!
Christina
Dine with Jim Haynes at his place in Montparnasse (search for posts and his weblink under "Jim Haynes")...interesting way to meet people from all walks of life.
Write out a postcard from the Champ de Mars and mail it from the post office in the Eiffel Tower...will be marked "Eiffel Tower" (I know this sounds tres touristy but people back home really get a kick out of this).
Find the crepe-making guy on one of the streets in the Latin Quarter and order a Nutella or butter & sugar crepe - every night if possible.
Wash your clothes in a laundromat and ask a local for help with the machines...it's a fun way to strike up a conversation (and find out about the best places to eat)!
Visit the outdoor markets...the bird and flower markets are especially interesting and make for some neat (yes, I said "neat") Kodak moments.
Take an inexpensive, 30-minute cooking class at Atelier des Chefs www.atelierdeschefs.com (and don't forget to compliment the chef as you enjoy your meal afterwards!
Peruse the Greek restaurants in the pedestrian-only area of the Latin Quarter and enjoy their brazen solicitions for a meal (they'll actually throw plates onto the ground to get your attention!).
Shop at a Parisian supermarket and bring back some goodies to keep at your hotel room for those late night (or early, early morning) munchies!
Going back in mid-May...hope to do all of the above and more!
Christina
Apr 14th, 2006, 01:07 PM
#222
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Go to an old, rowdy Jazz club in the latin quarter such as Caveau de la Huchette, pay 10 euro to the guy in the tiny ticket window because you can already hear how good the music is out on the street, buy a Pelforth Brun in the bottle from the surly bartender upstairs, walk down the ancient stone spiral staircase and enter the 'caveau', an ancient stone room with vaulted ceilings, packed with amazing dancers. Take your place on the wood bench, and watch the trombonist fill his cheeks while frenchmen dip and twirl the gals. Fantastique.
May 5th, 2006, 03:58 PM
#223
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Finally, when relaxing at your accommodation with a laptop and/or an internet cafe, bring up the website listed below and send some Paris e-cards to your favorite folk back home. They'll love them.
http://hotels.parishotels.com/ecards...plate=&lang=en
http://hotels.parishotels.com/ecards...plate=&lang=en
May 7th, 2006, 07:43 AM
#224
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's something that'll occupy a full day...
Buy a ticket on a bateau moche, and catch the first barge of the day (1000 or so). That ticket is good all day on that particular company's barges. Get off at each stop, spend an hour or two walking around the 'hood, make your way back to the pickup point for the next barge and the NEXT stop. Barges stop running at 2100 or so.
Buy a ticket on a bateau moche, and catch the first barge of the day (1000 or so). That ticket is good all day on that particular company's barges. Get off at each stop, spend an hour or two walking around the 'hood, make your way back to the pickup point for the next barge and the NEXT stop. Barges stop running at 2100 or so.
May 7th, 2006, 08:17 AM
#225
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Two things we always do in Paris. Make a visit to the flea market in Clingincourt and buy Tee Shirts for our grandchildren on the Rue de Rivoli.
Two other things to do...spend some time walking on the Rue du Paradise looking in all the shops selling china and porcelaine and crystal and visiting the wonderful Musee of Natural History. (I forget the name)... really an outstanding display and presentation.
May 8th, 2006, 10:25 AM
#228
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ttt, great ideas, especially looking forward to checking out that jazz club recommendation in the Latin Quarter
My bride and I visited that nightclub back in 2004, and were disappointed. The few couples on the dance floor were very very expert, and it was more like a floor show than anything else, a fine spectator event but uninviting of participation. Band was mediocre, at best.
My bride and I visited that nightclub back in 2004, and were disappointed. The few couples on the dance floor were very very expert, and it was more like a floor show than anything else, a fine spectator event but uninviting of participation. Band was mediocre, at best.
May 8th, 2006, 02:01 PM
#230
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These are wodnerful ideas!!! I'm headed to Paris on Wednesday by myself and was a little nervous about what do for 7-days! Excellent posts! I have not gone through all of these but are there any suggestions for hotels? I fly into CDG. Thanks!
* 2-3 stars on the hotels
* 2-3 stars on the hotels
May 16th, 2006, 10:34 AM
#233
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also meant to add ...buy a book at Shakespeare and Co and read at the Luxembourg Garden or along the Seine! (many read in these gardens). Once, we were going to attend a play at the Comedie-Francais and it was in French..so we read the Moliere plays ahead of time along the Seine River...read mine in English..my daugher read hers in French .
May 17th, 2006, 09:31 AM
#234
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Linger over cafe au lait in your room or apartment, windows open, and soak up the sights and sounds before you venture forth.
Resolutely stick to your French, ignoring your own embarrassment, after the other person has indicated it would be easier to communicate en Anglais. Comfort isn't everything.
Resolutely stick to your French, ignoring your own embarrassment, after the other person has indicated it would be easier to communicate en Anglais. Comfort isn't everything.
Jul 2nd, 2006, 12:47 PM
#236
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I will put in a plug for doing the "sewer tour" in Paris. I found it to be fascinating. The entrance is around the corner from La Tour Eiffel (The Eiffel Tower) along the Seine. It shows the history of sanitation in a very impressive way - and walking on gratings with the sewers rushing along beneath you (visible through the grate!) is something you will NEVER forget. For you "floaty pen" collectors out there - they sell a pen showing the big iron ball that they push through the sewers to cleam them - it floats back and forth in the pen in a most amusing fashion.
I am an engineer - so I find it Cool that there is an engineer at the top of the tower (M. Eiffel of course) and there is a bust of an engineer in the sewer (Sorry I don't recall his name). And the tours of the sewer have been going on for over 100 years - longer than the Eiffel tower has been standing!!
AbbeB
I am an engineer - so I find it Cool that there is an engineer at the top of the tower (M. Eiffel of course) and there is a bust of an engineer in the sewer (Sorry I don't recall his name). And the tours of the sewer have been going on for over 100 years - longer than the Eiffel tower has been standing!!
AbbeB
Jul 2nd, 2006, 11:13 PM
#237
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A couple more....
Walk down the Champs-Elysees on New Year's Eve with your bottle of champagne and celebrate the New Year!
Go wine shopping at Lavinia.
Chat with friends over hot chocolate and pastries at Christian Constant.
Visit the Church of Alexandre Nevsky and stop for a Russian lunch at a nearby cafe. Don't forget the vodka!
Go shopping for spices at Hediard.
Taste all of the mustards at Maille on Place de la Madeleine.
Walk down the Champs-Elysees on New Year's Eve with your bottle of champagne and celebrate the New Year!
Go wine shopping at Lavinia.
Chat with friends over hot chocolate and pastries at Christian Constant.
Visit the Church of Alexandre Nevsky and stop for a Russian lunch at a nearby cafe. Don't forget the vodka!
Go shopping for spices at Hediard.
Taste all of the mustards at Maille on Place de la Madeleine.
