OReilly

Hello:

I have business meetings in Antwerp in February, and plan to take the train from there to Paris, for five days.

This will be maybe my 40th trip to Paris, so safe to say that I have seen most everything at some point, at least once .

This trip, I want to mix some of the old and some of the new. I have put together a list of places I would like to visit, some days trips and some restaurants. I’d like to get your feedback please. I will balance walking tours with museums, depending upon the weather.

Museums and sites:
Foundation Henri Cartier-Bresson – never been.
http://www.henricartierbresson.org/en/

European House of Photography – was here on my past visit two years ago.
http://www.mep-fr.org/

Albert Kahn – never been.
http://albert-kahn.hauts-de-seine.fr/english/

D’Orsay – Have not been there for several years.
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html

Cluny Museum – Have not been there for years.
http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/

St. Denis: Never been.
http://www.saint-denis-basilique.fr/

Notre Dame: Have not been inside for several years.
http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/

Day trips: One of the following
Chartres: I have been trying to get there for at least 20 years!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartres

Troyes: Looks fascinating, but would it fill a day or just be a few hours?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troyes

Restaurants:
I like to take my main meal at lunchtime, taking advantage of the ‘two plates for X Euros’ in good restaurants. I want to keep food and good wine to about 40 Euros for one, but willing to spend more if the food warrants it. I have pulled the following from trip reports and the internet. Am I making the right choices? Would you add any of your favourites?

Vagenende : Never been
http://www.en.vagenende.com/

Les Bouquinistes: Been there several times.
http://www.lesbouquinistes.com/

L’Ange 20: Never been.
http://www.lange20.com/en/

Fontaine de Mars. Think I was there many years ago.
http://www.fontainedemars.com/

Les Papilles: Never been
http://www.lespapillesparis.fr/#about-1-1

Les Tables Jean Louis: Was there on my last visit for an incredible Sunday lunch where they had a fixed price deal, which was not outrageous.
http://www.lestablettesjeanlouisnomicos.com/?lang=en

Many thanks for your advice.

Kind regards .. Ger

goddesstogo

Sunset concert at Sainte Chappelle?

http://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/

We were told at the FNC (or whatever the ticket place is called) that the concert was sold out for that evening. Just by luck, we asked at the chapel and got tickets with no problem. Evening is lovely as you can best see the beautiful colours of the stained glass.

OReilly

WOW - nice one GTG. Thank you.

maitaitom

L’Ange 20: Never been.
http://www.lange20.com/en/

Les Papilles: Never been
http://www.lespapillesparis.fr/#about-1-1"

I think you'll like them both...Have a great trip!

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/lange-20-paris-france/</B>

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/chapter-two-blue-skies-church-highs-french-fries-dead-guys/</B>

OReilly

Tom: Yes, I read your report, which is where I found both recommendations.

You are the best

TDudette

Wonderful, OReilly!

Here's my 2016 TR:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...f-bordeaux.cfm

My two favorite restaurants were La Cerisaie and Cafe Louise:

http://www.restaurantlacerisaie.com/

and

http://www.cafe-louise.fr/

You can see their locations. La Cerisaie had the best food of the two, imo. Beyond excellent and not horribly expensive. Louise very good.

Looking forward to your TR!

DebitNM

I had always seen "chateau-de-vincennes" as the eastern terminus for Metro Line 1. We decided to go out there and have a look around. We were pleased:

www.chateau-de-vincennes.fr/en

Have you been to Louis Vitton Foundation? It's on our to do list for May.

www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en.html

What about The Marmottan:

www.marmottan.fr

And the Picasso Museum? It was closed for a while.

www.museepicassoparis.fr/

WoinParis

Did you try eating at places overlooking Paris ?
Like - on top of tour Montparnasse (ciel de Paris), Institut monde arabe : Zyriab (lebanese food), Eiffel tower (58, passable food) or Jules Vernes, Centre Baubourg (Georges).
All restaurants are overpriced and food is not great but the view is superb.
I went to 3 of those and only liked the food at Zyriab.

goddesstogo

Glad you like the idea of Sainte Chappelle but I should clarify that by 'evening' I mean before the sun sets (afternoon would do, too, I guess). If you go to a concert after dark, the windows won't be as beautiful.

tdk320n

TTT

FuryFluffy

A Sainte Chapelle concert in February, I doubt it..
I only see its program from March on.
Besides, the concert will be too late for sunset in winter: by 5pm Paris' sky has gone dark already.

goddesstogo

It would be too bad if there were no concerts at SC in February but I think it's still definitely worth a visit if only to see the beautiful glass walls. Then you can come back to Paris for a concert at a later date!

OReilly

Thank you all, I am delighted with your input!

TDudette: Just read your report - Thank you! I am so glad you got to meet up with Mellen and Steve. I am hoping to do same when they come to London in May. Restaurants noted.

GTG: Agree St. Chappelle is a wonder, but I visited it on my last visit two years ago, so will probably miss it this time. My 'new' church this visit this time is St. Denis and my old is Notre Dame.

DebitNM: Interestingly, chateau-de-vincennes has been on my list for years, but have not made it there. I will try to fit it in.
Louis Vitton Foundation: Interesting for sure if only for the structure - on my list. The Marmottan & Picasso: Yes, I have visited both a few times before, but added to my lost, particularly the Marmottan.

Woinparis: 'All restaurants are overpriced and food is not great but the view is superb'. I appreciate your candidness . I was actually up the Tour Montparnasse on my very first visit to Paris aged 18 on a school trip. I love views, but will I will probably compromise views for good food.

FuryFluffy: Thanks for checking that out for me. Much appreciated.

It is going to be a matter of balancing choices with the weather. I could gladly spend every hour of the trip in a museum or gallery, but if it not raining, then I will spend as much time outside wandering around and enjoying just being in Paris. My last trip was two years ago in January, and it pelted down for most of the time, so most of my time was spent in-doors. I am anticipating February will not be much different.

Three more things:
I was in Rome in October. Beth (Flygirl) recommended an excellent Food app for my phone that I used a lot: “Hello I am here, find me, and recommend a good local restaurant”. Can anyone recommend something similar for Paris? Not that I think there is a problem in Paris finding great food – some of my best meals were in local bistros where the ‘workers’ ate.

Does RAPT have an app that I can download to my iPhone – I am sure there must be, but I can’t seem to find one

Any other apps I should check out re self-walking tours etc.?

Again, many thanks for your assistance.

Kind regards … Ger

TDudette

Meant to remind you to be sure you take the correct metro to St. Denis. In my notes, I say glad that DH realized the "lines split" and that we were on the correct one.

DebitNM

Ger -
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ratp/id507107090?mt=8

Are you in London? We will be there for 8 nights in October! My first time; excited!

We tend to eat where ever we happen upon in Paris, rarely making reservations.

Since our trip in May is a birthday one for me; I did reserve L'Ange 20 especially since my birthday is on Sunday and this is often a tough day to find places open for dinner. We do like Ciel du Paris for a lovely prix fixe lunch with stunning views and reasonable price. Also, Les Philosphes in Le Marais.

OReilly

Yes Deb, I live in London, but often travel for work. Keep me posted on your travel plans as I would love to meet up.

DebitNM

Will do!

Michael

Troyes will take a day. There's the cathedral, the old town, and a very interesting museum of the tools of 19th century trades. There is also a modern art museum, but I have not been there to recommend it.

You could add Rouen to your list. But if you have not been to Chartres, that should be a priority--hope of a sunny day.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...401029366/show

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...57624529919999

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7624436592493/ and subsequent pictures.

OReilly

Michael: Are they your photos - they are stunning!

No, despite your wicked temptation, I am going to focus on Chartres for this trip. It is 20 years overdue.


Best ... Ger

menachem

Fondation Cartier, Palais de Tokyo

I second Les Philosophes

search for ratp and not rapt, and you'll find the app

but citymapper works better, at least for me