beautiful trip report. Thank you for sharing.

Will be in Paris in a month's time !!! LOVE reading your trip report Kelsey. Just walking and looking ... Isn't that what traveling is all about? Through your eyes and into your mind, heart and memory vault. I so hope I can celebrate my 83rd birthday in Paris. tdk320n you inspire me too,
Marise

Stopping by to say thanks for all the comments. I will post the next few days later on today. I have to get my notes in order so I don't send anyone astray. :)

Musee Rodin....

I found one of my favorite museums. The garden is absolutely breath taking. There are places to sit and a cafe to have something yummy in this little oasis.

Rodin's pieces are placed amongst this garden. Of course, The Thinker is a popular photo op. It seems that everyone had to have their photo taken next to it. Don't get me wrong, I would probably have done the same, if I had visited this first. Instead, I bypassed it to go to the other end of the garden. So imagine a garden so pristine and peaceful and being struck by a figure so tragic that you must stop looking for a moment to regain your composure. That was my impression of some of Rodin's works. I spent ages looking at the hands and fingers of his figures.

Walking through the garden brought me back to Villa Borghese in Rome where I fell in love with Bernini's work. I have never studied art history and certainly never thought that sculpture would intrigue or haunt me as these two artists have. I digress, once again....

One of the highlights of my visit was watching a man meticulously sketch on the figures. I must say I was so jealous that he would have such a lovely souvenir of his visit.

Many Fodorites encouraged me to take the time to visit this museum and I am so grateful for the suggestion. I might not have taken the time from d'Orsay or the Louvre, but it ended up being one of my favorite places in Paris.

I can't say I left feeling peaceful or serene. I felt something more and I was glad to have felt so much. Traveling solo is often like that.

Very much enjoying this enchanting report, kelsey22. I've been pondering the idea of returning to Paris solo. DH is still working. And tdk320n - you are indeed inspiring!

@elnap29 - Thanks so much. Isn't tdk32On an inspiration? After 20 trips to Paris, I think I should be reading her posts! I hope you do a solo trip. If you have been to Paris before, it will be a piece of cake!

Tip #4,5,6 etc...

Some information I found useful:

1. Museum Pass - I found the pass very useful. I think it depends on your love of museums and stamina. I felt a bit rushed with a 4 day pass. I used one full day at Versailles. The rest I will get to in my report. I went back to the Louvre after a bit of a walk so I could reenter quickly with the pass. I also visited the musee Cluny twice. I definately got my money's worth but the value was in the fast entry. I am not fond of waiting in lines so it was worth it for that alone. The longest I waited was 10 minutes.

2. I took a private tour my first couple of days. She drove me around the city and it gave me an overview. I was lucky enough to have 14 days in Paris. This 4 and half hour tour (approx) was great in that I was then able to orient myself and decide which areas I wanted to explore in more depth.

3. Carnet - I bought a carnet - but it was so much fun walking around that I ended up coming home with 6 tickets....I am hanging onto them. I think I would have used the metro more if the weather hadn't cooperated.

4. Metro - I am from Montreal where the metro system is similar. I had no problem navigating the subway system (as I had feared). It is highly efficient and safe. I loaded an app on my ipod before I left and I used it for my few voyages. It was very helpful.

5. Trains to Versailles and Giverny - Use the train - go by yourself. It was super easy! Go early so you can spend the day at Giverny. I hadn't realized it was so pretty. The buses run every 2 hours??? and the walk back to town to catch the train, while doable, would have been long at the end of a day of exploring.

As for Versailles, easy by train and thank you to anyone who gave me tips on Versailles. Personally, I could have spent an extra day there. The grounds are massive. Don't underestimate how much time you need to explore the gardens. I took the advise of my private tour guide and toured the gardens first. She claimed the line would be shorter later in the day. I am not so sure about that but it wasn't too bad. It is very, very crowded inside. I was there in August though.

I went to Versailles with my pass and I bought a ticket for Monet's house from home before I left. There is no set date so you can choose a nice, sunny day to go.

We were in Paris in August, too, & we bought the 4-day Paris Museum Pass, which was very practical & the way to go, IMO. We walked right into the Louvare, D'Orsay, Rodin & Orangerie museums, & the Cluny. Also used it to see Notre Dame & Versailles. We only had one hour to spend in the Rodin before it closed for the day, & if we didn't have the pass, we might not have bothered to stop in for an hour. So glad we did, & so glad we bought the Museum Pass.

I am enjoying reading your report! I absolutely love Paris, & we walked everywhere, too. Only used the metro a few times.

Hi Kelsey,

Still following your delightful account. Fourteen days in Paris – WOW! Your TR is obviously encouraging others to go solo in Paris. As Celiaanne wrote:

“I've been trying to work up the nerve to do a solo trip to Paris. This report and all of these comments are giving me a little shove in that direction. I was thinking how lucky everyone is to be so young and able to do this, and then I read tdk's comment. I'm truly inspired!”

Agreed – let’s hear it for Tdk320n – still going strong at 83. As I have said on my recent Paris TR, going solo is an acquired taste. In my past European ventures, I have traveled a few times with my adult daughters and often with two great fun friends who are no longer interested in these excursions.

Planning is such an important dimension to travel. Kelsey, glad that your trip turned out so well.

Kelsey, thank you for your delightful trip report. I'm following along and eagerly anticipating your next installment. Of my 12 trips to Paris, 8 have been solo. I LOVE traveling solo, especially to Paris. I find I see more, experience more, soak up more when I'm not chatting away with a companion. I also walk & explore more because no on I have traveled with likes to just walk and ramble like I do. I'm so glad you enjoyed the Rodin. Isn't it glorious? I didn't get there until my 10th trip. Now, no trip to Paris even in the winter is complete without a visit to those glorious gardens.

Dee_Dee - thank you for your encouragement! I will always go back to the gardens. I know this...I wonder how it will look as my own life changes. I hope to do a winter trip to Paris. I am looking at the Air France flights now - I must say I am toying with the idea even though I really can't afford it now. I hope you continue to read. My next installment "Paris in the rain"...I knew I was smitten with Paris when I delighted in walking in a downpour!

@latedaytraveler - So nice to know you are following along! I hope that my own solo experience will encourage others to not fear traveling alone.

Kelsey - so glad to hear you are considering a winter trip! I don't know where you live (US???), but if so, you may want to wait until October to book. The middle of October 2011, Air France put flights from DC to CDG on sale for only $696 RT including all taxes & fees! Other carriers matched the same price. The sale was good for immediate travel through winter months. They started the sale on Wednesday. Friday morning I booked an unplanned 1 week trip for the first week of November! Of all my trips to Paris, only 1 other (many, many years ago) was during the winter. I LOVED my November week. At first I was soooo dissapointed the weather was not ideal. While not cold, it rained two days and all others were cloudy and mostly sunless. But, soon I changed my opinion. I found the rather dreary backdrop to be a perfect contrast to the glories of the city - the architecture, the Parisians, the store shops & window displays and of course the food. Parisians still congregated at outdoor cafes and the wonderful parks. There was a palatable energy in the city with all the Parisians home from vacation, university students back at school and far fewer tourists. I found there to be absolutely wonderful special exhibits in the city not there during summer months when so many are on vacation. And, the city was already decorating for Christmas. Galeries Lafayette was fully decked out and packed with shoppers. I so enjoyed my November week I'm planning on going back again this year. I do hope you will be able to take a fall or winter trip and enjoy a different vibe. It's wonderful!

kelsey - just found your TR.

I'm right there with you and i'm waiting for more!

I loved the Most Beautiful Walk in the World! Great book for the Paris lover.

Agree with you on the museum pass...so convenient.

I am jealous over Givrny...have not made it there yet but dream of doing so. I have been to Paris over Thanksgiving and Christmas and loved both times! Good luck on your winter trip. I will have to go another time of year to get to Giverny!

Annig and Denisea - so glad you are following my TR!

I am jealous over Givrny...have not made it there yet but dream of doing so. >>

me too. it's odd because we could have gone on many occasions but something "better" has always come up.

I must put it further up my list!

I can't wait to hear more. I am hoping to visit Paris for a short solo trip next June. I love all of the great advice.