The thought of a picnic one evening appeals to me. Where would you recommend (in Paris?) We are planning to walk through Rue Cler for fun, where we could buy our meal. However is it better to shop there in the morning, leave the stuff at the hotel, then pick it up in the evening after sightseeing? We are staying close to Notre Dame and I would like to avoid a lot of zigzagging around. <BR>What would you do?

A picnic in Paris, for me, means fresh food. Other than a bottle of wine and condiments, I would want my bread, cheese, pate, tomatoes, tartes, etc. to be bought within a few minutes of eating. When you get all the stuff for a picnic, I doubt you'll want to haul it around for any period of time.

Hi Anne. I've always enjoyed having a picnic in the charming little Square Viviani, across the Seine (south) from Notre Dame. <BR> <BR>If you decide to buy your meal at stores in Rue Cler in the evening, you could always picnic in the Champs de Mars, with a great view of the Eiffel Tower. <BR> <BR>The Luxembourg Gardens would be another excellent choice.

We stayed in the 6th and did the following for a lunchtime picnic. You might be staying in an area where this would work: <BR> <BR>Rue du Buci has lots of good food shops, I believe most are open till at least 6:00. Pick out your stuff, then walk to Luxemberg gardens for your picnic.

I meant to add: <BR>ricksteves.com has a discussion board just for good picnic locations, give it a look.

Anne, <BR>Do you have a location in mind for your picnic? (Thought I'd ask since you mentioned lodging near Notre Dame & desire not to zigzag, for which I don't blame you at all.) <BR> <BR>Rue Cler is replete with food shops & most of the food markets are a Tuesday-Sunday proposition from early am til about 1pm. There are so many markets & food shops all over the place, I don't see a problem for you. Rue Montorguiel near the Bourse, rue Mouffetard & rue de Buci in the 6th er also offer a wealth of really great shops where you could put together the picnic of your (of anyone else's for that matter!) dreams. I'd personally go for the shops closest to the locale of my picnic & "assemble" in the park of my choice. <BR>Bon Appetit! <BR>BC

BC, I hardly ever seen anyone mention Rue Montorguiel. I discovered it in 1994 while staying at the nearby Hotel Vivienne, and it's now one of my favorite market streets. I especially love the white cobblestones (granite?) in the street; they glisten beautifully after a rain.

Thanks Everyone for your helpful replies. I'm copying them down into my note book <BR>

Capo, <BR>I'm heavy into doing my homework, which is why I was despised & reviled throughout my childhood! <BR>BC