Meg: <BR>Here's the web site for public transportation in Paris: <BR>http://www.ratp.fr/ <BR> <BR>L'Open Tour bus is the tourist bus that makes the rounds of the highpoints of Paris; city buses carry Parisians to work, school, appointments and meander by a few highpoints, cross the river, go through interesting neighborhoods - and you'll be the only ones with your noses pressed to the window. Use your metro tickets/pass.

Jennifer, <BR> <BR>S.Fowlers wine bar suggestions are EXACT (as always)... since you will be getting a lot of advice on sights not to miss... I maybe able to help you get into a kitchen? Do you mean for 'seeing' a Michelin-star restaurant or for cooking? <BR> <BR>I live between the states and Paris and work with a lot of restaurants there. Just let me know and I'll see if I can help a fellow foodie? Would love to. <BR> <BR>Wendy

Uh oh, Wendy, you are in for it now. <BR> <BR>I would give my eyeteeth (*why* would anyone want them?) to get into a Michelin-rated kitchen for a look-see. I will be in Paris sometime this fall; with enough lag time and promises not to do anything weird, could I impose?

My husband and I just got back from Paris this past week. I think my top 5 choices would be the Marmottan (sp?) museum (in Bois de Boilogne) - which has lots of impressionist paintings and is much less overwhelming than then Louvre, the Notre Dame, checking out all the wonderful food stores and buying stuff to bring home, Sacre Couer (be prepared to walk lots of stairs!), and just wandering around. I am with one of the other responders in that I was not impressed with the Champs Elysee - it has become so commercial and touristy. <BR> <BR>One thing that my husband and I found out (the hard way), if you want to dine at the nice restaurants, you need to make your reservations now before you get there... <BR> <BR>Have a great time!

I'll be in Paris next week again, for only a couple of days, on business, so thanks for the recommendations - particularly from S.Fowler (Sally?) re wine bars. Has anyone ever visited these establishments as a single women (as it would be very hard for me to pretend I am a single male or a couple!) not looking for "company"? <BR> <BR>I'd love the opportunity to have use of a full kitchen in Paris as there is such a wealth of local markets. Check out the Fish Markets in Montparnasse ... apparently the best you can find in any major city. <BR> <BR>Regards .. Ger

Elvira, <BR> <BR>Am I in trouble really!? *) <BR> <BR>Send me an e-mail, I'd be happy to help you as many times as you've helped me!

Ger, <BR> <BR>Our e-mails crossed, please feel free to e-mail me about kitchens and markets... <BR> <BR>Wendy

Can you stand one more recommendation? One place that I loved is the Rodin Museum. It's located in an old mansion surrounded by gorgeous gardens. The roses should be in full bloom while you are there and the garden is dotted with Rodin's powerful and passionate sculptures. It's a very romantic place and the museum is great.

I thought about responding to this earlier, but you were getting such good advice from the "Paris Pros" that there was no reason for an amateur to contribute. After thinking it over some more, I do have two suggestions to make. <BR> <BR>The first one is this: Above all, enjoy what you do. Nothing in Paris is an absolute must. <BR>The second one is: Don't try to pack so much into one day that you don't give Paris time to unfold for you. <BR> <BR>If you are frantically dashing from place to place, you may well miss what to me is one of the great attractions of the city: the spontaneous behavior of the people. <BR> <BR>Let me cite two examples. One Sunday, after leaving the Rodin Museum, we were walking along the pathway on the Ecole Militaire side of Champs des Mars. A young hotshot on a skate board rammed into a very mature woman. She gave him a royal dressing down, and then she kicked his skate board down the steps. Lucky for him the Seine was out of range. I did not understand a word she said, but I new exactly what she meant. No one was hurt, so the incident has stuck with me as a humorous highlight of our travels. <BR>Later, we sat in Place des Vosges and watched children at play. A fountain in the center drew kids like a magnet. <BR>So we began to evaluate parenting styles with respect to how different people reacted when their children wanted to play in the fountain. We finally decided that the winning mom was the one who let her boy splash away to his heart's content while she watched carefully. <BR>The little fellow was sopping wet, but he was having a grand time. The weather was very warm, so there was no danger from being cold. Mom seemed not to care if he was wet; it wasn't the first time and nor would it be the last. When they left the little guy was laughing and running. Both were happy. <BR>We thought she did better than the parents who dragged their children away, with the kid screaming bloody murder. Nobody was happy.

If you love food - go to Fauchon and Ediard in the Place Madeleine.

Day trip to Versaille (sp?), take a picnic lunch and rent the bikes that are available, its great fun and a good way to get away from the crowds. Another thing I always suggest is to at least once get up at dawn and walk the streets of Paris (or any europeon city for that matter) there is not a tourist or a crowd to be seen (except photograpers)and the cities waking up are really special.

I would definatly take time out for the Louve. While, you could spend days there, pick out some areas that interest you the most and just see what you find. The place is amazing! Ditto with the Notre Dame - absolutly beautiful. Of course, I would also have to tell you to go the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. <BR> <BR>I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that there are such great cafes, shops, and other stuff that you don't always read about in the tourist guides. My husband and I found that just walking around the city turned up beautiful and fun things to see and do. Leave yourself some time for exploring. <BR> <BR>Whatever you see, I hope you have a great trip!!

seine boat ride <BR> la samataine roof deck check out lafayette stain glass <BR> top of eiffel walk up last flight <BR> walk the marais <BR> louvre <BR> walk the whole lenght of the Champs Elesee 1 mile from the Louvre

Having just returned from Paris on Friday, but having had my trip significantly hampered by my poor husband's terrible 3 day bout with stomach virus/food poisoning, I can tell you that: (a) the Seine continues to be closed due to the continuing rain, so no bateaux mouches, (b) the hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore is better than sex, (c) attending a concert at St. Chapelle - on the Ile de la Cite in the Conciergerie is an experience you will never forget, (d) don't just walk into any restaurant and expect to have a great meal - we had two horrible meals when we just walked in places because we were hungry or impulsive - and sickness to show for one of them - go with recommendations from your hotel or the Great Eats in Paris book, (e) if you like cooking, go to Dehellerins and buy cool kitchen tools and (f) if you get homesick for english speaking people, go to the Village Voice bookstore in the St. Germain des Pres area. We walked to the Eiffel Tower and didn't bother trying to go up - too crowded. Unfortunately, I didn't get to any museums, but I agree with the person who recommended the Rodin Museum. It's special. The Grand Epicerie is also wonderful. We wished we had had access to a kitchen so we could have bought some of the cute baby eggplants and mouth watering cuts of meat. <BR> <BR>

Topping for Jamie

Thanks, the topper, this is a great thread.

Topping for Bob looking for Paris suggestions...

We went to Paris last year, our first time, and this site helped us so much. while not an expert, here are the things we enjoyed most (not in any special order):<BR>1) waking up and looking out the hotel onto Notre Dame before it got filled with tourists. And listening to the music from the Seine. Not too loud, if we shut our window we couldn't hear it. <BR>2) Rodin Museum, take your time. Buy the book on Camille to get a different perspective.<BR>3) Musee D'Orsay<BR>Note: We found the Louvre over-whelming, too big and crowded. Saw the "must-sees" and then got out.<BR>Note 2: Buy a Carte Musee, it'll save you standing it very long lines at various sites. Maybe someone can suggest where to buy one, we had a friend pick up ours.<BR>4) Walking around Isle de Louis.<BR>5) seeing the Eiffel Tower in the day, then going back at night. We went to the 2nd stage, that was high enough for me. <BR>Note: Be careful with your bag. especially in the metro, although we didn't have a problem.<BR>6) The day we arrived we used Rick Steve's guide and did one of his recommended walks around notre Dame area. Gave us a real feel of being there!<BR>7) Stopping on our walk up the Champs Elysee to lunch on onion soup and rose wine at the outdoor cafe while people watching.<BR>8) A boat tour was lovely and a break from WALKING. don't even bother packing high heels for the evening!! My poor feet.<BR>Now things I wish we'd done:<BR>Sacre Couer<BR>Versailles<BR>Cemetary<BR>etc, etc!<BR>Have fun!

I just returned from my 1st Paris trip last week. My top 5 include: <BR><BR>1. Versailles (especially the gardens)<BR>2. Eiffel Tomer (approaching from Champ de Mars)<BR>3. Louvre (and I am NOT a museum person)<BR>4. Notre Dame (especially climbing to the top)<BR>5. Walking the various neighborhoods to take in the culture....<BR>

1. Champs &Eacute;lys&eacute;es<BR>2. Mus&eacute;e d'Orsay<BR>3. Place des Vosges<BR>4. Jardins du Luxembourg<BR>5. Trocadero/Eiffel Tower