Going to Paris
 

Next month my wife and I will celebrate 25 wonderful years of marrage (to each other). She wants to go to Paris. I have the plane tickets, and hotel. Any suggestions on making this a wonderfully romantic trip for us? Places to go for dinner, sights to see. Any help would be greatly appreciated. She is teaching me some French so I won't sound too stupid. This will be our first trip to Paris.<BR><BR>Thanks in advance for your help.

Yours is too general and too vague. For example:<BR>1. How long is the trip?<BR>2. What are your interests?<BR>3. what is your budget (in general terms)?<BR>Further, there are a lot of books on Paris out there to help you plan. Start by going to your local library and/or book store and checking out what's available.<BR>And finally, I can't believe that you wouldn't have any idea of what to see in Paris!

Congratulations, Don and wife. My wife and I are just slightly ahead of you - - Jan 3, 1976.<BR><BR>You need books, Several of them. Big, picture-filled books and let your heart decide where you will go, and what you will see. We can only put 500 words into an answer here, and you need many thousand.<BR><BR><BR>I urge you to get out of PAris at least 24-48 hours, as there is so much more to France than Paris (think of it like coming to America and only seeking Washington or New York).<BR><BR>I strongly urge one, two or thre of the following as an adjunct to your Paris trip: Chartres, Versailles or Giverny.<BR><BR>And any of those can work with a splurge getaway (dinner or overnighter) at Chateau d'Esclimont in St. Symphorien, about 45 minutes southeast of Paris. To die for.<BR><BR>You'll egt lots of nswers here, but come back often - - daily if you wish, since you don't have a lot of time as your questions hone in and your plans evolve.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex Bickers<BR>Westerville, Ohio<BR>

Forgive Howard. He usually gives good answers. Must be having a bad day. There are a lot of us "regulars" here and we have all been known to give a "cold and prickly" answer every once in a while.<BR>

1. Eiffel Tower at sunsight or at night (do the strobes still make it "sparkle" at the hour?)<BR>2. Enjoy the parks, especially Jardin du Luxembourg. Just get two chairs, sit and hold hands, look at the beautiful flowers<BR>3. Enjoy a couple of small museums, less overwhelming. See for instance the Musee Rodin or the Musee Cluny (each very different from the other).<BR>4. Find an evening concert at one of the churches, especially Saint-Chapelle. You can buy the tickets at the Virgin Megastore on Champs Elysee, in the basement. If you like the music, buy a CD if one is offered so you can play it at home and remember.<BR>5. Take a disposable camera wherever you go and ask people to take your photo together. <BR>6. It is very easy to go to Versailles - take the RER -C to the station called Versailles Rive Gauche, turn right as you depart the station, go one block to the boulevard, and look to the left - you can't miss the palace. The inside may be very crowded, but it is beautiful if you can get through it. But even if you pass on the interior, the gardens are lovely, and you can take the tram to the back of the property and go into the Trianons and Marie's 'hamlet'. The beautiful fountains operate only on Sunday, I believe.<BR>7. You will see "buskers" at all the major tourist sights... they are at the least amusing, and some can be very talented and downright hilarious... throw a tip their way, and you will always say later "remember that guy on the miniature bike by Notre Dame..?..."<BR>8. Stop very often at sidewalk cafes and have a coffee, a beer or a glass of wine...watch the people go by (so sad, they must be going to work, going home to cook and clean, oh it's so sad, while here we are, just relaxing in, yes, in Paris... :)<BR>9. Keep your eyes open for an interesting shop or market, perhaps you will see a little something to take home that will always remind you of the time you went to Paris... (of course the best souvenir is ... see # 5)<BR>10. Although you are on vacation, and Paris is so beautiful and special, take care to be safe and keep your valuables under wraps (ie. money belt). You will have less to keep up with if you only carry the day's essentials. Be alert in the Metro, as there are those who would like to take advantage of your good nature. This is not meant to worry or alarm you, just to remind you to use common sense as you would when wandering in any big city. My husband and I have not yet experienced unpleasantness after 6 visits to Paris, but there are many others who cannot say the same.<BR>Have a wonderful anniversary - it cannot be anything other, as you will be spending it in Paris!

My husband and I are also celebrating our 25th anniversay next month in France and Italy. I have gotten a wealth of information from this website and we have spent countless hours at the library, in the book stores and at home reviewing books and magazines. We have also checked out videos of the areas we are thinking of going, Rick Steves and others from the library. I would say that we are having a very good time planning this trip. When we have questions, the first thing I do is inquire on this website, searching for previous postings about hotels or restaurants. Hope you have a good time.

For the past 7 years, my husband and I have celebrated our anniversary in Paris..maybe this will become a tradition for you too!<BR>Here are some of my favorites, we do them every trip:<BR>Take a bateau mouche just as the sun is going down and the lights are going on.<BR>See Notre Dame,walk across the little foot bridge to the Ille St Louis, have a Berthillon ice cream,keep walking,cross over the Pont Neuf, stop in the middle, kiss,keep walking.<BR>On the Left Bank, stroll past the bouqinistes,maybe buy a poster,stop at a cafe,have a wine/coffee,watch the people,catch your breath,rest your feet.<BR>Go to the St Chappelle and if possible hear a concert there.<BR>Museums:<BR>Louvre,D'Orsay,one is closed when the other is open and vice versa,<BR>Piccaso,Rodin,the Invalids and Napoleans Tomb,<BR>Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coure,take the Metro.<BR>Eat at one 2 star (at least) restaurant.<BR>Go to the Marais on Sunday morning, wander the streets, have brunch/lunch at the Cafe Beauborg and sit on a park bench in the Place des Vosges.<BR>Have chocolate at Angelinas or Laduree or both!<BR>I guess that is enough for now, <BR>Enjoy,walk,kiss,enjoy~

Congratulations! All of these suggestions are good ones. My husband and I just returned from our first trip to Paris a couple of weeks ago. The whole city will put you in the right mood. <BR> My special recommendation? Although we normally avoid "touristy" things, there's just something about a boat ride on the Seine at night. <BR> Also, at the pier below Pont Neuf, you can sit smack in the middle of the river with a tiny, pretty little park at you back and watch the sun set over the river, turning the water pink and blue and making the next bridge down a work of art in silhouette. You'll never wonder again why the French perfected Impressionism. <BR> I'm not even much of a romantic, but these did it for me.<BR><BR>Lisa

no matter how many threads about Paris, they're always wonderful to top. and this is better than most recently.<BR>

Don, just sit down on the banks of River Sena with a bottle of wine, some cheese and a baguet.<BR>I'll be there May 23 to 29 and will do that for a few hours. <BR>Enio Bacellar, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Pardon me, Rex, but I thought I gave a good answer. If it sounded sarcastic, it wasn't meant that way. Do everyone a favor, Rex: Stick to giving travel advice. That alone gets you in enough hot water on this board!

Watch the sunset from the Pont-des-Arts bridge. As the sun goes down the lights of Paris come on, behind you are the spires of Notre-Dame; ahead is the river, with its bridges stretching toward the setting sun. It just might be the most romantic sight in Paris.

&lt;&lt;And finally, I can't believe that you wouldn't have any idea of what to see in Paris!&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>It sounded a little bit harsh to me, Howard. Not sarcastic.<BR><BR>But it's all a function of whatever mood hits any of us on any given day.<BR><BR>And I grant you permission to tell me what to do. (wink...)<BR><BR><BR>

Take a side trip to Vaux le Vicomte on a Saturday evening!!!!! The chateau and gardens are candle lit.

wow. nice friendly follow up Howard.<BR>

Topping. <BR><BR>And, Howard, way to make the newcomer feel welcome!

Amen.<BR>

My husband and I just celebrated our 20th anniversery in France and Spain...sounds like you've already been given some terrific tips...I'll just add a very romantic restaurant we went to that has great food and incredible stained glass decor--Le Grand Cafe at 4 boulevard des Capucines--33-01-43-12-19-00, (www.legrandcafe.com)--near the Opera Garnier. Congradulations and enjoy,<BR>Paula

Don, if you answered the three questions I posed earlier, you would probably get even better answers!<BR>(Please, I hope no one finds fault with that comment!)

Jeeez, howard and rex and whomever!!!<BR>stop hijacking this nice thread with your petty little squabble!<BR>

Don,Which hotel are you staying at?<BR>Have you looked into any ballet/opera performances at the Garnier?<BR>If that is not to your liking, or you are unable to get reservations,do stop in and walk around, it is worth just standing there and looking at that staircase!<BR>And Galleries Lafayette is nearby for shopping!<BR>At the end of the evening,when you are ready to go back to the hotel, walk over to the Seine and just gaze across at the other side, the lights on the water, the Eiffel Tower, it is a wonderful sight.Happy Anniversary!

My last response was a genuine attempt to get more info from the original poster so as to provide better suggestions, nothing more, nothing less!.....'Twas hardly a petty little squabble or whatever!

topping<BR>

howard-you are doing it again!stop it now or go to your room!contribute to the question asked or shut up.

To: stopthisstupid<BR>And, pray tell, what have you contributed to this post except your stupid anonymous drivel?<BR>Is that you again, Rex?

dear duh,it isn't anonymous drivel.it is anonymous reprimands.<BR>i am trying to get people to stick to the subject, instead of sidetracking a nice thread --you just did it too.and i have contributed to this thread.you just didn't recognize me;)but i would know you anywhere.

GOING TO PARIS-<BR>I would like to get back to the subject, and suggest some restuarants if I may:<BR>Le Bookinistes-rue quai des Grandes Augustines<BR>L'Epi Dupin-rue Dupin <BR>Bistro Beaubourg-Place des Vosges<BR>Bofinger-rue de la Batille<BR>Cafe Marly-Louvre/rue de Rivoli<BR>Romantic:<BR>Pile ou Face-rue de Notre Dame des Victoires<BR>Le Grand Vefour-rue Beaujolais<BR>Le Jules Verne-Eiffel Tower<BR>Sweets:<BR>Angelinas<BR>Laduree<BR>galler y at the Plaza Athenee<BR>Ice Cream:<BR>Berthillon<BR>

&lt;&lt;i have contributed to this thread.you just didn't recognize me;)&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>i recognize you, c<BR><BR>but i am not "duh". who is?<BR><BR>

First, I want to thank all of you for some great ideas! My wife and I went to a book store a purchased a few books on Paris, and some French lessons on cassettes. The books, and the information you all have offered, have helped us with some fantastic plans.<BR><BR>We have planned a day trip to Versailles and Giverny, another day trip to the Chateau Country; a Bateaux-Parisiens dinner cruise on the Seine; visits to the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame; a walk to Ille St. Louis for a Berthillon ice cream; an evening concert at Saint Chapelle; a visit to the Louvre and Printemps Department Store.<BR><BR>We will be staying a week Howard, and I'm beginning to wonder if that's enough time. As far as the budget goes, well, there is no cap, but one must be reasonable.<BR><BR>We are still looking through the books and taking more notes. To see the childlike excitement in my wife brightens my day. We are going to have a GREAT TIME!<BR><BR>Again thanks to all of you; Howard, Rex, Alice, Ruth, C, Lisa, Enio, Bob, and everyone else.<BR><BR>

Don, thanks for responding to my questions. Here's my response to you comment about whether a week was enough time.<BR>We're planning a two-week trip to Paris in May. When I raised the question on this board about whether we could include 3 or 4 day trips over the 14 days and still have time for Paris, the "Paris experts" all said we can easily do it over the two-week period. The same cannot be said about a one-week trip.<BR>During my research for the trip, I quickly learned one of the joys of going to Paris for two weeks: You don't have to plan each day in detail. Heck, if you don't do it one day, you can do it the next!<BR>Yes, we plan to do a lot of the same things as you--and a lot more, of course--but we don't feel any pressure to schedule each day. And, that feels great!<BR>Don, you and your wife sound as excited about your impending trip, as my wife and I do. Heck, the strongest advice I can give: Stay longer!

Don, this is sooo great~you will have such a good time!<BR>Regarding how much time is enough-Never Enough Time! We go every year for 10 days-2 weeks, and I always want to stay longer! Perhaps after a year or two I would be ready to go home.So one the plane on the way back home,start planning the next trip.<BR>Also before you go, it helps if you go through your lists and put the must see/do's in order so you won't leave feeling that you really missed something important to you.<BR>Happy 25th~