<i><font color=#555555>"To be a flaneur in Paris is magical at all hours of the day and is never mindless."</font></i>

Until the foreign flâneur gets robbed or accosted. IMO, there's nothing fun about sharing busy Parisian sidewalks with pickpockets and con-artists. The stroll is much more rewarding when those folks are asleep.

I honestly think there's benefit to both and want do some of each in the very little time we're there. I just discovered bike sharing in Paris - yes! That will help us last a bit longer on the two nights we're there.

You must have visited a completely different Paris.

Velib is brilliant. Go for it.

I finally was able to talk to my sister who used to live there by champs ellysee - she said I can't miss d'orsay because it has my favorites. I guess I will have to make time for d'orsay and rodin. I need more time there...

Skip Versailles with just two days. I wouldn't miss the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, and take a Seine river boat cruise. I also love just going on a nice stroll after dinner!

When time is tight you have to either cram in everything you can or decide to leave some relly good things for next time. I am the type who trys to get the most for my dollar so I push to get it all in. In the front of Rick Steves Paris book he has a page that outlines what to do if you have one day and then what to add if you have a second or third day. Just think of it as sampling to see what you are going to do more of next time. Bon voyage.

I have never gone for a silly, mindless stroll in Paris, so I guess I pass the test.

all my strolls are silly and mindless: i spectacularly fail every time I'm there.

maria_so: I think you'll be overwhelmed by the Louvre - the building and be spectacularly underwhelmed by Mona Lisa - the painting. I think you need to choose, and if I had to choose I'd opt for Orsay.

OP, TRUST what Manachem says!!
The building of the Orsay is SO worth the trip, and the collections "manageable"--you can go to the 3rd floor (MY recollection) and wander through it and be amazed at the Impressionist paintings you'll see.

I felt the same way about the Louvre----there was SO much to see! The Mona Lisa was a bit disappointing~much smaller than I thought it would be, with hordes of people trying over and over again to get that perfect picture of it with their cell phones....

Thank you all. I have already bought the tickets to the louvre - it's on it's way to me so I will be going to see the Mona Lisa and I will be going to d'orsay and rodin. I will skip going up the ET. The rest I will play by ear.

I think skipping the trip up the Tower this time is a good idea. You might have devoted a lot of time and money and got there in a down pour or fog. Be prepared not to get close to the Mona Lisa...small painting in the centre of a mob scene. Worst people are those taking pics of each member of their group in turn with the painting in the background. All you really see is everyone's iPads. They really need better crowd management. Not saying don't go, just be prepared. I am with the others who think you will enjoy d'Orsay much more.

I agree with finding the Mona Lisa disappointing but still remember the thrill of happening uponthesxulpture Winged Victory of Samothrace. It too my breath away! We are returning to Paris in May and are trying to decide whether to include the Louvre this time since we have only 3 1/2 days but do plan to visit the Orsay and the Orangerie. Sainte Chappelle was closed on our visit,Ny years ago and we plan a visit there. 'M sure this is the church on the island to which another poster referred.

Though you appear to have made peace with not going up the Eiffel Tower, if your heart really longs to go, do check for tickets the week before you leave for your trip. I was up to buy tickets at 1:30 am this morning 8:30 Paris time, when sales open) and was able to get two but they were all sold within the hour. I did "poke around" out of curiosity and saw tickets for one time slot tomorrow and one late night time slot for the night before we got ours. I would not stand in line!

Sorry for all the typos. I'm riding in the car and accidentally hit submit rather than preview to edit it. I hope you can decipher what I meant to type! Enjoy your time with your husband in a beautiful city.

It's true you can't do much on the day you head out to the airport...on the other hand, if it is a <strong>Sunday</strong>, stop into Notre Dame early. With mass going on and no access to the tourist areas, the crowds are gone.

Even if you are not Catholic, it's a truly mystical experience. If you are Catholic, it will probably blow you away.

SS

Hi All! I'm so sorry I never logged back in after the trip. I've just booked all our accomodations for our return trip this summer (we're doing Italy and France for 27 nights, 29 days! This time with my 6 year olds in tow! I'll be posting request for suggestions so look out for my name, will you? You guys had some awesome suggestions and having been, I completely agree with those who said wander the streets!!! Which is what I plan to do this time around.

So here's what we did. We arrived Paris and got to hotel (Le Walt in 6 arr) early afternoon. We checked in, had a glass of champagne at the lobby of hotel, and headed to the Louve to see the Mona Lisa. So you're right, it is very disappointing but I do not regret doing it. It's something I've always wanted to see and I did even though walking through the south entrance, having someone sing an aria int he background as the first courtyard opened up to me was shockingly like that take your breath away moment I had when I first saw the Grand Canyon. My heart was just filled. Then to see the gleaming glass that is the pyramid - what can I say, that was worth coming to the Louvre. Then walking to Mona Lisa you see the winged victory. Wow. You just have to stop. So after the Louvre, we took a river tour (pre-booked). Grabbed a couple of 1664 beers (when in France?), sat at the front of the top level and enjoyed the sunshine (first warm day in Paris, BTW). Then we walked for a bit, ended up in St Germain area and had late lunch/early dinner at L'Atlas. I was, in the end, able to get a last minute ticket to Tour Eiffel and lucked out that it was at sunset! So we went up with very few minutes to spare, made it all the way to the top just in time to get a glass each of champagne ($12/glass up there, BTW and they were selling champagne bottles at the bottom for $6!!!) and slowly watched the sun set. Bliss. So needless to say I was happy we went up. I did say we would not take the kids up there (hate the crowds!) but they are in love with the Peanuts movie and see the Eiffel tower with Snoopy so now they want to go. I guess we'll trek it up there. We do have a bit longer in Paris this time though. Then we sat on the grass and watched it twinkle the night away. We had crepes somewhere on the way back to the hotel and that evening laid in bed watching the Eiffel tower from our window.

Day 2 hubby woke me up with pastries and espresso from the patisserie 3 doors down. We went to Rodin first thing. Hands down, the best museum experience. Love, love, love Rodin, especially the gardens that bright sun shiny morning! After Rodin, we walked to D'orsay (pre-booked tickets) and stood int he bloody line. I think we waited 2 hours just to get in! Having said that, what an awesome museum. We had lunch in the museum at the restaurant in there (delish) and then headed out to walk the streets. Jardin des Tulleries, Place de la Concorde, all the way to Arc de Triomphe (although we did not stop for shopping, sigh, we had not time for shopping! At that point, I wanted to rest up before dinner so we headed back to our hotel for a little rest and headed out for an amazing meal at the restaurant. After dinner, we just meandered the streets and ended up sitting in one of those restaurant bars that has seats facing the streets a few doors down from our hotel and just people watched. We left the next morning (after visiting the patisserie and getting some goodies for the boys (and me).

This time around I found an awesome rental near L'Opera and Galleried Lafayette and besides going up the Eiffel Tower for the boys and visiting Rodin again, we're going to go off the beaten path and just experience Paris.

I loved Paris though It's true what they say - Paris is just different than any other city. It's full of life and love (and I don't mean romance). I cannot wait to get back. Thanks, belatedly, for all your input. I really appreciated it.

Maria

I'm really happy you enjoyed your trip, maria. And lucky you, going back so soon!